Witch's Fingers

The “Witch’s Fingers” recipe is a fun and slightly macabre Halloween-themed treat. A simple shortcrust pastry cookie decorated to resemble a severed finger, with an almond for the nail and slits to simulate the folds of the fingers. Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients

• 100 g of softened butter
• 50 g of icing sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (or orange extract for a different twist)
• 250 g of flour
• A pinch of salt
• Whole almonds (for the nails)
• Red jam (as fake blood, optional)

Preparation

1. In the bowl of a mixer or with a bowl and a wooden spoon, cream the softened butter with the icing sugar until smooth.
2. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well.
3. Then add the sifted flour and salt, working the dough until it forms an even ball.
4. Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
6. Take small portions of the dough and shape them into “fingers” that are long and slightly knobby, remembering to create a slight bulge where the nail (the almonds) will be placed.
7. Use a knife to make slits that simulate the folds of the finger joints.
8. Position an almond at the tip of each finger to create the nail.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden.
10. If desired, you can add red jam to the base of the fingers to simulate blood.

To add an even more Italian touch to the dish, you could include a pinch of cinnamon or grated lemon zest in the shortcrust pastry for a more distinctive flavor. Moreover, if you want a savory version, you can replace the sugar with grated Parmesan and eliminate the vanilla.

Curiosity

These cookies have become a fun dessert for themed parties, especially in countries like the United States where Halloween is widely celebrated. Their origin is relatively recent, and it seems they became popular thanks to shares on social media.