If you’re searching for a fun, festive treat perfect for Halloween (or any spook-tacular occasion), you’ve got to try this Witch Hat Cookies Recipe. I absolutely love how these cookies come together with their vibrant purple color and chocolatey Hershey’s Kiss “hat tops.” They’re surprisingly simple to make but look so impressive—perfect for sharing with friends or your family’s little witches and wizards. Stick around, and I’ll walk you through all my best tips to get these fun treats just right!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy & Quick to Make: You’ll be impressed with how quickly this dough comes together and bakes in under 10 minutes.
- Vibrant Halloween Colors: The purple frosting and food coloring create a festive pop perfect for party tables.
- Fun for All Ages: Kids love helping press on the Hershey’s Kisses and sprinkle the colorful toppings.
- Fluffy Yet Slightly Crispy: The cake mix base means these cookies are wonderfully soft inside with just the right crisp around the edges.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You don’t need a bunch of fancy ingredients here. I like that this Witch Hat Cookies Recipe uses cake mix for the base because it ensures a soft cake-like cookie every time. Plus, the purple food coloring is key to getting that spooky vibe just right.
- White Cake Mix: The base for our dough; a 15-ounce box works perfectly for fluffy cookies.
- Oil: Provides moisture and tenderness; I prefer vegetable oil for a neutral taste.
- Large Eggs: Helps bind the dough and adds richness.
- Purple Food Coloring: Select a gel or drop form for vibrant, even coloring without thinning the dough.
- Purple Frosting: Creates the “glue” to hold the Hershey’s Kiss on top and adds extra flavor.
- Hershey’s Kiss Chocolates (unwrapped): These become the hat tips—classic, delicious, and easy to find.
- Halloween Nonpareils (sprinkles): Adds fun, colorful sparkle and that festive finishing touch.
Variations
I love playing around with the colors and toppings on this Witch Hat Cookies Recipe, but you can easily customize it to suit your party theme or dietary needs. It’s one of those recipes that adapts beautifully!
- Color Swap: I once tried an orange version for fall, and it was just as magical—use orange food coloring and orange frosting for a pumpkin twist.
- Flavor Twist: Adding a teaspoon of almond or vanilla extract to the dough makes for a subtle but delightful flavor boost.
- Dairy-Free Option: You can swap the standard frosting for a dairy-free variety, and use a dairy-free chocolate kiss alternative so everyone can enjoy.
- Sprinkle Variety: Use black and orange jimmies instead of nonpareils for a classic Halloween look with a little less crunch.
How to Make Witch Hat Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Whip Up The Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix your white cake mix, oil, and eggs until a soft dough forms. Here’s the trick I learned: use a sturdy spoon or even your hands—it helps incorporate everything evenly. Then, add your purple food coloring a few drops at a time until you get a vibrant purple shade that screams Halloween. Stir well so the color is smooth, no streaks.
Step 2: Scoop and Bake
Using a cookie scoop (I like the 1.5 tablespoon size), drop dough balls onto your parchment-lined sheet, spacing them about 2-3 inches apart because they spread a little during baking. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Watch closely after 8 — you want the edges lightly golden but the centers still soft. To be sure, poke one with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, you’re good to go!
Step 3: Add the Witch Hats
Once out of the oven, let your cookies cool on the sheet for 2-3 minutes (this helps them set so they don’t break). Transfer to a cooling rack for about 30 minutes until totally cool—this step is crucial so the frosting doesn’t melt. Next, use a butter knife to spread a small dollop of purple frosting right in the center of each cookie. Press an unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss firmly onto the frosting so it sticks. Finish by sprinkling Halloween nonpareils over the frosting around the base of the Kiss for a magical effect.
Pro Tips for Making Witch Hat Cookies Recipe
- Use Gel Food Coloring: I discovered this trick when liquid dye diluted my dough too much; gel gives you that bold purple without affecting consistency.
- Don’t Skip Cooling Fully: Pressing the Hershey’s Kiss onto warm cookies leads to melted chocolate and messy hats—let them cool completely for sharp edges.
- Scoop Size Consistency: Keep each cookie dough ball the same size so they bake evenly; my cookie scoop made life easier.
- Watch Baking Time Closely: Ovens vary; cookies underbaked can flatten and overbaked lose softness—stick to checking at 8 minutes and use the toothpick test.
