Skeleton Cookies

Nothing gets my kitchen smelling like Halloween faster than baking a batch of skeleton cookies! These spooky little treats have been my go-to for Halloween parties ever since my niece begged me to make “scary cookies” years ago.

The rich chocolate shortbread paired with those white chocolate skeleton designs always gets screams (the good kind!) from kids and adults alike. What I love most is how simple they are, just a basic cookie dough with cocoa powder, rolled out and cut into classic gingerbread man shapes before getting their eerie decorations.

The real magic happens when you pipe those skeleton bones with melted white chocolate. Trust me, even if your piping skills are shaky (like mine were at first), these cookies turn out looking fabulously creepy!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love These Skeleton Cookies

These aren’t just any Halloween cookies – they’re the ones everyone remembers! Here’s why they’ll become your new tradition:

• Perfectly spooky fun: The crisp chocolate cookies with white skeleton designs look impressively creepy but taste deliciously sweet
• Easy decorating: Even beginner bakers can nail the skeleton piping – just wiggle those lines and watch the magic happen
• Crisp yet tender texture: That cornflour in the dough makes them satisfyingly crisp without being tooth-breaking hard
• Kid-approved activity: My niece and nephew fight over who gets to pipe the bones – they’re that simple to decorate!

Ingredients for Skeleton Cookies

Here’s everything you’ll need for these delightfully spooky treats. I learned the hard way that precise measurements make all the difference with these – no eyeballing ingredients unless you want cookie casualties!

• 160g salted butter, softened (leave it out for 30 minutes – you should be able to make a dent with your finger)
• 1/2 cup icing sugar (sift it if yours is lumpy – we want silky smooth dough)
• 1/2 cup cornflour (this is the secret to that perfect shortbread texture)
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (sifted! Or you’ll get little cocoa lumps in your dough)
• 1 cup plain flour
• 100g good white chocolate (for the skeleton bones – chips or baking chocolate both work)

Pro tip: If you only have unsalted butter, just add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the dry ingredients. I’ve made that swap plenty of times when I’ve run out of my usual salted butter!

Equipment You’ll Need

Before we start making these spooky treats, let’s gather our tools! You probably have most of these in your kitchen already:

• Mixing bowl (I like using my stand mixer, but a regular bowl and wooden spoon work great too)
• Gingerbread man cookie cutter (this creates the perfect skeleton base – don’t worry if it’s not Halloween-themed!)
• Small zip-top bag (for piping – no fancy piping tips needed)
• Baking trays lined with parchment paper

That’s it! See? I told you this was simple. Now let’s make some creepy cookies!

How to Make Skeleton Cookies

Okay, let’s get to the fun part – transforming simple ingredients into spooky skeleton cookies! Follow these steps carefully, and you’ll have perfect little cookie skeletons ready to haunt your Halloween party table.

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

First things first – preheat your oven to 160°C (fan bake). Now, grab that softened butter (remember – dent-with-your-finger soft) and icing sugar. Beat them together until they’re pale and fluffy – this takes about 3 minutes in my stand mixer. The mixture should look almost like whipped cream when it’s ready.

Here comes the magic dust! Sift in the cornflour, cocoa powder, and plain flour together. I know sifting seems like extra work, but trust me, it makes all the difference for that smooth, velvety dough texture. Mix on low speed just until everything comes together – don’t overmix or your cookies will be tough instead of tender.

Roll the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling film, and pop it in the fridge for 30 minutes. This chilling time makes the dough easier to handle and helps prevent spreading during baking.

Step 2: Cut and Bake

Flour your surface lightly (I use a silicone mat for this) and roll the dough to about 1 cm thickness. Too thin and your skeletons will be fragile; too thick and they won’t crisp properly. Now grab your gingerbread man cutter and press straight down – no twisting! Twisting can make the cookies lose their shape.

Carefully transfer your little cookie people to lined baking trays, leaving some space between them. Bake for exactly 15 minutes – you’ll know they’re done when the edges start looking dry but the centers still feel slightly soft. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before decorating – warm cookies melt chocolate designs!

Step 3: Decorate with Skeleton Designs

The best part! Melt your white chocolate gently (I do 20-second bursts in the microwave, stirring between each). Let it cool slightly so it’s not piping hot – this gives you better control. Pour it into a small zip-top bag, snip a tiny corner (start smaller than you think!), and now the fun begins!

Pipe skeleton designs by making wiggly lines for bones – think rib cages, arm and leg bones, and a little skull face. Don’t stress about perfection – uneven lines look more authentically creepy! Pro tip: If you mess up, just scrape it off quickly with a toothpick and try again.

Let the chocolate set completely before serving – about 30 minutes at room temperature, or pop them in the fridge for 10 minutes if you’re impatient like me!

Tips for Perfect Skeleton Cookies

After making dozens of batches (and eating plenty of “mistakes”), I’ve learned all the tricks for skeleton cookie success:

• Dough thickness is key: Roll to exactly 1 cm – any thinner and they burn, any thicker and they won’t crisp properly
• Chocolate temp matters: Let melted white chocolate cool slightly before piping so it doesn’t run everywhere
• Storage smarts: Keep in an airtight container with parchment between layers – they’ll stay crisp for up to a week
• Freeze for later: Undecorated cookies freeze beautifully – just thaw and pipe when needed
• Kid hack: For little hands, use a toothpick to “draw” skeleton designs in the chocolate after piping

Remember – imperfect skeletons look spookier anyway, so don’t stress about perfection!

Variations for Skeleton Cookies

Want to mix things up? Try these fun twists on the classic recipe:

• Spiced dough: Add 1 tsp cinnamon to the dry ingredients for warm Halloween flavors
• Colorful bones: Tint white chocolate with gel food coloring for neon skeletons
• Dark chocolate: Swap white chocolate for dark to create gothic skeleton designs

The beauty is – skeletons look creepy no matter how you dress them!

Serving and Storing Skeleton Cookies

These little skeletons stay crisp and delicious for days if you store them right! I always use an airtight container with parchment paper between layers – they’ll keep fresh for up to a week at room temperature. For Halloween parties, arrange them on a black platter with candy eyeballs scattered around for extra spooky vibes. If you want to make them ahead, freeze the undecorated cookies (they’ll last a month), then just thaw and pipe your skeleton designs when you’re ready to serve. Pro tip: Add a silica gel packet to your storage container to prevent any humidity from softening your cookies!

Nutritional Information

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Are these adorable little skeleton cookies secretly terrifying for my waistline?” Let me put your mind at ease. Each cookie is a perfectly reasonable treat (especially for Halloween!), but remember that nutrition can vary depending on your specific ingredients and brands. We’re all about balance here – enjoy a couple with your afternoon coffee or share them at parties without any guilt!

Important note: These nutritional estimates are per cookie, based on standard ingredients. Your actual values might dance up or down a bit depending on your butter’s brand, how thick you roll your dough, or whether you go wild with that white chocolate piping (no judgment here!). As with all treats, enjoy them as part of your spooktacular celebrations!

FAQs About Skeleton Cookies

Now I want to see your spooky creations! Tag me in your skeleton cookie photos – bonus points for the most creatively creepy designs! and don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest for more easy and simple recipes.

More Halloween Recipes You’ll Love

• Spiderweb Chocolate Tart
• Spider cookies
• Ghost Cookies
• Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

Print