Witches Finger Cookies Recipe
Witches Finger Cookies Recipe
Halloween is rapidly approaching and if you or the kids are having or going to a Halloween party these Witches Finger cookies are the perfect thing to have on the table or bring along for the host. I always make these a few weeks in advance and freeze them.
They are so creepy looking it’s been hard to convince guests to try them but after a whole lot of alcohol, people get brave and they are devoured. They are a simple shortbread dough spiked with a hint of almond flavour which you can substitute for vanilla bean or any essence you love. The nails are almonds and the blood is red icing.
The dough is very buttery and sticky to work with so keep it in the fridge for 20 minutes or so before you start and then firm them back up again in the fridge before they go in the oven. Make them a lot skinnier than you think because they do puff up a fair bit.
The almond ‘nails’ are added prior to baking and then I gently remove them, add in the red icing and pop the nail back on so it looks more hideous and sticks better.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 2/3 cup plain flour
- 1 tsp salt
- small packet whole blanched almonds
- 1 tube red decorator gel
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 180C (160C fan-forced)
- In a bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, and extracts. Then add flour and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Work with half the dough at a time and roll heaped teaspoonfuls of dough into a finger shape for each cookie. Squeeze in centre to create knuckle shape. Using a sharp knife, make slashes in several places to form knuckle.Press almond firmly into 1 end for nail.
- Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool on tray for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack. Remove almond, squirt in some red food gel, then replace almond.
Carolyn Murphy
Carolyn Murphy is a married mother of three and regularly provides us with recipes and strange but true stories about her life. When she’s not here, she can also be found on her website pinkpostitnote.com where all her other recipes are located!
