Description
Delight in these festive Fall Cookies featuring a rich blend of black cocoa powder and colorful Halloween M&M's and jimmies, perfect for celebrating the season with a deliciously soft and chewy texture and whimsical candy eyeball decorations.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups (156 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 5 tbsp (35 g) black cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (168 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (165 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated white sugar
- 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Add-ins & Decorations
- 3/4 cup (170 g) Halloween M&M's
- 3 tbsp (36 g) Halloween jimmies
- Candy eyeballs for decoration
- Extra Halloween M&Ms and jimmies for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, black cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, add the softened unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated white sugar. Using an electric or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream these together on medium speed for two minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg yolks and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Continue mixing on medium speed for two more minutes until the batter becomes pale and fluffy.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until the dough comes together and no flour streaks remain.
- Fold in Candy Mix-ins: Gently fold the Halloween M&M's and jimmies into the cookie dough using a rubber spatula to evenly distribute them without overmixing.
- Portion the Dough: Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, form 17 dough balls. Arrange these on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about two inches apart. Decorate the tops and centers of the dough balls with extra M&Ms, candy eyeballs, and sprinkles for a festive look.
- Bake Cookies: Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 10 to 11 minutes until the cookies are set but still soft in the center.
- Cool and Shape: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. If needed, use a large circular cookie cutter to gently shape the cookies for a perfect round appearance. Replace any candy eyeballs that may have melted during baking.
Notes
- Using room-temperature egg yolks helps ensure a smooth and creamy dough.
- Black cocoa powder gives these cookies a deep color and rich flavor; Dutch-processed cocoa powder can be used as a substitute but may alter color slightly.
- Be careful not to overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to prevent tough cookies.
- Optional: Swap Halloween-themed candies for any seasonal or favorite candies.
- For best decoration results, add candy eyeballs and some sprinkles both inside the dough and on top before baking.
- If candy eyeballs melt, replace them after baking for the best aesthetic effect.
