Scary Halloween Cookies

Ingredients:

250g unsalted butter, softened

250g golden caster sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

½ tsp vanilla extract

500g plain flour

Red and black food colouring (optional)

1 tsp baking powder

Icing sugar to decorate

Halloween-themed cookie cutters

Red, white and black writing icing

Black/red food colouring (optional)

Method:

In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy

Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract slowly, to avoid curdling

Add the food colouring if you’re using some

Sift the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl

Stir into the butter mixture and work into a dough using floured hands

Place onto a prepared surface and knead into a ball. The mixture will still be slightly wet

Wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for about an hour

Preheat the oven to 170C.

 Line the baking trays with greaseproof paper

Roll the dough to ¼ inch thick. Cut the cookies out with the Halloween cutters

Try breaking off heads or limbs for added gruesomeness. (Great for stress relief too!)

Place the cookies onto the baking tray but not too close together

Bake for 12-15 minutes, leave for 10 minutes to cool and move to a wire rack

Once cool, decorate as horribly as you can with black and white and red icing

Add the food colouring to the icing mixture

Vampires and skeletons are always a firm favourite!

Remember to save some for the kids to eat!