This Halloween, bake up a batch of these gruesome Spider Chocolate Chip Cookies for your party guests. Each large cookie is loaded with chocolate chips. Some even look like spiders with chocolate legs.
This recipe was originally published on September 26, 2013.
Spiders have infested my chocolate chip cookies. Gross, right?
Why would I do this to a perfectly innocent, thick, and chewy cookie?
Well, the other day I came across a picture of a cookie that had images of spiders superimposed on it. It really looked like the spiders were in the cookie. It was just a bit of Photoshop magic, but I knew baking up a batch of chocolate chip arachnids would be as easy as waving a wizard's wand.
I figured if I was going to infest any cookies with spiders, I would use my absolute favorite recipe from Cook's Illustrated. It makes the biggest, thickest, chewiest cookies bursting with caramel and chocolate flavors.
I'm sure you will love the flavor of these cookies and you'll have fun seeing how your friends and family react to them too!
So, let's make Spider Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Ingredients
- unsalted butter
- brown sugar - You can use light or dark brown sugar. If you like a more pronounced molasses flavor, use the dark brown sugar.
- granulated sugar
- egg
- egg yolk - The extra egg yolk will allow the cookies to be nice and chewy on the inside.
- pure vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour - unbleached is best
- table salt
- baking soda
- semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (2 ounces for spiders, 10 ounces for in and on top of the cookies)
Supplies
electric mixer
baking sheets lined with parchment paper
optional: #16 ice cream scoop
squeeze-it mold painter bottles, or a disposable pastry bag or zip-top bag
Instructions
Make chocolate chip cookie dough.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Melt butter in a mixing bowl.
- Allow it to cool slightly.
- Add brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat on medium speed for about a minute until well blended.
- Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated.
- Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together then incorporate it into the wet ingredients.
- If using a hand-held mixer, it probably won't be strong enough to mix this completely, so switch over to a spoon or spatula.
- Fold about 9 ounces (1 ½ cups) of chips into the batter.
Scoop cookie dough onto a pan.
- Scoop out 18 cookies, about ¼ cup of dough for each.
- I used a #16 ice cream scoop.
- Place cookies on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet with plenty of room to spread.
- Place some of the reserved chocolate chips on top of each cookie just to be sure you have chips with which you can make your spiders.
- Remember to keep about 2 ounces (⅓ cup) of the chips for the spiders.
- Bake cookies one tray at a time, for 14-18 minutes.
- The cookies should begin to set around the edges, be light golden brown, yet still be soft in the center.
Add spider legs to chocolate chips.
- Allow your cookies to cool completely.
- Place the remaining 2 ounces of chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat for 20 seconds, stir, then for 15 seconds, stir.
- Allow the chocolate to sit for 1 minute, then stir again.
- If you need to, heat it for 10 more seconds, then repeat until melted.
- Pour into a squeeze-it mold painter bottle fitted with a #2 round pastry tip, or a disposable pastry bag or zip-top bag with the tip snipped off.
- Pipe on spider heads and legs around some of the larger chocolate chips.
- Allow the chocolate spiders to dry.
Serve with a glass of milk.
Storage
Store your chocolate chip spider cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
If you wrap the cookies in wax paper and place them in a zip-top bag, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw the cookies in the bag for several hours before opening to avoid condensation forming on the chocolate chip spiders.
Variations
If you prefer oatmeal raisin cookies over chocolate chip cookies, check out my tutorial to add raisin spiders to crispy and chewy oatmeal cookies.
Related Recipes
If you enjoy making these spider chocolate chip cookies, you might also like making these other spider-themed recipes.
Be sure to check out my Bug-Themed Recipes and other Halloween recipes here on Hungry Happenings.
Recipe
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 ⅛ cup all purpose flour (unbleached is best)
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 12 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (2 ounces for spiders, 10 ounces for in and on top of the cookies)
- electric mixer
- baking sheets lined with parchment paper
- optional: #16 ice cream scoop
- squeezeit mold painter bottles or a disposable pastry bag or zip top bag
-
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
Melt butter in a mixing bowl. Allow it to cool slightly.
-
Add brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat on medium speed for about a minute until well blended.
-
Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated.
-
Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together then incorporate it into the wet ingredients.
-
Fold about 9 ounces (1 ½ cups) of chips into the batter.
-
Scoop out 18 cookies, about ¼ cup of dough for each.
