These 'Hocus Pocus' Halloween Cookies are the ultimate spooky treat! With a rich chocolate cookie base, filled with surprise neon green frosting and topped with vibrant orange, green, and purple M&M's, these cookies are perfect for any Halloween party or celebration. The magical green frosting hidden inside makes each bite fun and unexpected. Plus, they’re easy to make and a hit with kids and adults alike. Make these cookies for your next spooky gathering, and watch them disappear like magic!
These 'Hocus Pocus' Halloween Cookies are the perfect spooky treat for your next Halloween party! With a soft, chocolatey cookie base, surprise neon green frosting inside, and topped with colorful M&M's, these cookies are fun, festive, and delicious. Let’s dive into the ingredients you’ll need to whip up these magical cookies!
INGREDIENTS
- Sweet cream unsalted butter (1 cup): Adds richness and moisture to the cookie dough, creating a soft and buttery texture.
- Sugar (¾ cup): Sweetens the cookies and helps create a slightly crisp edge.
- Packed brown sugar (⅔ cup): Adds moisture and a hint of caramel flavor, giving the cookies a soft and chewy texture.
- Large eggs (2): Bind the ingredients together and add structure to the cookies.
- Vanilla extract (1 tsp): Adds a warm, sweet flavor that complements the chocolate in the cookies.
- All-purpose flour (2¼ cups): The base of the dough, providing structure and stability to the cookies.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder (⅔ cup): Gives the cookies a rich chocolate flavor and dark color.
- Baking soda (1 tsp): Helps the cookies rise and become light and fluffy.
- Salt (¼ tsp): Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.
- White frosting (16 oz): Used to fill the cookies with a surprise burst of neon green sweetness.
- Neon green gel food coloring (5 drops): Turns the white frosting into a spooky, bright green filling.
- M&M candies (orange, green, and purple): Adds a festive and colorful touch to the top of each cookie.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Step 1:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick silicone baking mat.
- Step 2:
- In a small bowl, separate the orange, green, and purple M&M's and set them aside for later use.
- Step 3:
- In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
- Step 4:
- In a separate large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Step 5:
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and continue mixing until fully combined.
- Step 6:
- Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing as you go. Continue to mix until the dough is well combined and no dry patches remain.
- Step 7:
- Gently fold in half of the M&M candies into the cookie dough.
- Step 8:
- Form the dough into 2-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, pressing the remaining M&M's on top of each dough ball.
- Step 9:
- Bake the cookies at 350°F for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still slightly soft. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Step 10:
- To make the frosting, scoop the white frosting into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 15 seconds to soften.
- Step 11:
- Stir in the neon green gel food coloring until the frosting is bright green and evenly colored.
- Step 12:
- Using a flavor injector, fill each cookie with the green frosting by inserting the injector into the side of the cookie and injecting until the top of the cookie cracks slightly. Repeat until all cookies are filled.
Serving and Storage Tips
- These cookies are best served slightly warm so the green frosting filling is soft and gooey. However, they’re equally delicious at room temperature.
- Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to a week and reheat slightly before serving.
- If you’re making these cookies for a Halloween party, serve them on a festive platter with extra M&M’s scattered around for decoration!
Helpful Notes
- Be careful not to overbake the cookies. The centers should still be soft when you remove them from the oven for the perfect texture once cooled.
- If you don’t have a flavor injector, you can scoop a small hole in the side or bottom of each cookie and spoon in the frosting. The injection method, however, makes for a cleaner and more surprising filling.
- To make the cookies even more festive, you can add edible Halloween sprinkles or edible glitter on top of the frosting-filled cookies!
Tips from well-known chefs
- Pastry Chef Sarah suggests using orange and purple food coloring for the frosting if you want to match the colors of the M&M's for an even more vibrant Halloween look.
- Chef Jason recommends chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help the cookies maintain their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- The combination of soft chocolate cookies and a surprise gooey green frosting center makes these cookies extra fun for Halloween!
- The colorful M&M’s on top add a festive touch that everyone, especially kids, will love.
- This recipe is easy to make, and the frosting-filled center makes each bite magical and unique.
VARIATIONS
- If you prefer a different flavor, swap the neon green frosting for vanilla or chocolate frosting with different Halloween colors.
- For a spooky twist, add a pinch of cinnamon or chili powder to the cookie dough to give the cookies a warm or spicy kick.
- You can also turn this recipe into sandwich cookies by spreading the green frosting between two cookies instead of injecting it inside!