Halloween Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Halloween Chocolate Sandwich Cookies are classic, fun to make cookies that are decorated with colored icing and candy eyeballs. Some would say the cookies are Oreo knock-offs. They’re two chocolate cookies with a vanilla cream filling.

Isn’t Halloween a weird holiday?

It’s the one day of the year when skeletons, pumpkins and bed-sheet ghosts are expectations in every suburban neighborhood front yard. Kids get to throw caution to the wind and eat an absurd amount of candy while grown ups check for razor blades and sneak a little in the process.

I don’t necessarily dress up anymore, but I do like any holiday that gives me a reason to make goodies. 

Today I’m sharing my Halloween chocolate sandwich cookies using a recipe from one of my very favorite bakers, Dorie Greenspan.

Now, if you haven’t had the pleasure of cooking from Dorie’s recipes, let me tell you, this woman is a genius. Her book, Dorie’s Cookies, is fantastic. It’s full of any and every type of cookie from classic chocolate chip cookies to her original Bees Sneeze, which are salty, savory nuggets (you know savory is my real jam), and her chocolate sandwich cookie recipe is no exception.

These cookies are crisp, rich, and so delicious. Trust me—after one bite, you’ll never want to settle for the store-bought stuff again.

So, for this Halloween, I’m taking Dorie’s recipe and putting a festive twist on it. Whether you’re hosting a party, sending treats to school, or just indulging in some late-night Netflix and snacks, these cookies are the perfect addition to your spooky spread. Think of them as the Halloween version of Oreos—just better, because they’re homemade.

What Are Halloween Chocolate Sandwich Cookies?

The base of this recipe is your classic chocolate sandwich cookie. It’s got that deep, bittersweet cocoa flavor and a satisfyingly crunchy texture that pairs perfectly with the creamy filling. The best part? These are very easy to make! Even if you’re not a avid baker, Dorie’s recipe is totally doable.

You’ll need basic pantry ingredients—flour, cocoa powder, sugar, butter, and vanilla. If you’ve ever made cookies before, you know the drill. Just one caveat – The dough needs to chill before rolling and baking. I’m not a patient person, but this is crucial to achieving that crispy texture.

Give the dough an hour in the fridge (or speed things up with a quick 30 minutes in the freezer), and you’ll be rewarded with sandwich cookies that hold their shape and bake to perfection.

Once you’ve got the cookies baked and cooled, you can decorate.

How to Decorate Halloween Chocolate Sandwich Cookies 

Since it’s Halloween, it would be a crime to leave these cookies plain. Sure, Dorie’s recipe is perfect as-is, but where’s the fun in that? This is the part where you can get as crazy as you want to.

Here are a few decoration ideas that will take these cookies from “yum” to “oh my gourd, that’s cute”:

1. Monster Sandwiches: Using candy eyes (which you can find at any craft or grocery store around this time of year OR if you’re like me order them here), give your cookies some character! Pipe on little fangs with white icing or chocolate to turn these innocent sandwich cookies into adorable monsters.
2. Pumpkin Faces: Add orange food coloring to the icing filling and pipe little jack-o-lantern faces on top. You can also use edible markers to draw designs if you’re short on time but still want that Halloween flair.
3. Witch Hats: Stack two cookies with a bit of icing, add a Hershey’s Kiss on top, and use some green or purple icing to create a witch’s hat. They’re easy and effective—and honestly, who doesn’t want to eat a witch’s hat?
4. Spider Webs: For something a bit more sophisticated, use white royal icing to pipe intricate spider web designs on top of the cookies. It’s a fun, simple design that can make even the most novice decorator look like a pro.
5. Sprinkles, Sprinkles, Sprinkles: When in doubt, throw on some Halloween sprinkles. There are so many fun seasonal blends that feature everything from tiny pumpkins to skulls. Just sandwich the cookies with your favorite buttercream or frosting, then roll the sides in sprinkles for a festive edge.

Filling Options for Halloween Chocolate Sandwich Cookies 

While Dorie’s original recipe calls for a simple buttercream filling (which is divine), this is the perfect place to experiment and get creative. Here are a few Halloween-inspired filling ideas:

1. Orange Buttercream: Add a few drops of orange food coloring and a bit of orange extract to your standard buttercream. Not only will it look the part, but it’ll taste bright and citrusy—a perfect contrast to the deep chocolate flavor.
2. Cream Cheese Frosting: Want something a bit tangier? Swap the buttercream for cream cheese frosting. It’s slightly less sweet, which balances out the richness of the cookie beautifully.
3. Peanut Butter Filling: For all my peanut butter lovers, mixing in some peanut butter with the buttercream is a game-changer. Think Reese’s, but better because it’s sandwiched between two homemade chocolate cookies.
4. Mint Chocolate Chip: For a cool, refreshing twist, mix in some peppermint extract and mini chocolate chips into your filling. It’ll taste like Halloween mint-chocolate-chip ice cream in cookie form.

You’re probably juggling a million things during Halloween—whether it’s helping the kids with costumes, decorating the house, or figuring out what’s for dinner. So, here are a few hacks to make these cookies even easier and more party-ready:

• Make-Ahead Dough: You can prep the cookie dough in advance and freeze it. Just roll it into a log before freezing, then slice and bake when you’re ready to go. This saves so much time, especially if you’re hosting or have a busy schedule.
• Cookie Decorating Station: If you’re hosting a Halloween party, set up a decorating station for the kids (or adults—no judgment here). Have a variety of sprinkles, candies, and icing colors ready to go. It’s a great way to keep guests entertained, and they’re built-in goodie bags.
• Giftable Treats: These cookies make adorable Halloween gifts. Wrap a few in cellophane bags, tie them with orange and black ribbon, and you’ve got yourself a sweet little gift to hand out to friends, neighbors, or teachers. They’ll love you forever.

The Final Bite

Dorie Greenspan’s chocolate sandwich cookie recipe is the perfect base for creating some truly adorable Halloween treats. Whether you’re going for cute, creepy, or downright gory, these cookies can be customized to fit your Halloween mood. Plus, they’re just plain delicious.

So, grab your mixing bowls, preheat your oven, and make some Halloween goodies. Because nothing says Halloween quite like homemade cookies that taste even better than they look.

Remember to tag me on Insta or Facebook – @dixiechikcooks.