Description
Halloween Zombie Fingers are spooky, fun-to-make treats shaped like creepy fingers with an almond “nail” and blood-red jam for a realistic, gory effect. Made from buttery shortbread dough and flavored with vanilla or almond, they’re the perfect eerie addition to any Halloween party table.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Decoration
- ½ cup whole blanched almonds
- ¼ cup strawberry or raspberry jam (for “blood”)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Egg and Flavoring: Beat in the large egg and your choice of 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract until fully incorporated and the batter is uniform in color and texture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Form the Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms that holds together well but isn’t sticky.
- Shape Fingers: Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough at a time and roll each into a thin finger shape, slightly thinner than the final desired size because they will puff up during baking.
- Add Almond Nails and Knuckles: Press a whole blanched almond at one end of each finger to mimic a fingernail. Using a butter knife or toothpick, create small indentations along the fingers to simulate knuckle lines for a creepy realistic detail.
- Bake: Place the shaped fingers onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden, indicating they are done.
- Add Bloody Details: Once removed from the oven, allow cookies to cool for a few minutes. Carefully lift each almond and add a small dab of strawberry or raspberry jam underneath to create the effect of a bleeding nail. Optionally, spread some jam at the base or knuckle areas for extra gore.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before serving or storing in an airtight container.
Notes
- For a more dramatic and eerie effect, tint the dough with green or gray gel food coloring before shaping to resemble decaying skin.
- Dough can be prepared ahead of time and chilled in the refrigerator to make shaping easier and to improve the finger definition.
- Store finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
