Description
Sinister blood splatter cookies bring Halloween horror right onto dessert plates, creating spine-chilling treats perfect for ghoulish gatherings. Dark chocolate cookies drizzled with crimson icing will make guests scream with delightful terror.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 4 cups flour
- 1 cup Hershey’s dark cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (340 grams) unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Sweeteners:
- 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper for a non-stick surface.
- Combine butter, sugars, eggs, corn syrup, and vanilla in a mixer until the mixture transforms into a fluffy, pale composition.
- Separately blend flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt into a uniform dry mixture.
- Gently incorporate dry ingredients into the wet mixture, creating a cohesive dark dough.
- Form dough into rounded spheres using a cookie scoop, positioning them evenly across the prepared baking sheets.
- Softly flatten each dough ball to ensure uniform cooking and attractive presentation.
- Bake cookies for 15-18 minutes, watching for firm edges and consistent coloration.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on wire racks, ensuring they reach room temperature.
- Whip egg whites with cream of tartar, powdered sugar, and vanilla until the icing develops soft, billowy peaks.
- Gradually introduce red food coloring, adjusting intensity to achieve a vivid, blood-like crimson shade.
- Thin the icing with water, creating a flowing consistency that drips elegantly from a spoon.
- Protect work surfaces with disposable covers to manage potential splattering.
- Use a fork to dramatically flick icing across cookie surfaces, mimicking dramatic blood spatter effects.
- Let decorated cookies rest for one hour, allowing icing to set and develop a polished finish.
Notes
- Check butter temperature to ensure smooth creaming, softening it at room temperature for 30 minutes prevents lumpy dough.
- Use high-quality cocoa powder for richer, deeper chocolate flavor that elevates the cookie’s taste profile.
- Cornstarch helps create a tender, soft cookie texture by reducing gluten development during mixing.
- For gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with almond or gluten-free blend, maintaining the same cookie consistency.
- Reduce sugar by 25% if preferring less sweetness, without compromising cookie structure.
- Vegetarian/vegan bakers can substitute eggs with flax eggs or applesauce for binding.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and maintain cookie shape.
- Use gel food coloring for more intense, vibrant red color without thinning icing consistency.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg