Vampire Cookies

$20 - $25 (based on 2017 prices)

Makes two dozen cookies

The idea for this recipe came entirely by accident. I made these cookies for a birthday party, but the icing never reached the right consistency. Because of this, it fell in globs when I drizzled it over the cookies. The patterns reminded me of blood splatter, so I decided to thicken the icing and dye it red to resemble gore. For the time-pressed haunter who hates to cook, you can use a boxed cookie mix.

Cookies

• ½ Cup vegetable oil
• 4 Ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
• 2 Cups granulated sugar
• 2 Teaspoons vanilla
• 4 Eggs
• 2 Cups all-purpose flour 
• 2 Teaspoons baking powder 
• ½ Teaspoon salt 
• 1/3 Cup dried cherries
• 1/3 Cup crushed walnuts
  

Icing Drizzle

• 1/4 Cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon water
• Red food coloring
  

1. In a large bowl, mix together chocolate, eggs, granulated sugar, oil, and vanilla.

2. Add baking powder, flour, and salt to the mixture and blend well. Fold in the cherries and walnuts, cover the batter with a tea towel, and refrigerating it for at least three hours.

3. Preheat the oven to 350°F, form the dough into small balls, and drop them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet two inches apart.

4. Bake the cookies for ten to twelve minutes, remove them from the baking sheet, and allow them to cool on a wire rack.

5. As the cookies cool, make the icing by mixing the food coloring, powdered sugar, and water together in a small bowl. You want the mixture to be thicker than a glaze, but thinner than frosting, so you may have to add additional water or sugar to reach your desired consistency.

6. Drizzle the cookies with the icing. Do not overthink your application. You want a haphazard blood splatter.