Spooktacularly Simple: 3-Ingredient Halloween Chocolate Sugar Cookies with Candy Eyeballs
Halloween! It’s a season brimming with magic, playful frights, and, of course, delicious treats. For many, it’s a cherished time that brings back a flood of nostalgic memories. Whether it’s the thrill of children in their carefully chosen costumes, the joy of handing out candy to excited trick-or-treaters, or the crisp crunch of autumn leaves underfoot on a chilly evening, Halloween holds a special place in our hearts. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love sneaking a few (or more!) of the kids’ Snickers bars after they’ve gone to bed? (No judgment here, we’ve all been there!)
I especially recall the vibrant Halloween parties at school, back when my children were younger. Serving as a room parent for numerous years meant I had the pleasure of planning spooky snacks and engaging games, then watching the adorable parade of little ones in their creative get-ups. Those were always good times, filled with laughter and sugar-fueled excitement. While my own “little ones” have grown, this year brings a new kind of Halloween joy: my grandpuppy is all set to dress up as a hotdog! It just goes to show, the spirit of Halloween always finds a way to delight us.
This year, let’s make your Halloween celebrations even sweeter and simpler with a recipe that’s almost too good to be true. Prepare to fall in love with these incredibly easy, 3-ingredient Halloween Chocolate Sugar Cookies adorned with whimsical candy eyeballs. They’re so quick to whip up – you can have two dozen soft, chewy, and delightfully spooky cookies ready in about 20 minutes! These “eye-catching” treats are sure to be a monstrous hit with everyone, from tiny ghosts and goblins to grown-up monsters.
This post and recipe were specially crafted for #HalloweenTreatsWeek! While I received samples from some generous sponsor companies, rest assured that all opinions expressed are entirely my own. I only share what I genuinely love!
SOME OF THE ITEMS BELOW CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS; I AM A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES. I AM ALSO AN AFFILIATE FOR OTHER BRANDS. HOWEVER, I ONLY PROMOTE THINGS THAT I LOVE AND THINK YOU WILL LOVE, TOO. FOR MY ENTIRE DISCLOSURE POLICY PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Wickedly Easy Chocolate Sugar Cookies with Candy Eyeballs
Searching for the ultimate Halloween treat that’s both delicious and incredibly simple to make? Look no further! These Halloween-themed chocolate sugar cookies are the perfect solution for your little (or big) ghouls and goblins. What makes them truly stand out is their astonishing simplicity: they require just three core ingredients. Add the fun candy eyeballs for decoration, and you’re still only at four ingredients! This makes them an absolute snap to prepare, even on a busy weeknight.
Imagine the joy of spending an afternoon baking with your kids, creating these delightfully spooky cookies. It’s a fantastic project that’s easy enough for even the youngest helpers, and the decorating part is where the real fun begins! These eye-popping treats are not only perfect for school parties and Halloween gatherings but also make a wonderfully easy dessert to follow any festive Halloween dinner. They bring a touch of playful horror to the dessert table without any complicated steps or specialized baking skills.
These cookies are my inaugural contribution to this year’s highly anticipated Halloween Treats Week. I’m incredibly excited to share this and many more new recipes with you, alongside a treasure trove of creative concoctions from all the talented bloggers involved in this event. Beyond the delicious recipes, there are always amazing prizes up for grabs, so be sure to keep reading to discover how you can win!
All the details about the prizes and how to enter the giveaway can be found below the recipe card at the very bottom of this post!
The Secret to These 4-Ingredient Chocolate Sugar Cookies
When I was brainstorming ideas for the Halloween event, I stumbled upon an online recipe for chocolate chocolate chip cookies that ingeniously started with refrigerated cookie dough. A lightbulb went off: “I wonder if that clever shortcut would work for sugar cookies, too?” The idea was to transform a classic, ready-to-bake sugar cookie dough into a rich, chocolatey base. So, I decided to give it a try, and to my delight, it worked GREAT! This simple hack cuts down on prep time significantly, allowing you to create impressive treats with minimal effort. What started as an experiment quickly became a Halloween favorite in my kitchen.
