Ghost Cookies are an adorable and spooky Halloween treat that’s easy to make and perfect for adding a festive touch to your celebration. These cookies feature a simple base, often made from sugar or shortbread dough, decorated to look like friendly (or slightly eerie) ghosts. With minimal ingredients, these treats are not only delicious but also fun to make with kids, creating a memorable holiday activity while filling the house with the scent of freshly baked cookies. Whether you’re making them for a Halloween party, as a special snack, or as a fun gift, Ghost Cookies are sure to be a hit!
To start, you’ll need a basic sugar cookie dough, which you can make from scratch or use store-bought dough for convenience. Roll out the dough and cut it into ghost shapes using a cookie cutter. If you don’t have a ghost-shaped cutter, you can easily shape the dough by hand or use any other fun Halloween shapes like bats or pumpkins. Once the cookies are baked and cooled, they’re ready for decorating!
To decorate your Ghost Cookies, the traditional method is to use white icing to cover the entire cookie, giving it a smooth, ghostly appearance. You can use royal icing or a simple glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Once the white icing sets, add small black dots for eyes and a mouth to create the ghost’s face. You can use black food coloring for the eyes or opt for mini chocolate chips or candy eyes for a more fun, whimsical look.
For a fun twist, try using fondant to create more detailed faces or add some sparkle with edible glitter or sprinkles. If you want to add a little extra texture, sprinkle some powdered sugar on top for a “foggy” effect or drizzle melted chocolate around the edges for a spooky, drippy look.
Ghost Cookies are incredibly versatile and can be personalized in many ways, making them a great treat for all ages. They’re perfect for handing out at Halloween parties, giving as party favors, or simply serving as a delicious snack for family and friends. Plus, these cookies store well, so you can bake them ahead of time and keep them fresh for your festivities.

Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg large
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
yummy cookies!!! I ate 10 of them already!!! Best recipe ever!!!
Simplest recipe ever! I made these with my grandma and we had a blast. Made us reminisce about old times.
I’m not sure about this. Ghost shapes? Really? Seems a bit silly. 🙄
I tried this recipe but mine turned out too puffy. Maybe I added too much flour? Not sure what went wrong.
I didn’t have a ghost cookie cutter, so I used a star one instead. They still taste great, but they don’t look as spooky. 😄
OMG these are DELICIOUS! I added some chocolate chips and they turned out even better. Definitely making again!
I tried this recipe too! Just like you said, they’re sooo good! Chocolate chips are a great idea!
Not sure about the chocolate chips. Ghost cookies should be ghostly, not chocolatey! What’s next, brown ghosts?
I didn’t have a ghost cutter, so I just used a glass. They still taste great!
Using a glass is a smart move! Who needs a fancy cutter anyway? 🤷♀️
Dis be the best cookie recipe ever!!! I ate 10 in one siting. Gonna make more!!!
These cookies turned out so cute! Perfect for Halloween, my kids loved them! 👻
I found the dough too sticky and it was hard to roll out. Maybe less butter next time?
I thought cookies were supposed to be crunchy? They are kinda soft. Not what I expected!!
These cookies are adorable! Perfect for Halloween. My kids loved making them with me!
That sounds like so much fun! I can’t wait to make these with my kids too! They love Halloween!
Adorable? I dunno, cookies are cookies. I just hope they taste good.