Masked Monster Cookies takes a bite out of the resistance kids have to wearing masks. The dough is kid-friendly and the cookie is super fun to make. The cookie tastes like the free sugar cookies my kids used to get from the supermarket bakery. That’s right grocery stores/supermarkets used to give kids a free cookie every time a parent shopped in the store with the kids.
Key Takeaways:
- Kid-Approved Dough: The sugar cookie dough is specially designed for kids—durable enough to withstand kneading, squishing, and play.
- Fun, Masked Monster Theme: These cookies help ease mask resistance in kids by turning masks into a fun and tasty decorating activity.
- No Mixer Needed: The dough is easy to mix by hand, making it a perfect interactive activity for little bakers.
- Chilling is Key: Chilling the dough for 2–3 hours is essential—it allows the flour to hydrate and makes the dough easier to handle.
- Creative Decorating Time: Kids get to pipe frosting, flood colors, and add monster eyes and feet—encouraging creativity.
- Affiliate Links for Supplies: The page includes Amazon affiliate links for unique cookie cutters, food coloring, and monster eyes to bring your cookies to life.
Overview
Masked Monster Cookies are the perfect blend of creativity, nostalgia, and fun—designed to make mask-wearing a little less scary and a lot more delicious for kids. Inspired by the old supermarket tradition of giving children a free sugar cookie, these delightful treats are a playful throwback with a modern twist. The dough is ultra kid-friendly—resilient enough for tiny hands to knead, squish, and roll without falling apart, making it an ideal activity for young bakers. Once chilled and prepped, kids can cut out quirky monster shapes, decorate them with colorful frosting, and bring their sweet masked creations to life using fun extras like monster eyeballs and cookie cutters with feet (available via Amazon affiliate links). Whether you’re baking for a party, a classroom activity, or just a rainy afternoon, Masked Monster Cookies deliver a fun, memorable experience—with a side of sugar and a dash of joy.
This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Make the Masked Monster Cookies Dough.
Important To Read:
This sugar cookie is Kid Friendly. Kids love to play with the cookie dough, and this dough stands up to the squishing, kneading, and tossing that kids subject it to. This is my go to dough any time I’m making rolled sugar cookies with young kids.
When the dough is first mixed up it will look WAY to dry. Don’t panic but just split it into 2 piles and bring the crumbles together into a disc. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2-3 hours. The chill process lets the flour hydrate. They cookies aren’t quite as tasty as a traditional soft, fragile sugar cookie. But trust me if you are making them with young kids you want to use this dough.
Once the dough is chilled hand it off to the kids and let them squish it, and squish it, and squish it, until it is a nice soft piece of supple dough. Add a little water a tsp at a time (1-2 tbsp total) per disc. if the dough is still dry and crumbles after squishing.
How to Make the Masked Monster Cookies Dough.
Don’t use an electric mixer for this dough. Your kid’s hands or a spoon are all you will need to mix it up.
- Mix the dry ingredients and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix the shortening and butter until smooth.
- add the eggs, vanilla, and flavorings. (butter and lemon or almond) Stir vigorously with a spoon to mix in.
- Add the flour mixture to the bowl and stir or let your kids mix it with their hands. It will look dry and crumbly.
- Split the dough in half and form each half into a disc. Wrap the disc and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
Roll and cut out the Masked Monster Cookies.
- Once the dough has chilled, split it into pieces and knead or squish the pieces until the dough is soft and easy to roll without cracking. If the dough is still dry, add additional water to each disc.
- Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Here is an SIS (simple is smart) tip. Roll the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap. This keeps it from sticking and lets you flip it over easily. Lightly flour as needed.
- Cup the monster shapes and put the cookies on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 9 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned, and the cookie is set in the center.
Decorate the Masked Monster Cookies
Once the Masked Monster Cookies have cooled for at least 1-2 hours you can decorate them.
Make the Frosting:
- Mix together all of the ingredients for the frosting. The frosting should be thick enough to pipe onto the cookie without running or flattening the ribbon of frosting.
- split the frosting into a total of 5 bowls. 4 for the colors and the 5th you won’t color but use it for the white masks. Add 1-2 drops of food coloring to each of the 4 bowls and stir to mix in.
Make a Parchment Decorating Cone:
- Cut a piece of parchment paper into a square.
- Cut the square into two triangles.
- Form each triangle into a cone. (see video)
- Make a total of ten cones. Two for each color and two for the white masks.
Decorate your Masked Monster Cookies:
- Fill half of the cones with the thick frosting.
- Pipe the outline for the mask with the white frosting and then outline each cookie with the thick colored frosting.
- Thin each bowl of the frosting that is left until it is thin enough to “flood” the interior of the outlined areas.
- Once the cookies are all decorated, let them sit undisturbed to dry for at least 12 hours before adding the feet.
For another great kid-friendly recipe try my Unicorn Treats.
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Masked Monster Cookies
Equipment
- This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you
- Monster Cookie Cutters
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Dough
- 1½ cups confectioners sugar(180g)
- 1 cup vegetable shortening(184g) use butter flavored or add 1 tsp. butter flavoring if you use unflavored.
- 1 large egg plus 1 egg white
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon or almond extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour (300g)
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Frosting
- 3 cups powdered or confectioners sugar (360g)
- 1 tbsp corn syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla or lemon extract. white vanilla is best if you can find it as it doesn't darken the frosting.
- pinch of salt
- 3-4 tbsp water
- food coloring in desired colors
Instructions
Sugar Cookies
- preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C)
- Mix together the dry ingredients, flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder and set aside.
- Mix together the shortening and confectioners sugar with a spoon. Don't use a mixer. Your kids hands will also work well.
- Add the egg plus 1 egg white, vanilla, lemon, or almond extract and stir to mix in.
