Name: Halloween Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 stick unsalted butter (8 tablespoons) at room temperature; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons M&Ms Ghoul’s Mix; ½ cup Reese’s Pieces; ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips; ⅓ cup Halloween sprinkles; 2 tablespoons candy eyeballs

Jump to Recipe· 4.6 from 5 reviews

If you’re looking to add some spooktacular fun to your baking this season, you’re going to LOVE this Halloween Cookies Recipe. It’s not just any cookie—it’s packed with festive colors, gooey chocolate, and those adorable candy eyeballs that make each bite as playful as it is delicious. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll be your go-to for every Halloween party or just because you want to treat yourself!

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Why This Recipe Works

Perfect Balance of Flavors: The cocoa powder and chocolate chips create rich, chocolatey cookies without being overpowering.
Festive Crunch: Using both M&Ms Ghoul’s Mix and Reese’s Pieces adds fun textures and bright pops of color for Halloween vibes.
Eyeball Fun: Candy eyes on warm cookies add that spooky charm and a touch of whimsy that’s perfect for the holiday.
Simple Yet Stunning: With straightforward ingredients and quick prep, you get gorgeous cookies without the fuss.

A white coffin-shaped plate with a wooden rim holds around fourteen round dark chocolate cookies. Each cookie is decorated with colorful candy pieces in orange, yellow, green, purple, brown, and red, along with small white candy eyes and various Halloween-themed sprinkles in orange, purple, black, white, and green. Some candies also fall onto the plate. The plate sits on a black cloth with white skeleton prints. Nearby, two small bowls—one filled with colorful candy pieces and the other with Halloween sprinkles—are placed on the same black skeleton cloth. On the right side, a white skeletal hand holds one decorated cookie. The surface beneath is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Halloween Cookies Recipe uses ingredients that come together beautifully to create cookies that are soft in the center but slightly crisp on the outside. Each component plays a role in texture, flavor, or that festive flair we crave during the spooky season.

Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter creams easily with sugar to give cookies that tender crumb.
Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create light, fluffy cookie dough.
Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds moisture.
Vanilla extract: Gives warmth and depth to the chocolate flavor.
All-purpose flour: The base for the dough’s structure.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Deepens chocolate flavor and adds that irresistible aroma.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise and spread just right.
Kosher salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
M&Ms Ghoul’s Mix: Festive multicolored candy adds crunch and bursts of sugary goodness.
Reese’s Pieces: Adds peanut butter sweetness and color contrast.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Classic melty chocolate that makes cookies extra indulgent.
Halloween sprinkles: A little extra sparkle for the holidays and festive charm.
Candy eyeballs: The whimsical finishing touch that brings Halloween fun to life.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

One of the things I love about this Halloween Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to customize. You can switch up candies, swap chocolate types, or add your own seasonal touches. Give yourself room to experiment—I’ve found that small tweaks can turn this recipe into your personal signature cookie.

Variation: I sometimes swap Reese’s Pieces for chopped peanut butter cups to amp up the richness—so good! Feel free to use whatever Halloween candies you love.
Dietary tweaks: For a dairy-free version, try coconut oil instead of butter and check that your candy mix is vegan-friendly.
Flavor twists: Adding a pinch of cinnamon or espresso powder can deepen the chocolate flavor surprisingly well.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Halloween Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Get Your Oven Purring

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. This small prep step prevents cookie sticking and helps everything bake evenly. I always do this first because there’s nothing worse than being ready to bake and scrambling for liners.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

Using your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the softened butter and sugar on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes around 3-4 minutes. It’s the secret to a tender cookie crumb — so slow and steady wins the race here.

Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla

Crack in the egg and pour in the vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed until everything is well combined. You’ll notice the dough gets a little creamier and more cohesive—this means you’re on the right track!

Step 4: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Then, add this dry mix to the wet ingredients gradually on low speed until a shaggy dough forms. It should still look a bit rough before you fold in the fun stuff.

Step 5: Fold in the Candy Mix

This is my favorite part! Gently fold in half a cup of M&Ms Ghoul’s Mix, the Reese’s Pieces, and chocolate chips with a spatula. Don’t over-mix—just enough to get an even spread so each cookie feels like a little Halloween treasure chest.

