Need a cute, fun Halloween dessert? Try these Halloween sugar cookies! Using pumpkin spice and topped with royal icing decoration, they're simple enough to get kids involved but can be decorated into something spooky or really beautiful, too.
Add the sugar and butter to a large bowl (or the bowl of a standing mixer) and use an electric mixer to beat on high speed for about 5 minutes. It should be fluffy and lighter in colour.
1 ¼ cups plain sugar, ¾ cup butter
Add the egg and vanilla and beat again until well combined.
1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Mix again until the flour has been well incorporated and the dough is mixed, but don't over mix. It will be slightly crumbly but hold when pressed between finger and thumb.
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Divide the dough into two parts for easier rolling. Turn the cookie dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Roll the dough with a rolling pin to about ¼-inch (6-mm) thick.
Cut the dough into your desired shapes. Any extra dough can be re-rolled once.
Place the cut-out cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the sheet in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
While the cookies are chilling, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place the tray of cookies in the oven and bake for 9-13 minutes, or until the edges are very lightly golden. The baking time will vary depending on the size of the cookie cutters. Repeat for the remaining dough.
Remove the cookies from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes.
Remove the cookies from the tray and let them cool completely on a wire rack before icing.