“Hocus Pocus” Halloween Cookies Recipe

Introduction

“Hocus Pocus” Halloween Cookies are a festive treat perfect for the spooky season. These rich cocoa cookies are packed with colorful M&M’s and filled with vibrant green frosting for a magical surprise in every bite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sweet cream unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 16 oz white frosting (typically one container)
• 5 drops neon green gel food coloring
• M&M candies in orange, green, and purple

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick silicone baking mat.
2. Step 2: Separate the green, orange, and purple M&M’s into a small bowl.
3. Step 3: Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder in a mixing bowl.
4. Step 4: In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy.
5. Step 5: Add the eggs and vanilla to the butter mixture and continue mixing until combined.
6. Step 6: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until well combined.
7. Step 7: Stir about half of the M&M’s into the cookie dough.
8. Step 8: Form dough into 2-inch balls and place them on the prepared cookie sheet.
9. Step 9: Press the remaining M&M’s into the top of each cookie dough ball.
10. Step 10: Bake the cookies at 350°F for 9-11 minutes. Let them cool slightly on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Step 11: To make the frosting, soften the white frosting by microwaving for 15 seconds.
12. Step 12: Stir in the neon green gel food coloring until the frosting is bright green.
13. Step 13: Using a flavor injector, fill it with the green frosting.
14. Step 14: Poke the side of a cooled cookie with the injector needle and slowly inject the frosting until the top cracks slightly.
15. Step 15: Repeat for all cookies to fill them with frosting.

Tips & Variations

• Use a chilled dough for easier handling and better shape retention during baking.
• Substitute white frosting with cream cheese frosting for a tangy twist.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon or chili powder to the dough for subtle warmth and depth.
• For a less sweet version, reduce the sugar slightly and use dark chocolate M&M’s.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. To keep the frosting fresh, avoid refrigeration as it may harden. If needed, gently warm the cookies before serving for a soft texture.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the cookie dough up to 24 hours in advance and keep it refrigerated. Bake just before serving for best freshness.

What if I don’t have a flavor injector?

If you don’t have a flavor injector, you can hollow out a small portion of the cookie with a skewer and fill the cavity with green frosting using a small spoon or piping bag.

“Hocus Pocus” Halloween Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 98 reviews

These ‘Hocus Pocus’ Halloween Cookies are a festive treat perfect for the spooky season. Rich, chocolatey cookies studded with vibrant orange, green, and purple M&M candies are soft-baked to perfection and filled with neon green tinted white frosting injected for an eerie, gooey surprise. Fun to make and delightful to eat, these cookies bring a magical charm to your Halloween celebrations.

• Author: Emma
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 11 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 24 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Ingredients

• 1 Cup Sweet Cream Unsalted Butter
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 2/3 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 2/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• M&M Candies (orange, green, and purple) – quantity as desired, separated by color

Frosting Ingredients

• 16 oz White Frosting (typically one container)
• 5 drops Neon Green Gel Food Coloring

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven. Set your oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the ideal heat for baking your cookies evenly.
2. Prepare baking sheets. Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper or a non-stick silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and aid in easy cleanup.
3. Sort the M&M’s. Separate the orange, green, and purple M&M candies into a small bowl for easier use during dough preparation and decorating.
4. Sift dry ingredients. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder to remove lumps and evenly distribute the leavening agents and cocoa.
5. Cream butter and sugars. Using an electric mixer, cream the sweet cream unsalted butter with both the granulated and brown sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
6. Add eggs and vanilla. Incorporate the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract, continuing to mix until fully combined for a smooth batter.
7. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet mixture, blending as you go until well combined without overmixing to keep the dough tender.
8. Mix in half of the M&M’s. Fold about half of the sorted M&M candies into the cookie dough gently, distributing the candy evenly throughout.
9. Shape the dough into balls. Scoop and form the dough into approximately 2-inch diameter balls, ensuring consistent size for uniform baking.
10. Add M&M’s on top. Press the remaining M&M’s onto the surface of each dough ball, giving each cookie a colorful and festive top.
11. Bake the cookies. Place the cookies on prepared sheets and bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes. Remove when edges are set but cookies remain soft in the center.
12. Cool the cookies. Allow the cookies to cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely to avoid breaking.
13. Softening the frosting. Scoop the white frosting into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for about 15 seconds to make it easier to inject.
14. Tint the frosting. Stir in 5 drops of neon green gel food coloring until the frosting turns a bright, vibrant green perfect for a spooky effect.
15. Fill the flavor injector. Place the needle tip into the bowl of colored frosting, pulling the injector plunger up to fill it with frosting neatly.
16. Inject frosting into cookies. Poke the side of each cooled cookie with the injector needle and carefully inject enough frosting just until the top of the cookie cracks, filling the center with gooey frosting.
17. Repeat frosting injection. Continue injecting frosting into each cookie until all are filled, then serve or store as desired.

Notes

• Ensure the oven is fully preheated before baking for best results.
• Sifting dry ingredients helps prevent clumps, resulting in a smoother dough.
• If you prefer a less sweet cookie, reduce sugars slightly but be aware it can affect texture.
• Use a gentle hand when folding M&M’s into dough to avoid breaking them.
• Cool cookies completely before injecting frosting to prevent melting or breaking.
• Store injected cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate up to a week.

Keywords: Halloween cookies, chocolate cookies, festive cookies, frosting-filled cookies, M&M cookies, spooky treats