Get ready to delight your family and friends with these Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies! Bursting with gooey chocolate chips, festive orange and black sprinkles, and a melt-in-your-mouth texture, these cookies put a spooky spin on a classic treat. They’re incredibly easy to make, fun to decorate, and perfect for sharing at costume parties, school events, or as a sweet reward after trick-or-treating. Whether you’re baking with kids or whipping up a batch for your Halloween bash, these cookies capture the playful spirit of the season.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies is all about the balance of simple pantry staples and festive mix-ins. Each ingredient plays its part in building chewy, buttery, and visually stunning cookies that everyone will rave about.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure and chew to the cookies, ensuring they hold together while staying soft.
- Baking soda: Gives the cookies lift and a tender crumb, so they don’t turn out flat.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Adds rich flavor and creates that classic, soft cookie texture.
- Granulated sugar: Helps the cookies spread and adds a slight crispness to the edges.
- Brown sugar (packed): Infuses a deep caramel flavor and extra moisture for chewiness.
- Large eggs: Bind the ingredients together and contribute to the cookies’ tender bite.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the sweetness with a cozy, aromatic note.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melty pockets of chocolate are a must in any great cookie, and these add rich chocolate flavor to every bite.
- Orange and black sprinkles or Halloween-themed candies: The festive flair that makes these cookies perfect for Halloween parties.
- Optional candy eyeballs for decoration: Instantly adds a spooky, playful touch that kids absolutely love.
How to Make Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper so the cookies bake evenly and lift off easily. A little preparation now means you’ll be ready to go as soon as the dough is mixed!
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This step ensures the leavening and salt are evenly distributed, so every cookie bakes up fluffy and flavorful.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This creates tiny air pockets that help the cookies rise and gives them their signature soft texture.
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract for that warm, aromatic undertone. Take a moment to inhale—the dough already smells heavenly.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to overmix; this keeps your cookies tender and prevents them from getting tough.
Step 6: Add Mix-Ins
Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and your orange and black sprinkles or Halloween candies. If you love extra festive cookies, toss in a few more sprinkles than you think you need!
Step 7: Scoop and Decorate
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart. For maximum Halloween fun, press a few candy eyeballs or an extra pinch of sprinkles on top of each cookie before baking.
Step 8: Bake and Cool
Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look just set. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This brief rest helps them finish baking and prevents crumbling.
How to Serve Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies
Garnishes
For a festive finish, sprinkle extra orange and black sprinkles over the cookies while they’re still warm. Candy eyeballs, edible glitter, or even a drizzle of melted white chocolate add a playful, ghoulish touch that makes your Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies totally Instagram-worthy.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with cold glasses of milk, mugs of hot apple cider, or even pumpkin spice lattes for a true autumn treat. If you’re hosting a party, set them alongside bowls of Halloween popcorn, caramel apples, or a platter of spooky cupcakes for a dessert spread that’s as fun as it is delicious.
Creative Ways to Present
Pile your Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies into cauldrons or line them up on a tray with candy corn and marshmallow ghosts. Stack them in clear bags tied with orange ribbon for adorable party favors, or use them as edible place cards by writing guests’ names on mini flags and tucking them into each cookie’s top.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Slip a slice of bread in the container to help maintain their soft texture—the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, staying perfectly chewy.
Freezing
Want to get ahead on holiday prep? Freeze the baked cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. You can also freeze unbaked dough balls and bake them straight from the freezer, just adding a couple extra minutes to the bake time.
Reheating
If your cookies have cooled or come out of the freezer, pop them in a 300°F oven for 3–5 minutes to bring back that freshly-baked warmth. You can also microwave individual cookies for 10–15 seconds for a quick, gooey treat.
FAQs
Can I use different types of chocolate chips?
Absolutely! Feel free to swap in white chocolate, milk chocolate, or even butterscotch chips for a fun twist, or use a mix for the ultimate Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Do I really need to chill the dough?
Chilling the dough for 30 minutes isn’t strictly necessary, but it does help the cookies bake up thicker and prevents them from spreading too much. If you have the time, it’s worth it!
What if I don’t have Halloween-themed sprinkles?
No problem! You can use colored M&M’s, chopped candy bars, or any festive candies you have on hand. Even regular chocolate chip cookies will be a hit, but those pops of orange and black definitely make them pop.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes, just substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free, so you’ll still end up with perfectly spooky, chewy cookies.
How do I keep cookies from getting hard?
Make sure not to overbake—they should look just set in the center when you pull them out. Also, always store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread to help keep them soft for days.
Final Thoughts
There’s something magical about baking Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies, especially when you see the smiles they bring. Whether you’re sharing them at a party or sneaking one with your morning coffee, these cookies are destined to become a new holiday tradition. Gather your ingredients, turn on your favorite spooky tunes, and let the Halloween baking fun begin!
Print
Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Celebrate Halloween with these festive Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies featuring classic semi-sweet chocolate chips and spooky orange and black sprinkles, optionally decorated with candy eyeballs. Soft, chewy, and perfect for parties or cozy fall treat times.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup orange and black sprinkles or Halloween-themed candies
- Optional: candy eyeballs for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready once your dough is prepared.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly mixed.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will create the perfect texture for your cookies.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract to infuse rich flavor.
- Mix Dry into Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and keep the cookies tender.
- Fold in Chips and Sprinkles: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and orange and black sprinkles ensuring an even distribution throughout the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Using a tablespoon, scoop out portions of dough and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Decorate: Press candy eyeballs or extra sprinkles on top of each cookie for a spooky festive touch, if desired.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden while the centers remain soft.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which prevents breaking.
Notes
- For thicker cookies, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- Swap sprinkles with colored M&M’s or Halloween candy pieces for a fun festive variation.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to a week to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
