Halloween Funfetti Cookies
Halloween Funfetti Cookies are the perfect sweet treat to bake this October! These confetti cookies, made seasonal by the use of spooky sprinkles in place of traditional rainbow ones, are perfect for sharing. Makes 32 cookies.
I’m leaning in HARD to the Halloween cookie recipes this year.
Truth be told, I struggle with Halloween entertaining because while it’s my kind of holiday and low-key, I don’t know what to serve guests.
In the past, we’ve always ordered pizza on our street or gone to a friends’ house for pizza before trick-or-treating, and it appears that this year will be the same.
But we’ll be bringing cookies with us to spread some cheer, too.
And maybe one year, I’ll get stuff together so we can have an actual Halloween shindig… even though I don’t know if I’ll ever make some of the creepy-crawly Halloween recipes you see on Pinterest these days…
Why I love this recipe:
Who doesn’t love a homemade Funfetti Cookie recipe?
These cookies are filled to the brim with colorful sprinkles and oh-so-cute with the eye sprinkles added. Also, you don’t need funfetti cake mix to make ’em.
Sometimes known as Confetti Cookies, these cute Halloween cookies are perfect for a celebration, whether it’s to bring to a classroom or to serve at a Halloween party.
We had a blast making the dough and rolling it with our older daughter, who is 3, and we really enjoyed consuming them once they were cool enough!
More Halloween recipes: Melting Monster Halloween Punch / Sage Pumpkin Hummus / Candy Corn Martini / Halloween Caramel Corn / Halloween Pretzel Mummies
Looking for a Halloween dish, but you don’t know where to start? Check out my Halloween recipe index!
What you’ll need to make this recipe:
The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- Baking sheet
- Nonstick baking mat or parchment paper
- 1 tablespoon cookie scoop
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Unsalted butter — this is the fat we use in our cookie dough. It needs to be room temperature so you can cream it with the sugars.
- Light brown sugar — I love how this adds a light molasses flavor to the cookies without becoming overwhelming.
- Granulated sugar — also known as white sugar, this is our other sweetener in the cookies. There is no substitute, as it affects both the flavor and texture.
- Egg — this adds structure to the cookies themselves!
- Pure vanilla extract — this helps bring all the flavors together in the cookies. The real deal is the best!
- All-purpose flour — we keep unbleached AP flour in our house, but the regular kind works, too. I have not tried this recipe with gluten free flours.
- Kosher salt — I like to use a medium grain kosher salt for cookies. You could also use a similarly sized sea salt, too.
- Baking soda — this is our leavener, and it’s going to give the cookies a little lift!
- Halloween sprinkles and eye sprinkles — to give these Confetti Cookies a spooky feel, you’re going to need these! I purchased mine from Target and Sprinkle Pop Shop.
How to make Halloween Funfetti Cookies
Make the Cookie Dough
This is a recipe where you’ll want to use your stand mixer or a hand mixer.
Cream the butter and sugars together until light and creamy.
Add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix until well-combined and fragrant.
In another bowl, measure the dry ingredients—flour, salt and baking soda. Whisk to combine.
Pour half of the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix until combined. Add the other half, blending until the dough just comes together.
Measure ¾ cup of the sprinkles into the batter. Stir with a spoon or a rubber spatula until just mixed.
Cover the dough, and chill for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. We’ve chilled it overnight with no issues, too!
Bake the Spooky Funfetti Cookies
Preheat the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
Use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop to form cookies. Roll the dough between your palms until rounded and smooth.
Roll the dough in the extra Halloween sprinkles until they’re coated, and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Leave about 2” between the cookies so the cookies can spread as they bake.
Once all the cookies are on the baking sheet, bake for 10-11 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
Press the eye sprinkles into the tops of the cookies once you’ve removed them from the oven. Do this gently, and keep in mind that the cookies are HOT.
Let the cookies cool slightly on a wire rack before enjoying warm.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Everyone loves a Halloween party! And Halloween-centric desserts!
Here are some of my tips and tricks for making Halloween entertaining a breeze this year:
- Get your supplies before it’s baking time. My first batch of these was missing some sprinkles because I didn’t have enough. Make sure all your ingredients are present and accounted for before you bake—especially if you have to order specialty sprinkles!
- Bake these cookies early. They keep well in an air-tight food storage container, so you can bake them beforehand.
- If you don’t want to do the whole baking process beforehand, at least make the batter in advance so all you have to do is scoop the cookies and bake ‘em.
- Let your kids help. My older daughter LOVED making the batter, as well as rolling the dough balls in sprinkles. While she was too young to help me place the eye sprinkles when the cookies came out of the oven, she enjoyed watching that part, too, and told me where to place them.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want your cookies to have any sort of shape that’s not an unrecognizable lump, yes.
The dough is also really sticky, too, so if you don’t give it to the time to chill a bit, it’s going stick all over your hands during the shaping process.
Sprinkle Pop Shop has the cutest sprinkles, and they’re based out of Houston. I ordered mine back in August, so they’ve got them in stock, still. I ordered Pumpkin Confetti and Monster Mashup.
Quick tips for making this Halloween dessert
- Make these cookies dairy free by using vegetable shortening instead of butter. This recipe is adapted from my Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, which I adapted from a family friend. Her original recipe calls for vegetable shortening, so I know it will work in this dough.
- Store in an air-tight food storage container for up to a week.
- Not Halloween? Make Classic Funfetti Cookies or make your own sprinkle blend to celebrate a holiday or other gathering!
Other Halloween cookie ideas and recipes:
- Halloween Peanut Butter Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Caramel Corn Cookies
- Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars
- M&M Sugar Cookies (be sure to use colorful Halloween candy M&M’s for these!)
- Halloween Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Halloween Funfetti Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened (1 stick)
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup assorted sprinkles Halloween colors, divided
- Eye sprinkles for decorating
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- Make the Cookie Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with a hand (or stand) mixer until the butter is light yellow and the sugars are well incorporated.
- Add in the egg and vanilla extract, beating until combined.
- Combine the dry ingredients—flour, salt and baking soda—in a smaller bowl, and whisk.
- Pour in half of the dry ingredients, mixing until combined, then add the other half, blending until the batter has come together.
- Measure in ¾ cup of the sprinkles. Stir them into the batter with a spoon or a rubber spatula.
- Chill the dough for at least 2 hours (or overnight.)
- Bake the Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
- Use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon measure to form cookie dough balls. Roll the cookie dough between your palms until rounded and smooth.
- Roll in the additional Halloween sprinkles until coated.
- Place the cookie dough on the baking sheet, leaving about 2” between each so the dough can spread as it bakes.
- Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Immediately after they come out of the oven, press the eye sprinkle decorations gently into the tops of the cookies.
- Enjoy warm with a glass of your favorite kind of milk!
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
These so festive and perfedt to bring to a halloween party! Thanks for sharing.