Hocus Pocus Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Gel food coloring: Purple, Lime Green, and Orange
- 24 large candy eyeballs
- Black decorating icing (tube or pouch)
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent the cookies from sticking and to ensure even browning.
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar. Beat on medium-high speed for about 2–3 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Continue to beat until fully incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed to ensure everything is well-combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix, as this can make the cookies tough.
- Divide the dough into three equal portions in separate bowls. Add a few drops of purple gel coloring to one, lime green to the second, and orange to the third. Knead or stir each portion until the color is vibrant and uniform throughout.
- Scoop about one tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Place the balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just set but the centers still look slightly soft. Do not let them brown.
- Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, gently press one candy eyeball into the center of each cookie. Once the cookies have cooled completely, use the black decorating icing to draw small “stitches” or “veins” around the eye to mimic the look of the Sanderson sisters’ spellbook.