Tombstone Halloween Cookies

Halloween is the perfect time to try out some of the cookie decorating skills that I have been working on all year! These Tombstone Halloween Cookies are an extra special trick and treat gift for the kids especially after the year we have had! So here to go a step-by-step guide including cookie recipe on how to make Tombstone Cookies.

How to Make Halloween Cookies

One of the problems that I have had with cookies in the past is that when it comes to cooking them using a sugar cookie recipe they tend to spread. So with some reading around through my cookbook collection, I’ve found this cookie recipe that doesn’t. So it is perfect for making decorated cookies like these Tombstone ones for Halloween.

To get the decoration right you are looking at a 12+hr time to decorate as you want the icing to set before you add the details to the top. Using royal icing this way lets you make lots of additions and have the raised look that you can see in the pictures. If you don’t allow the icing to set then instead it will sink it, run together and look a mess.

So on your first day, you want to make the cookies, let them cool and complete the first stage of decorating them so that the base is completed.

Then on the second day, you add in the details the icing will be fine overnight so don’t worry about making up more.

Check out these no-chill sugar cookies for another simple cookie recipe you can make for your family.

How to Store Royal Icing for Decorating Cookies

Royal icing can be stored in the pipping bags or containers in the fridge overnight.

When you want to use them again remove from the fridge and then allow to come to room temperature before re-mixing and using so that it can soften up again.

set of 6 homemade halloween cookies

Kitchen Essentials we used to Make these Cookies

There are a couple of little extra’s that we used to make the cookies that maybe you don’t have in your kitchen but I find very useful when making them.

I have made royal icing in the past by hand. But, it is HARD WORK so getting a stand-mixer has saved my arms and made the whole cookie decorating process a LOT quicker. Although I would love a Kitchen Aid (because of the look of them!) I really can’t justify the cost of one so I have a budget-friendly stand mixer which does the job.

These cookies could be cut out using a template but save yourself some time and get a tombstone cookie cutter. The kids use mine for their cookies as well and for playdough.

When it comes to pipping bags – I do like being a little environmental friendly so use reusable silicone bags. I like this set that comes with lots of different tips. For decorating these cookies I used the number 2 tip. Oh and don’t forget a squeezy bottle although you can infill your design with a piping bag filled the squeezy bottle is a lot easier to do.

close up of a Halloween tombstone sugar cookie

Love these cookies but looking for something a little easier to make? Why not check out our Easy Halloween Cookie Recipe!

Yield: 12 cookies

Tombstone Halloween Cookies

Fun Halloween Tombstone Cookies with RIP, on a black table with a spider

Easy to decorate step by step guide to make these fantastic Tombstone Sugar Cookies for Halloween. Includes a Recipe for Sugar Cookies that won't spread whilst they bake.

Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Decorating & Resting Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 43 minutes

Ingredients

Sugar Cookie Ingredients

  • 1 C of unsalted sweet cream butter softened
  • 1 1/2 C Powder sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 3 C of flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cream of tarter

Royal Icing ingredients

  • 4 egg whites
  • 1/2 tsp cream of tarter
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 4 1/2 C powder sugar
  • Black gel food coloring
  • 1 edible silver spray
  • 1 edible black spray

Instructions

Sugar Cookie Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside
  3. Using a standing mixer, cream together the butter, powder sugar, vanilla and egg and mix until combined and creamy
  4. Using a large bowl, combined the flour, baking soda and cream of tarter
  5. Gradually add in the dry ingredients and mix on low speed
  6. Using your hands continue to mix until fully combined
  7. Lightly flour a cutting board and knead the cookie dough a couple of times
  8. Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thick
  9. Cut out 12 tombstones and place onto a cookie sheet
  10. Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly golden brown
  11. Repeat steps until all dough has been used
  12. Let cookies cool completely

Royal Icing Instructions

  1. Using the standing mixer, combine the egg whites, cream of tarter, vanilla and powder sugar and mix until combined and stiff peaks form
  2. Split icing into 2 bowls
  3. Add a few drops of Black into the first bowl and mix until combined. You are wanting to get a dark grey color
  4. Add about 4-6 drops of Black gel coloring into the second bowl and mix until combined. You will probably have to add a few more drops of black coloring until you get a dark black coloring
  5. Scoop about 1/4 C of the grey icing into one of the piping bags
  6. Mix in about 1 tbsp of powdered sugar into the black icing
  7. Scoop the black icing into the second piping bag and set aside
  8. Add 2-4 tsp of water into the remaining grey icing bowl and mix until combined
  9. Pour the icing into squeeze bottle


How to decorate your Halloween Cookies

  1. Using the grey piping bag, out line the tombstone 
  2. Using the thinned icing, fill in the tombstone 
  3. Let cookies dry overnight.
  4. Using the black spray paint, spray the edges of the tombstones
  5. Allow cookies to dry for 5 minutes
  6. Once cookies are dry, using the black icing pipe 3 lines going from the left corner to almost the center
  7. Pipe 3 'rope' like lines on the 3 longer lines to create a spider web
  8. Allow cookies to dry for 1 hour 
  9. Using the silver spray, spray the cookies to give it a spooky look!

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    12

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 652Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 253mgCarbohydrates: 125gFiber: 1gSugar: 100gProtein: 5g

    Did you make this recipe and loved it?

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

    More Halloween Recipes to Cook

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    spider web brownies for halloween dessert easy to make with and for kids on a white tray with green halloween paper behind
    delicious devilish spiders devilled eggs on a slate tray
    Easy to decorate step-by-step guide to make these fantastic Tombstone Sugar Cookies for Halloween. Includes a no spread sugar cookie recipe.

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