Halloween - Dead Finger Cookies

Hello Everyone!

It'll soon be the end of October (I know, how fast is this month going!) so that means that it is Halloween time! I've been scouring the world wide web for some baking inspiration. I found these AMAZING dead finger cookies on Cake Journal, and thought I just had to give them a go! Here's what I came up with...

This is what I used

Sugar cookie dough (please find recipe below)
Pastry brush
Plastic wrap
30-40 blanched almonds, cut into halves after the skin is removed
1 teaspoon dark cocoa powder 

Paint brush
Baking sheets
Knife

Sugar Cookie Recipe (Makes around 25-30 Fingers)

2 large eggs (1 whole egg + 1 yolk. Use the leftover egg white for brushing the cookies)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla or almond extract
8 tablespoons (1 stick) (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (65 grams) confectioners’ sugar
5 tablespoons (60 grams) granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
1 2/3 cups (235 grams) all-purpose flour

Method

1.  Add the two types of sugar in a bowl, along with the Vanilla/Almond extract, and a pinch of salt.
2. Stir in the egg and yolk. Stir well.
3. Next stir in the softened butter.
4. Add the flour and stir until it is all combined. (You should be able to pick it up)
5. Take the dough and knead it lightly. 
6. Wrap it in cling film and leave it to chill in the refridgerator for 1 hour.

Heat your oven to 350ºF/175ºC

1. Take a small piece of cookie dough (walnut size) and roll it back and forth. You should make the finger long and thinly (think, witch long and creepy) for best results. Pinch and form knuckles. Score with a knife and transfer the fingers to the prepared baking sheet. Brush the cookies with the leftover egg white and place a almond “nail” on the cookie fingers. Chill for 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
2. Place the baking sheet in the middle of the oven and bake the finger cookies for about 12-15 minutes. They should be just lightly browned. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.
3. Dust the fingers with a little cocoa powder and your creepy dead finger cookies are ready to be served.

Everyone loved them and said they looked real! Haha. Have a go yourself and see what you come up with!

I've since made some kid friendly ones (No Nuts), see above post!

Happy Halloween!

Emma xo