Halloween Tricks and Treats - Kid-Friendly Witchy Finger Cookies!!!

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!!  I mean, big time!!!  The house is decorated inside and out and I have giggled with glee since the first of September knowing that Halloween was right around the corner.  And as much as I love the deco - the candy and goodies run a pretty close second.  Okay - who am I fooling - they are neck and neck!  These witchy fingers are one of my faves to make!  I will not for a hot second claim this recipe or idea as my own.  There are tons of variations out there.  I know when I first started making these years ago, I found all different ideas - flesh colored, strawberry jam on the end to look like blood, etc.  Mine are pretty basic and simple, kid friendly and perfect to make when you are short on time and need something amazing in a pinch!  I always use the classic Wilton spritz cookie recipe with my witchy fingers, top them off with a a little black icing for the fingernails and a cutesie spider ring for fun.  Plus, it's a little something for the kids to keep!

Classic Spritz Cookies

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 cups butter (softened)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon no -color almond extract

Ingredients for decorating:

green food coloring

black icing

plastic spider rings

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder.  In a separate larger bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add egg, milk, vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.  Gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture, mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated.  Once your ingredients are thoroughly mixed, add the green food coloring.  Knead the coloring through the dough with your hands until you reach your desired "witchy green".  Yes, you will have green hands but this is honestly the best way to ensure the dough is completely saturated with the color.  Do not chill dough.

Form small palm size balls of dough into "finger size" rods.  Round off one end of the dough rod and press down slightly on the top of that end to create a "nail bed".  This is where the icing will sit for the fingernail.  Pinch the dough slightly in three separate spots on the rod to create the look of a knuckles on a gnarled witchy finger.  DO NOT ADD THE ICING OR PLASTIC SPIDER RINGS UNTIL AFTER THE COOKIES ARE BAKED, OUT OF THE OVEN AND COMPLETELY COOLED!!!  o.k. - that was my safety disclaimer

Place each finger on a baking sheet and cook for 10-12 min.  Watch these closely as it will be hard to tell when the edges start to turn brown because of the green coloring.  No one wants to eat a burnt finger ;)

Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet set up on a cooling rack.  After a few minutes, transfer the fingers to another surface to cool completely and prepare for decorating!

Once cookies are completely cool - slip a little spider ring on the finger and pipe a small strip of black icing onto the nail bed of the finger.  

Have fun with your presentation!  I placed mine in a spider basket on a Halloween towel because I made them in flash mode right before a Halloween party.  I would love to see all of your super creative ideas!

Enjoy your Witchy Fingers - try not to break your tooth on a bone - Mwahaahahaa!!!  Happy Halloween!!!