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Want a spooky snack that'll wow everyone at your next Halloween bash? These 'Hocus Pocus' Halloween Cookies have a rich chocolate cookie, bright M&M's, plus a surprise neon green frosting center hiding inside. They're super easy and a blast to whip up, so your guests will love them—and they'll vanish from the table in no time!
INGREDIENTS
- M&M Candies (Orange, Green, and Purple): Fun-colored candies go on top, making the cookies scream Halloween.
- 5 drops Neon Green Gel Food Coloring: A few drops will make your frosting eye-popping green for extra spooky feels.
- 16 oz White Frosting (one container): This will be the oozy, delicious middle hiding inside each cookie.
- 1/4 tsp Salt: Just enough to bring out all the other flavors.
- 1 tsp Baking Soda: Gives your cookies a little lift so they're thick and soft in the center.
- 2/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Bring on the rich chocolate taste.
- 2 1/4 Cup Flour: This holds everything together and is your main dry ingredient.
- 1 tsp Vanilla: Rounds out the flavor and makes it all taste better.
- 2 Large Eggs: These help everything stick and make your cookies a little richer.
- 2/3 Cup Packed Brown Sugar: Brings some moisture and a hint of molasses sweetness.
- 3/4 Cup Sugar: Gets the cookies nice and sweet and gives them that chewy bite.
- 1 Cup Sweet Cream Unsalted Butter: Softens up your dough and makes it rich and tender.
VARIATIONS
- Peanut Butter Touch: Toss in a scoop of peanut butter to the dough for a nutty twist that totally works with M&M's.
- Spooky Sprinkles: Add some Halloween sprinkles for even more fun and color on top.
- Caramel Center: Swap the frosting for gooey caramel and you'll get a sweet, runny inside instead.
- Bold Frosting Colors: Dye the filling orange, purple, or black and make it match any spooky holiday.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Step 1:
- Fire up your oven to 350°F, and lay some parchment paper or a silicone mat on your cookie tray so nothing sticks.
- Step 2:
- Sort your purple, orange, and green M&M's into bowls and stash them off to the side—these will go on top later.
- Step 3:
- Grab a medium bowl and sift cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, and salt together; set aside.
- Step 4:
- In a bigger bowl, cream together the brown sugar, sugar, and butter with a mixer until it's all fluffy.
- Step 5:
- Crack in the eggs with the vanilla and mix till it looks smooth and everything's mixed together.
- Step 6:
- Now pour in the bowl of dry stuff a bit at a time, stirring until your dough is nice and smooth.
- Step 7:
- Take half the M&M's and fold them gently into the dough so every bite gets some color.
- Step 8:
- Roll the dough into big balls, about 2 inches across, and set them on your tray. Squish the rest of the M&M's into the tops.
- Step 9:
- Bake for 9-11 minutes. Let them cool on the tray for a bit, then move to a rack so they can finish cooling.
- Step 10:
- Pop the white frosting in the microwave for 15 seconds to make it softer. Swirl in the green food color until you get a wild, bright green.
- Step 11:
- Grab a flavor injector and poke it into the edge of each cooled cookie, filling until you see the top crack. Do this for all cookies.
- Step 12:
- Put the cookies on a plate and serve—watch how fast they disappear!
Serving and Storage Tips
- Bring these to parties, curl up on the couch, or dunk them in milk—everyone loves them all ways!
- Stash any leftovers in a tight container on the counter for about five days, or pop in the fridge if you need them to last a week.
- Want to prep ahead? Chill dough balls in the fridge or toss in the freezer for up to three months before you bake.
Tips from well-known chefs
- Chef Duff Goldman: "Don't be afraid to go bright! Big colors and flavors make these treats stand out. Your personal twist is what makes them awesome!"
- Chef Buddy Valastro: "Inject the filling when cookies are cool enough so it doesn’t melt inside. But don’t let them get too cold or they might crack."
- Chef Christina Tosi: "Always add a pinch of salt. It helps the sweet flavors really pop in every bite."