How to Serve Witch Hat Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
For garnishes, I love sticking with traditional Halloween colors — purple frosting paired with black and orange nonpareils or sprinkles. Sometimes I’ve tried edible glitter for a magical shimmer. These little extras don’t just add texture; they really bring out the witchy charm of the cookies.
Side Dishes
If you’re serving these at a party, they’re great with a cozy cup of spiced hot chocolate or a warm mug of apple cider. For a more substantial pairing, a light pumpkin soup or caramel apple slices complement the sweet, rich flavors beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
I once made a Halloween cookie platter where each cookie was placed on a mini “cauldron” cup of whipped cream for extra fun. Another time, I wrapped them in cellophane with purple ribbons as party favors. Layered on a black or orange serving plate, these Witch Hat Cookies instantly become the centerpiece, and guests can’t resist them.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After baking, I store leftover Witch Hat Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them soft yet fresh. They usually last well for up to 4 days, but honestly, they rarely stick around that long in my house!
Freezing
I’ve frozen the dough before and baked cookies straight from the freezer, which works great if you want to prep in advance. You can also freeze fully decorated cookies by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transferring to a freezer-safe container. When thawed, they still keep their shape and flavor beautifully.
Reheating
If your cookies have softened too much, a quick 5-7 second zap in the microwave softens the frosting without melting the chocolate. Avoid overheating, or your Hershey’s Kiss might lose its iconic shape!
FAQs
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Can I substitute another color for the purple in Witch Hat Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! The purple is just a fun Halloween touch. Feel free to use green, orange, black, or any color you prefer. Just use gel food coloring for the best vibrant results without changing the dough texture.
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What if I can’t find Hershey’s Kisses for the hat tops?
You can substitute with mini chocolate chips placed in clusters or even small chocolate discs shaped like cones for the same effect. Just make sure whatever you use sticks well into the frosting.
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Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
To make the Witch Hat Cookies Recipe gluten-free, look for a gluten-free white cake mix and confirm all other ingredients like frosting and sprinkles are gluten-free as well.
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How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?
Make sure your oven temperature is accurate; I recommend using an oven thermometer. Also, don’t over-mix your dough — stir just enough until combined. Using a slightly chilled dough can help as well.
Final Thoughts
This Witch Hat Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s not just a cookie—it’s a little bit of Halloween magic you can bake at home with your family. I still remember the first time I made these with my kids, and how their eyes lit up pressing on the chocolate hats and sprinkling colorful decorations. Give it a try—you’ll have a blast, and I promise these charming cookies will get gobbled up faster than you can say “Trick or Treat!”
Print
Witch Hat Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 18-20 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Witch Hat Cookies are festive Halloween treats made from a white cake mix dough tinted with purple food coloring, topped with purple frosting, Hershey’s Kiss chocolates, and colorful nonpareil sprinkles. Perfect for a spooky celebration, these easy-to-make cookies bake to a light golden edge and feature a delightful combination of soft cookie texture and sweet toppings.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 25 ounces (1.5 boxes) White Cake Mix
- ½ cup Oil
- 2 large Eggs
- 15-20 drops Purple Food Coloring
Toppings
- ½ cup Purple Frosting
- 24 Hershey’s Kiss Chocolates, unwrapped
- Halloween Nonpareils (sprinkles), as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix dough: In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, oil, and eggs. Stir thoroughly until a cohesive dough forms, ensuring all dry ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Add color: Add 15 to 20 drops of purple food coloring to the dough and stir continuously until you achieve a vibrant, evenly blended purple color throughout the dough.
- Form cookies: Using a cookie scoop, drop rounded portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 to 3 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookie edges turn lightly golden. Insert a toothpick into the center of a cookie; if it comes out clean with no wet dough attached, the cookies are done.
- Cool cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 2 to 3 minutes. Then transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
- Decorate: Use a butter knife to spread a small dollop of purple frosting in the center of each cooled cookie. Press one unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss onto the frosting to create the witch hat peak.
- Finish with sprinkles: Sprinkle Halloween-themed nonpareils over the exposed frosting around the Hershey’s Kiss for a festive, colorful finish.
Notes
- Use a cookie scoop for even-sized cookies to ensure uniform baking.
- Adjust food coloring quantity to achieve the desired shade of purple.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating to prevent frosting from melting.
- Try substituting purple frosting with your favorite color for different effects.
- Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
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