Ever tried making Pastel Halloween Skeleton Sugar Skulls Cookies and just… totally flubbed the design? Trust me, been there. My first batch looked more like squiggly mutant bunnies than skeleton cats. Turns out, a solid plan helps a lot. So if you want a fun Halloween project (and cookies that actually look cute), keep reading for real tips and an honest story or two. I’ll also share one thing that saved my cookies—using caster sugar instead of regular, a trick I picked up from this helpful post: caster sugar for creme brulee. Works wonders for a smooth dough. 
Gathering Supplies for Skeleton Cat Cookies
First things first, you only need basic stuff—promise. You’ll want some good sugar cookie dough. Storebought or homemade, up to you. I’ll vote homemade since you can tweak the sweetness (I like mine with a little less sugar since icing is sweet enough).
You need these:
- Rolling pin (get creative if you can’t find it—wine bottles work)
- Parchment paper
- A skeleton cat-shaped cookie cutter or a cat one, then draw bones after baking (that’s what I did)
- Gel food coloring in pastel shades. I’m a pink and mint fiend
- Royal icing or thick, goopy sugar icing
- Toothpicks (for details!)
Oh, and don’t forget edible markers if you want super fine lines. I grabbed mine from the clearance bin at the dollar store.
I also recommend prepping a clean workspace, at least for the icing part. There may have been sprinkles stuck to my elbow at one point. This isn’t a professional kitchen, folks.
Baking Instructions for Skeleton Cat Cookies
Baking’s pretty straightforward but don’t rush it!
Set your oven to 350°F and let it heat up while you work. Roll out your dough to about ¼ inch thick. Keep it even—lumpy cookies bake weird. Cut out your cat shapes (or just regular circles if you’re in crisis mode, it happens!).
Now, stack your cut-outs on a parchment-lined pan. Pop them in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking. Why? Makes the edges sharper!
Bake the cookies for 8–11 minutes, but watch the edges. You want them barely golden on the bottom. Burnt skeletons aren’t very cute (unless that’s your vibe, in which case… rock on). Pull them out and let cool on the tray until they’re firm enough to handle. If you try to decorate hot cookies, your designs will slide clean off. Not my finest hour.
And if you ever want a sugar fix for another project, check out my guide on demerara sugar for creme brulee.
Tutorial for Decorating Skeleton Cat Cookies
Alright, here’s where the real fun—and occasional stress—happens.
Mix your royal icing in a few pastel colors. Think lavender, mint, peach, pale yellow. I like messy bowls and finger-stained hands, by the way. Use a piping bag (or, for the rebel in all of us, snip the corner off a ziplock).
Outline and then “flood” the cookie with a thin layer of pastel icing. Let it dry 30 minutes—don’t cheat, or colors bleed together like a science experiment gone wrong.
Now, skeleton bits: use white icing or edible marker for the bones, face, and signature skull eyes. The trick is to stay loose—imperfections are cute. Trust me, wobbly bones make them look friendlier.
Pro tip: Keep your design simple, or you’ll drive yourself bananas. Just draw two big eyes, a tiny nose, jaw, and kind of a ribcage down the middle of the cat. Toothpicks are perfect for fixing tiny mistakes (I fix a lot).
If you want extras, dab dots, flowers, or hearts for that sugar skull vibe.
“I gave this to my niece and she squealed so loud, I considered making these every Halloween. It’s that easy to wow people.”
Tips for Perfecting Your Cookie Designs
Now, a few real-world hints (from a messy, icing-covered cookie fan):
Don’t overmix your icing. Overbeating = bubbles, and bubbles = bumpy cookies.
Let layers dry—seriously. If you’re impatient like me, set a timer and tidy up while you wait.
Keep wet paper towels handy for icing mishaps. My trick: dab and move on.
Working with more than two colors? Start with the lightest and move to dark. Saves you from muddy colors.
And if you mess up? Add sprinkles, edible glitter, or pretend it was intentional. My best “mistake” cookies are usually crowd favorites anyway.
Related Halloween Cookie Ideas
It’s easy to make a whole Halloween tray if you’re in the groove. Try using your leftover dough to make:
- Spooky pumpkins: Orange icing, black triangles for faces. Done.
- Mini ghosts: Quick blob, two dots for eyes, nobody judges.
- Pastel bats: Bat cutter and a lavender glaze. Surprisingly chic.
If you want to cut sugar now and then, check out my no sugar strawberry freezer jam recipe for inspiration (I spread mine on leftover cookie bits, judge me all you want).
Common Questions
Q: Do I need a specialty cookie cutter for skeleton cats?
A: Nope! Regular cat or oval works fine. You can paint the bones on after they’re baked.
Q: What icing works best?
A: Royal icing sets hardest, keeps details sharp. But thick sugar glaze will do in a pinch.
Q: Can I freeze decorated cookies?
A: Yes! Just layer wax paper between them. Thaw unwrapped so icing doesn’t get sticky.
Q: How far ahead can I make these?
A: A week ahead is totally doable if you store in an airtight tin. Fresher is better, obviously.
Q: Any coloring tricks?
A: Use gel colors for best brightness. Liquid food color can make icing runny, yikes.
Trick or Treat, You’ve Got This!
Honestly, making Pastel Halloween Skeleton Sugar Skulls Cookies turns a drab, chilly night into something super festive. The best part? Watching everyone freak out when they see how detailed and fun your cookies look (even the wonky ones). And if you ever need some new sugar skills, Pinterest is loaded with fun Sugar Skulls ideas or try a swirl with turbinado sugar for creme brulee for your next round. Don’t overthink—just roll up your sleeves, grab some pastel colors, and have a blast. Send me pictures if you try them, please!
Print
Pastel Halloween Skeleton Sugar Skulls Cookies
Delight your friends and family with fun and festive pastel skeleton cat cookies this Halloween.
- Total Time: 26 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
Ingredients
- Good sugar cookie dough (storebought or homemade)
- Rolling pin
- Parchment paper
- Skeleton cat-shaped cookie cutter
- Gel food coloring in pastel shades
- Royal icing or thick sugar icing
- Toothpicks
- Edible markers
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll out your dough to about ¼ inch thick.
- Cut out cat shapes or circles and place them on a parchment-lined pan.
- Chill the cookie cut-outs in the fridge for 10 minutes.
- Bake cookies for 8-11 minutes, until barely golden on the bottom.
- Let the cookies cool on the tray until firm enough to handle.
- Mix royal icing in pastel colors.
- Outline and flood the cookie with icing; let it dry for 30 minutes.
- Use white icing or edible markers to draw bones and facial features.
- Decorate with additional designs or sprinkles as desired.
Notes
Don’t overmix your icing and let layers dry to avoid bleeding colors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg