Halloween - Witches Finger Cookies

Following my previous Halloween themed post, I thought that I would do a kid friendly (no nuts) version of the 'Dead Finger Cookies'. Here is what I have apptly named 'Witches Finger Cookies'.  They're bright and colourful, but spooky at the same time. The kids loved them and all had red/green/black mouths, which made them even more fun!

This is what I used

Sugar cookie dough (please find recipe below)
Pastry brush
Plastic wrap
Skin tone & White coloured sugarpaste (I oppted for the difficult way, you could used red/green/black coloured sugarpaste for the same effect.
Red/Green/Black colouring (You don't need this if you are using the coloured sugarpaste)
Petal shaped cutter
Rolling pin
Corn flour
1 teaspoon dark cocoa powder 

Paint brush
Baking sheets
Knife
A little firm icing made with water

For the Nails (Best to do this a couple of hours before)

1. Start by lightly dusting the surface with corn flour.
2. Knead together a walnut sized piece of skin tone and white sugarpaste (Skip this step if using pre-coloured sugarpaste)

      3.    Roll out the sugarpaste until it is 2mm thick.

      4.   Using the petal cutter, cut out 25-30 petal shapes.

   5.   Leave them to set for a couple of hours.

   6.   Once set for a couple of hours, using the food colourings paint each nail. (Skip this step if using pre-coloured sugarpaste)

   7.   Bake the cookies (See receipe below) whilst you're waiting for the nails to dry.

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
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. 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.
4. Using the icing, put a little on one end of a finger, place a nail on top of the icing and leave to set.
5. Repeat 4. until all the fingers have nails.
6. Your witches fingers are ready to be served! (Spiders addded for dramatic effect).

Happy Halloween!

Emma xo