Name: Best Witch Hat Halloween Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 2 h 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 tsp cornstarch; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp baking powder; 1/8 tsp fine sea salt; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup white sugar; 1 large egg; 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter; 1 tsp vanilla extract; Purple gel food coloring, as needed; Halloween sprinkles or purple sanding sugar; 33 chocolate kisses or Hugs candies, unwrapped

Introduction

These Best Witch Hat Halloween Cookies are a fun and festive treat perfect for spooky season. With a soft peanut butter base and a colorful purple twist, each cookie is topped with a chocolate kiss that looks just like a witch’s hat. They’re easy to make and sure to impress at any Halloween gathering.

A close-up of a round purple cookie with a cracked texture on top, covered in purple sugar. On the center of the cookie is a ring of small orange, green, and purple round sprinkles. Inside the ring sits a cone-shaped candy with spiraled dark brown and white stripes. The cookie is placed on a white marbled surface with blurred cookies in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp fine sea salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1 large egg

3/4 cup smooth peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

Purple gel food coloring

Halloween sprinkles or purple sanding sugar

33 chocolate kisses or Hugs candies, unwrapped

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a sheet tray with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and fine sea salt until evenly combined. Set aside.

Step 2: In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter and white sugar together using an electric mixer for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix until fully incorporated, then blend in the peanut butter and vanilla extract, scraping down the sides as needed.

Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until a uniform dough forms. Add purple gel food coloring little by little until the dough reaches your desired shade, mixing by hand to ensure even coloring without streaks.

Step 4: Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, portion the dough into mounds and place them close but not touching on a parchment-lined tray. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results.

Step 5: Roll each chilled dough mound into a smooth ball and coat each one evenly with Halloween sprinkles or purple sanding sugar. Arrange the coated dough balls on a fresh parchment-lined sheet tray, spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake for 9–11 minutes until they are puffed and starting to crack; underbaking slightly will give you a soft center.

Step 6: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the tray for 5 minutes. While still warm, gently press an unwrapped chocolate kiss or Hug candy into the center of each cookie to form the witch hat top. Immediately place the tray in the freezer for 10 minutes to set the chocolate, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

Chilling the dough is key to keeping the cookies thick and preventing too much spreading during baking.

If you don’t have purple gel food coloring, you can use natural alternatives like blueberry or blackberry juice for a subtle tint.

Add a teaspoon of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the dry ingredients for a seasonal flavor twist.

Use different colored sprinkles or sanding sugars to customize the look for various themed parties.

FAQs

Can I make these cookies nut-free?

You can substitute the peanut butter with a seed butter like sunflower seed butter to make the recipe nut-free, but this may slightly alter the flavor and texture.

Why do I need to chill the dough?

Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape and bake up thick without spreading too much. It also improves the texture for a soft and tender bite.