Apple Cider Sugar Cookies #Halloween #CanadianThanksgiving #giveaway Kim Davis

 

KIM DAVIS: First, on behalf of the crew here at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen, we'd like to wish our dear Canadian friends a wonderful Thanksgiving today!

While Canadians may be focused on feasting and gathering with friends and family to celebrate their Thanksgiving day, here in the U.S. October means Halloween. In fact, it seems like Halloween preparations start right after our 4th of July holiday! A bit too early for my tastes, but I know for some it can't come soon enough. 

I never thought I was a big fan of Halloween until my granddaughters were born. Then I had a complete change of mind with their adorable costumes (pictured below), and their excitement of trick-or-treating as they got a bit older. Once they started pre-school I discovered that I loved making sugar cookies for any and all occasions and decorating them for the kids in their class. I even had the fun task of providing decorating cookie and cupcake crafts for their elementary school class parties... a bit daunting with 30 young kids hyped up on sugar and excitement, lol. 

When it came to making the actual sugar cookie dough, I experimented with a variety of flavors. The one that I made most often for spring and summer cutout cookies was simply flavored with King Arthur Flour's Fiori di Sicilia, a delicious combination of vanilla and citrus flavors. Fall had me looking at more warming spices for the cookie dough and these Apple Cider Sugar Cookies quickly became a favorite with my granddaughters and their friends! Whether you brush a light icing glaze and decorate with holiday sprinkles or jimmies, or go the more elaborate route with tinted royal icing piped onto the cookie, I hope you and your ghouls and goblins enjoy these special treats!

I've included several of the photos I've taken of my cookie designs over the years after the recipe. The photo at the top of this page is this year's special design. 

Be sure to scroll through to see the giveaway which is open to both US and Canadian residents 

Apple Cider Sugar Cookies

 
Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 (0.74 oz.) packets spiced apple cider mix (e.g. Alpine brand)
3 cups (14.4 oz.) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

Icing for brushing on before adding sprinkles:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 teaspoons water

Instructions

Using an electric or stand mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fluffy.

 
Beat in the egg, vanilla, and the spiced apple cider packets until thoroughly combined.

 
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

 
Gradually add the flour mixture to the sugar and butter mixture and mix until incorporated.

 
Divide the dough in half and wrap each portion in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

 
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (F).
 
Lightly sprinkle a work surface with flour and roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. If the dough is too hard, allow it to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cut out into desired shapes and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

 
Refrigerate cut-out shapes for 10 minutes.
 
Bake cookies at 375 degrees (F) for 9 to 11 minutes, just until the edges turn golden brown.

Icing:
 
Whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and water until completely smooth. If the icing is too thick, add additional water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.

 

 
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and cool completely before spreading the icing over the cookies and decorating with your favorite sprinkles.

If you'd like to forego the time of decorating the cutouts, you can sprinkle the tops of the cookies with turbinado sugar before baking, for extra sweetness and crunch.

 

 

💕 Click here for a free printable PDF of the recipe!💕

What it's about:

Hollywood has descended on Oak Creek Valley to film a murder mystery. Carissa Carmichael, owner of the Aromatherapy Apothecary, has a front-row seat to the bad-boy leading man’s escapades as she works with the production to bring soothing essential elements to the stressed-out crew.

When the movie set becomes a true crime scene, Carissa’s best friend becomes the star suspect. Instead of enjoying the thrills of lights, camera, and action, she’s thrust into untangling the secrets of the glamorous actors who all seem to hide something. While working behind the scenes to sniff out clues and clear her best friend’s name, Carissa must apply pressure and find the killer before someone else is written out for good.

Includes a recipe, plus essential oil and reflexology tips.

Purchase links:

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

OTHER RETAILERS

Books available at most online retailers

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Apple

 

Cupcake Catering Mysteries * Essentials of Murder* Essentials of Death

 

About the Author:

Kim Davis writes the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series, and the award-winning Cupcake Catering cozy mystery series. She has also written several children’s nature articles published in a variety of magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters or chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working on blogs, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats to share.

Click here to sign up here for Kim’s newsletter: Newsletter

Connect with Kim: Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Bluesky, Bookbub, Goodreads, TikTok, and website

 

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY

I'm giving away a copy of Catering to the Dead just in time for Halloween and Día de los Meurtos, Day of the Dead!

Comment below and include your email (yourname at yourserver dot com) for a chance to win a copy of Catering to the Dead. (Print contest is open to US and Canadian residents, and all others will receive an ebook copy). Contest ends 11:59pm on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Winner's choice of either print or an ebook copy.

Readers, what's your favorite Halloween treat?