If you love the spirit of October and all things spookily sweet, these Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies will absolutely steal your heart! This recipe brings a playful Halloween twist to the classic chocolate chip cookie, bursting with ooey-gooey chocolate, Halloween-colored candies, and sprinkles in iconic orange and black. They’re as fun to make as they are to eat, and guaranteed to bring smiles (and a bit of mischievous delight) to your holiday celebration. Whether you’re baking with the kids or hosting a festive get-together, these cookies embody pure autumn magic in every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll be amazed at how just a handful of kitchen staples can bring these festive treats to life! Every ingredient plays a special role, from giving the cookies their crave-worthy texture to ensuring their signature bursts of color and chocolatey goodness.
- All-purpose flour: The backbone of these cookies, giving them structure while keeping them soft and chewy.
- Baking soda: Adds just the right lift, helping the cookies bake up puffy and tender rather than flat.
- Salt: A pinch brings out all the sweet and chocolatey flavors.
- Unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled): Melted butter makes the cookies extra rich and chewy.
- Packed brown sugar: Adds deep molasses notes and ensures the cookies stay moist.
- Granulated sugar: Balances sweetness and helps the edges get that touch of crispiness.
- Large egg: Adds structure and binds everything together.
- Egg yolk: The secret to cookies that are soft in the center — don’t skip it!
- Vanilla extract: Adds warm, mellow sweetness that marks every great cookie.
- Semisweet chocolate chips: The classic bursts of chocolate in every bite.
- Halloween-colored M&M’s or candy-coated chocolates: For festive color and extra crunch — orange, purple, green, and black are perfect picks.
- Orange and black sprinkles: Give your Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies their unmistakably spooky look!
How to Make Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Scene
Start off by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. This keeps your cookies from sticking and promises perfect bottoms every single time!
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures all your leavening is perfectly even, so every cookie bakes up just right.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars
Grab a large bowl and mix the melted butter with your brown and granulated sugars until everything is smooth and creamy. Using melted butter makes these cookies lusciously chewy — and speeds things up a bit.
Step 4: Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Whisk in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. The extra yolk adds an irresistible richness and structure, making your Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies ultra-tender in the center.
Step 5: Bring Everything Together
Gradually add your dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until a soft dough forms. Don’t overmix; once the flour disappears, you’re set!
Step 6: Stir in the Goodies!
Fold in the chocolate chips, Halloween-colored M&M’s, and sprinkles. Each scoop of dough should look like a Halloween party with pops of color and chocolate in every direction!
Step 7: Shape and Decorate
Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto your lined baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches for spreading. For that ultra-festive look, press a few extra M&M’s and sprinkles right on top before baking.
Step 8: Bake to Perfection
Bake for 10–12 minutes, just until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look set but soft. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling — if you can wait that long!
How to Serve Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies
Garnishes
For a super festive finish, dust your cooled cookies with a pinch of edible glitter, or press a few candy eyeballs into the tops while they’re still warm. A drizzle of melted chocolate makes for extra drama (and deliciousness) too.
Side Dishes
Serve these Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies with cold milk, spiced cider, or a mug of creamy hot cocoa. If you’re feeling indulgent, sandwich a scoop of vanilla or pumpkin ice cream between two cookies for the ultimate fall dessert.
Creative Ways to Present
Pile your cookies high on a black or orange platter, or wrap stacks in cellophane with a silk ribbon for the perfect party favor. You can even nestle them in little cauldrons or graveyard-themed treat bags for the full spooky effect!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay perfectly soft and chewy for up to 5 days (if they don’t disappear sooner!).
Freezing
These cookies freeze beautifully! Once cooled, layer them between sheets of parchment in a freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months — just take out what you need for an instant festive treat.
Reheating
To revive that freshly-baked magic, simply pop a cookie in the microwave for about 10–15 seconds. The chocolate will get melty again, and your kitchen will smell like Halloween all over!
FAQs
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! Prepare the dough up to two days in advance, store it covered in the fridge, and bake when you’re ready. The flavors even deepen overnight, making for extra-tasty cookies.
Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of Halloween colors?
Definitely! Regular chocolate chips will deliver the classic cookie flavor, but if you want to keep that festive Halloween mood, just add extra orange and black sprinkles or colored candies on top.
Are Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies suitable for kids to make?
Yes! This recipe is wonderfully kid-friendly. Little hands love decorating with candies and sprinkles, and adults get to enjoy the fun, too.
Is it okay to use salted butter instead?
If salted butter is all you have on hand, just omit the added salt from the recipe. Your cookies will still taste delicious and balanced.
What makes these cookies extra chewy?
The combination of melted butter, extra brown sugar, and that sneaky extra egg yolk delivers really chewy Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies. Be sure not to overbake so the centers stay soft!
Final Thoughts
It’s hard to resist the whimsical combination of color, crunch, and gooey chocolate packed into every bite of these Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies. Whether you bake them for trick-or-treaters or as a cozy autumn afternoon treat, I promise they’ll be an instant favorite. Happy baking and have a spooktacular Halloween!
Print
Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies are a festive and delicious treat perfect for spooky season. With a soft and chewy texture, loaded with chocolate chips and colorful candies, these cookies are sure to be a hit at any Halloween gathering.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Mix-ins:
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Halloween-colored M&M’s or candy-coated chocolates
- 1/4 cup orange and black sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Prepare the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Add mix-ins: Stir in the chocolate chips, M&M’s, and sprinkles.
- Bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Press a few extra M&M’s and sprinkles on top for decoration. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look just set.
- Cool: Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra festive flair, use Halloween-themed cookie cutters to shape the dough or press candy eyes into the tops before baking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