*Technically, the base chocolate cookie recipe only calls for three ingredients. It only becomes a four-ingredient recipe if you count the playful decorations that bring these spooky cookies to life!
Essential Ingredients for Spooky Halloween Chocolate Sugar Cookies
You’ll be amazed at how few items you need to create such a delicious and visually appealing Halloween dessert. Here’s the simple lineup:
- **Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough:** This is our magical shortcut ingredient. Using pre-made dough saves a ton of time and effort, letting you jump straight to the fun part of baking and decorating. Make sure it’s slightly softened at room temperature for easier mixing.
- **Cocoa Powder:** This is what transforms plain sugar cookie dough into a rich, decadent chocolate base. Use a good quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the best flavor and color.
- **Chocolate Kiss or Chocolate Star Candies:** These serve a dual purpose – they add an extra layer of chocolatey goodness and act as the perfect sticky base for our candy eyeballs.
- **Candy Eyeballs (for decoration):** The star of the show! These edible eyeballs are what give our cookies their signature spooky charm, making them irresistible for Halloween.
Crafting Your “Eye Love” Chocolate Sugar Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. To start, make sure your refrigerated sugar cookie dough has a chance to soften a bit on the counter. This makes it much easier to work with and ensures a smooth, even blend when you introduce the cocoa powder. Once softened, combine the dough and cocoa powder thoroughly. You can do this by hand if the dough is very soft, or using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment for effortless blending. Mix until the cocoa powder is fully incorporated and you have a uniform chocolate-colored dough.
Initially, I had a few reservations. Would these cookies be too dry? Would they lack the sweetness typically found in sugar cookies? However, my worries quickly dissipated. The result was a batch of cookies that were perfectly soft and wonderfully chewy – exactly what a great cookie should be! The added cocoa powder introduces a rich depth of flavor that complements the sweetness of the sugar cookie dough beautifully, creating a delightful balance that’s hard to resist.
While I felt these cookies were sweet enough on their own, even without the Hershey’s Kisses, in my world, there’s no such thing as too much chocolate! The melted chocolate kisses not only add an extra layer of indulgence but also serve a practical purpose: they act as a perfect, slightly sticky adhesive to hold those whimsical candy eyeballs securely in place. This ensures your spooky decorations stay put, adding to the fun and festive presentation.
Once your dough is mixed, roll it into uniform balls and place them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. After they’ve baked for the recommended time and are still delightfully hot from the oven, gently press a chocolate kiss (or chocolate star candy) into the center of each cookie. The residual heat from the cookie will quickly soften and slightly melt the chocolate, creating that perfect base for your eyeballs. I experimented with placing some kisses tip-down and others tip-up, and they each lent the cookies distinctly different, equally charming looks.
For the kisses placed tip-up, I found that pressing a larger sized candy eyeball into the melted chocolate made the chocolate ooze out appealingly around the eye, creating a wonderfully ghoulish effect. For the kisses placed tip-down, I opted for smaller candy eyes. Alternatively, if you prefer a smoother look for the tip-down kisses, you can gently smooth the melted chocolate down with a spoon while it’s still warm. Both methods yield fantastic results, offering diverse and spooky aesthetics for your cookie monsters. I honestly love the look of both variations, but the smaller eyes often benefit from being used in multiples for a more “bug-eyed” effect, while the larger ones make a fun statement all on their own.
Finding the larger sized candy eyeballs, those measuring about 3/4 inch, can sometimes be a bit tricky. If you happen to come across them in your local craft or baking supply store, definitely grab them! They really make a bold statement on the cookies and are worth seeking out for that extra “wow” factor.
Here’s looking at you, kid!
And there you have it: a wonderfully simple cookie recipe for soft, chewy, and double-chocolatey sugar cookies, all dressed up and ready for Halloween. These delightful treats combine ease of preparation with maximum festive appeal, making them a must-bake for your autumn celebrations. Enjoy the process of creating these charmingly spooky cookies!
Love Them? Pin This Recipe for Later!
