On August 9th, 1969, ghosts came out for a screaming wake for the very first time when Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion first debuted at Disneyland. A little darker and creepier than the rest of the attractions, the ride is a park favorite and this year the Haunted Mansion celebrates its 46th anniversary.

Don’t close your eyes, and don’t try to hide, or these cookies… may come alive! To celebrate this revered dark attraction, hop aboard a Doom Buggie and join me in making these Hitchhiking Ghost cookies. For an extra treat, I’ve included a special guest who made his debut/return for Disneyland’s 60th anniversary, the Hatbox Ghost! Still spooky, even in delicious sugar cookie form. Make these cookies and hurry back, hurry back…

Haunted Mansion Cookies
(makes 12)
ingredients:
– 3 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
– pinch of salt
– 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
– 1 cup sugar
– 1 egg
– 1 teaspoon vanilla
– sky blue food gel dye

In a bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar.

Add the egg and vanilla to the butter mixture.

Add a few drops of sky blue food gel dye and stir.

Slowly add the flour mixture until combined. The flour will lighten the color so add more food gel dye if necessary.

Mix on medium high until the dough pulls away from the bowl.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge.

When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prep baking sheets with parchment or silpats.

Roll out the dough to about 3/8 inch thick to make sure you can capture all the detail. Dip the cookie cutter into flour and shake off the excess, then press the cookie cutter into the dough. Move the shapes to the prepped baking sheets.

Bake for 10 minutes and let cool on a wire rack.

*custom cookie cutters are available from Sweet Prints Inc.

Photos by Jenn Fujikawa