Happy Halloween everyone! I know you’re probably not looking for any sugary goodness today, but sometimes I like to have a cookie because it seems to offer a bit more substance than a Pixie Stick!
Many moons ago when I worked for the big mouse in Orlando we had an eye ball cookie night. If you can imagine an apartment complex full of 18-25 year olds from all around the world, and then imagine little old me! I pretty much lived off of Kraft Dinner and Eggo’s back then; I didn’t have a car, but Walgreen’s was within walking distance!
Anyway, one day I found an eye ball cookie making kit on clearance and decided to throw an eye ball cookie party (I’ve always been an “any excuse for a party” kind of girl!). Those cookies were basically a sugar cookie dough with white icing and gel coloring.
A couple of weeks ago I noticed that Wilton makes candy eye balls, and I thought that revisiting eye ball cookie night seemed like a good idea.
Since I already had the candy, I just needed the right shaped cookie. I decided to go with a jam thumb print cookie because, well honestly it’s because I love a jam thumb print! I got the recipe from a Southern Living cookie book, but I made a few modifications.
If you don’t want to run out and get the candy eye balls, you could put a chocolate chip in a mini marshmallow for the same effect. I love the way these turned out. I’m considering this a Halloween success.
Have fun trick-or-treating tonight, and be safe!
p.s. Those cookies are like the Mona Lisa … they’re always looking at you!
Eye Ball Cookies
adapted from Southern Living
Ingredients:
- 1 c. butter, softened
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 2 eggs, separated
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 2 c. flour
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. sweetened coconut
- strawberry jam (or whatever flavor you like)
Instructions:
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg yolks and almond, and beat until well mixed,
- Add flour and salt and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Cover and chill for 1 hour.
- Shape dough into 1 inch balls (a mini scoop works well for this).
- Dip each ball into egg white and then roll into the coconut.
- Place two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Press your thumb into each cookie to make a dent.
- Bake in a 350º oven for 12-15 minutes.
- Place on wire rachs to cool and repress your thumbs into the dents and add a 1/2 tsp of jam and and eye ball (candy)!
- 1 c. butter, softened
- ¾ c. sugar
- 2 eggs, separated
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 2 c. flour
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ c. sweetened coconut
- strawberry jam (or whatever flavor you like)
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg yolks and almond, and beat until well mixed,
- Add flour and salt and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Cover and chill for 1 hour.
- Shape dough into 1 inch balls (a mini scoop works well for this).
- Dip each ball into egg white and then roll into the coconut.
- Place two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Press your thumb into each cookie to make a dent.
- Bake in a 350º oven for 12-15 minutes.
- Place on wire rachs to cool and repress your thumbs into the dents and add a ½ tsp of jam and and eye ball (candy)!
