I’ve always loved Halloween.

Not only does it happen during my favorite season—fall—but it represents much of what I love about Mother Nature.

As a kid in Liberty, NY, I really looked forward to Halloween. My neighborhood definitely got into it—decorations were the rule rather than the exception. I loved the idea of masks and costumes. I could be anybody I wanted to be! And it was great to see my friends doing the same thing, expressing themselves completely for maybe the only time during the year.

Of course, there was the candy. Yes, in some places, local health officials recommended having candy x-rayed, but in my neighborhood, we knew everybody, so that wasn’t a problem.

For me, though, candy was never the draw; half the time, I wouldn’t even go up to the door with my bag. I was just thrilled to be outside at night. I remember walking through piles of fallen leaves on Halloween. I can still hear the rustling, and I can still smell that sharp but comforting scent.

And the colors! Halloween features orange, black, purple and green; these are some of my favorites because they are so powerful.

To this day, I enjoy getting out on Halloween, seeing the giggling kids in their costumes. I’m proud to say my old neighborhood still does Halloween right.

Hence, this fun Halloween Shaker cookie. The skill level required to do this project is slightly advanced, but if you’re patient, the results are well worth it.

Halloween Shaker Cookie

Learn how to make a fun Halloween shaker cookie with isomalt windows and royal icing decorations. This slightly advanced project produces a cookie that kids can shake!

Advanced
A Halloween shaker cookie decorated as a black cat on a jack-o'-lantern with sprinkles inside

Supply List

Sugar Cookie DoughRolling PinSmall Amount Of FlourSmall precision knifeParchment PaperCookie SheetsPoster Board For TemplatePencilRoyal Icing (Recipe): Orange, Green, Black, Purple, YellowYellow IsomaltSilicone Cup For Melting IsomaltMicrowavePastry BagsPointy Tool Or A ToothpickEdible powder colorsTeflon MatSprinklesPiping BagsScissorsPaper Towels

Instructions

  • Roll out sugar cookie dough about a quarter-inch thick.
    A hand rolls sugar cookie dough with a rolling pin on a silicone mat.
  • Using a poster board template and a small precision knife, cut out designs. Make two opposite pieces.
    A paper template and knife are used to cut Halloween cookie shapes from dough.
  • Make the inner piece by cutting a border, about 3⁄4-inch all the way around.
    A hand cuts the inner border of a Halloween cookie shape with a precision knife.
  • Using parchment paper, put on baking sheet and bake cookie as directed in your recipe. Let cool.
    Baked Halloween cookie shapes cooling on a silicone baking mat.
  • Sketch out your design on the top piece.
    A hand holds a Halloween cookie with a sketched cat-on-pumpkin design.
  • Using Royal Icing, decorate your top cookie.
    A hand pipes royal icing onto the Halloween top cookie.
  • On the opposite piece, use yellow Royal Icing to fill in to the edges.
    Yellow royal icing fills the back cookie piece to the edges.
  • Add border piece on top of back piece (to be sandwiched in the middle); set aside to let dry.
    A border of royal icing is added to the back cookie to create a chamber.
  • Add highlights and shadows by dusting with edible powder color.
    A brush dusts edible powder highlights onto the decorated top cookie.
  • When cookie is totally dry and hardened, heat up your isomalt. Pour a thin layer of isomalt into the mouth, eyes, and nose areas of both cookies (wear gloves — isomalt is very hot!). Let cool.
    Melted isomalt is poured into the cutout windows of the cookie.
  • Take bottom cookie piece and add Halloween sprinkles.
    Halloween sprinkles are added to the bottom cookie chamber.
  • Using some more Royal Icing on the outer ridge of the bottom cookie, glue the top cookie. Let dry, and shake!
    The top cookie is glued onto the bottom cookie with royal icing.

Notes

Isomalt is HOT! Use caution and wear gloves.
Be patient — the results are well worth it.

Products Used

Simi Cakes : Yellow Isomalt
The Sugar Art : Edible powder colors (red, white, green, purple)

I do want to caution you a little bit about working with isomalt (which this cookie requires). It needs to be heated to very high temperatures, so you should take care not to get burned. I recommend wearing gloves, even though in the video I don’t—do as I say, not as I do!

But that’s really the only difficulty in doing this project. And the smiles you’ll see on the faces of children who get to shake their Halloween cookie will live in your memory forever.


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