Here is something yummy and spooky for your Halloween table….soft yet slightly crispy chocolate spider web cookies. What could be more fun to serve your little guests after a cold night of trick-or-treating than a hot cocoa bar complete with chocolate spiderweb cookies, chocolate dipped Oreos, ghost-shaped Peep marshmallows and homemade chocolate spiders?
Even the adults can get in on this recipe since I managed to spike the icing in the adultified version. I added a little Frangelico to the icing to kick things up a notch.
For that uber scary cup of hot cocoa which is staring back at you, just cut a large marshmallow in half and either place a chocolate chip or a little dot of melted chocolate on top of each half of the marshmallow. Then put the mug back in the microwave for just 10 seconds to melt the chip into the eye so they stay put.
Complete your cookie and cocoa bar with chocolate dipped Oreos. I like to melt some bittersweet Ghirardelli chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave, then dip the Oreos half way and dust with Halloween sugar crystals or sprinkles. Refrigerate the Oreos for at least 10 minutes or until the chocolate hardens.
The kids will dip the cookies whole fistedly into their mugs and will happily lick up the melted chocolate from the Oreos which have met their demise in the goulish hot chocolate.
The spiderweb cookies are a simple chocolate cookie batter for which I have included the recipe. It happens to be from Cooking Light, and it’s absolutely chocolate-y and delicious so you won’t miss the fat and calories!
The secret to making perfect spider webs on the cookies is to leave your icing just a bit thick so it’s not too runny and use a condiment type plastic squirt bottle which you can find at most supermarkets. Fill the squirt bottle with the icing and pipe three concentric circles starting from the inside out on to the cookies. Then take a toothpick or wooden skewer and pull through the circles starting in the center to create a spiderweb effect.
If you are a Halloween crazed lunatic like myself, then you have a tarantula chocolate mold just sitting around waiting to be used so now is the time! If not just buy plastic spider rings to decorate the platter, and let the kids put them on as the cookies vanish.
Now it’s time for spooky music, a scary costume and festive party goers! Happy Halloween!
This was linked up to Sweet Tooth Fridays at Alli-n-Son and This Chick Cooks Wednesday link party.
Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies
Taken directly from Cooking Light magazine.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
2 c. all purpose
2/3 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
2/3 c. vegetable shortening (you can use one from the healthfood store that is transfat free or substitute butter if you prefer…just cook them a couple minutes less since butter can make them more crispy)
1 1/3 c. granulated sugar
2 t. vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
Icing:
2 c. powdered sugar
2-3 T. 2% milk
Adult Icing
1 c. powdered sugar
1 T. milk
1-2 T. Frangelico Liqueur or Cointreau
For the Cookies: In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine shortening, sugar, vanilla and egg whites. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Dump the dry ingredients into the butter mixture and cream together on low speed or by hand. Turn dough onto waxed paper or plastic wrap and shape the dough into a twelve inch log and wrap it in the plastic. Refrigerate for several hours until firm.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray coat a cookie sheet or use a Silpat mat. Slice dough into 1/4 inch slices. Gently mold into circles with your hands if the dough is misshapen. Place the dough circles 1 inch apart onto prepared baking sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes or until slightly firm. Remove from pan and cool completely.
For the icing, mix together sifted powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Pour into plastic bottle or Ziploc bag. If using bag, snip off the smallest part of one of the corners and use as a pastry bag and tip. Make three concentric circles on the cookies, starting at the center. With a toothpick or wooden skewer pull the icing through from the center in 6-8 lines. Let set before serving.
Enjoy!
October 18, 2011 at 3:28 pm
My children asked me never to join in again after they discovered that i was dishing out raisins, mandarins and carrots! the carrots were peeled and cut in strips? they were orange?.. c
October 19, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Celia, you should have sent ’em over to my house. No one ever complains of a lack of sugar here…just a sugar high perhaps.
October 18, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Ahhhhh! Oh, sorry I was frightened. I love the eyeball marshmallows.
October 19, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Ha, ha, ha….
October 18, 2011 at 4:17 pm
I love the marshmallow eyeballs! My 5 year old wants me to make some tonight! He said your cookies are perfect for Halloween! I think I’ll suggest the scary cup of warm cocoa to my son’s kindergarten teacher for the Halloween party.
On another note, I like the Frangelico spiked icing!
October 18, 2011 at 5:33 pm
So cute! You are so creative.
October 18, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Great batch of cookies, Geni, but those marshmallows steal the show! What a great idea!
October 18, 2011 at 7:16 pm
My boys would love all of these! You are so darn creative, Geni!
October 18, 2011 at 7:49 pm
You have the CUTEST Halloween themed recipes. It makes me want to throw a Halloween party!
October 18, 2011 at 8:56 pm
You’ve just made me crave hot chocolate like crazy and it’s still way too hot here to even think of boiling water for hot drinks. Soon, very very soon!
October 18, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Boy..ain’t those cookies just cute!
