Glowing Jack-O-Lantern Cookies
Submitted by mumbus
Jack-o-lantern cookies with crushed lemon drops melted into the cutout eyes, nose, and mouth to create a glowing stained-glass effect. A fun Halloween baking project for kids.
YIELD
2 dozenPREP
30 minCOOK
10 minREADY
50 minThese Halloween cookies have a trick built right in. Cut out eyes, nose, and mouth from shaped orange dough, fill the holes with crushed lemon drops, and the candy melts in the oven into translucent golden “windows” that actually glow when you hold them up to light.
The dough is a basic butter cookie tinted bright orange with food coloring. Small green stems rolled from the reserved dough get attached to each pumpkin top before baking. The shapes are hand-formed, not cookie-cutter precise, so every jack-o-lantern has its own goofy personality.
Crushing the lemon drops is the fiddliest part. A food processor makes quick work of it, but the candy gets sticky fast. A dusting of powdered sugar while chopping keeps the pieces loose and easy to sprinkle into the cutouts.
Pro Tips
- Line your sheets with foil, not parchment; the melted candy sticks to parchment and tears
- Do NOT let these brown; pull them the moment the edges look set so the candy stays clear and golden
- Wait a full 10 minutes before peeling the foil off; the candy needs to re-harden or it will stretch and break
- Cut the face holes wide; tiny cuts close up as the dough spreads during baking
Variations
- Different candy colors: Use Jolly Ranchers in various colors for multicolored stained-glass faces
- Chocolate faces: Pipe on melted chocolate features instead of the candy window technique for a simpler version
- Spiced dough: Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and a pinch of ginger to the dough for a snickerdoodle-style flavor
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃). Cover 3 cookie sheets with foil.
Cream butter and sugar.
Add egg and vanilla. Beat in flour, baking powder and salt.
Add milk if batter is too stiff.
Color all but ⅛ of dough orange, and color rest green.
Roll 1 inch balls from the orange dough and flatten with your hand to make a pumpkin shape.
Place on cookie sheets . Roll stems out of the green dough and attach to the top of the pumpkin.
Carefully cut out wide spaces for the eyes, nose and mouth with a knife.
Fill holes in with crushed lemon candy.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until done.
DO NOT ALLOW TO BROWN.
Allow to cool for 10 minutes and carefully peel off foil.
Note; Crush lemon drops in food processor. If mixture becomes stickey, add a little powdered sugar while chopping.
Comments
