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Easy Spooky Spider Cookies with Pretzel Legs: Best Halloween Treat

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These Easy Spooky Spider Cookies with Pretzel Legs are a fun and delicious Halloween treat. Made with a fudgy chocolate cookie base, salty pretzel legs, and a rich chocolate drizzle, they come together in under 30 minutes and are perfect for parties or a cozy night in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (15.25 oz) chocolate cake mix (preferably dark chocolate or devil’s food)
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil (canola or melted coconut oil also works)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup pretzel sticks (about 40–50 sticks, thick and sturdy)
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil or shortening
  • 24–30 candy eyes (6mm size)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Stir until a soft, fudgy dough forms. Do not overmix.
  3. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion out 1.5-tablespoon balls of dough. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gently press each ball down slightly with the palm of your hand to flatten it into a disc about 1/2 inch thick.
  4. Bake for 8-10 minutes. The cookies should look set around the edges but still soft and slightly underdone in the center.
  5. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, while they are still hot and soft, gently press 8 pretzel sticks into each cookie to form the spider legs. Place 4 on each side, angling them slightly outward. Press them in about halfway.
  6. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  7. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the semi-sweet chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is smooth and glossy (about 60-80 seconds total).
  8. Using a spoon or a small piping bag, drizzle the melted chocolate over the center of each cookie to create the spider body.
  9. While the chocolate drizzle is still wet, press two candy eyes onto each spider body near the front of the chocolate dollop.
  10. Allow the cookies to sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chocolate drizzle is firm to the touch.

Notes

Press the pretzel legs into the cookies while they are still warm from the oven to ensure they stay attached. Do not overbake the cookies; they should be slightly underdone to allow the pretzels to embed. Work in batches of 6-8 cookies to manage the warm cookies effectively. For extra spooky spiders, break some pretzel sticks in half before inserting. Keep candy eyes in the freezer for easier handling.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween cookies, spider cookies, pretzel legs, chocolate cookies, easy Halloween treats, spooky cookies, kid-friendly Halloween

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/easy-spooky-spider-cookies-with-pretzel-legs-best-halloween-treat/