Witch Hat Cookies are a fun and easy treat to make for Halloween. These purple peanut butter cookies are soft and tasty. Each cookie has a chocolate Hug on top and is covered with colorful sugar and sprinkles to make them look festive and special.
Why You’ll Love These Witch Hat Cookies
You’re going to enjoy making these cookies because they are both visually striking and full of rich, peanut buttery goodness. The purple color adds a playful and spooky vibe, perfect for the Halloween season. Plus, the texture is just right — soft and tender with a slight crisp around the edges. The Hershey’s Hug on top adds a touch of creamy chocolate that melts in your mouth. The decorating step is simple but rewarding, giving each cookie a magical, witch hat look that kids and adults alike will adore. These cookies are great for sharing, gifting, or just treating yourself to something special during the spooky season.
Ingredients for Witch Hat Cookies
To make these fun Halloween treats, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Purple gel food coloring
- Halloween sprinkles
- Purple sanding sugar
- 33 Hershey’s Hugs candies or Kisses, unwrapped
How to Make Witch Hat Cookies
Start by gathering and measuring your ingredients carefully. Prepping ahead makes the process smoother. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to keep the cookies from sticking and make cleanup easier.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside; you’ll add it later to your wet ingredients.
Using an electric mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar for about two minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Then, add the egg and mix until it’s fully combined.
Next, stir in the creamy peanut butter and vanilla extract. Make sure everything is evenly mixed by scraping down the bowl’s sides if needed.
Gradually add the dry ingredient mix to the wet mixture. Stir until the dough comes together. Now, it’s time to add your purple gel food coloring. Add small amounts and mix well until you reach the bright, vivid purple you want. For even color distribution, mix by hand with a spatula after using the mixer.
Using a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop (or just estimate), place scoops of dough on the prepared baking sheet. Keep them close but not touching because they will spread a little. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for at least two hours. For best results, chill overnight to let the flavors deepen and the dough firm up.
When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets again with parchment paper.
Pour your purple sanding sugar and Halloween sprinkles into a small shallow bowl. Roll each chilled dough ball in the sugar and sprinkles until fully coated.
Arrange the cookies two inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. You’ll notice they puff up and start to crack on the surface, signaling they are done.
Once out of the oven, let the cookies cool for about five minutes on the baking sheet. Then, gently press one Hershey’s Hug candy into the center of each warm cookie so it sticks.
To keep the chocolate from melting too much, place the baking sheet directly into the freezer for 10 minutes.
Finally, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely while you bake the remaining batches.
How to Serve Witch Hat Cookies
Serving these cookies is as much fun as making them. You can arrange them on a festive Halloween-themed platter or stack them in a decorative tin for guests or family members. Their bright purple color and sparkling sugar coating make them a standout treat for any party table. They pair wonderfully with a glass of cold milk or your favorite hot chocolate. These cookies are also perfect for packing into lunchboxes or giving as a homemade gift to friends and neighbors during the Halloween season. For an extra festive touch, serve them alongside other Halloween-themed goodies like candy corn, pumpkin-shaped treats, or caramel apples.
Expert Tips for Perfect Witch Hat Cookies
To make sure your Witch Hat Cookies turn out perfectly every time, keep these tips in mind:
- Chill the dough well: This helps the cookies keep their shape and prevents spreading during baking. The longer you chill, the better the texture.
- Use gel food coloring: Gel colors give a more vivid hue without thinning the dough like liquid colors can.
- Don’t skip parchment paper: It makes cleanup easy and ensures your cookies don’t stick.
- Roll the dough balls tightly in sugar and sprinkles so the coating adheres well and gives a nice sparkle.
- If you want sharper cookie edges, slightly flatten the dough balls before baking.
- Press the Hershey’s Hug gently but firmly so it melts just enough to stick but doesn’t lose shape.
- Cool cookies on the sheet for a few minutes before moving them to avoid breaking.
- Keep an eye on baking time; underbaking will make cookies too soft, overbaking will dry them out.
- Use a wire rack to cool completely for best texture.
How to Store Witch Hat Cookies
You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Keep them separated by parchment paper layers to avoid sticking together. For longer storage, freeze the cookies in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature before serving. Avoid storing in warm places, as the chocolate topping may soften too much and the cookies might lose their crisp texture.
Variation Ideas for Witch Hat Cookies
Feel free to get creative with this recipe and customize it to your liking:
- Swap purple gel food coloring for green or orange to match different Halloween themes.
- Use natural peanut butter for a healthier twist.
- Replace peanut butter with almond or sunflower seed butter for a different flavor profile.
- Try decorating with different candies on top, such as mini candy pumpkins or colorful chocolate chips.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice into the dough for a fall-inspired flavor.
- Use colored sanding sugar or edible glitter for a sparkly effect.
- Make the cookies gluten-free by using a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Add a handful of mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts into the dough for extra texture.
- For a festive look, drizzle melted white chocolate over the baked cookies before adding the Hug.
Frequently Asked Questions About Witch Hat Cookies
What makes these cookies purple?
The vibrant purple color comes from the gel food coloring added to the dough. Gel colors are preferred because they don’t affect the dough’s consistency and provide rich color.
Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?
Yes, you can use crunchy peanut butter, but it will change the texture slightly. The cookies might have little bits of peanut, adding extra crunch.
How long should I chill the dough?
Chilling the dough for at least 2 hours is recommended. For best results, overnight chilling allows the dough to firm up and flavors to develop.
Can I make these cookies vegan or dairy-free?
This recipe includes butter and an egg, so to make it vegan or dairy-free, you’d need to substitute butter with a plant-based alternative and use a flax egg or similar egg replacer.
How do I prevent the chocolate from melting too much on top?
Place the cookies in the freezer for 10 minutes right after pressing the Hershey’s Hug on top. This helps the chocolate set quickly.
Are these cookies good for kids?
Absolutely! Kids will love the fun color, sweet peanut butter flavor, and festive sprinkles. They’re a safe and tasty Halloween treat.
Witch Hat Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Refrigerator
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 33 Hershey’s Hugs candies (unwrapped)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add in the egg, peanut butter, and vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until the dough comes together.
- Add purple gel food coloring until you reach the desired shade.
- Using a cookie scoop, place dough balls on the prepared baking sheet. Chill covered in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- After chilling, roll each dough ball in purple sanding sugar and Halloween sprinkles until fully coated.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until they puff up and crack on the surface.
- Press a Hershey’s Hug into the center of each warm cookie and freeze for 10 minutes to set.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
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