Don’t let this incredibly simple and spooky chocolate sugar cookie recipe disappear into the abyss! You’ll definitely want to have it handy for your upcoming Halloween party, school events, or just a fun family baking session. It would be truly scary if you couldn’t remember where you found the instructions for these “eye-love” cookies. Make sure to pin them to your favorite Pinterest board so you can easily find them year after year. Happy pinning!
Expert Tips & Creative Ideas for Perfect Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- How do I ensure all my cookies are the same size? Achieving uniform cookie sizes is key for even baking and a professional look. I find the best method is to start by dividing the mixed cookie dough in half. Then, continue to divide each half into equal parts, little by little. For example, each half can become a quarter, and then you can break each quarter into three equal pieces. This systematic approach ensures that all your dough balls are pretty much the same size, leading to beautifully consistent cookies.
- My cookies never turn out chewy; what am I doing wrong? The most common reason for non-chewy, often dry or crumbly cookies, is overbaking. For that perfect soft and chewy texture, I always recommend taking your cookies out of the oven just before they look 100% done. They will continue to bake slightly from the residual heat on the hot cookie sheet. Let them sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes after baking before transferring them to a cooling rack. As a general rule, when trying a new cookie recipe, I bake the first batch about two minutes under the shortest recommended baking time and adjust according to my oven’s quirks. Every oven is a little different, so observation is key!
- I don’t have any candy eyeballs. What can I use as an alternative? No candy eyeballs? No problem! There are plenty of creative substitutes you can use to give your cookies that fun, watchful gaze. You could use a white chocolate kiss, allowing it to melt slightly, and then press a mini chocolate chip or a dab of frosting into the center to create a pupil. Another option is to pipe on some frosting in a circular shape for the whites of the eyes, then add a smaller dot of black or brown frosting for the pupil. If you want to skip the eyes altogether but keep a festive touch, simply sprinkle the warm, melted chocolate kiss with colorful Halloween sprinkles. Get creative and have fun with it!
More Spooky & Fun Recipes Using Candy Eyeballs
So, you bought a box of candy eyeballs, and now you’re looking for more fun ways to use them beyond these fantastic chocolate sugar cookies? You’re in luck! I have a collection of super fun recipes that feature “eyes” – some are candy, some are not, but all are sure to add a playful or spooky touch to your treats. Check out these other “eye-conic” recipes:
- **Cocoa Krispy Owls:** Adorable little chocolate rice Krispy treats brought to life with clever Oreo and M&M eyes.
- **Here’s Peeking at You Owl Cupcakes:** Delicious chocolate cupcakes cleverly transformed into wise old owls using Oreo cookies for their captivating eyes.
- **Apple “Donut” Monsters:** Healthy and fun apple slices, shaped like donuts, frosted with cream cheese, chocolate, and peanut butter frosting, then adorned with whimsical candy eyeballs.
- **Halloween White Trash Snack Mix:** A delightful sweet & salty snack mix featuring cereal, peanuts, pretzels, candy corn, and, of course, candy eyes, all coated in a delicious vanilla almond bark.
- **Halloween Double Peanut Butter Muddy Buddies:** A crowd-pleasing mix of chocolate and peanut butter Chex cereal, coated in a decadent blend of peanut butter and melted chocolate, then tossed in powdered sugar and sprinkles. Adding candy corn and candy eyeballs elevates this to a super fun and tasty party mix! (Pictured above for inspiration!)
- **Pizza Monster Sandwiches:** Frightfully fun and savory sandwiches featuring pizza sauce, crispy chicken nuggets, gooey mozzarella cheese, all served on grilled garlic bread. The “eyeball olives” truly seal the deal and make these sandwiches monstrously appealing!
I genuinely hope you and your entire crew of little witches, warlocks, and even the grown-up monsters thoroughly enjoy these adorable and delicious Halloween chocolate sugar cookies! As you can tell, I absolutely love Chocolate Sugar Cookies, especially when they’re dressed up for the spooky season. Happy Halloween baking, and may your celebrations be filled with joy, laughter, and plenty of “eye-love” treats! 
LIKE THIS RECIPE?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and
leave a comment below the recipe!
