Halloween Cookies by Butter Baked Goods + Cookbook Giveaway!


All photos by Janis Nicolay of Pinecone Camp

Rosie Daykin's cookbook, Butter Baked Goods, published by Random House, photographed by Janis Nicolay, was released this past week. We thought it was a perfect time to share the Butter's Shaped Cookies recipe, to help get you in a spooky mood for Halloween. 

Start by pulling out your cookie cutters and get baking. Butter Baked Goods gets their cutters from Copper Gifts, where you can also custom design your own. 




Butter's Shaped Cookies 
(from Butter Baked Goods, published by Random House)
makes about 24 cookies, using a 3 1/2-inch cutter

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
3/4 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons pure vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside. 
2. Onto a large piece of parchment paper, sift together the flour and baking powder. Set aside. 
3. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars on medium to high speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla and mix to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again. 
4. Turn the mixer to low and add the dry ingredients and mix until fully combined.
5. Shape the dough into a large disk, about 1 inch thick,  and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
6. Divide the disk in two, and place half the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. 
7. Use the cookie cutter of your choice to cut out about 12 cookies. Carefully transfer to the prepared cookie sheets and place about 1/2 inch apart. You may have to combine the dough scraps and re-roll the dough to cut out enough cookies. Avoid doing this too many times, as the cookies will become tough with over-handling. 
8. Use a rolling pin to roll out the second disk of dough to about 1/4 inch think and repeat step 7. 
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges.
10. Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool for about 10 minutes on the sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. 


Royal Icing - makes 4 cups, enough to coat about 24 cookies

4 cups icing sugar
1/4 cup meringue powder
6 to 8 tablespoons water

1. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine the icing sugar and meringue powder. Mix on medium speed until the meringue powder is evenly distributed throughout the icing sugar. 
2. Turn the mixer to low and slowly add the water, little by little, until the icing reaches the desired consistency. 
3. Once the water is incorporated, beat the mixture on high to create some volume and lightness in the icing. 


When icing cookies, you need two different consistencies of icing. The "dam" icing should be thick enough to hold it's shape; the "flood" icing should be loose enough to spread across a cookie without being so thin that it runs off. Royal icing can become any shade you like just by adding a drop of food colouring. The combination of meringue powder and icing sugar gives it a pure white base that means all colours read true when tinting, so show restraint when you start adding the colouring. 

Package them up for all the little monsters in your life!


We're giving away a copy of the book to one lucky Poppytalk follower, anywhere in the world. All you have to do is leave a comment. We'll pick a winner on a Monday (Oct. 28/13) —deadline to enter Sun. Oct. 28/13 at 6pm (Pacific)! Good luck!

More info about the book.
Rosie Daykin's cookbook, Butter Baked Goods, published by Random House, photographed by Janis Nicolay

Update:  the winner of the book giveaway is Casi Price - please shoot us an email for details!

Jan Halvarson

139 comments:

Anonymous said...

Julianne
juliannemccahill@comcast.net
Those Halloween cookies are so cute and this cookbook looks great!! Thanks for the opportunity to win!!

LA2012MQ said...

Love Halloween desserts and cookies. A great way to get into the Halloween spirit!

Richelle said...

I love those, the cookies are so cute! I can't wait for Halloween!

Chelsea said...

How cute! That book looks delicious!

Alyssa said...

Oh pick me pick me! I went for high tea at Butter last time I was in Vancouver and it was simply heavenly <3 So making those cookies this weekend!

Alanna Anderson said...

Looks like a gorgeous cookbook! Thanks for a great giveaway!
Alanna

Karen K. said...

those are adorable cookies! The pig cracks me up!

Sixpence and A Blue Moon said...

Looks like a fantastic cookbook! And would love to have one of those cookies right now.

Thanks for the chance to win this fantastic prize.

MPWayout said...

I love nostalgic recipes! Those cookies look delicious and the pig pirate is pretty funny. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!

Beeline said...

Everything tastes better with butter!
Thanks for the chance to win.

Alysia said...

Will definitely be using this recipe for my halloween cookies this year!
The book looks lovely, it would be a treat to win!

Elena said...

I love Halloween themed desserts and the cookies are so scarily cute :! happy Halloween to all of ya'll and the cookbook is going to definitely be added to my wish list this year!

gommanucci said...

cute cookies and the book looks great too! happy halloween!

Pretty Things said...

Love the blog and would love to win some treats and the cookbook!

Mel said...

Ooh that cookbook looks so gorgeous. I'd love to win it!

Oh and interesting to see you spread the flood icing with a spatula - I never would have thought of that!

J*Schofield said...

Butter is the best food ever! And a book with the title Butter has to be the most awesome of cook books.

Kritter said...

Beautiful cookbook!! Would love to win!

Emilia said...

I love the idea of a crime scene cookie. There are so many amazing ways it could be used. Like "Break-dancer" cookies, "Bigfoot" cookies, "figure skater" cookies. The possibilities are endless.

Leah P. said...

Yummmmm! Count me in!

sissy said...

Great recipe for any holiday adaptation.