-
Place some of the reserved chocolate chips on top of each cookie.
-
Remember to keep about 2 ounces (⅓ cup) of the chips for the spiders.
-
Bake cookies one tray at a time, for 14-18 minutes.
-
Allow cookies to cool completely.
-
Place the remaining 2 ounces of chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl.
-
Heat for 20 seconds, stir, then for 15 seconds, stir.
-
Allow the chocolate to sit for 1 minute, then stir again.
-
If you need to, heat it for 10 more seconds, then repeat until melted.
-
Pour into a squeeze-it mold painter bottle fitted with a #2 round pastry tip, or a disposable pastry bag or zip top bag with the tip snipped off.
-
Pipe on spider heads and legs around some of the larger chocolate chips.
-
Allow to dry.
-
Serve and enjoy watching your family and friend's reactions!
Store your chocolate chip spider cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you wrap the cookies in wax paper and place them in a zip-top bag, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw the cookies in the bag for several hours before opening to avoid condensation forming on the chocolate chip spiders.
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the cape on the corner says
o.m.g! hilarious! and cute! and creepy!
beth says
Thanks:)
gosia says
Simple, cute, funny... just great idea! Pinned!
beth says
Thanks so much for pinning:)
Anonymous says
super super super cute!!!!!
Lora says
These are fabulous. Love 'em.
beth says
Thank you, Lora.
Sugartown Sweets says
When I first saw these (unbelievably) cute cookies..i knew I would have to make them for my grandbabies. But when I read through your post, I realized how much more fun it would be to present them like you did..just pop the lid off and wait for the screeches! I love these!
beth says
The element of surprise definitely made for some good Halloween fun. I'd love to hear how your grandkids react.
Sue says
They look amazingly realistic! Way to go, Beth! Cute and creepy at the same time:)
Diane {Created by Diane} says
These cookies are just so FUN, I LOVE them!
the decorated cookie says
Genius. Genius. So genius.
beth says
Wow, thanks, Meaghan:)
Anonymous says
I always love your recipes and I finally got my letters so I can make the grave stones this year. You are so clever and are always my first go to site. Trish Butler
beth says
Oh, you will have so much fun with the impression letters. They are so much fun to use.
restaurants vouchers says
Creative and unique 🙂
beth says
Thank you! I do strive for that:)
Jennifer OConnor says
These cookies are the best! I will be making these cookies. The kids are going to love them.
beth says
Thank you, Jennifer. I'd love to see pictures if you do make the cookies.
Aimee / Wallflower Girl says
These are so cool! I have to make these for halloween 😀
beth says
Thank you, Aimee. If you do make them, be sure to snap some pictures and send them to me so I can share in my Readers' Gallery!
eatlaughlovecraft says
LOVE THESE! I can see myself making these, up my alley in the way of baking 🙂 Your food is always amazing. Thanks for continuing to create & share.
beth says
Thanks:) These cookies were really fun to make. I hope you try them for Halloween.
Janine Eshelbrenner says
These are so cool! I love how just a simple touch makes these festive!
beth says
Thanks, Janine:)
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff says
GENIUS!!! A little creepy, but not too much 😉 They made me giggle!
beth says
I love to make you giggle!
MissCandiquik says
You are sooo creative, Beth! Simple but oh-so cute. Definitely making these, this is the perfect excuse for a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. Thanks for sharing!
beth says
I totally agree. I just might have to bake some more soon. Ours are almost gone!
Lisa@hooplapalooza says
these are FLIPPIN' AWESOME! i'd like a world wide web of them please, and i won't even scream 🙂
beth says
I'd gladly fill your web with them! Your too funny:)
The Partiologist says
Seriously, you are the genius of easy creative food - I love these and it's exactly how I want my chocolate
chip cookies this Halloween!
beth says
Thanks:) It's the only way to eat a chocolate chip cookie, at Halloween!
~julee~ says
Your Halloween ideas are always my favorite!! I love that these creepy cookies take little effort, but still have a big gross factor. Thanks!!!
beth says
That's so nice to hear. Halloween is definitely my favorite time of year to make edible crafts and it's the only time I can make something a bit gross!
Mindy says
Super cute.
beth says
Thank, Mindy:)
rebecca says
That looks so cute I am gonna try it. U could make the chocolate chip cookies with pre-made Schwan's cookies.
Beth says
Yes, you can definitely make these using store bought cookies! It will be easy and fun.