Ghost Sugar Cookies Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for a festive, fun, and utterly charming treat this season, then you’ve got to try my Ghost Sugar Cookies Recipe. These little spooktacular delights aren’t just adorable — they’re soft, buttery, and topped with the most eye-catching icing that’s as easy to make as it is impressive. Whether you’re baking with kids or just want to impress friends at your next Halloween party, you’ll find this recipe is a total winner. Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through all the tips I’ve learned so you can create these ghostly goodies like a pro!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

All the ingredients for this Ghost Sugar Cookies Recipe come together to create that perfect soft cookie base and smooth, easy-to-work-with icings. I always prefer fresh, good-quality butter and pure vanilla extract because it really makes a difference in flavor. Plus, having black gel food coloring on hand is key for those spooky facial details!

• All-purpose flour: Provides structure for a tender, soft cookie that handles icing well.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps with that classic sugar cookie texture.
• Butter: I swear by real butter — it makes the dough richer and taste better.
• Eggs: Binds everything together and adds moisture.
• Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, comforting flavor – don’t skip this!
• Baking powder: Helps cookies rise just enough without puffing up too much.
• White cookie icing: Perfect for outlining and flooding your ghosts — smooth and easy to work with.
• Buttercream frosting: I like to use this for the black decorations because it fills smoothly and holds shape well.
• Black gel food coloring: Gives the bold, dark color for eyes and mouths without watering down your frosting.
• Ghost cookie cutter: For that iconic shape! You can get creative if you want, but the ghost cutter is my go-to for simplicity.

Variations

One of the things I love about this Ghost Sugar Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to make your own! If you like experimenting, you can swap out or add flavors to make the cookies truly yours.

• Spiced Variation: Once, I added a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to the dough, and it gave the cookies a subtle warmth that paired beautifully with the sweet icing.
• Vegan Option: I’ve replaced butter with vegan margarine and used flax eggs — the texture shifts slightly, but it still holds up great to decorating.
• Colorful Ghosts: Instead of classic white, you can tint your cookie icing pale pastel shades for a modern twist — although my family always insists on the original spooky white!
• Mini Cookie Size: I sometimes make these smaller for bite-sized treats at parties — just adjust baking time accordingly.

How to Make Ghost Sugar Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Bake the Cookies

Start by preparing your cookie dough according to the roll-out cookie recipe instructions. I find rolling the dough to about 1/8 inch thickness strikes the perfect balance—not too thick, not too thin. When you cut out your ghost shapes, try to press firmly and lift the cutter straight up to keep those edges sharp. Bake the cookies until they’re just lightly golden around the edges — overbaking can make them crumbly, which is not what we’re after! Once out of the oven, allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before moving onto decorating.

Step 2: Outline and Fill with White Icing

Using your white cookie icing, outline each ghost cookie to give it a crisp edge, then flood the center with the same icing. This step can feel a bit tricky if you’re new, but I discovered that working on a flat surface and letting the outline set for a few minutes beforehand keeps your icing neat and tidy. Let these set for about 1 to 2 hours — I like to leave them near a cool window or just on the counter, uncovered to avoid condensation. Patience here pays off with a perfectly smooth white base.

Step 3: Tint the Buttercream Icing Black

While the white icing sets, prepare your buttercream frosting and tint it black using gel food coloring. I use just enough to get a deep, opaque black — a little goes a long way here. Mixing gel colors instead of liquid helps your frosting stay thick and perfect for piping without loosening the consistency.

Step 4: Decorate Ghost Faces

Fit a decorating bag with a small round tip (I use size 3) and fill it with the black buttercream. Pipe eyes and mouth onto each ghost — the classic spooky or surprised faces are easy and always cute! My trick? Practice on parchment paper first if you’re nervous — it helps build confidence and you’ll get a feel for the pressure and flow. Once decorated, let the black icing set completely before stacking or storing.

How to Serve Ghost Sugar Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I keep the decorations pretty simple for this recipe because the black and white contrast really pops on its own. Sometimes, for extra fun, I add edible glitter or tiny silver dragées around the edges for a little shimmer — it’s subtle but gives the cookies a bit of magic. If you want, you can also throw on some spooky sugar sprinkles before the white icing sets for a festive vibe!

Side Dishes

These ghostly cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of hot cocoa or a frothy pumpkin spice latte. I also love setting them out with a mix of other themed treats like caramel apples or chocolate-covered pretzels for a Halloween dessert spread that your guests will rave about.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I’ve arranged the Ghost Sugar Cookies Recipe on tiered cake stands with Halloween-themed doilies underneath — it turns a simple batch into centerpiece-worthy treats. Another fun idea: wrap a few in clear cello bags tied with black and orange ribbons for cute party favors. I’ve even used edible markers to write spooky messages on the backs of some cookies to surprise guests!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once decorated and fully dry, store your Ghost Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. I separate layers with parchment paper to avoid smudging the icing. They actually stay soft and fresh for about a week — though I’ve never had any last that long!

Freezing

If you want to prep ahead, you can freeze the baked cookies before decorating. I wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then in a freezer bag. When you’re ready to decorate, just let them thaw completely at room temperature overnight before icing. I don’t recommend freezing iced cookies since the moisture can dull the decorations.

Reheating

These cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature, but if you want that fresh-baked warmth, pop one in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. Be careful not to melt the icing – just a quick zap brings softness without ruining the decoration.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how this Ghost Sugar Cookies Recipe turns out every time, and I hope you do too. There’s something so satisfying about biting into a soft, sweet cookie with a simple but striking decoration that brings a bit of festive joy. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or sneaking a few for yourself (no judgment here!), these cookies are a delightful way to celebrate the season. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll become a go-to favorite for all your Halloween festivities. So grab your rolling pin and let’s get ghostly!