Step 6: Shape, Decorate & Bake

Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to place dough balls 2 inches apart on your lined baking sheets. I like to roll each ball between my palms for a smooth surface. Then, roll the top half of each ball in Halloween sprinkles and place backs onto the pan sprinkle-side up. To amp up the festive look, press the remaining 2 tablespoons of M&Ms on top.

Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 10 minutes, or until the centers just set. Your kitchen will smell amazing at this point!

Step 7: Add Eyeballs Before Cooling

As soon as the cookies come out warm, carefully press candy eyeballs onto them. The gentle heat helps them stick without any fuss. Then let the cookies cool completely on the pan. I find this step brings the whole look together and adds a playful Halloween vibe every time.

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Pro Tips for Making Halloween Cookies Recipe

Soft Butter is Key: Always use butter at room temp to get that perfect creaminess in your dough. Cold butter won’t blend well.
Don’t Overbake: These cookies are best when centers are barely set—oven times vary, so start checking at 9 minutes.
Sprinkle Smush Technique: Rolling part of the dough in sprinkles before baking keeps them vibrant and prevents burning.
Candy Placement: Press candy eyeballs while cookies are warm so they stick well; waiting until cooled can cause them to fall off.

How to Serve Halloween Cookies Recipe

A stack of three dark chocolate cookies is leaning on a clear glass filled with white milk, with bright red syrup dripping down the side of the glass. The cookies are topped with colorful candy pieces in orange, yellow, green, purple, white, and pink sprinkles, giving a lively look. A white skeleton woman's hand holds the bottom cookie while more cookies and colorful candies are scattered around on a dark surface. The background is dark with soft orange lights blurred out, and the whole scene is on a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually add a few extra candy eyeballs on the serving plate for people to garnish their own cookies—kids especially love that! Sometimes a light drizzle of white chocolate on top adds an elegant twist and complements the sprinkles nicely.

Side Dishes

These cookies go great alongside a big cup of hot cocoa or a pumpkin spice latte. For a party, I like serving them with a spooky punch or even a creamy milkshake to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I arranged these cookies on a tiered tray decorated with faux spider webs and small plastic spiders—it was a huge hit! Wrapping a few in cellophane bags tied with orange and black ribbons also makes a super cute take-home treat for trick-or-treaters or guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layered with parchment paper to keep them from sticking together. They stay soft and flavorful for about 3-4 days—though they rarely last that long in my house!

Freezing

These cookies freeze wonderfully. I freeze shaped cookie dough balls on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a freezer bag so I can bake fresh cookies whenever I want. Just pop them frozen into the oven but add a minute or two to the bake time.

Reheating

For that fresh-from-the-oven feeling, reheat cookies in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes or microwave for about 10 seconds. It softens the chocolate chips perfectly and revives the cookie’s chewy texture.

FAQs

Can I make this Halloween Cookies Recipe dairy-free?

Absolutely! Swap the unsalted butter for a dairy-free alternative like coconut oil or plant-based margarine. Just be sure your candy mix doesn’t have dairy ingredients—read labels carefully.
What’s the best way to keep these cookies soft?

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature with a slice of bread inside. The bread helps maintain moisture, keeping your cookies soft and fresh for days.
Can I use different candies instead of M&Ms and Reese’s Pieces?

Yes! Feel free to use your favorite candies—think chopped candy bars, mini peanut butter cups, or even festive white chocolate chips. Just keep in mind how these candies melt or hold up while baking.
How long do Halloween cookies last?

When stored properly in an airtight container, these cookies last about 3-4 days at room temperature. For longer storage, freezing is your best bet.

Final Thoughts

This Halloween Cookies Recipe is more than just a treat; it’s a tradition in my home that brings smiles and a little magic every October. The ease, the flavors, and that whimsical design come together to make both baking and enjoying these cookies pure joy. If you’re on the fence, just grab your mixer and dive in—you’ll be so glad you did, and your family will probably want you to make them all year round!