These Halloween spider cookies are very easy to make and you can get as creative as you want with the decorations! The great thing about the biscuit dough is that it’s hardy and it doesn’t matter how overworked it gets – so it’s great for baking with children. My youngest, Henry, suffers with a milk and soy allergy so this recipe is dairy-free but it can be made with dairy too.
85g butter or butter alternative 100g golden caster sugar 1 large egg 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 230g plain flour (sifted) 1/2 tsp baking powder Pinch of salt Black food colouring gel (optional)
40g butter or butter alternative 140g icing sugar (sifted) 15ml oat/coconut milk or cow’s milk A couple of drops of vanilla essence Green (or preferred colour) food colouring gel
Fizzy laces Skittles
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C
2. Cream the butter or butter alternative and sugar together in a bowl.
3. Add the egg and vanilla essence, and mix well.
4. Gradually add the sifted flour, salt, baking powder and food colouring (optional), until you have a firm dough.
5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut out circles.
6. Place on your baking tray (lined with greaseproof paper), making sure you leave gaps between the biscuits.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the biscuits are turning golden.
8. Leave to cool.
1. Mix the icing sugar and butter or butter alternative together with an electric whisk, or in the mixer using a paddle until fully combined.
2. Mix the oat/coconut/cow’s milk and vanilla essence together in a separate cup or jug.
3. Add to the icing sugar and butter on a slow speed.
4. Once all of the liquid has been added, add food colouring gel to colour as you wish, and turn the mixer or whisk up to a medium-fast speed until the buttercream is fluffy and light.
1. To make the legs, cut fizzy laces into equal lengths. Then, grab a biscuit, ice with the buttercream, add the legs and sandwich in between another (slightly-less) iced biscuit.
2. To make the eyes, add a blob of black food colouring to the middle of each Skittle. Use a tiny bit of icing to fix them in place on top of the biscuit.
