Description
Chewy Monster Eyeball Sugar Cookies are deliciously soft and slightly under-baked sugar cookies with a perfectly chewy center and crisp edges, dressed up with colorful dough and candy eyeballs for a fun and festive treat ideal for Halloween or any playful occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For Coating and Decoration
- 1 cup sugar (for coating)
- Purple, orange, and/or green natural or artificial food coloring
- Candy eyeballs
Instructions
- Prep and line: Preheat your oven to 375°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream butter, sugars, and vanilla: Using a hand or stand mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the softened butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is very light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg: Add the large egg and beat on medium-high speed for 30 seconds until the batter becomes smooth, opaque, and slightly fluffy.
- Mix in dries: On low speed, add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until fully combined. Then, beat briefly on medium-low speed for 15-20 seconds to form a smooth, stiff dough. Remember to scrape the bowl halfway through mixing for even incorporation.
- Color your dough: If desired, divide the dough equally into separate bowls for each color. Add food coloring to each portion and blend by hand until the dough achieves your preferred hue. This step is optional if you want to keep the dough plain.
- Scoop and decorate: Pour 1 cup of sugar into a small, wide bowl. Scoop dough into 2-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons each) for larger cookies or 1-inch balls (about 1 tablespoon each) for mini cookies. Roll the dough between your hands to round it fully, then roll each ball in the sugar until completely coated.
- Tray and bake: Arrange the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets at least 3 inches apart. Firmly press several candy eyeballs into the surface of each cookie. Bake big cookies for 9-12 minutes, or mini cookies for 6-8 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown and the tops look set and crackled. Be careful not to overbake to preserve the chewy texture and vibrant colors.
- Knock ‘em down: Immediately after removing from the oven, firmly knock each baking tray on the counter or stovetop to collapse the domed cookie tops and achieve a perfect crackled surface.
- Cool, share, and enjoy: Allow the cookies to cool as long as possible so their doughy centers set up with chewy perfection while the edges crisp nicely. Then enjoy these fun and wonderfully delicious monster eyeball sugar cookies with family and friends.
Notes
- These chewy sugar cookies provide the classic sugar cookie flavor with an almost gooey center.
- The slightly under-baked technique ensures a soft, chewy texture with crisp edges.
- Coloring the dough is optional but adds a festive and playful touch perfect for holidays or themed parties.
- Pressing candy eyeballs firmly into dough before baking prevents them from falling off after baking.
- Knocking the trays after baking helps create the signature crackled cookie top.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 big cookie
- Calories: 227 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 187 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 26 mg