Print Recipe
Eye Love Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Equipment
-
Assorted Candy Eyeballs Box
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce package Refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 24 chocolate kiss candies
- Candy Eyeballs – assorted sizes
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
-
With a mixer or by hand, combine the softened refrigerated sugar cookie dough and cocoa powder until well blended and uniform in color.
-
Roll the chocolate cookie dough into small, uniform balls and place them onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart.
-
Bake for approximately 8 minutes, or until the edges are just set but the centers are still soft for a chewy texture.
-
Remove the cookies from the oven. While they are still hot, gently press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. (Experiment with placing some point-up and some point-down for different looks!)
-
Allow the chocolate kiss to soften and melt slightly from the heat of the cookie, which will take a minute or two.
-
Immediately after the chocolate has softened, carefully place one or more candy eyeball(s) onto the melted chocolate. The chocolate will act as an adhesive.
-
Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack. This helps them set and maintain their shape.
-
Store your “Eye Love” Chocolate Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Take a look at even more spooky Halloween recipes from our #HalloweenTreatsWeek Bloggers today:
Halloween Cookies & Bars:
- Cake Mix Monster Cookies from Big Bear’s Wife
- Candy Bar Cookies from Devour Dinner
- Oreo Mummy Cookies from Savory Experiments
- Easy Halloween Cake Mix Sprinkle Cookies from Family Around the Table
- Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars from House of Nash Eats
- Eye Love Chocolate Sugar Cookies from An Affair From the Heart
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars form Back To My Southern Roots
Halloween Cakes & Cupcakes:
- Bloody Broken Glass Red Velvet Cake from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Halloween Bats Oreo Cupcakes from Lemon Blossoms
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting from The Flour Handprint
Halloween Brownies:
- The Scream Brownies from West Via Midwest
- Halloween Monster Chocolate Cake Brownies from JZ Eats
- Halloween Marshmallow Brownies from Sweet Beginnings
Halloween Pies:
- Halloween Mini S’mores Pudding Pies from For the Love of Food
- Jack Skellington Boo-berry Pie from Savory Moments
Halloween Breakfast:
- Halloween Smoothie Bowl from Fresh Coast Eats
- Halloween Pancakes from I Am A Honeybee
- Pumpkin Spice Donuts from Pastry Chef Online
Halloween Drinks:
- Bloody Hot Cocoa from It’s Shanaka
Chilled Halloween Treats:
- Pennywise Ice Cream Float from Cheese Curd in Paradise
- Wicked Witch Popsicles from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
No Bake Desserts:
- Muddy Buddy Halloween Snack Mix from Tastes of Homemade
- Candy Corn Rice Crispy Treats from The Spiffy Cookie
- Kid-Friendly Halloween Snack Board from Love and Confections
- Rice Krispie Treat Haunted Houses from Sweet ReciPEAS
- Ghostly Snack Mix from Fake Ginger
- Spooky Pretzel Rods from Take Two Tapas
- Halloween Candy Bark from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Batty For Chocolate Dessert Cheese Ball from 4 Sons R Us
- Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Dip from Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Disclaimer: These posts and recipes are part of the week-long event, #HalloweenTreatsWeek but all opinions are 100% mine! We would like to Thank our amazing brand sponsors: Dixie Crystals that provided a prize pack for our giveaways and also sent some samples and products to the #HalloweenTreatsWeek bloggers to use in their recipes. We would also love to give a huge thanks to our Halloween Treats Week bloggers because a lot of them also donated prizes for the giveaways, including: Angie of BigBearsWife, Nicole of Nicole Taggart’s Origami Owl Jewelry Bar, Kathy of Lemon Blossoms, Terri of Our Good Life, Julie of Back To My Southern Roots, Peabody of Sweet ReciPEAS, Megan of Strawberry Blondie Kitchen, Nicole of For the Love of Food Blog, Michaela of An Affair from the Heart, Jennifer of Take Two Tapas, Michele of West Via Midwest, Shanaka of It’s Shanaka, Ashley of Cheese Curd In Paradise, and Amy from House of Nash Eats!