Description
These Spooky Ghost Brown Butter Pumpkin Cookies are perfectly chewy pumpkin-spiced treats topped with ghostly white chocolate decorations and black candy melt features. Perfect for Halloween, they combine the rich flavor of brown butter and maple with festive ghost designs that are simple yet impressive.
Ingredients
Scale
Brown Butter and Maple Chewy Pumpkin Cookies
- 1 batch Brown Butter and Maple Chewy Pumpkin Cookies (see linked Butternut Bakery recipe)
For Decorating
- White chocolate (such as Ghirardelli melting wafers) – about 1 cup for melting
- Black candy melts – about 1/2 cup
- Piping bag or small ziplock bag
Helpful Tools/Ingredients
- Medium cookie scoop
- Light colored baking pans
- Small spoon (for shaping chocolate ghosts)
- Parchment paper (for practice)
Instructions
- Bake the Cookies: Prepare and bake one batch of the Brown Butter and Maple Chewy Pumpkin Cookies according to the original recipe. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating to ensure the chocolate adheres properly.
- Melt the White Chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate wafers in short 20-30 second intervals, stirring between each until smooth and fully melted. Careful not to overheat to avoid burning.
- Create Ghost Shapes: Place a small dollop of melted white chocolate onto the center of each cooled cookie. Using the back of a small spoon, gently drag the chocolate downwards to form the shape of a ghost. Practice on parchment paper beforehand to perfect your technique.
- Let White Chocolate Harden: Allow the white chocolate ghost shapes to fully set and harden at room temperature, which typically takes about 15-20 minutes.
- Melt Black Candy Melts: Melt the black candy melts in a microwave-safe container in short bursts, stirring frequently until smooth. Then, transfer the melted candy melts into a piping bag or a corner-cut ziplock bag for easy application.
- Add Facial Features: Pipe small dots of black candy melts onto each white chocolate ghost to create eyes and a mouth, giving your cookies their spooky ghostly expressions.
- Allow to Dry: Let the decorated cookies sit at room temperature until the black candy features are completely dry and set, about 20-30 minutes. Once dry, your spooky ghost pumpkin cookies are ready to enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure cookies are fully cooled before decorating to prevent melting or smearing.
- Practice ghost shapes on parchment paper before applying to cookies for best results.
- If white chocolate thickens as it cools, gently reheat in short bursts to remelt.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For a dairy-free option, use vegan white chocolate and candy melts.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking and Decorating
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Pumpkin cookies, Halloween treats, ghost cookies, brown butter pumpkin, maple pumpkin cookies, spooky Halloween dessert, white chocolate ghost, candy melt decorations
