Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups black royal icing (or dark chocolate ganache)
- 1/2 cup white royal icing (in a piping bag with a small round tip)
- Optional: Plastic spiders or sprinkles for extra flair
Instructions
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Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes of high-speed mixing. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until fully incorporated and smooth.
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Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients and Shape
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a cohesive dough forms. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Gently flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass to create a smooth, flat surface for decorating.
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Step 3: Bake and Cool
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are just barely golden. Do not overbake; you want them to remain soft. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They must be completely cool to the touch before you begin the icing process, otherwise, the decoration will melt.
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Step 4: Apply the Base Layer
Spread a smooth, circular layer of black royal icing or chocolate ganache over the top of each cooled cookie. Ensure the icing reaches almost to the edges. You want this base layer to be “wet” when you move to the next step, so it is best to work with three or four cookies at a time rather than icing the whole batch at once.
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Step 5: Create the Spider Web Design
While the black icing is still wet, pipe three or four concentric circles of white icing onto the cookie, starting from the center and moving outward. Immediately take a toothpick and place the tip in the center of the cookie. Drag the toothpick toward the outer edge. Repeat this motion around the entire cookie (usually 6 to 8 times) to pull the white icing into a perfect spider web pattern. Let the cookies sit for at least 2 hours to allow the icing to harden completely.
- Cook Time: 50 minutes