Halloween Witch Finger Cookies

While we are on the subject of Halloween........

You know you have seen these cookies.  We have all seen them, maybe eaten them and delighted in the lifelike creepy look of them (just type "witch finger cookies" into Pinterest and you will see a multitude of varieties).  I think the standard recipe I use is from Recipe Girl (Witch Finger Cookie Recipe).  Here is my honest opinion of them.  Make them.  Make them a yearly Halloween tradition.  Not only do these look good, they taste good.  My boys look forward to them every year, and have even asked for them when it isn't Halloween.

Here are a few of my tips:
1) Don't do the green food coloring.  You don't need to.  Food coloring is bad, and these look so life like without it.
2) Don't use red food coloring for the blood.  Use raspberry jam, without the seeds.  Trust me.  It really complements the almond extract that is in these cookies.  It's delicious with the added jam. 
3) Do get creative.  I like to dip the end of some of the "fingers" in jam for that severed, bloody look.  Sometimes I add a chocolate chip to make it look like a wart.  Sometimes I will put a "cut" on the finger.
4) Do use blanched whole almonds.  Dip one side in raspberry jam and stick it onto the end of the cookie. It just adds to the creepiness of it!
5) If you want to send these to school, and your kids are nut free, you can replace the almonds with goji berries and replace the almond extract with vanilla.
6) Every year I make this mistake.  These cookies do puff up nicely.  My first batch is always chubby little stubby fingers - more like thumbs.  Roll them more on the thin side.

This was my first batch from last year.  you can see the stubby thumbs at the top.

 

 I didn't remember the severed part until I was almost done with the first batch.  It makes them taste better and look better, so I went all in on batch number 2.



 

Thank God I started this blog.  Hopefully, I will remember my helpful tips this year.

 

What to search for on Pinterest: witch finger cookies

Pros: they have the perfect creepy factor for Halloween, they actually taste good, the effect far outweighs the time these take

Cons: these taste best when made with nut products (not good for allergies), not good to make if you are in a hurry

Would I make these again? You bet.  It's an annual tradition around here.

 

Spider Cookies

Since we are getting close to Halloween, I thought I would start out with a cookie recipe.  I wanted the kids to take some treats in to class, but I didn't want to send enormous cupcakes, and I didn't want anything too entailed.  I found a recipe for chocolate chip cookies with chocolate spiders as the decoration.  I thought they would be super simple.  Compared to some of the intricately iced cookies that are on Pinterest, I suppose they were. 

You were supposed to use regular sized chocolate chips, turn them upside down, and pipe chocolate on for the head and legs.  Hmmm. There had to be an easier way!  I just made a regular chocolate chip cookie recipe, then used one of the larger chocolate chips right in the center (They are called "mini kisses") and turned it upside down for the body.  The piping didn't work well for me.  It didn't really blend in nicely.  So, while the cookies were still warm, I took a toothpick and dragged the chocolate over from the body to form legs.  It started to get a little stressful because the cookies were cooling and the chocolate became harder to spread.  I also did the odd cookie with a smaller spider made out of a regular chocolate chip.  I think the cookies with 2 spiders look better.

I'll let you be the judge on whether or not these pass the test.  As a side note, one little boy thought they were suns.  What do kindergarteners know anyway?

What to search for on Pinterest: spider chocolate chip cookies
Pros: can use your go to chocolate chip cookie recipe, few decorating ingredients
Cons: slightly difficult to get the legs all done before the chocolate cools
Would I make these again? Unlikely

The Start of Something New

I love Pinterest.  Who doesn't? Even my husband has a Pinterest account.  The problem is, I love it so much, that I have thousands of pins.  I suspect that is like most people on Pinterest.  I will NEVER be able to test everything, but I can definitely make a dent.  I can also help others to weed out the duds.  Let me tell you, there have been some seriously embarrassing ones.  On the other hand, there have also been some pretty spectacular ones.  I am here to share them all.  You can get a laugh out of the duds, and maybe some ideas from the gems. 

Here I will test everything from recipes to paint colours.  You get to see the results and let me know what you think!  Stay tuned and watch for my frequent updates.....they will be sure to keep you entertained if not inspired!