These Halloween Oreo Brain Cookies are easy to make and will be a hit with both kids and adults. All you need is some icing, Oreos, and a little creativity! This fun Halloween treat is great for a party or as a fun holiday snack!
If you're looking for a fun idea for your Halloween party, these brain cookies are the perfect treat!
Oreo cookies and icing are used to create a spooky cookie that has brains on top. It's a fun and easy way to decorate cookies for the Halloween season.
This recipe uses a simple frosting recipe that gets colored pink to resemble the color of spooky brains. Pipe squiggly lines on the cookies and brush melted raspberry jelly on top for a gory look. There's a full photo tutorial below - but trust me, it's super easy!
This easy treat can be served at a Halloween party or you can enjoy them with kids for an after-school snack!
For more fun Halloween recipes, be sure to try: Strawberry Halloween Monsters, Striped Beetlejuice Cookies, Ghost Halloween Smoothie, Halloween Brownie Bite Eyeballs, or Pita Halloween Mummy Pizza.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
These Halloween Oreo Brain Cookies are easy to make and will be a hit with both kids and adults.
The ingredients are simple and can be found in any grocery store.
This fun Halloween treat is great for a party or as a fun holiday snack!
This recipe uses a simple frosting recipe that's easy to assemble.
Ingredients
- Oreo Cookies - These creme sandwich cookies can be found in any grocery store in a variety of different flavors.
- Raspberry Jelly - Once melted, jelly is used to brush over the set frosting to create a realistic brain aesthetic.
For the brain frosting
- Unsalted Butter - Makes up the base of the frosting, adding a thick texture and rich buttery flavor.
- Confectioners Sugar - Used to sweeten up the frosting, which makes it thick and easy to pipe.
- Milk - Thins out the frosting to the consistency you need while keeping it creamy.
- Vanilla Extract - Adds a hint of vanilla flavor throughout the frosting.
- Red Food Coloring - Added to create a pink color that is similar to the color of brains.
Please see the recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this Halloween Oreo Brain Cookies recipe? It's easy! Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Prepare the strawberry jelly: Add the jelly to a heat-safe bowl or pot. Melt the strawberry jelly in the microwave or a pot on the stove. Set aside to cool.
Assemble the brain frosting: Beat the butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together with an electric whisk or stand mixer until smooth and thick. Add in a few drops of red food coloring to get a pale pink colored frosting. Add the frosting to a piping bag with a ¼-inch round tip (such as Wilton #10).
Frost brains onto the cookies: Take your Oreo and pipe a thin layer of frosting over the top, then smooth it with your butter knife.
Piping: Next, you'll need to simply pipe a line of frosting down the middle of the oreo. Then, on each side of the line, pipe a squiggly line back and forth to fill the side. Repeat with the other side. Repeat with the remaining cookies and frosting.
Set and add jelly: Place the cookies onto a cookie sheet and place in the fridge for 15 minutes for the frosting to set. Gently brush the cool melted raspberry jelly over the set frosting. Enjoy!
Top tips
If you don't have a piping bag, you can use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off.
Ensure your melted strawberry jelly is cooled, as you don't want it to melt the frosting. It just needs to be easy to brush. Instead of heating it, you could give it a really good stir.
If your frosting is too thick, you can add a little more milk and then beat it until your desired consistency is reached. If the frosting is too thin, you just need to add a little more powdered sugar and beat it again until the desired consistency is reached.
When using food coloring, a little goes a long way. To achieve a pink color, start with a few drops and then add more as needed until the desired color is reached.
If you don't have raspberry jelly, you can use any other red fruit jelly or jam (but strain out any chunks).
Serving Suggestions
Serve alongside these fun Halloween treats!
- Halloween Brownie Bite Eyeballs
- Green Halloween Cupcakes
- Pita Haloween Mummy Pizza
- Raspberry Halloween Mummy Pies
- Easy Halloween Bark
- Ghost Halloween Smoothies
- Halloween Strawberry Monsters
- Green Witch Finger Cookies
Variations
Instead of oreo cookies, try using other types of cookies such as graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or even shortbread cookies.
Try using other types of fruit jelly or preserves such as apricot, cherry, or blackberry.
Use white frosting and add green food coloring for a fun ‘zombie brain’ look!
Top the brains with edible glitter or sprinkles for a fun and festive touch.
Storage
Once the frosting on top of the cookies has been set, store them in a single even layer in an airtight container at room temperature. They will keep fresh for up to one week.
Halloween Recipes
FAQs
Yes, these cookies can be made up to a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to serve.
Freezing is not recommended as the cookies may become soggy.
Yes, you can use premade pink frosting from a can. Simply pipe it onto the cookies using a piping bag fitted with a ¼-inch round tip.
📖 Recipe
Halloween Oreo Brain Cookies
Equipment
- Piping bag
- Bowl
- Pastry brush (optional)
Ingredients
- 36 Oreo cookies
- 2 tablespoons raspberry jelly
For the brain frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red food coloring
Instructions
- For the frosting, beat the butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together with an electric whisk or stand mixer until smooth and thick. If necessary, add a little more powdered sugar to thicken or a little milk to thin.
- Beat in a few drops of red food coloring to get a pale pink colored frosting.
- Add the frosting to a piping bag with a ¼-inch round tip (such as Wilton #10).
- Take an Oreo and pipe a thin layer of frosting over the top, then smooth it with a butter knife.
- Pipe a line of frosting down the middle of the oreo. On each side of the line, pipe a squigly line back and forth to fill the side. Repeat with the other side.
- Repeat with the remaining cookies and frosting.
- Place the cookies onto a cookie sheet and place into the fridge for 15 minutes for the frosting to set.
- Gently brush the cool melted raspberryjelly over the frosted ‘brains’.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Gwyneth
My grandkids loved making cookies after we decorated the front yard for Halloween. to make them together with them and eat them too!
Aimee Mars
I was looking for recipes for my son's Halloween party and came across this! Adorable - I know the kids will love them!
Andrea
These cookies scream Halloween! My grandkids are going to love making and eating these.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
These are so gory and cute at the same time. The kids will love them! Definitely making these.