October 18, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Those cookies look delicious & for once I am not annoyed to see a spiderweb. 🙂
October 18, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Chocolate cookies with hot cocoa and more chocolate cookies? I can get behind that!
October 18, 2011 at 11:15 pm
Happy Halloween to you Geni. Looking at your beautiful work with all those yummy treats, kinda makes me wish we celebrated Halloween here too.
Enjoy all the festivities.
🙂 Mandy
October 18, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Love all the creative ideas!
October 18, 2011 at 11:29 pm
Thats so creative of you! Specially that marshmallow, Greg is right it looks so frightening
October 19, 2011 at 1:04 am
I’ve been wanting to make spiderweb cupcakes but the cookies look great, too!
October 19, 2011 at 3:06 am
Very cute! We don’t really celebrate Halloween here but the kids love Oreos (it’s a sometimes food) so I reckon they would enjoy the double chocolate and sprinkle version! As would I 🙂
October 19, 2011 at 3:24 am
Love the eyeball marshmallows. And chocolate dipped Oreos? must. resist. must resist.
October 19, 2011 at 5:06 am
I haven’t really been in a Halloween mood lately…but with a little Frangelico and some cookies to take the edge off. I think you’ve officially gotten me in the holiday spirit!
October 19, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Not in a Halloween mood? Joanne, I think you need an intervention sweetie.
October 19, 2011 at 5:38 am
It is all so cute!
October 19, 2011 at 6:54 am
Holy cow are you creative!!! This is one fun cookie/cocoa bar! I love the idea of the dipped oreos with the sprinkles. My kids would have so much fun with that – and the hot cocoa…I just might do that for our guests this year. 😉
October 19, 2011 at 7:16 am
Very creative and such a simple thing to do. I love the hot cocoa eyeballs too!
October 19, 2011 at 8:00 am
Crazy and too cute for words!
October 19, 2011 at 9:33 am
These look spookily delicious!
October 19, 2011 at 10:32 am
I simply LOVE your Halloween treats. You make me want to have a Halloween party lol. Love the Marshmallow eyes and you know I love the chocolate.. i just love this post
October 19, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Oh they are so cute!!! I want to try all those for Halloween. 🙂
October 19, 2011 at 2:01 pm
I am laughing at all the “You’re so creative,” comments. I am not particularly creative. My mom told me about this idea from either a Food Network show or a magazine she had seen. I don’t know which so I can’t link to them. I am a fairly good copier though. Fairly.
October 19, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Yah, the eyeball marshmallows are awesome, I love that idea. They’d be looking you straight in the eye while you were drinking. 🙂
October 19, 2011 at 4:43 pm
That scary looking cup of coco is classic!
October 20, 2011 at 6:42 am
Impressive spread! My favorite are the eyes in the hot cocoa – spooky!
October 20, 2011 at 7:17 am
What gorgeous Halloween treats! I’ve always thought the spiderweb cookies looked so cute…I need to give them a try! Love the idea of a hot cocoa bar too!
October 20, 2011 at 9:16 am
Geni, you’re not only a great cook and baker, but so fun and creative!! Even without a kitchen!! Love all these ideas and am definitely going to incorporate these into my halloween plans!
October 20, 2011 at 10:13 am
Couldn’t get much cuter! Love the spiderweb cookies. I’ve done that with cupcakes before. Haven’t ever seen the eyeballs in the hot chocolate though…spooooky!
October 20, 2011 at 2:21 pm
oh those cookies are way too fun!
October 21, 2011 at 5:12 am
I’d love to come trick-or-treating to your house. Great minds think alike on those dipped Oreos. 🙂
October 21, 2011 at 7:26 pm
I love love love the spooky eyeballs! I’ll remember them when my grandson comes to visit. He’d love those any time of year! 🙂
October 21, 2011 at 9:51 pm
This is such a fun post! I especially LOVE that spooky hot cocoa. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend.
October 23, 2011 at 3:43 pm
This is creative! You can’t say you’re not, the proof is in the post. And looking very yummy too…
October 25, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Hey Geni- I was thinking of making these for work on Friday. Is it 2/3 Tablespoons of Cocoa? teaspoons? cups? Let me know please- cause these are so darn cute I’d love to make them!
October 25, 2011 at 8:07 pm
HI Ashley, it’s 2/3 cup and I added that to the recipe. Thanks so much for noticing that! I hate leaving stuff out. Also, should you find yourself in the middle of the recipe and realize I’ve missed anything else, there’s a link to the Cooking Light recipe. I just doubled the ingredients because the recipe didn’t make very many as-is. Have a great night and thanks for voting! 🙂
October 26, 2011 at 5:58 am
Thank you, Geni! I can’t wait to make them in a couple of days!
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November 6, 2011 at 8:36 am
Such a great idea!!
November 9, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Geni- Just wanted to let you know that these were a hit! Thank you again for sharing such a great recipe.