Happy Little Ghost Sugar Cookies - bite-sized, deliciously cute, Halloween cutout cookies that scream sweetness with their happy little ghoulish faces.
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I am seriously infatuated with Halloween-decorated cookies right now. If you follow along on Facebook, you probably already know this. There has been a pretty steady share stream of Halloween-decorated cookies. I mean, they are cookie works of art that celebrate my favorite holiday, Halloween, and you can eat them. It doesn’t get much better than that! OK, so I LOVE decorated sugar cookies.
It has long been on my baking wish list and my bucket list to perfect my decorated sugar cookie. This has so many meanings to me, and I’ll be getting into it in a little series I am going to be starting in the New Year. Yeah, that is all the teaser you’re going to get, but I promise you won’t want to miss it!
I digress (as usual); I’ve been dying to make these super cute little guys. They are SO totes adorbs with their little smiling faces that I just had to name them Happy Little Ghost Sugar Cookies. They remind me of those ghosts in Pac-Man, except they are white and happier.
These Happy Little Ghosts Sugar Cookies are on the easier side to make and are great for beginner cookie decorators. They are made using a mini tulip cookie cutter (another cookie cutter option), my fav royal icing, and a black food marker.
As for the sugar cookie, you’ll want to use your favorite sugar cookie recipe – no point in using your least favorite. I am still working on my favorite sugar cookie recipe, so these little ghosts were made using Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix. I love BC Sugar Cookie Mix. I love the taste and it allows me to focus on the decorating, which is my favorite part.
Your Happy Little Ghost Sugar Cookies should be about ¼” thick; the Joseph Joseph Adjustable Wood Rolling Pin is a fabulous tool for getting the perfect rolled cookie thickness. Adding this rolling pin to my arsenal was the best decision.
I’d be remised if I didn’t mention The Bearfoot Baker’s awesome and extremely helpful video tutorials: How To Roll Out Sugar Cookie Dough and How To Cut Out Perfect Sugar Cookies Every Time! I do not make cutout cookies any other way!
I used my favorite kick-butt royal icing, a PME #2 decorating tip, and a disposable pastry bag to outline and flood my Happy Little Ghost Sugar Cookies. I used the same consistency of royal icing for flooding and outlining, about an 8-second icing – it makes life easier.
Your Happy Little Ghost Sugar Cookies will need about 24 hours to dry before you can draw on their happy little faces. If the icing isn’t really truly dry the marker will sink into the frosting and that is no good.
Once your royal icing has dried, use a Black Edible Food Marker and draw on cute-adorable-scary-boo-happy faces. Allow the food marker to dry for about an hour and then trap these ghosts in an airtight container to be consumed at your leisure…if you dare! Just kidding – you dare; they’re GOOD!
Trick or Happy Little Ghost Sugar Cookies! Boo!
Sally says
The royal icing link keeps sending me to eye balls
Sarah says
Yes, that is the correct link. The eyeballs are made out of royal icing. It's the same royal icing recipe but instead of making eyeballs you are frosting the cookies with it.
Eden Passante says
For some reason these cookies make me want to go "Awwww!" They're so charming and adorable I love it!!
Sarah says
Aww....well, thank you Eden! Now you have me saying, "Awww!". 🙂
linda says
great video and I will be working with my memory care residents to make them for our Halloween party.
Sarah says
Thank you Linda! I love that idea! Please share photos of your cookies! I'd love to see them! 🙂
Alice says
It's me again do u use the bag of cookie mix just like the bag says or alternate it a little
Sarah says
I use the bag just like it says for cutout cookies.
Alice says
Hey these are the cutest EVER!!!
Hope u can help me, I try every year to make Halloween cookies for my granddaughters but I'm not pleased with them at all! It's the royal icing!!!! Ok you said a 8 sec icing but I didn't see what u do? I loved ones at the video to 12, 15 but no 8? I'm sure it's there but I freak out with royal icing recipes! Can u make this easier please! I loved Cr you flood and outline with the same Last year I had about twenty different bags and bowls and they were all WHITE!!!!
Sarah says
Hi Alice! I am not exactly sure what you are asking. 8 second icing is the consistency; it is when you run a knife through it and it takes 8 seconds for the mark to disappear. There are videos for 12 and 15 second icings but the concept is exactly the same. You just need to add a wee-bit more water until the line goes away at 8 seconds instead of 12 or 15. I hope that helps. Feel free to message for more help if need be! 🙂
Elly Leavitt says
These are so cute! And how perfect for Halloween in a couple of days 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks Elly! I agree, making more for Halloween party this weekend! 🙂
lana says
these are so cute Sarah!
Sarah says
Thank you Lana!
Sarah says
This is such a cute idea for a Halloween party! Thanks for the post!
Sarah says
Thanks Sarah! 🙂
Color Me Meg says
Oh my gosh those are so darling! I've been so afraid to get into royal icing but you might have changed my mind! Thanks!
Sarah says
Thanks Meg! Don't be afraid of royal icing - you'll do great! Give it a whirl! 🙂
Jill M says
Those are SO adorable! They remind me of the santa cookies an old friend used to make. They were delicious!
Sarah says
Thank you Jill!
Claire @The Simple, Sweet Life says
Adorable cookies Sarah! And welcome to team obsessed with cookies! Warning, it's addictive! 😉
Sarah says
Thank you Claire! I agree, definitely addictive! I am really excited to make some more decorated cookies for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! 🙂
Christina says
Those look SO cute and yummy!
Sarah says
Thank you Christina!
Skye says
Too cute! And they don't even seem that hard, just need to plan ahead a day or two.
Sarah says
Thanks Skye! They are definitely not that hard. They are perfect for beginners.
Lucy says
These are so cute! I want to bake them with my son this weekend!
Sarah says
Thanks Lucy! You totally should!
Marsha | Marsha's Baking Addiction says
These cookies look so cute and delicious! Such a cool little Halloween treat!
Sarah says
Thank you Marsha!
The Bearfoot Baker says
Cutest little ghosts ever Sarah! I love your video!!
Sarah says
Thank you! That means so much to me!