Jack-O’-Lantern Sandwich Cookies are a festive and fun Halloween treat that combines buttery, tender cookies with a sweet, creamy filling. Shaped like classic carved pumpkins, these cookies bring all the charm of jack-o’-lanterns to your dessert table. Perfect for parties, gifting, or a spooky baking day at home, they’re as delightful to make as they are to eat.
These cookies start with a soft, buttery dough that’s easy to roll out and cut into pumpkin shapes. Half of the cookies have jack-o’-lantern faces cut out to create the signature look, while the other half remain solid to hold the filling. The faces can be simple triangles for eyes and a smile, or you can get creative with spooky, silly, or surprised expressions.
Once baked to a light golden color, the cookies are sandwiched together with a filling that’s sweet and creamy. Popular choices include vanilla buttercream, orange-tinted frosting, cream cheese filling, or even a smooth layer of chocolate or jam for a fun flavor twist. The filling peeks through the jack-o’-lantern faces, adding both color and a playful touch to every bite.
Decorating is where the real fun happens. You can tint the cookie dough orange using food coloring or leave it natural for a classic look. A dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of icing can add extra flair. These cookies look great arranged on a party platter, wrapped up as Halloween favors, or served alongside other festive treats like cupcakes and candies.
Not only are Jack-O’-Lantern Sandwich Cookies adorable, but they’re also delicious. The buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies pair perfectly with the creamy filling, making them irresistible to both kids and adults. They offer the perfect combination of festive fun and homemade charm, turning a simple cookie into a Halloween centerpiece.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- Orange food coloring
- 1 teaspoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and egg until well combined.
- Gradually add flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until a dough forms.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut out cookies using a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter. Use a knife to carve Jack-O’-Lantern faces into half of the cookies.
- Place cookies on prepared baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely.
- To make the filling, beat the cream cheese until smooth, then gradually add powdered sugar until combined.
- Mix in a few drops of orange food coloring and milk until desired consistency and color are reached.
- Spread the filling on the flat side of each non-carved cookie. Top with a carved cookie to create a sandwich.
These cookies are adorable and taste amazing! My kids loved helping with the faces. Will make again for Halloween!
THese r the best!! I made them last year. Everyone loved them. Will do it again for sure!
I don’t get why you need orange food coloring. I mean, cookies are supposed to be brown, right?
Too much butter, I think. The cookies were greasy. Next time, I will lessen the butter, maybe?
I totally get it! Butter can be tricky. I usually just use a bit less too. It helps a lot!
Nah, it’s fine! A little grease just means they’re richer! More butter, more flavor, right? 😄
Great recipe! But I added chocolate chips too, just because. It turned out super delicious!
I messed up and used baking soda instead of powder, and they turned out flat. Who knew? Lol. Still tasted good tho.
Never thought I’d make cookies from scratch, but this recipe was easy enough! Tastes great too!
I had a hard time getting the dough right. It was sticky and I ended up adding more flour. But they looked cute in the end.