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Jack O’ Lantern Cookies

These Jack O’ Lantern Cookies are so good, you might just eat the whole batch! They’re cute, colorful, and so much fun to make—perfect for a Halloween party, classroom treat, or to brighten up your spooky season dessert table. With a soft, chewy sugar cookie base and vanilla frosting in festive colors, these cookies are a Halloween hit for kids and adults alike.

Pair them with costumes, candy bowls, or your favorite fall drinks. And don’t miss the decorating reel for extra inspiration!

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• 2 cups (4 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour

For the Frosting:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• Food coloring gel: orange, green, black
• Halloween sprinkles

Instructions

Make the Cookie Dough:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla on medium speed until light and fluffy.
3. Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed until a soft cookie dough forms.

Cut & Bake:

1. Place about ¼ of the dough onto a floured surface. Roll it out to about ¼ inch thick using a rolling pin.
2. Use pumpkin-shaped cookie cutters to cut out Jack O’ Lantern shapes.
3. Transfer the cookies to parchment-lined baking sheets.
4. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are just starting to turn golden.
5. Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.

Make the Frosting:

1. In a clean mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix on low to start, then increase to high speed until the frosting is smooth.
2. Divide the frosting evenly into three small bowls or ramekins.
3. Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl: orange, green, and black. Mix until you reach your desired shades.

Decorate:

1. Transfer each frosting color into separate piping bags. Snip off the tips to create small openings for precise decorating.
2. Start by piping black frosting in the eye and mouth areas of each Jack O’ Lantern. While the frosting is still wet, sprinkle with black sanding sugar, then gently brush off any excess with a small brush.
3. Next, pipe orange frosting around the edges of each cookie, then fill in the pumpkin body (excluding the cutouts for the face). Use a toothpick to smooth it out if needed.
4. Add green frosting to the stem of the pumpkin, then sprinkle with festive Halloween sprinkles.
5. For finishing touches, pipe thin vertical lines of orange frosting from top to bottom to mimic pumpkin ridges.

Serve & Enjoy!

Let the frosting set for about 30 minutes before stacking or serving. These cookies are such a treat—they’re as fun to look at as they are to eat. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or baking for your kids’ school, these Jack O’ Lantern Cookies will light up the room!

Makes about 25 cookies.

Pro Tip: Be sure to check out the decorating reel to see how I brought each Jack O’ Lantern to life step-by-step. Save this post for your Halloween baking list and share it with fellow cookie lovers!

Let me know if you’d like help writing a Pinterest pin or Instagram caption for your reel too!