Julie Brouillette said...

Julie.brouillette@gmail.com
LOVE these cookies!

Unknown said...

What a fun book! I heart butter :)

Unknown said...

Would love to be able to make these cookies.

Vivian said...

I'd love a book!

Sage said...

These are so cute! Holiday baking is always so fun.

Debra Norton said...

What a beautiful looking cookbook! Gorgeous photography.

Beth K said...

Love baking cookies! Thanks for the giveaway!

Emily said...

I'd love to win this! I don't have a cookie cookbook!

V said...

Will be doing some Halloween baking with my family this weekend. This recipe looks like something we'll try!

heidi said...

I would love a new sweets cookbook! Love well frosted cookies. :)

Cynthia Flores said...

Love the cookies! Will definitely try this recipe!! ...and yes I would so love to win this cookbook!! :)

Brittney said...

Can't wait to try this cookie recipe! Just started following your blog. I love that you have a recipe for Nanaimo Bar Cupcakes. YUMMY! My husband used to live in Canada and does not ever stop talking about Namaimo Bars!

Pam said...

My kids have great memories of making sugar cookies with Their Grandma when she would come to visit at Christmas.

Thanks for the chance to win.

Pam said...

My kids have great memories of making sugar cookies with Their Grandma when she would come to visit at Christmas.

Thanks for the chance to win.

Savyshoppergal said...

Yum All Hallows' eve cookies

Unknown said...

Mmmmmmmmm...cooookies.


Thanks for the giveaway!

Tammy Katsu said...

I love cakes! Yes please!

Kristin said...

These cookies are so cute! Feel in love with them when I first saw them.

MerMarty said...

This cookbook looks awesome! Thanks for the giveaway! mer[dot]marty[at]yahoo[dot]com

barbara avalanche said...

Amazing!
I'd love to bake some myself...

brittany said...

What a great giveaway! I'm inspires to host a halloween cookie decorating party

nic said...

Ooohh, I love cookie cutters! These are fabulous.

xxx ♥nic

Wise Ways said...

This Cookbook looks brilliant I am always looking for new baking ideas & this book looks full of them

Tracy Nixon said...

Thanks you so much for the giveaway! Happy halloween!

mummy24 said...

Looks fab!

Ashleigh (@ashlallan)

Unknown said...

Those cookies look too good to eat. I love the idea of custom made cookie cutters. The books sounds great and I'm sure it's full of butter goodness.

Unknown said...

These cookies are amazingly crafted! I love Halloween and all things that go bump in night! I'd love to win this package and bring the cookies to the disadvantaged elementary school where I work.

Leslie-Anne said...

This cookbook looks so beautiful. I love to bake and I love being inspired by other creative bakers. Thanks for this giveaway opportunity.

no name said...

Love the cookies and just makes me want to get in the kitchen baking

Louise Lumsden said...

looks like a really lovely cook book & I'd love to win it for my daughter so she could bake lovely things for her boys as they grow up

Unknown said...

Wow looks so yummy

Tash said...

These look great!!!

Unknown said...

Fantastic give away, will make great Hallowe'en treats.

danoidnoid said...

such great looking cookies!! the recipe looks simple and easy to use during any occasion

shanley said...

fall is clearly cookie season. I teach a baking class to a group of people at a supportive housing organization, and so am always looking for new ideas!

Pooky said...

The cookie cutters are so cute!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful cookbook! And those cookies are adorable. :) Thanks for the giveaway!

Gilla01 said...

Love cookery books, and this one looks scrummy. Fingers crossed.

Unknown said...

the all look nice, the dead body out line has given me a great idea to do these for my halloween party

Nicole P. said...

i've loved watching the little sneak peek previews of this book while it was being created and now it's finally here! I'd love a copy for sure!

Unknown said...

what a lovely book for all the keen bakers among'st us, it will make someone very happy x

The Bergstroms said...

This is a great giveaway! Would love to bake from this book with my daughter.

Victoria said...

I live in the neighbourhood and it is a lovely little bakery! Congrats on the book!

Victoria said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

This looks like a lovely book - the sort that I'd treasure for years.

Anonymous said...

Those cookies look amazing!

Penelope @beebug said...

This book looks amazing! Sign me up!

Jessica said...

I haven't made butter cookies forever... this puts me in the baking mood!

Hannah ONeill said...

This book looks really lovely

Polkaostrich said...

This cookbook looks gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Everything in the basket is so cute and delicious, I'm excited that there is now a cookbook !

Anonymous said...

What a giveaway! That book looks so nice. Have a nice week-end. Caroline Douny (caro_douny@hotmail.com)

krnries said...

What lovely cookies!

Unknown said...

I love the way you piped the spider web on these cookies it looks so awesome!! These are perfect for Halloween parties!! ^^D

Unknown said...

Would absolutely love this!!

z said...

Crime scene - love it!

Unknown said...

Looks like an amazing book, good luck everyone

Anonymous said...

Great giveaway! Halloween is just starting to take off a bit more in the UK, nothing like US though (is it the same in Canada?)

