Delightfully Creepy Spooky Spider Biscuits in 30 Minutes

Halloween baking just got a whole lot creepier—and easier! These spooky spider biscuits have been my go-to treat every October since my niece declared them “the coolest cookies EVER” when she was five. What I love most? You don’t need fancy skills—just basic ingredients and a little imagination. The kids go wild decorating their eight-legged creations, and honestly, I have just as much fun making them. Whether you’re prepping for a party or want to surprise your little monsters after school, these eerie yet adorable biscuits come together in under 30 minutes. Trust me, they’ll disappear faster than a ghost in the night!

Ingredients for Spooky Spider Biscuits

Gather these simple ingredients to create your creepy-crawly treats. You’ll need:

• 200g plain flour – the base of our biscuit dough
• 100g butter – softened (cold butter won’t cream properly!)
• 50g sugar – just enough sweetness to balance the dark color
• 1 egg – for binding everything together
• Black food coloring – gel works best for that deep, spooky black (liquid makes the dough too wet)
• Chocolate chips – regular or mini for those beady spider eyes
• Licorice strings – cut into 2-inch pieces for eight hairy legs per spider

That’s it! You probably have most of these in your pantry already. I always double the batch – these little guys vanish fast!

How to Make Spooky Spider Biscuits

Alright, let’s get these creepy crawlies baking! Here’s my tried-and-true method for perfect spider biscuits every time:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). No shortcuts here – a properly heated oven makes all the difference!
2. Mix the dry ingredients – rub the flour, butter and sugar together with your fingers until it looks like breadcrumbs. This is my favorite part – so satisfying!
3. Add the egg and food coloring – I use about 1 tsp of black gel coloring. Knead until you’ve got a smooth, inky-black dough (careful – it stains!).
4. Roll it out to about 1cm thickness – no rolling pin? A wine bottle works in a pinch!
5. Cut circles using a cookie cutter or glass. Make them 5-6cm across – perfect spider body size.

Now for the fun part – let’s bring these spiders to life! Bake them for 10-12 minutes until just firm. They’ll continue to harden as they cool, so don’t overbake them. When they come out looking like little black moons, you’ll know they’re perfect.

Shaping and Decorating Your Spooky Spider Biscuits

This is where the magic happens! While the biscuits are still warm (but not hot), press two chocolate chips into each one for eyes – the heat helps them stick. I let the kids do this part – their little fingers are perfect for placing those beady eyes just right!

For the legs: Cut licorice strings into 2-inch pieces. When the biscuits are completely cool, use a toothpick to make small holes (4 on each side) and gently push the legs in. Pro tip: Make the front legs slightly shorter for that proper spider silhouette. Watch out – they might start skittering across your counter!

Tips for Perfect Spooky Spider Biscuits

After making dozens of these creepy cookies, I’ve picked up some tricks to make them foolproof:

• Go for gel coloring – liquid food dye makes the dough sticky and never gets truly black. I swear by Americolor Super Black gel.
• Watch the clock – these bake fast! At 12 minutes, peek – they should look dry but still slightly soft in the center.
• Cool completely before adding licorice legs, or they’ll go limp (spiders shouldn’t be soggy!).
• Store them properly – an airtight container keeps them fresh for up to 5 days (if they last that long!).
• Double the batch – trust me, you’ll want extras when the neighborhood kids come knocking!

Ingredient Substitutions for Spooky Spider Biscuits

No black food coloring? No problem! For a natural-ish alternative, mix 2 tbsp cocoa powder into your dry ingredients – you’ll get gorgeously dark, chocolatey spiders. Out of licorice? Pretzel sticks make fantastic crunchy legs (kids love the salty-sweet combo!). For dietary needs, use gluten-free flour and dairy-free butter – they work beautifully. Just avoid liquid sweeteners; the dough needs that sugar texture. Spooky flexibility at its finest!

Serving and Storing Spooky Spider Biscuits

Let your spider biscuits cool completely on a rack – about 20 minutes – before serving. I love stacking them on a cake stand with cobweb decorations or arranging them on a platter with candy “insects” for a full creepy-crawly display! For storage, tuck them into an airtight container (those legs are delicate!) where they’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days. If they last that long!

Nutritional Information for Spooky Spider Biscuits

Here’s the scoop on these eight-legged treats (per biscuit): about 120 calories, 6g sugar, and 5g fat. Remember, these are estimates – actual numbers might wiggle a bit depending on your ingredient brands. They’re definitely a “sometimes food,” but hey, Halloween only comes once a year! The kids burn off the sugar chasing each other around the yard anyway.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spooky Spider Biscuits

Can I use natural food coloring? Absolutely! While gel coloring gives the darkest black, you can mix 2 tbsp cocoa powder into the dough for a deep, chocolatey color. For a more natural black, try activated charcoal powder (found in health stores), but use sparingly—it’s potent!

How long do they stay fresh? Stored in an airtight container, these biscuits stay fresh for up to 5 days. Just make sure they’re completely cool before storing, or the licorice legs might get soggy.

Can I freeze them? Yes! Freeze the baked biscuits (without legs) for up to a month. Add the licorice legs after they’ve thawed to keep them crisp.

What if I don’t have licorice? No worries—pretzel sticks or even thin chocolate sticks make great crunchy legs. Get creative!

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