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:
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla until well combined.
- Slowly mix in the flour, salt, and baking powder. Once combined, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- 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.
- Press an almond into one end of the finger to create the nail.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cool completely before serving.
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.
