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Best Easy Black Cat Halloween Sugar Cookies Recipe

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These adorable black cat Halloween sugar cookies are soft in the middle with slightly crisp edges, featuring classic buttery vanilla flavor and festive orange frosting details. Perfect for last-minute Halloween parties, school events, or a fun baking afternoon with the kids.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1–2 tablespoons black gel food coloring
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted (for frosting)
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream (for frosting)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Orange gel food coloring (for frosting)

Instructions

  1. Make the Cookie Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 ½ cups granulated sugar together until light and fluffy—about 3 minutes on medium speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add 1 large egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, then beat until combined. The mixture should look smooth and creamy.
  2. Add the Color: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Don’t overmix or your cookies will be tough. Add 1 tablespoon of black gel food coloring and mix until the color is even. If the dough looks more dark gray than black, add another tablespoon. The color will deepen slightly as the dough chills, so aim for a shade darker than you think you need.
  3. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This step is crucial—if you skip it, your cats will spread into shapeless blobs. For best results, chill for an hour. You can even make the dough a day ahead and keep it in the fridge.
  4. Roll and Cut: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll one disc of dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Flour your rolling pin if the dough starts to stick. Use your black cat cutter to cut out shapes, then carefully transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gather the scraps, re-roll, and cut again.
  5. Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just set. The cookies won’t look golden because they’re black, so watch for the edges to look slightly dry. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. They’ll firm up as they cool.
  6. Make the Frosting: While the cookies cool, make the frosting. Beat ½ cup softened unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined. Add 2 tablespoons heavy cream and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, then beat on medium-high for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Set aside about ¼ cup of the frosting and tint it orange with gel food coloring.
  7. Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cool, use the white frosting to pipe two small eyes on each cat. Then use the orange frosting to add a tiny dot in the center of each eye—this gives them that cute, alive look. For the whiskers, use a toothpick dipped in white frosting to draw three thin lines on each side of the face. Let the frosting set for about 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Chilling the dough is crucial to prevent spreading. Use gel food coloring, not liquid, to avoid altering dough texture. For best results, chill cut-out cookies for 10 minutes before baking. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween cookies, sugar cookies, black cat cookies, Halloween dessert, easy cookies, festive cookies, butter cookies, vanilla cookies

Find it online: https://merrymorsel.com/best-easy-black-cat-halloween-sugar-cookies-recipe/