- Add the flour and mix in. The dough will appear dry this is normal. Split the dough in half and shape it into a flattened disc.
- Chill for 2-3 hours. This lets the flour hydrate.
- When you take the dough out of the fridge it will look dry still. If you try to roll it out now it will just crumble apart. You have to split each disc into 2 or 3 pieces and knead each piece by squishing it in your hands. The kids love this part. If the dough is still dry and crumbly after kneading add a tablespoon of water to each disc and kneading to mix in. The dough should be easy to roll between two pieces of plastic wrap without sticking or crumbling apart.
- Roll the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap or on a lightly floured surface. Add a light coating of flour to the dough before rolling if you don't use the plastic wrap. This keeps the dough from sticking to the rolling pin.
- Roll the dough to a little less than ¼ of an inch thick,
- Cut out into the monster shapes with monster cookie cutters (click here for a link) this set comes with the feet for the cookies.
- Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 9 minutes or until the edges are barely browned.
- Remove cookies to a cooling rack and let them cool completely before frosting. 1-2 hours.
Frosting and Decorating
- Mix together all of the ingredients for the frosting. The frosting should be thick enough to pipe onto the cookie without running or flattening the ribbon of frosting.
- split the frosting into a total of 5 bowls. 4 for the colors and the 5th you won't color but use it for the white masks.
- Add 1-2 drops of food coloring to each of the 4 bowls and stir to mix in.
- Make a total of 10 parchment decorating cones. See the video for how. Put 1/2 of each color of frosting into a cone. Put 1/2 of the white frosting into a cone also. Cut the tip off the white frosting cone and use it to outline the shape of the mask. Use the colored frosting to outline the cookie.
- Once the masks and cookies are all outlined. The frosting on the first cookie will be dry enough for you to start filling the blank areas.
- Thin the frosting that is left in each bowl and use this to fill in the frosting on the cookies. The color of this frosting matches what is on the cookies. The frosting should be thin enough to run on the cookie and fill in the area that was outlined. If you didn't have enough frosting to outline all of the cookies make a new batch. It is very difficult to match the colors exactly when you use two separate mixtures of frosting.
- Let the cookies dry at least 12 hours before adding the legs.
- Add the eyeballs (click here) to the frosting before it set up.
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ
What are some interesting facts about sugar cookies?
Sugar cookies are a beloved treat that have been enjoyed for centuries. One interesting fact about sugar cookies is that they have a long history. It is believed that sugar cookies originated in the 1700s in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Another intriguing fact is that sugar cookies are incredibly versatile. They can be cut into various shapes and decorated with icing, sprinkles, or other toppings. This makes them a popular choice for holidays and special occasions. Additionally, sugar cookies are known for their soft and chewy texture. This is achieved by using ingredients such as butter, sugar, flour, and eggs. Overall, sugar cookies are a timeless classic that continues to delight people of all ages.
Why is it called a sugar cookie?
The term “sugar cookie” refers to a popular type of cookie that is made primarily with sugar as one of its main ingredients. The name “sugar cookie” is derived from the fact that sugar is the prominent flavor and sweetener used in the recipe. These cookies are typically made with a simple combination of flour, butter, eggs, and of course, sugar. The dough is then rolled out and cut into various shapes before being baked to a golden perfection. The name “sugar cookie” accurately describes the main ingredient and flavor profile of this delicious treat.
How long do sugar cookies last?
Sugar cookies can last for a considerable amount of time if stored properly. When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, sugar cookies can stay fresh for up to two weeks. However, their texture and taste may start to deteriorate after the first few days. To extend their shelf life, sugar cookies can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Freezing sugar cookies is another option, as they can last for up to three months in the freezer. It is important to note that the quality of the cookies may be compromised after being frozen and thawed, as they may become slightly crumbly or lose their softness.
How to decorate simple sugar cookies?
Decorating sugar cookies is a fun and creative way to add a touch of personalization to these delicious treats. To start, you will need a batch of simple sugar cookies that have been baked and cooled. Next, gather your decorating supplies, such as icing, food coloring, and sprinkles. You can choose to make your own icing using powdered sugar and water, or you can use store-bought icing for convenience. To add color to your icing, simply mix in a few drops of food coloring until you achieve your desired shade. Now comes the fun part – the decorating! Use a piping bag or a small spoon to apply the icing to the cookies in various designs and patterns. Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different techniques. Finally, sprinkle some colorful toppings onto the cookies for an added touch of sweetness and visual appeal. Allow the icing to set before serving or packaging your beautifully decorated sugar cookies.
How to make custom shaped sugar cookies?
Making custom shaped sugar cookies can be a fun and creative activity. To start, gather all the necessary ingredients such as flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Then, add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing well. Gradually add the flour to form a dough. Once the dough is formed, divide it into portions and knead in food coloring if desired. Refrigerate the dough for at least an hour to make it easier to handle. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and use cookie cutters to create custom shapes. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven until golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating with icing or sprinkles. With a little creativity and patience, custom shaped sugar cookies can be a delicious and visually appealing treat for any occasion.
How to make sugar cookies look professional?
When it comes to making sugar cookies look professional, there are a few key tips and techniques to keep in mind. First and foremost, ensure that your dough is rolled out evenly and to the desired thickness. This will help create a consistent shape and texture for your cookies. Next, pay attention to the details by using high-quality cookie cutters and ensuring clean edges. Once your cookies are baked and cooled, it’s time to decorate. Use royal icing or fondant to create intricate designs and patterns. Remember to let each layer dry before adding additional details. Lastly, presentation is key. Place your beautifully decorated sugar cookies on a clean and stylish serving tray or wrap them individually for an extra touch of professionalism.
How do you frost a masked monster sugar cookie?
Read the above step by step instructions for how to frost a unicorn sugar cookie.
