How to Make Gooey Monster Eye Cookies: A Fun and Spooky Treat for Halloween
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with some spooky, colorful, and monster eye cookies? One of the best ways to embrace the Halloween spirit is by baking a batch of Gooey Monster Cookies. These fun and easy cookies are not only visually stunning, with bright colors and candy eyes, but they are also soft, chewy, and incredibly tasty. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party, sending treats to school, or just looking for a fun baking project, these gooey monster cookies are sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike!
In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to make gooey monster cookies using a fun and EASY recipe, while providing you with some tips, variations, and tricks to make sure your cookies turn out perfectly every time.
Why Make Monster Eye Cookies?
Gooey monster eye cookies are perfect for Halloween because they’re easy to customize with your favorite spooky colors and candy decorations. You can mix and match the cookie dough to create vibrant green, purple, blue, or orange monsters, and add candy eyes of different sizes to give each cookie its own unique personality. These cookies are also incredibly soft and chewy, thanks to the addition of cream cheese and butter, making them the perfect treat for anyone who loves a gooey cookie experience.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Gooey Monster Cookies
To get started, you’ll need a few basic baking ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need:
For the Cookie Dough:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Box White Cake Mix
- 1 tsp Salt
- Food coloring (Pink, Lime Green, and Turquoise Waters)
- 1-2 cups of Powdered Sugar (to roll the cookie dough balls in)
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For the Decorations:
- Candy eyes (assorted sizes - Grab them ANYWHERE!)
- Edible Glitter (optional) :)
The combination of butter, cream cheese, and sugar creates a rich, tender dough that bakes into soft, gooey cookies. The key to the “monster” effect is the food coloring and candy eyes, so make sure to have those on hand to complete the look.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Monster Eye Cookies
Now that you have your ingredients ready, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of making these delicious monster eye cookies.
Step 1: Prepare Your Cookie Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. This will ensure that the cookies bake evenly and don’t stick to the pan.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, cream cheese, egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This should take about 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer. Next, add the white cake box mix with a dash of salt and continue to mix until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Step 2: Add the Color
Now for the fun part—adding the food coloring! Divide the dough into separate bowls, depending on how many different colors you’d like to use. For a classic monster look, green, pink / purple, and blue are great choices. You can also opt for orange for a fun twist.
Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl of dough and mix with a spatula until the color is evenly distributed. If you’re using gel food coloring, you’ll only need a small amount to achieve vibrant hues. Remember, the more color you add, the brighter your cookies will be!
Step 3: Shape the Cookies
Once your dough is colored, use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop out portions of dough and roll them into balls. Place the dough balls in a bowl of powdered sugar and roll them around until covered. Once all the cookies are shaped and rolled into the powder sugar, place your cookies on a prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2-3 inches of space between each one.
Step 4: Bake
Bake the cookies in your preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops are just beginning to crack. The centers of the cookies should still be slightly gooey, as they will continue to firm up as they cool.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes and add the candy eyes while the cookies are still warm! Use caution during this process. Gently press a few candy eyes into each cookie. You can use eyes of different sizes to give each cookie a unique monster appearance. Feel free to add sprinkles or DiamonDust Edible Glitter at this stage if you want to give your monsters some extra sparkle before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 5: Enjoy!
Once your cookies are cool, they’re ready to be enjoyed! These gooey monster cookies are perfect for Halloween parties, school events, or as a fun treat to share with friends and family. The bright colors and googly eyes make them irresistible, while the soft, chewy texture will have everyone reaching for seconds.
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Gooey Monster Cookies
To make sure your gooey monster cookies turn out perfectly every time, here are a few helpful tips and tricks:
1. Use Gel Food Coloring
For the most vibrant colors, opt for gel food coloring instead of liquid. Gel coloring is more concentrated, so you’ll need less to achieve bold colors.
2. Don’t Overbake
The key to getting that gooey center is to avoid overbaking the cookies. They should look slightly underdone in the center when you take them out of the oven. As they cool, the centers will firm up while staying soft and chewy.
3. Customize the Colors
Feel free to get creative with the colors of your monster cookies. You can stick with traditional Halloween colors like green, purple, and orange, or mix things up with bright pink, blue, or even black! The candy eyes are what really give these cookies their monster look, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different color combinations.
4. Add Texture
For an extra fun twist, roll the dough balls in sprinkles or colored sugar before baking. This will add a crunchy texture to the outside of the cookies and make them even more festive.
Variations and Substitutions
If you want to switch things up, here are a few variations you can try:
- Chocolate Chip Monsters: Add chocolate chips to the dough for a delicious twist on classic monster cookies.
- Peanut Butter Monsters: Swap out some of the butter for peanut butter to give your cookies a nutty flavor.
- Gluten-Free Monsters: Use a gluten-free flour blend in place of all-purpose flour for a gluten-free version of these cookies.
Conclusion
Gooey monster eye cookies are the perfect Halloween treat! With their vibrant colors, fun decorations, and soft, chewy texture, they’re sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. Plus, they’re easy to make and can be customized with different colors, sprinkles, and candy eyes to create unique monsters.
So, gather your ingredients, grab your candy eyes, and get ready to bake up a batch of these spooky, gooey cookies. They’re a fun and delicious way to celebrate Halloween, and they’ll have everyone asking for the recipe!
Happy baking!
