Witch Finger Cookies (Printer-friendly)

Spooky almond cookies shaped like witch fingers with fingernails and gory details for Halloween festivities.

# What you'll need:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
05 - ½ teaspoon almond extract
06 - 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
08 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Fingernail Decoration

09 - 24 whole blanched almonds
10 - Red gel food coloring or strawberry jam

# Method:

01 - Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
03 - Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until dough forms. Do not overmix.
06 - Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll between your hands into a finger shape, approximately 3–4 inches long.
07 - Use a knife to create knuckle lines by pressing gently across the dough finger.
08 - Gently press a blanched almond at one end of each finger to create a fingernail.
09 - Place shaped fingers on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
10 - Bake for 18–20 minutes until lightly golden around the edges.
11 - Carefully remove the almond fingernails, apply red food coloring or strawberry jam to the nail bed, and press the almonds back into place.
12 - Transfer cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These cookies are equal parts creepy and delicious, making them impossible for guests to resist both admiring and eating
  • The almond flavor pairs perfectly with buttery cookie dough, and the decoration process is oddly therapeutic
02 -
  • Work quickly when shaping the fingers because the dough gets sticky as it warms up in your hands
  • The cookies puff slightly in the oven so make your knuckle creases deeper than you think they need to be
03 -
  • Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it becomes too soft to shape cleanly
  • Use the tip of a toothpick to add tiny wrinkles around the almond fingernails for extra realism

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