Jan Halvarson said...

theashtonalternative - Halloween has always been pretty big here - since I can remember anyway- we've always gone out trick or treating.

Joyce Hobbs said...

These are so clever! I am going home from work to bake!

Megan J said...

I would love to win a copy of this book!! Can't wait to start baking.
(megan.vb.jones@gmail.com)

milliestar said...

This book looks totally divine - I would be thrilled to win. My fingers and toes are firmly crossed!!
milliet@xtra.co.nz

Anonymous said...

I love baking and this beautiful book would sit pride of place on my cookbook shelf.

Thank you ever so much for such a generous giveaway!

Kath
moose.marine@xtra.co.nz

Anonymous said...

My wife is totally mad about baking.....I'm one lucky husband and would love to give her this lovely looking book for Christmas - I know she would just love it.

Grant Thomas
grant.thomas1@xtra.co.nz

Anonymous said...

I LOVE to bake all sorts of treats and one can never have too many sources of inspiration. Please do count me in for the prize draw.

eddie_waterpolo1@hotmail.com (Eddie)

Shanda said...

I never knew about that trick! The book looks amazing!

ShMann23@yahoo.com

christa said...

All I have to say is yum! great giveaway.

cyndy said...

Oh how I miss Vancouver. She is one multi-talnted lady. Would love her book and to visit her bakery some day.
Thanks for the opportunity

Corinna P. said...

Those cookies are making me hungry!

Jen said...

One can never have too many cookbooks!

Unknown said...

Thank you for this opportunity. I love, love, love baking new recipes that include butter.

Unknown said...

O my goodness! Those are so adorable!
I love the piggy haha

Leanne W said...

Spinning his eyes

Unknown said...

looks amazing! mmmm

Meesh @ I Dream of Chairs said...

Cute cookies! The little ghost cracks me up.

Lauren said...

What a beautiful cover! If I was judging the book by it, it looks like something I'd love!

di dilly said...

Fab competition. Please enter me.

Anonymous said...

Hee hee! I love that I eat butter and gluten products!

Seriously though, this cookbook looks amazing - I'd love to sink my teeth into some of those delicious desserts!

Lisa

L said...

I'd love this book!

L said...

I'd love this book!

Nina said...

awww, such gorgeous photos!

Meghan Finley said...

These look awesome. Thanks for the chance

lyn burgess said...

I'm just getting into baking, and this book looks great.

Robyn Clarke said...

Your cookies are amazing! and I love the washi tape on the little bags, such a fab idea!

Tammy Jane said...

Looks like a great book.

nataliemay30 said...

these cookies are so cute. my little angel woud absolutely love them. im thinking of making some with her for halloween. thanks for the great comp x x ;) x x

Bianca Carneiro said...

Not sure what's cuter -- the cookies or the wrappers! Love the Halloween spirit!

Anonymous said...

Not sure what I love more -- the cookies or the adorable wrappers!! Love the Halloween spirit!

Unknown said...

That book looks fabulous!

WeeWillieWilkie said...

This looks like a lovely book - Twitter: @WeeWillWilk

helen said...

lovely book, will be lovely to have to do baking with my girls

Nikki pellow (lee_laura_love@hotmail.co.uk) said...

Lush!!!

Kristy Brown said...

Fantastic cookies!!

Sebastienne said...

would love to win

Clairefairy said...

I am making a grave cake on sunday for my cake club, going to make some of these to add to it!

Joanne said...

I'm a BIG CSI fan so the Crime Scene cookies would be brilliant for me.

cathyj said...

wow this book looks brill

soozybee said...

Looks amazing

strawberri_shortcake said...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

strawberri_shortcake said...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Diana said...

Looks great! I'm never able to bake good biscuits!

irene bolton said...

I Love the cookies , I am going to make some of the witches hats, and the ghosts.

Lani Nash said...

Wow lovely giveaway!

natz101 said...

Great book! I'm always looking for new recipes!! :)

Wendy Tolhurst said...

I love baking and am usually quite successful when making cakes but don't have so much success with cookies - would love to have a copy of this recipe book.

Anonymous said...

Would love a copy of this book to add to my kitchen collection!

hunnycat said...

ooh coooookkkiiiiiessss :)

snarepuss said...

would love to win :)

Anonymous said...

hei I will be so happy if I win the book!
love
Natascha (xxnataschaxx@live.de)

Anonymous said...

I <3 a good recipe book & <3 to bake! This would be perfect to add to my kitchen collection... Placed at the front if course.

Hayley said...

that book does look amazing. Thanks for the giveaway x

zebedee01 said...

This looks a lovely book, would love to enter please :) xx

Malia said...

Those cookies look so delicious!

Unknown said...

the kids would love this

Unknown said...

making me hungry!!

Unknown said...

Baked them this weekend, and just finished the last one... Delicious!

Alison said...

Wow the cookies look fabulous - one for my christmas list :)

ali thorpe said...

i bake cakes every week but biscuits less often. This really makes me want to bake them more often.

Unknown said...

The book looks brilliant with lots if different recipes that you don't usually see.