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Best Spooky Witch Finger Cookies Recipe – Easy Almond Nails

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These spooky witch finger cookies with almond nails are a fun and delicious Halloween treat that looks creepy but tastes like buttery shortbread with a toasty almond crunch. Quick to make with simple ingredients, they’re perfect for parties and guaranteed to get laughs.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Whole almonds (about 30-36, one per cookie)
  • Red jam or food coloring (optional, for “blood” effect)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Count out about 36 whole almonds and set them aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides halfway through.
  3. Add the egg and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until fully incorporated. The mixture might look slightly curdled—that’s normal.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add this to the wet mixture in two additions, mixing on low speed after each. Stop as soon as the dough comes together.
  5. Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of dough (roughly 20g). Roll it into a log shape about 3 inches long. Place it on the prepared baking sheet. Taper one end slightly thinner (the fingertip) and leave the other end slightly thicker. Press a small indentation at the tip for the almond nail.
  6. Take a whole almond and press it firmly into the indentation at the fingertip, pointed end facing outward, at a slight downward angle so it looks like it’s growing out of the finger.
  7. Using the back of a butter knife or the edge of a small spatula, gently press two or three lines across each finger to mimic knuckles. Space them unevenly. Gently press the sides of the finger to make it look more organic.
  8. Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. The centers should still look pale. Almonds should be lightly toasted.
  9. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack.
  10. Once cooled, dip the base of the almond nail into a tiny bit of red jam or thinned red food coloring for a ‘blood’ effect (optional).

Notes

If dough feels too sticky, chill for 10 minutes. If too dry, add a teaspoon of milk. For a vegan version, use vegan butter and a flax egg. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Almonds can be replaced with cashews or dried apple slices for a nut-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: witch finger cookies, Halloween cookies, almond nails, shortbread cookies, spooky treats, easy Halloween recipe

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/best-spooky-witch-finger-cookies-recipe-easy-almond-nails/