Halloween Paint Your Own Cookies

Original Video Tutorial HERE.

Halloween is just around the corner, and if you’re looking for a fun, creative activity that keeps little hands busy and ends with a delicious treat, you are going to love this. These Paint Your Own (PYO) cookies are such a fun project to do with the kids.

Using a simple, reliable sugar cookie base topped with smooth white fondant, you get a clean blank canvas ready for ghosts, pumpkins, and spooky masterpieces.

Let’s get baking!

Jump to Recipe

Where to Buy Essentials

If you’re gathering your supplies for this DIY project, here is where you can easily find everything you need:

Edible Paint & Food-Safe Brushes: Look for pre-made edible paint palettes at baking supply shops, or mix a little gel food colouring with few drops of water for a watercolour effect. Food-safe brushes can be found in the cake decorating aisle of craft stores.

Halloween Cookie Cutters: You can buy halloween cookie cutters from Kmart or online.

Store-Bought Fondant: Most major supermarkets keep ready-to-roll white fondant in the baking aisle, or you can find it at cake specialty stores.

What you will need:

Cookies

450g plain flour
½ teaspoon salt
230g butter, at room temperature
200g sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder

Topping

White store-bought fondant

Decoration

Edible paint palatte or diluted food colouring
Food safe paint brush

Em’s Pro Tips:

Skip the store-bought edible glue! There’s plenty of natural sugar in the fondant, so just a light brush of water on the back of your fondant topper will make it stick securely to the cookie. It works like a charm without any extra fuss.

Decorating Your PYO Cookies

Once your fondant is on the cookies, let them dry out for at least a couple of hours so the surface is firm and doesn’t become a sticky mess while painting.

When it’s time to paint, set up a little station with your edible paints and brushes. Once the kids (or you!) have finished their spooky artwork, make sure to give the paint time to set before anyone takes a bite!

How to make it:

Prep: Preheat your oven to 160°C (fan-forced) and lightly grease a springform tin.

Combine Dry: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cloves, and nutmeg.

Rub in Butter: Add the chopped, cold butter to the flour mixture. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Sweeten: Stir in the sugar and mix well.

Add Apples: Toss the apple slices into the flour mixture, ensuring they are thoroughly coated.

Form the Batter: Add the whisked eggs and milk. Mix until just combined. The batter should have a thick, dough-like consistency.

Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared springform tin and level the top. Sprinkle the extra sugar over the surface for that lovely crunch. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.

Serve: Allow to cool slightly before removing from the tin. Serve warm with your choice of ice cream or custard.

Setting Up a Mess-Free PYO Station

If you’re doing this with kids, a little bit of setup goes a long way! You could add a quick guide on setting up:

Water & Paper Towels: Keeping a small cup of water for rinsing brushes and a folded piece of paper towel nearby to dab off excess moisture so the fondant doesn’t get soggy.

The Palette Setup: Using a cheap plastic artist palette, an ice cube tray or a clean egg carton to hold small drops of edible paint or gel food colouring.

Halloween Paint Your Own Cookies party favour

Packaging Them as Party Favours or Gifts

When I ran my small baking business, PYO cookies were a hit for party favours. In the pack include a cookie, an edible paint palatte, food safe paint brush and a slip with instructions packaged nicely with in a clear cellophane bag

Happy Baking!

I can’t wait to see your versions of this cosy classic. Don’t forget to tag me in your photos. I love seeing what you’re creating in your kitchens!

More Halloween Recipes

Halloween PYO Cookies

Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy

Servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Chill Time

hours

Ingredients

Cookies
450g plain flour
½ teaspoon salt
230g butter, at room temperature
200g sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
Topping
White store-bought fondant
Decoration
Edible paint palatte or diluted food colouring
Food safe paint brush

Method

Place flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl and set to the side.
In a separate bowl whisk together egg and vanilla extract.
In a bench mixer or using a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until creamy.
Slowly add the egg and vanilla mix to the mixer and mix until well combined.
With the mixer on low, add the flour mix 1/3 at a time. Mix until chunks of cookie dough start to form.
Pour the dough out onto a surface, bring the dough together and knead gently for about 20 seconds. Don’t over-knead because the butter will begin to melt and the cookies will spread when baked.
Cover dough in cling film and pop it in the fridge overnight or for at least 3 hours.
Preheat your oven to 160°C and line two baking sheets with baking paper.
Divide the dough into 4 and roll out between 2 sheets of baking paper until it is 5mm thick.
Using a 6cm cookie cutter, cut out cookie rounds and place them on the baking sheet.
Bake cookies for 8 mins or until just golden. (Baking time will vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t go too crispy.)
Let cookies cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cookies are cooling, colour your fondant and roll it out to 2mm thick. Using the same 6cm cookie cutter, cut out rounds. Decorate with whatever you like, there’s really no limit! (Custom cookie stamps, water colours, sprinkles, or edible images all work wonderfully).
Once the cookies have completely cooled, lightly brush the backside of your fondant topper with a little water and place it onto the cookie. There’s no need for fancy edible glue as the fondant has enough sugar in it to naturally stick and adhere. Once dry, the fondant won’t move around at all.
Decorate
Once your fondant is on the cookies, let them dry out for at least a couple of hours so the surface is firm and doesn’t become a sticky mess while painting.
When it’s time to paint, set up a little station with your edible paints and brushes. Once the kids (or you!) have finished their spooky artwork, make sure to give the paint time to set before anyone takes a bite!

Notes

Em’s Pro Tip: Skip the store-bought edible glue! There’s plenty of natural sugar in the fondant, so just a light brush of water on the back of your fondant topper will make it stick securely to the cookie. It works like a charm without any extra fuss.
Where to Buy Essentials:
Edible Paint & Food-Safe Brushes: Look for pre-made edible paint palettes at baking supply shops, or mix a little gel food colouring with few drops of water for a watercolour effect. Food-safe brushes can be found in the cake decorating aisle of craft stores.
Halloween Cookie Cutters: You can buy halloween cookie cutters from Kmart or online.
Store-Bought Fondant: Most major supermarkets keep ready-to-roll white fondant in the baking aisle, or you can find it at cake specialty stores.
Packaging Them as Party Favours or Gifts:When I ran my small baking business, PYO cookies were a hit for party favours. In the pack include a cookie, an edible paint palatte, food safe paint brush and a slip with instructions packaged nicely with in a clear cellophane bag

About Em

Hi, I’m Em. A self-taught baker, sweet tooth, and the creator behind Em’s Sweet Life. I believe baking doesn’t need to be complicated to be delicious.

Here you’ll find easy, reliable recipes made with simple ingredients, a few shortcuts, and a whole lot of heart.

What started as a weekend hobby has turned into my happy place. A space to share the treats I love baking for family and friends.

Whether it’s a last-minute dessert, a nostalgic classic, or something new to impress at your next gathering, my goal is to help you feel confident (and calm!) in the kitchen.

Grab a cup of tea, preheat your oven, and let’s bake something sweet together.

YouTube Videos

Want to hang out in the kitchen with me? If you’re a visual learner (or just like watching butter and sugar come together), I’ve filmed step-by-step videos for all my favourite recipes! You can find the full tutorials over on my YouTube channel now. Let’s bake something delicious together!