Witch's Fingers and Eyeball Cookies

What's a Cookie Jar to do when it's Halloween but get some ghoulish Halloween cookies? These take a little bit of effort, but the results are well worth it.

2 large eggs (1 of them needs to be separated)

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

8 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 cup icing sugar

5 tablespoons white sugar

Pinch of salt

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

Cream together the butter, icing sugar, and white sugar in a large bowl. Add 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk, along with vanilla, and beat well. In a separate bowl whisk the flour and salt together, then add to the butter mixture and beat just until combined. Turn out onto lightly floured counter and roll into a ball shape; wrap in plastic wrap and allow to chill for about 1 hour.

Divide dough in half, keeping the other half chilled and covered in the fridge. Pinch of sections of dough and roll on counter so that you have a small log, about 3 inches long. Pinch up small sections of dough to form a knuckle, and shape "finger" accordingly. Using a skewer or toothpick, draw in lines to resemble wrinkles in the knuckles. Repeat until all dough is used.

Brush fingers with reserved egg whites and gently press in almond "nails".

Bake approximately 10 minutes at 350. When cooled, add the bloody bits with red cake decorating gel.

Variation: Eye balls....

Roll dough into small balls, set on cookie sheet and lightly flatten by pressing down on them with the palm of your hand. Press a green or blue smartie (M & M) into the center. Bake for 10 minutes at 350. When the cookies are cooled, add red outlines with cake decorating gel. To make pupils, melt a small amount of chocolate and using a toothpick or skewer, form a dot in the center of the smartie iris.