Freaky Ladies Fingers Halloween Recipes

LADIES' FINGERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpats (French nonstick baking mats) or parchment paper, and set aside.
• Place food coloring in a shallow bowl. Using a small paintbrush, color one rounded half of each almond. Set aside to dry.
• Separate 1 egg. Set aside the white. In a small bowl, whisk together yolk, remaining egg, and vanilla. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Add egg mixture, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour, and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Divide the dough in half. Work with one piece at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. Divide the first half into 15 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth with palms into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with the back of a small knife. Transfer fingers to prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
• When all fingers are formed, brush lightly with egg white. Position almond nails; push into dough to attach.
• Bake until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Cool completely.

FRIGHTENING FINGERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg and extracts. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Divide dough into fourths. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle., Working with 1 piece of dough at a time, roll into 1-in. balls. Shape balls into 3x1/2-in. fingers. Using the flat tip of a table knife, make an indentation on 1 end of each for fingernail. With a knife, make 3 slashes in the middle of each finger for knuckle., Place 2 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 325° until lightly browned, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 3 minutes. Squeeze a small amount of red gel on nail bed; press a sliced almond over gel for nail, allowing gel to ooze around nail. Remove to wire racks to cool.

SPOOKY WITCHES' FINGERS

Steps:

• Combine the butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Beat together with an electric mixer; gradually add the flour, baking powder, and salt, continually beating; refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets.
• Remove dough from refrigerator in small amounts. Scoop 1 heaping teaspoon at a time onto a piece of waxed paper. Use the waxed paper to roll the dough into a thin finger-shaped cookie. Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give the appearance of a long fingernail. Squeeze cookie near the tip and again near the center of each to give the impression of knuckles. You can also cut into the dough with a sharp knife at the same points to help give a more finger-like appearance. Arrange the shaped cookies on the baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are slightly golden in color, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove the almond from the end of each cookie; squeeze a small amount of red decorating gel into the cavity; replace the almond to cause the gel to ooze out around the tip of the cookie.

SEVERED FINGER SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• In medium bowl, mix cookie mix and egg, using fork or spatula, until well mixed and texture of sand or bread crumbs. Squeeze handful of dough crumbs together tightly to form small log or "finger." Score top of log with butter knife to shape the knuckle, then press 1 slivered almond at one end to make the fingernail. Repeat to use up dough. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Bake 15 minutes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix jam and food color with whisk. Trim base of "finger" with fork to give it a severed look. Dip base of finger into jam.

FREAKY LADIES' FINGERS (HALLOWEEN)

Steps:

• Place a small amount of food coloring in a bowl and with a new paint brush "paint" the almond halves on the rounded side. Set aside.
• In a Mixing bowl place water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand for five minutes to let yeast work.
• Beat 1 c flour in till combined. Beat in salt and 3-1/2 c flour till combined. Beat till dough pulls away from the sides.
• Reduce speed and add 1/2c flour (if dough is still sticky add up to 1 c more flour).
• Knead till smooth.
• Coat a large bowl with cooking spray and put dough in covering with plastic wrap and put in a warm place to double in size (1 hour).
• Heat oven to 450.
• Heat 3 quarts water to boiling.
• Add baking soda.
• Lightly coat two baking sheets with pan spray.Divide dough into quarters.
• Work with one at a time keeping the rest covered.
• Divide each piece in 12 pieces. On a lightly floured surface roll pieces back and forth into a finger shape, ( 3-4 inches long) make sure to leave a lump for the knuckle.
• When all 12 pieces are formed transfer to boiling soda water.
• Poach for 1 minute, using a slotted spoon transfer to a baking sheet.
• Repeat till all 4 quarters are done.
• Beat egg with 1 T water and brush over pretzels.
• Using a sharp knife score each knuckle about 3 times. Sprinkle with salt ( and rosemary if using).
• Possition the almond nails into place and push down to secure.
• Bake in oven for 12-15 minutes or till golden brown.
• Let cool on a wire rack.
• These are best if eaten the first day but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.