WHAT’S FOR DESSERT?
Spooky Eyeball Cookies
Array/5
COOK TIME
10 min
TOTAL TIME
25 min
SERVINGS
20 cookies
There is nothing more spooooky than a pair of creepy eyeballs staring right at you…except maybe dozens of eyeballs staring at you (like in these Monster Eyeball Cookies).
But don’t worry, these spooky Halloween eyeballs are delicious candy surrounded by a rich, soft, chocolate cookie.
My chocolate Monster Eyeball Cookies are easy to make and are a huge hit with the elementary age…okay, maybe a hit with the adult crowd too.
I love making these for Halloween parties and school Halloween events. They might just be the perfect Halloween eyeball cookies. They look spooky and monster-y but they’re truly simple to make – no messing around with food coloring or frosting decorations required.
Whether you’re new to baking or simply don’t have the time to spend hours creating spooky eyeballs out of frosting, these monster eye cookies are for you!
Why Chocolate Monster Eye Cookies Are The Best
There are a lot of recipes out there for spooky eyeballs cookies and there’s lots of different ways this treat can be made. While many recipes call for a sugar cookie base colored with orange, green and purple food coloring, in my kitchen I am all about keeping things easy (and delicious).
I knew I wanted to create chocolate eyeball cookies because the dark color would look really spooky and on-theme for Halloween, but I wouldn’t have to spend extra time separating out dough and dyeing it different colors.
That said, if you want your cookies to look even spookier, adding some black gel food coloring to the mixture definitely takes these treats to the next level of spooky!
What You’ll Need for Candy Eyeball Cookies
You probably already have most of the ingredients for these Halloween cookies in your pantry – they’re that easy!
Butter
Butter is always a must for any cookie recipe. Butter gives flavor and softness for baked goods. In cookies, butter and sugar work together to add structure and rise to a cookie for the perfect, chewy bite.
Sugar
This recipe uses both white granulated sugar and brown sugar, adding a slight caramel flavor to the cookie dough. Because brown sugar is hygroscopic (that’s a very fancy term that basically means it will absorb liquid in the dough), using brown sugar in addition to white sugar creates a more dense, moist cookie.
Egg
One whole egg is used for this recipe. I recommend letting your egg come to room temperature before adding to your dough. While a cold egg certainly won’t make or break your cookies, room temperature eggs can lead to fluffier cookies.
Vanilla Extract
It might seem silly to add vanilla to a chocolate cookie, but a touch of vanilla extract really brings the chocolate flavor come alive in these cookies (and any chocolate treat!).
Flour
This recipe uses basic all-purpose flour. Whatever brand you have in your pantry will work!
Cocoa Powder
Unsweetened cocoa powder gives these monster eyeball cookies their deep chocolate flavor and dark, spooky color. You could even opt for dark chocolate cocoa powder if you’re feeling really spooky.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is used in cookies to give them a chewy texture. Don’t skip this ingredient!
Salt
A touch of salt in a sweet treat brings out the sugary sweetness and makes these cookies taste even better.
Milk
You’ll only need 2 tbsp of milk for this recipe, but it’s an important part. I like to use whole milk, but you could absolutely substitute with skim milk, oat milk or other non-dairy alternatives.
Chocolate Chips
These super chocolate-y cookies are made even better with the addition of chocolate chips. I like to use bittersweet chocolate chips but you can add whatever you like best to your monster eye cookies.
Candy Eyeballs
Last but not least, candy eyeballs are the mix-in that makes these cookies perfect for Halloween. Candy eyeballs make these cookies look like they are literally staring back at you and they’re sure to grab the eye (see what I did there?!) of any Halloween-lover in your life.
Where to Buy Candy Eyes
You can find Candy Eyeballs in a few different places. I’ve seen them at Target and Walmart. But if you don’t see them there, then the best bet is Amazon. You can find the candy eyeballs I use here. Bonus- they come to your house in 2 days and you don’t have to leave.
How to Make Monster Eyeball Cookies
These Spooky Eyeball Cookies are so easy to make. It’s a basic chocolate cookie made with all the usual ingredients. The cocoa powder makes these the dark chocolate color, but if you want to increase the spookiness then you can add a few drops of black food coloring to make them extra dark and creepy.
Simply cream together the butter and sugar using a stand mixer or hand mixer, then add the egg and vanilla. Mix the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and add them slowly to the butter, sugar and egg mixture.
Finally, add the milk and chocolate chips before scooping the dough onto a cookie sheet. Lightly press candy eyeballs into the dough before baking and then bake for 11 minutes.
In less than 30 minutes you can have delicious, spooky, Halloween cookies!
Baking Tips for Spooky Eyeball Cookies
There are so many ways you can make these spooky eyeball Halloween cookies your own! Here are some of my favorite tips:
Use Black Food Coloring
Want your cookies to be even spookier? Add some black gel food coloring to your dough when you’re mixing it up. While these cookies are dark brown without food coloring, they’ll be truly spooky with this simple addition.
Mix Up Your Mix-Ins
Don’t be afraid to experiment with other mix-ins besides chocolate chips. Reese’s Pieces come in fun fall/Halloween colors that work really well in cookies (I even have a Reese’s Pieces Halloween Cookie recipe you could try). Many stores also sell Halloween-themed candy chips for cookies and brownies in the fall. If you’re really daring, you could even throw in some candy corn!
Make Cookies In Advance
This recipe works great as a make-ahead cookie. Make your dough and freeze it wrapped in plastic wrap for anywhere from a few days to a few months. Then, defrost, scoop into balls and add your candy eyeballs just before baking.
You can also freeze already-baked cookies in zip-top baggies and take just a few out at a time for a Halloween-themed treat whenever you feel like it!
Other Fun & Easy Halloween Recipes
If you love Halloween as much as I do, then you’re going to want to try all my Halloween party recipes. Take this list, make it all and you’ve got an awesome Halloween party ready to go!
- Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
- Mummy Brownies
- Vampire Donuts
- Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Halloween Cookies
- Leftover Halloween Candy Cookies
- Halloween Themed Cupcakes
Or, check out all my favorite Halloween recipes all in one place by exploring my Halloween Recipe Roundup!
Ready to make your own Monster Eyeball Cookies this Halloween? Check out the video and easy recipe below to add some fun ghoulish treats to your spooky day!
Print
Spooky Halloween Cookies
A classic chocolate cookie made spooky with candy eyeballs. Easy to make and delicious with a big and fun impact for halloween.
Ingredients
1 stick butter, (1/2 cup) room temp
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
black food coloring, optional
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)
Candy Eyeballs
Instructions
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar on med/high speed for about 2 minutes. Add a few drops of black food coloring and mix again.
3. Add the egg and the vanilla and mix again for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
4. In a separate bowl add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together to mix.
5. Add a little bit at a time of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low. Continue until the flour mixture is all combined.
6. Add the milk and then mix again. Add the chocolate chips and mix again.
7. Scoop about 2 Tablespoons of the dough and roll into a ball and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Take the candy eyeballs and slightly press them into the top of the dough balls.
8. Bake for about 11 minutes. Remove and let cool on the sheet pan for about 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.
Notes
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