Jack O Lantern Cookies

Halloween wouldn’t be complete without some classic Jack O' Lantern Cookies to add to your dessert table. These festive cookies are fun to make and allow for plenty of creativity when it comes to decorating.

Below, we’ll walk through how to prep the cookies, design those iconic spooky faces with black icing, and take your cookies to the next level with some shimmering edible glitter.

Prep the Cookies

Before jumping into the decorating, make sure your cookies are fully baked and ready to go. For Jack O' Lantern Cookies, a basic sugar cookie recipe is a great choice. You’ll want to use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to give your cookies that classic Jack O' Lantern silhouette.

Once your cookies are baked and out of the oven, let them cool completely before decorating. This is important because warm cookies can cause your icing to melt, ruining your designs.

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Ensure that the surface of the cookie is smooth and even. If needed, gently press down any bumps that might have formed during baking, as this will help the icing adhere better.

Icing Pumpkin Cookies

There's two layers of icing for basic Jack O'Lantern Cookies: the orange base and the black details. You can make cookies as detailed as you want, but that may include a few more layers of decorations. For these, we're just going super simple.

Orange Icing: The Base Layer

Start by covering each cookie with a base layer of orange royal icing. Use a piping bag or squeeze bottle to outline the pumpkin shape, then flood the center with icing.

Let the cookies sit until the icing is completely dry (about 30 minutes to 1 hour), so the black details in the next step don’t 'run.'

Black Icing: The Eyes, Mouth and Details

The most iconic feature of any Jack O' Lantern is the spooky face! Once the base layer of orange icing has dried, it’s time to add the eyes, nose, and mouth with black icing.

Using black royal icing or gel icing, draw the face of your Jack O' Lantern. You can go for the classic triangle-shaped eyes and a zig-zag mouth for that traditional look. If you want to get more creative, try giving your Jack O' Lantern a friendly smile or a scary frown.

Use a fine-tipped piping bag for more control, especially for detailed facial features like the teeth or jagged edges on the mouth. If you’re new to decorating, practice on parchment paper first to get the hang of it.

Go a Bit Further: Edible Glitter, Sanding Sugar

To make your Jack O' Lantern Cookies truly stand out, consider adding some edible glitter for a magical Halloween sparkle. Edible glitter comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose one that complements your design—gold, orange, or even a spooky green can work well for Halloween.

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Give your cookies a satisfying crunch with sweet sanding sugar in complimentary colors to your design. With that, your cookie tray should have everything it needs to stand out!

Whether you stick to the classic designs or add some edible glitter for extra flair, these cookies are sure to impress. Be sure to explore our Halloween baking supplies for everything you need to make your Jack O' Lantern cookies shine!