Spooky sweets: Crafting the perfect Halloween witch fingers

What snacks should you prepare for Halloween? You can opt for quick solutions that take just two minutes using a few gadgets or bake sweets from scratch with only a few ingredients. The cookies taste best fresh from the oven, but if stored in an airtight container, they'll also be delicious the next day.

Witch fingers should melt in your mouth after baking, so the shortbread dough needs to be perfectly made. Achieving the right consistency depends on the proper chilling time of the dough. It's best to wrap the dough ball and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, although leaving it there for about an hour is recommended.

The base is classic shortbread dough, with only almonds and red fruit preserves as additions. Use jams like cherry, strawberry, raspberry, or plum to enhance their taste and aesthetic appeal. To make the cookies, you'll need the following ingredients:

                
• 1 cup of softened butter,
• 3/4 cup of powdered sugar,
• 1 egg,
• 1 teaspoon of almond extract,
• 2 2/3 cups of flour,
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder,
• 1 teaspoon of salt,
• 3/4 cup of whole almonds,
• plum preserves or other red fruit preserves.

Preparation:

1. Sift the flour and combine it with the baking powder and salt.
2. Cream the butter with the powdered sugar in a separate bowl, then add the beaten egg. Mix these ingredients thoroughly.
3. Next, combine this mixture with the dry ingredients. Knead the dough into a smooth mass, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it.
4. After chilling, remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it into your fingers. Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, remembering that the cookies will expand slightly while baking. Place almonds at the end of each finger to mimic nails by dipping the underside in preserves and gently adhering them.
5. Use a small knife to make cuts at the bends to make them realistic. Bake in an oven preheated to 200°C for about 10 minutes.
6. Once cooled, decorate the finished cookies with red or purple jam or preserves according to your taste.