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Home » Halloween Recipes

Scary Witch Finger Cookies for Halloween

Published: Oct 2, 2021 · Modified: Sep 10, 2022 by Mindee · This post contains affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Halloween isn't the same without some creepy party treats! I'll show you how to make almond shortbread cookies shaped into frightful witch fingers with blood red jagged fingernails will melt in your mouth as well as add spooky fun to the holiday! This is a great Halloween treat for kids to help with too!

Severed bloody finger cookies for Halloween!
Severed bloody finger cookies for Halloween!
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients Notes
  • How to Make Step by Step Recipe Instructions:
  • Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
  • Related Halloween Recipes
  • Scary Witch Fingers Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Who doesn't want food that looks like fingers for Halloween!!!
  • So much fun for kids to make! They love "painting" the witch's fingernails!
  • These Halloween cookies are made without eggs which is great news for those with egg allergies!
  • Perfect treat for a Halloween party!

Ingredients Notes

  • Butter - both salted and unsalted work just fine. For best results don't use any kind of butter substitute though. Shortbread is very dependent on butter for their crumbly texture and buttery flavor.
  • Powdered Sugar - please not this recipe calls for powdered sugar not granulated sugar. You cannot use granulated sugar in place of the powdered sugar.
  • Almonds - You will need slivered almonds for the fingernails, but you can use any form of almond like blanched almonds for the cookie dough because you are just going to grind them up.
  • Red Food Coloring - The gel food coloring works best for this especially if you're having kids paint the nails. The gel coloring doesn't run all over and doesn't spill. Please note that red decorating gel is a different thing and will not work.
  • Vanilla Extract- If you want to do half vanilla and almond extract that works too!
Ingredients needed to make creepy witch finger cookies!
Ingredients needed to make creepy witch finger cookies!

How to Make Step by Step Recipe Instructions:

  • Start by painting the "fingernails" (almond slices) with red gel food coloring.  
  • Lay a sheet of waxed paper down to paint the almond slices on.
  • They don't need to look perfectly manicured.  I think a witch's fingernails would be chipped and a little sloppy.   You can see the little white edges that are left on mine.  That is where I held onto the almond to paint it and is the end that I will stick in the cookie so it won't show. Let them dry while you prepare the fingers.
  • In a food processor, pulse enough almonds to give you 1 Cup ground almonds. My general rule of thumb is if I want 1 cup of ground nuts I'm going to need roughly 2 cups of the nut to grind.
  • Keep a close on your nuts while you process them. You want them ground up but not turned to nut butter. Here's a great guide on Measuring and Chopping Nuts.
Paint almond slices with red food color for bloody fingernails.  Grind more almond for the shortbread cookies.
Paint almond slices with red food color for bloody fingernails. Grind more almond for the shortbread cookies.
  • Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and line a cookie sheet or two with parchment paper or spray them with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, cream the butter and powdered sugar (not granulated sugar).
  • Add the vanilla and salt.
  • Mix in the ground nuts and flour.
Mix butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, ground almonds and flour into a stiff shortbread dough.
Mix butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, ground almonds and flour into a stiff shortbread dough.
  • As you can see from the picture, this is a stiff, dryer dough which is typical of shortbread.
  • The dough should not be sticky, but it should also hold together. If you feel the dough is too crumbly try adding a teaspoon of water.
  • Using a 1 ½ Tbs or #40 cookie scoop, scoop the dough into 36 -40 balls.
  • Roll each piece of dough in you hands into a log shape until it is about the length and width of the average finger
  • Since these are supposed to be the fingers of a witch you want them a little oddly shaped and crooked perhaps a little gnarled.
  •  Place them on prepared baking sheets with 2 inches space between each cookie.
Measure out and shape the dough into long creepy fingers.
Measure out and shape the dough into a long creepy finger shape.
  • Take a sharp knife, not a butter knife, and make little lines for the knuckles.
  • Carefully press each fingernail into the ends or nail bed of each of the finger cookies.
  •  Bake in your preheated oven (325 degrees) for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges.
  • Cool completely before storing these spooky cookies in an airtight container.
Make knuckle indents on each finger and place a scary fingernail on each.
Make knuckle indents on each finger and place a scary fingernail on each.

Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

Can I make these cookies without almonds?

Yes, you can substitute pecans for the ground almonds and pili nuts for the fingernails.

Can I make these ahead and freeze them?

Yes, this sweet shortbread freezes extremely well. Just make sure the cookies are completely cool before you pop them in the freezer. When you're ready to eat them thaw them out at room temperature.

