Description
Delightfully spooky and colorful Zombie Cookies made with a creamy cake mix batter dyed in vibrant hues, coated in confectioner’s sugar, and decorated with candy eyeballs. Perfect for Halloween or any fun-themed occasion, these cookies are soft, fluffy, and irresistibly festive.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese – room temperature
- 1/2 cup butter – room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 box white cake mix
Color and Decoration
- Food coloring – purple and green
- Sprinkles (optional)
- Confectioner’s sugar, for coating
- Candy eyeballs, for decoration
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: Combine the cream cheese, butter, egg, and vanilla extract in a large mixer bowl. Beat together until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth base for the cookies.
- Add cake mix: Gradually add the white cake mix to the creamy mixture and stir slowly until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the batter tender.
- Divide and color dough: Split the batter evenly into two bowls. Add purple food coloring and sprinkles to one bowl and green food coloring and sprinkles to the other. Mix each until the colors and sprinkles are evenly distributed.
- Chill the dough: Cover each bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Chilling firms the dough for easier handling and better texture when baked.
- Preheat oven and prep pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Shape and coat cookies: Roll 2-3 tablespoon portions of dough into balls, then roll each ball in confectioner’s sugar to coat thoroughly. Place them on the prepared baking sheets and gently press down without flattening completely.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until cookies are set but still soft.
- Add candy eyes: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, press candy eyeballs gently into each cookie before they cool to ensure they stick well.
- Cool and store: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them to an airtight container for storage.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese and butter are room temperature for smooth mixing.
- You can use any food coloring shades to customize your zombie cookies.
- Optional sprinkles add festive texture and fun, but can be omitted if preferred.
- Rolling cookies in confectioner’s sugar creates a slightly crisp exterior with a soft inside.
- Press candy eyes in while cookies are warm for best adhesion.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
