

Well, fingerS. Creepy lady fingers.
I've had these on my to-make list for a few years now. They come from Martha....the Queen of Halloween. I think I could happily spend a year making projects from Martha's Halloween issues and books.

I adapted the original recipe and technique just a bit based on the comments from Martha's website. While the fingers did "fluff up" a bit, I still think you can tell they are fingers. The original recipe is here.
Ladies' Fingers
red gel paste food coloring
30+ blanched, slivered (but not chopped) almonds
2 eggs
1/4 tsp pure vanilla
1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick), cold
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
3 TBSP granulated sugar
pinch of coarse salt
1 & 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

Place the almonds in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Mix together a couple of drops of food coloring with a couple of drops of water. Using a small paintbrush,
color one side of each almond. Set aside to dry.
"Painting" the fingernails is a great project for kids.
Use a toothpick to hold the almond in place or it will scoot across the cookie sheet.
{Please excuse all of the pictures of kiddo...I can't help myself. I
love pictures of those hands working. Trust me...there are 14 more on
my computer that you aren't seeing here.}
Separate 1 egg. Place the white in one bowl and set aside.
In another small bowl, whisk together yolk, remaining egg, and vanilla. Set aside.
Cut the butter into chunks and combine with confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until well combined.
Add egg yolk mixture, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour in two additions; mix on low speed just until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350. Line two cookie sheets with parchment.
Divide the dough in half. Work with one piece at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. Divide the first half into 15 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with a small knife.
Place the cookies on the cookie sheet and place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
Lightly beat the egg white with a fork. Remove the cookies from the freezer and immediately brush lightly with egg white. Position almond nails; gently push into dough to attach.
Bake until lightly browned, about 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Repeat with the remaining dough.



Separate 1 egg. Place the white in one bowl and set aside.
In another small bowl, whisk together yolk, remaining egg, and vanilla. Set aside.
Cut the butter into chunks and combine with confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until well combined.
Add egg yolk mixture, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour in two additions; mix on low speed just until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350. Line two cookie sheets with parchment.
Divide the dough in half. Work with one piece at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. Divide the first half into 15 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with a small knife.
Place the cookies on the cookie sheet and place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.


Repeat with the remaining dough.

Creepy Lady Fingers...MWAHAHAHAHA! <---that's my best sinister online laugh.
Love the cookies! I want to make a few treats this week...this just might end up on the list! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to do these too. They are most definitely creepy, but still good enough to eat, especially coming from you (and Martha). (:
ReplyDeleteThose are so cute!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to a Halloween pot-luck this week, I've been debating what to make and these look perfect!
OH my word...these are the best!!!!
ReplyDeleteEnter my Shabby Apple Fab Frock Giveaway!!
Those are so fun! They have been on my Halloween to do list for years too! I love that the kiddos can help out with them too!
ReplyDeleteI love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
What a fantastic idea, I'm sure all the trick and treat kids will love these biscuits.
ReplyDeleteAww I bet Kiddo thinks you are the coolest mom in the world! Creepy-cool! :)
ReplyDeleteI have always loved these cookies. They never fail to delight me. Happy Halloween!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE these. I very fondly remember others doing them at halloween parties. One tip I've picked up which is handy if anyone has a nut allergy is to use a thin piece of red pepper to make the nail. Then you can convince yourself it's super healthy too!
ReplyDeleteSo fun...and creepy:)
ReplyDeleteThese are way too fun!! So cute Bridget!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun idea--and how right was I on twitter? ;) Love these!
ReplyDeleteThese are pretty great, Bridget! I think the puffing of the fingers only makes them more grotesque. What a fun project, I love seeing your son so carefully painting those fingernails.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThese give me the willies! I'm sure Kiddo got a big kick out of them he should be quite proud of his *nail* polishing technique. His friends are going to be all over these cookies.
ReplyDeleteThese are so spooky and fun! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteThose are awesome. I like the pictures of Kiddo's working hands, too:)
ReplyDeleteThese are great!! and Love how Kiddo helps you out!!
ReplyDeleteUnbelievably creative.
ReplyDeletethey look really creepy but fun to make!
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic Bridget!! I adore your "lady" twist! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! I seem to have issues with my photos. Love the creepy fingers too esp the red nail polish
ReplyDeleteso cute. i am the same way with my kidlets. my computer is filled with pics of kids and food.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea, these are too cute!! :)
ReplyDeleteI made cookies like these last year and they were a hit! Gory but delicious!
ReplyDeleteLove this!
ReplyDeleteTheir so cute and creative - perfect for Halloween!
Delightfully spooky! They really look like old gnarly witch fingers.
ReplyDeleteNice of kiddo to lend a helping hand (um, I mean finger).
Happy Halloween to all!
SO creepy!! You did a wonderful job-- I am seriously impressed, although i don't know if I could eat these! then again I am a huge wuss!
ReplyDeleteThe recipe sounds AMAZING though! I'd love to bake these in nice smooth finger shapes, hehe :)
yes, even tho they puffed they still look like fingers and those fingernails, oh my gosh, so spooky!
ReplyDeleteEw! And fantastic! Posted on edible crafts :).
ReplyDeleteGotta HAND it to you...these are as tasty as they are spooky. I'm a fan of almonds, but don't those red fingernails drive you NUTS? These fingers might be good with milk on PALM Sunday, right? Sorry, I can't get a GRIP on stopping the puns. Long line of pun-sters from my Dad's side of the family - It started in Wales/UK and came over via Ellis Island and continues to this day.
ReplyDeleteCute! Great pictures too!
ReplyDeleteI've done these before, love them! I also did eyeballs, chocolate mice and a couple other things listed on my blog if you go there and do a search, recipes links are included.
ReplyDeletehttp://grandmacarnes.blogspot.com
Martha Stewart had these on her show once, she mod podged a shirt sleeve onto a glass, then stuck the fingers in the glass, very clever.
ReplyDeleteLove them sooo creepy!! Happy Halloweeeeeen
ReplyDeleteYou said "give you the finger"...that alone is enough to make this the best post ever!! ;)
ReplyDeleteLove the cookies, they're the perfect combination of creepy and cute.
Love these!!! They look gruesomely delicious!!
ReplyDeleteI made these for my class on halloween every year as a kid growing up! The only variation was that we used was instead of the red almond we used a plain almond slice stuck to the cookie with raspberry jam - had a good effect of bleeding nails and a little less layout intensive! :)
ReplyDelete