These are not your average cake mix cookies. These Zombie Cookies are creepy and ghastly – just like the undead who want to eat your brains.
Zombie cookies are super cute and spooky treats to make for your friends and family this Halloween. They are deliciously soft and chewy, made from cake mix, tinted with fun zombie colors, and are the perfect Halloween treat because they are both sweet and frightening.
You better make a double batch because these cookies are a FAN FAVORITE! What could be better on the scariest day of the year?
Halloween is the most frightful time of the year. If you are thinking about something sweet to make for your Halloween party, these cookies will be perfect to share with your friends.
I always love to bake goods for the holiday season. I think one of the best times of year is Halloween. It is dark and creepy, but with so many fun things to do like carving pumpkins, costumes, and collecting candy.
I love to make all different kinds of Halloween cookies. My mind is always bursting with ideas this time of year – from cute Halloween cookies to creepy ones too.
Halloween Cookies Easy
Here are some commonly asked questions
Can you freeze zombie cookies?
Yes, but just not after baking. To freeze, just roll the cookie dough into balls & do not dip them in the sugar. Then place the dough balls on a plate or cookie sheet & flash freeze them. Once they’ve been flash-frozen, transfer them to a zip-top bag & freeze for up to 1 month. When you want to make the cookies, just thaw the dough for 20-30 minutes, roll into the sugar and bake!
Do I really need to chill the dough?
YES- please, as hard as it is to wait- don’t skip the chilling process. It is key to making sure your dough is firm enough to hold together. Otherwise, you won’t get that beautiful crinkle-look you want with these cookies.
You only need 30 minutes for this recipe – so it isn’t too bad like other cookies that require a 4-hour minimum chill time. You can always make the dough after dinner the night before & then bake in the morning.
What I have found is that I can pop the dough in the fridge, get the oven preheating and then wash any dishes I have made and maybe sort the mail. By then the 30 minutes have passed and I’m ready to get baking.
Why do my cookies go flat?
Cookies typically go flat when the dough isn’t the right temperature at the time of baking OR when they are missing the right ingredients that help them to rise- such as eggs, baking soda, and baking powder. Please make sure you are measuring those ingredients correctly and that they are at room temperature when you start the mixing.
Also – something to keep in mind- make sure you are placing the dough on a cool baking sheet. The cookies will bake differently if you are placing the dough on the hot baking sheet you just removed from the oven. Make sure you have a rotation of baking sheets so you can always place the unbaked dough on a cool tray.
Zombie Cookies Recipe
What food color do you recommend?
I really love using a soft gel food color because the pigment is more intense and makes the dough less watery. For these cookies, I use electric purple and electric green.
Why do the ingredients need to be at room temperature?
Room temperature ingredients help to ensure that everything blends together perfectly. You don’t want any pockets of unblended butter. You want everything evenly disbursed for the perfect texture.
When your dairy products are at room temperature, they can create an emulsion. It’s essential to have an emulsion because air gets trapped, so the baked goods expand and get fluffy as it bakes.
What is the best way to store leftover zombie cookies?
The easiest way is to place them in an airtight container & store them at room temperature. Keep in mind that the confectioner’s sugar might get a bit moist in that airtight container & soak into the cookies a bit by day 2. So, please enjoy within 2-3 days.
Can these cookies be made ahead of time?
You bet. This cookie dough can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days prior to baking. Make sure to cover tightly with plastic wrap so it doesn’t dry out. Let it sit out at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before rolling and baking.
Zombie Halloween
Ingredients for Zombie Cookies
- cream cheese – room temperature
- butter – room temperature
- egg
- vanilla extract
- white cake mix
- food coloring – in purple and green
- sprinkles – optional
- confectioner’s sugar
- candy eyeballs
How to soften the butter to room temperature?
First
There are a couple of ways to do this. The first being that you can take the butter (& any other ingredients that need to be at room temperature) out, leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes while you prep for baking.
I usually start with all my chilled ingredients and pull everything I need out onto the counter before getting started – so I know for sure I have everything before I’m mid-way through I realize I’m out of something.
But sometimes it’s winter and that isn’t enough time to get the ingredients warmed up – OR – I’m just not that organized to plan ahead. It happens. So I have another couple of tricks.
Second
I place the butter in the microwave – wrapped in the paper. (don’t do this if it is wrapped in foil) Then I microwave for 2 seconds – flip – go another 2 seconds – flip again – and continue for 2 seconds on each side.
This is usually enough to get it perfect – sometimes stopping before if it feels soft enough. Take care when doing this method – overly softened butter from the microwave WILL ALTER the end result of the recipe. Don’t over-do it.
Third
My third method is to place the wrapped butter sticks in a zip-top bag and place it in a bowl of warm water. I do this with the eggs too. If the water isn’t too hot it can be THE PERFECT way to get “room-temperature” ingredients.
Cookies Halloween Recipe
How to Make Zombie Cookies
- Combine the cream cheese, butter, egg and vanilla extract in a large mixer bowl. Beat together until light and fluffy.
- Add the cake mix and stir slowly until just combined.
- Divide the batter into two bowls.
- Add the food coloring and any desired sprinkles to each bowl and mix until the color is uniform throughout and the sprinkles are evenly distributed.
- Cover and chill each color of dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Roll 2-3 tablespoon-sized portions into balls and then roll those in the confectioner’s sugar to coat.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and press them down slightly but don’t completely flatten.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Add the candy eyes to each of the cookies immediately after removing from the oven before they cool – pressing them in just deep enough so they don’t fall out.
- Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Can this recipe be doubled?
Yes, absolutely. This recipe makes about 24-30 cookies depending on how large you make them. So if you need more – maybe for a Halloween party – doubling is super easy.
Don’t miss these other delicious cookie recipes!
Cute Halloween Cookies
DON’T MISS THESE HOLIDAY E-BOOKS!
**If you love these, you’ll want to check out our adorable Halloween Oreo Balls too!
Products I love when making zombie cookies…
This zombie cookie recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made cake mix cookies before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love them. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this cookie recipe.
- vanilla extract
- white cake mix
- food coloring – in purple and green
- sprinkles – optional
- confectioner’s sugar
- bloodshot eyeballs
- green/yellow candy eyes
- mini candy eyes
- candy eyes
- 3/4 sheet pans
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
If you love these Easy Zombie Cookies, you’re going to love these other treats too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
More Great Cake Mix Recipe Ideas
Red Velvet Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies
Frosted Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
St. Patrick’s Day Cake Mix Cookie Bars
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Zombie Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese – room temperature
- 1/2 cup butter – room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 box white cake mix
- food coloring – in purple and green
- sprinkles – optional
- confectioner’s sugar
- candy eyeballs
Instructions
- Combine the cream cheese, butter, egg and vanilla extract in a large mixer bowl. Beat together until light and fluffy.
- Add the cake mix and stir slowly until just combined.
- Divide the batter into two bowls.
- Add the food coloring and any desired sprinkles to each bowl and mix until the color is uniform throughout and the sprinkles are evenly distributed.
- Cover and chill each color of dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Roll 2-3 tablespoon-sized portions into balls and then roll those in the confectioner’s sugar to coat.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and press them down slightly but don’t completely flatten.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Add the candy eyes to each of the cookies immediately after removing from the oven before they cool – pressing them in just deep enough so they don’t fall out.
- Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
