The Cascade Kitchen: Witches Fingers

The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budget-friendly recipes and cooking tips. If you want to see your own recipe featured next, get started by reaching out to culture@ufvcascade.ca.

Now that October is here and Halloween is just around the corner, it’s time to bake up a batch of Witches Fingers! This family favourite recipe is essentially a creative twist on a classic shortbread. I have made these every year since I was little and I always get a laugh out of seeing people’s faces when I serve these piled high on a tray. Get into the spirit and try them out this Halloween season! 

Time: 1 hour

Makes: about 40 cookies

Ingredients: 

1 cup softened butter or dairy-free alternative (I use President’s Choice’s butter alternative for this)

1 cup icing sugar

1 egg

½ tsp almond extract

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 ¾ cups flour

1 tsp baking powder 

¾ tsp salt 

½ cup whole blanched almonds

1-2 tubes of red decorator gel 

Method: 

1. In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla until well combined. 
2. Slowly mix in the flour, salt, and baking powder. Once combined, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 
3. Work with a quarter of the mixture at a time and keep the rest in the refrigerator until you use it. Roll tablespoons of dough into long, skinny finger shapes and place on a greased baking sheet. 
4. Press an almond into one end of the finger to create the nail. 
5. Lightly press into the center of the finger to create a knuckle indent and then with a knife, make small lines in the indented space.
6. Bake at 325 degrees for about 12-15 minutes or until the bottom is slightly brown. Don’t overcook these or they will dry out. 
7. Let them cool for 5 minutes before lifting up the almond and squeezing a small drop of red decorator gel on the nail bed. Press the almond back in its spot and allow the gel to ooze around the almond. 
8. Cool completely before serving. 

Sydney Marchand

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Sydney is a BA English major, creative writing student, who has been a content contributor for The Cascade and is now the Opinion editor. In 7th grade, she won $100 in a writing contest but hasn’t made an earning from writing since. In the meantime, she is hoping that her half-written novels will write themselves, be published, and help pay the bills.

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