Related Halloween Recipes

  • Caramel Krispy Treats - seriously to die for!
  • Marshmallow Popcorn Balls - Never, dry and hard!
  • Monster Cupcakes - super cute and easy!
  • Spider Cupcakes - creepy but delicious halloween treats!
  • Easy Mummy Cookies - aka gingerbread mummy cookies!

Have you tried this recipe? If so, leave me a rating and a comment below! And don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to get my latest recipes sent right to your email! You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

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Witch Finger Cookies severed with a knife.

Scary Witch Fingers Recipe

★★★★★ 5 from 10 reviews
  • Author: Mindee
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 36 Fingers 1x
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Halloween isn't the same without some creepy party treats!  Almond shortbread cookies shaped into frightful fingers with blood red jagged fingernails will melt in your mouth as well as add spooky fun to the holiday!  This is a great Halloween treat for kids to help with too!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 40-45 Almond Slices
  • Red GEL food coloring
  • 1 cup Butter (softened)
  • ¾ cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Ground Almonds
  • 2 cups Flour

Instructions

  1. Paint 40-45 (this will give you a couple extra in case you break some) almond slices with red gel food coloring to look like fingernails.
  2. Let dry while making the cookie dough.
  3. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
  4. Prepare  baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or spraying them with non-stick cooking spray.
  5. Pulse enough almonds in a food processor to get 1 cup ground almonds.  Set aside.
  6. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
  7. Add the vanilla, and salt. 
  8. Stir in the ground almonds and flour.
  9. Using a 1 ½ Tbs. or #40 scoop, scoop the dough out into approximately 36-40 balls.
  10. In between your hands, roll out and shape dough pieces into "fingers" about the length and width of an average sized finger.
  11. Place on the prepared baking sheets with 2 inches of space between them.
  12. Place a painted almond on the end of each finger and use a sharp knife to make knuckle marks.
  13. Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
  14. Cool on a cooling rack.
  15. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container.

Notes

  • You'll need roughly 2 cups of almonds to get 1 cup ground almonds.
  • You can substitute ground pecans for the ground almonds.
  • These cookies do freeze well.
  • Nutritional Disclaimer

Keywords: witch finger cookies, scary cookies, bloody finger cookies, creepy long fingers, witch dessert, shortbread finger cookies

Did you make this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram @mindeescooking and hashtag it #mindeescookingobsession

Mindee's Cooking Obsession is a positive place and I love to hear your success stories! Remember to keep comments or questions respectful and kind. I reserve the right to delete or reject any comments that are deemed not helpful to other readers or are offensive in nature.

Comments suggesting substitutions of multiple ingredients or rewrites of the above recipe to promote different dietary preferences will not be published as they are not tested for accuracy and may inhibit the success of other readers. Thanks!

More Halloween Recipes

  • Easy Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
  • Spooky Oreo Truffle Eyeballs
  • Soft Caramel Popcorn Balls aka Caramel Corn
  • Easy Mummy Cookies for Halloween

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Traci

    October 02, 2021 at 8:52 am

    So easy and sooo awesome! These are going to disappear at the Halloween parties. Thanks for sharing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. sue

    October 02, 2021 at 8:18 am

    I've ALWAYS wanted to try these, thanks for the detailed instructions!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Eliza

    October 02, 2021 at 7:29 am

    What a great recipe! So creepy and fun. My son is going to love these. Happy Halloween and thanks for another winner!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Claudia Lamascolo

    October 02, 2021 at 7:06 am

    I love this recipe the step by step instructions helped immensely they were much easier than I thought

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Amy

    September 15, 2021 at 1:43 pm

    Such a fun idea, I love it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  6. Jamie

    September 15, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    What a great idea! I love how these look and I know my niece will have so much fun making these!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  7. Luke Ratford

    September 15, 2021 at 1:03 pm

    A fantastic idea, the kids will love making these over Halloween for the parties and get-togethers with the family 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Tara

    September 15, 2021 at 12:18 pm

    Oh how fun! Definitely the perfect creepy treat for Halloween. My kids would have such a blast making these.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  9. Petro

    September 15, 2021 at 12:14 pm

    So fun and easy! Kids will love helping me make these! Thanks for sharing your idea!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  10. Bea

    October 07, 2019 at 7:26 pm

    Making these now to surprise the grandkids! I can't wait to taste the shortbread cookies too. Thanks so much.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Mindee! Not only do I love to try and create all kinds of recipes, I LOVE to share them! Teaching others how to be successful in cooking in their own kitchens is one of my favorite things to do! Learn more about me or jump right in and check out my recipes!

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