Creepy Butter Cookie Fingers

With Halloween coming up, it is time to get the creepy bakes started. Or, if you are just craving some "finger" food, these are perfect.

Makes about: 12-15 fingers (cookies)

Takes about: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Difficulty: 1 out of 5

Prep:

Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and set aside.

Ingredients:

- Cookies

1 3/8 cups all-purpose flour (3/8th or one 1/4 cup and half of one 1/4 cup)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter - room temperature

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup halved almonds (pretty ones)

Optional - food coloring

Piping gel or homemade meringue icing

- Decoration Options

Edible food powder

Melted chocolate

Gummies

Instructions:

- Step 1 - Mix Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, mix together the 1 and 3/8 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Set aside until needed.

- Step 2 - Cream the Butter

In a large bowl, cream the 1/2 cup butter until light and fluffy.

- Step 3 - Add the Sugar

Add the 1/2 cup of powdered sugar into the bowl with the creamed butter.

Mix until it becomes one consistency.

- Step 4 - Add the Remaining Wet Ingredients

Add the 1 egg, 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract into the butter mixture and beat until it comes together.

Add the color in this step if the desired cookie are colored.

It will become slightly chunky, but keep mixing until it starts to thin. It is okay if there are small pieces, but no large chunks.

- Step 5 - Add the Dry Ingredients

Add the dry ingredients; but 1/3 at a time, mixing until combined.

Make sure after each mix, the dry ingredients are well incorporated.

- Step 6 - Wrap, Refrigerate, and Preheat

Once all the ingredients are mixed together, press the dough together to form a solid ball.

Place the ball onto a piece of plastic wrap and press it down to form a dough pancake.

Wrap the dough tightly in the cling warp and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. It should be noticeable tougher, but not hard.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

- Step 7 - Form the Fingers

Using 2-3 tablespoons of dough, roll it into a smooth ball, then roll it out into a log, and then pinch the log to create the finger shape.

Press half an almond down into one side of the cookie, flat side up. Using a toothpick, create creases into the top of the cookie, where the knuckles would be.

- Step 8 - Bake the Cookies

Place the cookies centered in the oven and back for about 20-30 minutes or until bakes through.

If the "fingernails" (almonds) fall off, that is okay because they were just meant to keep a crease in the cookie while they baked. They will be glued on.

Let the cookies cool completely before decorating.

- Step 9 - Decorate

Use the meringue icing or the icing gel, pipe a small or large amount, depending on how much you would like it to "gush through", under the almond and press the almond back in place.

Using the rest of the piping gel, powdered color, and other forms of decorations, decorate the cookies to your desired scariness.

- Step 10 - Share and Enjoy

Once completed, enjoy these amazing cookies with a cup of tea or coffee to subdue the craving for human fingers.

Adapted from Simply So Good's "Creepy Witch Finger Cookies."