Halloween is a great time of year to make some simple, creative cookies that kids of all ages will enjoy. Make them for your child's school party, make them as a family bonding activity and enjoy them at home, share them at your work party or neighborhood block party. Take them on a haunted hayride, or share them with your neighbors. No matter how you like to enjoy Halloween cookies, making them and finding creative ways to decorate them is only half the fun.

While there are numerous recipes for all kinds of Halloween cookies, you don't always have to stick to someone else's example. Get creative! Add your own ideas and elements. Search the cupboards and find food coloring, sprinkles, or various candies and other elements that you can use to decorate your cookies. Browse both the candy and baking aisles at your grocer for other elements that you might not normally think of using. For example, red licorice can be used to make mouths on spooky faces. Green fruit snacks or skittles can make scary eyes. Don't forget to pick up some ready to use decorator's icing which can save you lots of time, and some Halloween cookie cutters in a variety of shapes so that you can make different designs.

To save even more time, consider making the cookie dough ahead of time in a larger batch, You can then separate the dough and freeze it in gallon size storage bags for easy access. This way, you can enjoy smaller batches of cookies throughout the whole month of October. You can even consider a no-bake variety, which is both delicious and very simple to make.

This is a recipe for basic sugar cookie dough that is great to make ahead of time for all of your holiday cookies.

Ingredients 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. In separate large bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in flour mixture just until blended.

Use for your favorite holiday cookies. Decorate with fruits, nuts, sprinkles, or your favorite icing. Stores great in gallon size storage bags in the freezer.

Use this icing for decorating your favorite holiday cookies. Mix with desired colors for your holiday theme.

Ingredients: 2 cups powdered sugar 4 teaspoons milk 4 teaspoons light corn syrup

Directions: Combine all ingredients in bowl. Add food coloring for desired color effect.