THE YUM PANDEMIC
YOUR HALLOWEEN TREAT IS ACTIVE. GET 3 MONTHS FREE! Or join for free!

The Americas United States

Halloween Witch Finger Cookies

Witch Finger Biscuits, Spooky Finger Cookies, Halloween Almond Cookies

Login to rate this recipe
Difficulty
Medium
Servings
20
Prep Time
20 mins
Make Time
15 mins
Calories
210 / serving
Diet
Vegetarian

The essentials, at a glance

The Americas Dessert Snack Halloween Halloween

These playful cookies are shaped like long fingers to create a spooky aesthetic. They feature a subtle almond flavour and a striking green hue. The addition of raspberry jam provides a realistic blood-like detail perfect for Halloween celebrations.

Protein 3.0g
Fat 11.0g
Carbs 24.0g

Above values do not change with any serving size changes you make below

May not be suitable if you suffer with:

Acid Reflux
Lactose Intolerance
IBS
Diabetes
Indigestion
Cook Along

Ingredients & Method

Choose any step. Your checked ingredients stay checked.

STEP 1

Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C for fan ovens) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Ingredients

Servings: 20
415 g / 3¼ cups
2.5 g / ½ tsp
3 g / ½ tsp
170 g / ¾ cup
120 g / 1 cup
1 large
7.5 ml / 1½ tsp pure
5 ml / 1 tsp
Green
20 blanched
30-45 ml / 2-3 tbsp seedless

Ingredients at a glance

Adjust quantities to your preferred serving size.
We only show images for ingredients already in our database.
All drinks depicted are for visual purposes only and should be assumed non-alcoholic unless explicitly labelled otherwise.

Instructions

Step 1 instruction thumbnail 1

Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C for fan ovens) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Step 2 instruction thumbnail 2

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.

Step 3 instruction thumbnail 3

Cream the butter and powdered sugar in a separate bowl until the mixture is smooth.

Step 4 instruction thumbnail 4

Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, then mix in the desired amount of green food colouring.

Step 5 instruction thumbnail 5

Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the butter mixture in two or three additions until combined.

Step 6 instruction thumbnail 6

Portion the dough into 20 balls of approximately 22 g each, then roll them into long, skinny finger shapes and place them 5 cm apart on the baking sheets.

Step 7 instruction thumbnail 7

Press a blanched almond into the end of each cookie with the pointy side facing away, use a butter knife to score knuckle lines, and pinch the dough to refine the finger shape.

Step 8 instruction thumbnail 8

Bake for 8-10 minutes until the cookies are puffed and the bottoms are lightly golden.

Step 9 instruction thumbnail 9

Heat the raspberry jam in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and stir to liquefy.

Step 10 instruction thumbnail 10

Let cookies cool for 2 minutes, briefly remove the almonds to dip them in the jam, and press them back into place.

Step 11 instruction thumbnail 11

Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Other considerations for this recipe

Dough Spreading
The cookies will spread slightly during baking; roll the fingers slightly thinner than desired to account for this.
Avoid Overbaking
Remove cookies as soon as the bottoms start to brown to prevent the green colour from turning brown on the outside.
Jam Alternatives
Red gel icing or corn syrup can be used instead of raspberry jam for different visual effects.
Serving Tip
Serve the cookies with extra raspberry jam on the side for dipping.
Storage
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, do not add jam until serving.
Freezing
Baked and decorated cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Nutritional Benefits

Almonds provide a source of healthy monounsaturated fats.

Raspberry jam contains small amounts of antioxidants from the fruit.

Flour provides essential carbohydrates for energy.

Eggs contribute high-quality protein and choline.

Nutritional information is provided as a general guide only. Values may vary and should not replace professional medical or dietary advice.

Spooky Almond Witch Fingers

Halloween Witch Finger Cookies
Halloween Witch Finger Cookies · Andrew T.
Andrew T.
Andrew T.

Blanched almonds serve as the perfect anatomical detail for these eerie treats, providing a satisfying crunch against the soft, buttery base. By carefully shaping the dough and scoring the knuckles with a knife, you can create a convincingly macabre look that will surprise any guest.

The secret to the unsettling aesthetic lies in the contrast between the vivid green hue and the deep red raspberry jam. Dipping the almond nail into the warmed jam creates a realistic effect that is as fun to assemble as it is to eat. I love how the subtle almond extract enhances the flavour, making these more than just a visual gag.

Top Baking Tips
  • Roll the fingers slightly thinner than desired to account for spreading in the oven.
  • Remove the cookies as soon as the bottoms turn lightly golden to preserve the bright green colour.
Yum Feedback 0 comments
Yumpedia: United States

What the Land Remembers

Halloween Witch Finger Cookies history

The tradition of creating macabre or spooky foods during October is deeply rooted in North American Halloween celebrations. While the holiday has ancient Celtic origins, the modern American approach often blends folklore with a sense of playful horror, leading to the creation of treats that look unsettling but taste delicious.

Novelty baking became particularly popular in the mid-20th century as home baking evolved into a form of social entertainment. The concept of the witch finger cookie leverages the classic sugar cookie base, which has been a staple of Western baking for centuries, transforming it into a visual gag through the use of food colourings and strategically placed nuts.

Continue reading in Yumpedia

More history from The Americas

+49 more histories
More Like This

Similar recipes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday Cake
Dessert
Birthdays

Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake, Cocoa Peanut Butter Celebration Cake, American Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

PROTEIN 9.0g
FAT 32.0g
CARBS 85.0g
KCAL 650
12 Servings Vegetarian Medium
Æbleskiver
Breakfast

Æbleskiver

Ebelskiver, Danish Pancake Balls, Danish Doughnuts, Apple Slices

PROTEIN 12.0g
FAT 18.0g
CARBS 55.0g
KCAL 450
4 Servings Vegetarian Medium
Halloween Peanut Butter Ghost Cookies
Dessert Snack
Halloween

Halloween Peanut Butter Ghost Cookies

Peanut Butter Ghosts, Spooky Peanut Butter Biscuits, Peanut Butter Halloween Cookies

PROTEIN 4.0g
FAT 9.0g
CARBS 18.0g
KCAL 160
48 Servings Vegetarian Medium
Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese frosting
Dessert

Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese frosting

Spiced Pumpkin Loaf, Pumpkin Tea Bread

PROTEIN 7.0g
FAT 29.0g
CARBS 43.0g
KCAL 470
10 Servings Vegetarian Medium
Traditional Koeksisters
Snack

Traditional Koeksisters

Koeksister, South African twisted doughnuts, Cape Malay koeksisters

PROTEIN 4.0g
FAT 12.0g
CARBS 48.0g
KCAL 320
12 Servings Vegetarian Medium
Churros With Chocolate Sauce
Snack

Churros With Chocolate Sauce

Spanish Fried Dough, Porras, Churros Españoles

PROTEIN 6.0g
FAT 22.0g
CARBS 58.0g
KCAL 450
4 Servings Vegetarian Medium
Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Dessert

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Apple Swirl Buns, Caramel Apple Rolls

PROTEIN 10.0g
FAT 23.0g
CARBS 60.0g
KCAL 490
12 Servings Vegetarian Medium
Apple Pie
Dessert

Apple Pie

American Apple Pie, Traditional Apple Tart, Pomme Pie

PROTEIN 5.0g
FAT 22.0g
CARBS 58.0g
KCAL 450
8 Servings Vegetarian Medium