Halloween ‘finger food’

This year for Halloween I got ahead of myself preparing for it, as I was eager to share something new in my Persian radio program at Radio Koocheh.

The cookies you see in the picture are called Witch’s Finger cookies as I am sure most of you know. I thought calling them “Halloween ‘finger foods’ ” would do it more justice though!

There are many recipes for it on the net. I tried the one suggested by Canadian Living” which I will copy and paste here as their website seems to be down at the moment:

Creepy Witch’s Finger Cookies:

• 1 cup (250 mL) butter, softened
• 1 cup (250 mL) icing sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp (5 mL) almond extract
• 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
• 2-3/4 cups (675 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
• 1 tsp (5 mL) salt
• 3/4 cup (175 mL) whole blanched almonds
• 1 tube (19 g) red decorator gel, (blood for fingers)

Preparation

In bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond extract and vanilla; beat in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Working with one quarter of the dough at a time and keeping remaining dough refrigerated, roll heaping teaspoonful (5 mL) of dough into finger shape for each cookie.

Press almond firmly into end for nail. Squeeze in centre to create knuckle shape; using paring knife, make slashes in several places to form knuckle.

Place on lightly greased baking sheets; bake in 325°F (160°C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until pale golden. Let cool for 3 minutes. Lift up almond; squeeze red decorator gel onto nail bed and press almond back into place, so gel oozes out from underneath. Remove from baking sheets; let cool on racks. Repeat with remaining dough.”

The points I would add are

1. Use edible red stuff instead of jell for blood effect. I used some cranberry sauce I had left over from my thanks giving dinner!

2. If your “dough” does not look like dough and is sort of scattered, don’t worry!  It would still once you start taking small pieces and forming them in the shape of fingers.

Happy Halloween everyone !