Did you know, that if you use your imagination, walnut halves resemble tiny brains? Especially, when they are glazed with crunchy red cinnamon syrup. If you’re planning to bake a few cookies for Halloween, these Bloody Brain Biscuits are not only delicious and unique, but they can be scary, too. The idea came from a Pinterest article out of the UK where cookies are referred to as biscuits. Thinking of candy apples with the hard red coating, I glazed the walnut halves and let them harden. Then after making sugar cookies, frosting them with white frosting and adding the brains, I heated up the leftover red syrup and spattered extra “blood” around the brains.

These cookies keep at room temperature for a month or so as long as they are in an airtight container. They are perfect to serve at a Halloween BOO-ffet with other scary desserts, and since there is cinnamon oil in the glaze, they actually taste good. The walnuts can be made ahead, so, even though these cookies are a bit time-consuming, they are definitely doable and well-worth it.

Makes about 100 Cookies

Cinnamon Brains:

3 cups walnut halves, go through the bag and pick the perfect ones that resemble a brain

3/4 cup water
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 dash salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon oil
Red Paste Food Coloring

Sugar Cookies:

1 cup softened butter
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

4 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting:
32 ounces powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 to 1 cup milk

1. Brains: Line a baking sheet with Silpat or buttered parchment.
2. In a large saucepan, mix the 3/4 cup water, 2 cups sugar, corn syrup, and salt.
3. Stir, then cover and bring to a boil. Remove the cover and cook to the hard crack stage (300º-310º), stirring often.
4. Stir in the walnut halves and separate them onto the silpat; let them sit until they harden. Save the remaining syrup in the saucepan.
5. Cookies: Preheat oven to 350º. Line several baking sheets with parchment or silpat.
6. Cream the butter, shortening, and sugars until light; beat in the eggs and vanilla.
7. Measure the flour, cream of tartar, salt, and baking soda into a fine strainer set over the butter mixture. Shake through and mix until well blended.
8. Roll out to 1/4" thickness on a floured pastry cloth.
9. Cut 2" rounds and place them on the baking sheets.
10. Bake about 8 minutes or just until the edges start to brown. Remove from the oven and transfer to cooling racks.
11. Frosting: Mix the powdered sugar, butter, and enough milk to make a smooth, spreadable consistency.
12. Assembly: Frost each of the cookies and place a "brain" on top.
13. Heat the cinnamon syrup over low heat, adding a little water if necessary so that it liquefies. Use a heatproof spatula to drizzle the syrup over the cookies to resemble blood spatter.
14. When the frosting has set, store in an airtight container.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 169 Calories from Fat 70 Percent Total Calories From: Fat 41% Protein 3% Carb. 55%

Nutrient Amount per
Total Fat 8 g
Saturated Fat 2 g
Cholesterol 12 mg
Sodium 71 mg
Total Carbohydrate 23 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 6 g
Protein 1 g

Vitamin A 2% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 0% Iron 1%