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Jack Skellington Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 119 reviews

Create festive Jack Skellington Cookies perfect for Halloween or any spooky celebration. These soft, buttery cookies are decorated with a smooth, stiff royal icing to capture the iconic skeletal face from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Easy to bake and fun to decorate, these cookies combine classic sugar cookie flavors with vibrant black and white icing to delight both kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookies

  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs (100g), well beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk
  • 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Royal Icing

  • 2 pasteurized egg whites (60g)
  • 3 cups (340g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • A few drops of black food coloring

Instructions

  1. Make Cookies: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and milk until well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to form the cookie dough.
  2. Chill and Bake: Wrap the dough securely in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Once chilled, roll out the dough to about ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out circles and place them evenly spaced on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
  3. Make Icing: Using a clean bowl, whisk the pasteurized egg whites until foamy. Slowly add the sifted powdered sugar, continuing to whisk until stiff peaks form, indicating a thick and smooth royal icing consistency. Add water gradually, stirring until when you drag the whisk through the icing it holds its shape and a drawn figure eight disappears in about 8 seconds. This ensures the perfect consistency for decorating.
  4. Decorate: Divide the royal icing into two portions. Tint one portion with black food coloring until an even deep black color is achieved. Transfer both the white and black icings into piping bags. Decorate the cooled cookies to resemble Jack Skellington’s face by piping the eyes, nose, mouth, and facial expression. Allow the icing to dry completely at room temperature before serving or storing to prevent smudging.

Notes

  • Use pasteurized egg whites or meringue powder to ensure safety when consuming raw egg whites in royal icing.
  • For sharper edges on cookies, chill the dough well before cutting and rolling.
  • Allow icing to dry overnight for the best finish and durability if packaging or gifting the cookies.
  • Substitute black gel food coloring for more vibrant color without thinning the icing.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Keywords: Jack Skellington cookies, Halloween cookies, sugar cookies, royal icing cookies, spooky cookies, Nightmare Before Christmas treats

Find it online: https://zarameals.com/jack-skellington-cookies-recipe/