Why This Recipe Matters
Halloween Cauldron Cookie Creation reminds me of one magical October when I baked with my little niece. She was fascinated by the idea of making cookies that looked like cats. We spent an afternoon giggling, pressing candy eyes into warm cookies, and sneaking chocolate chips straight from the bowl. Since then, Hocus Pocus Binx Cookies have become a must in my family—they’re not just desserts, they’re part of our Halloween tradition.
These cookies aren’t only about taste. They bring kids, friends, and families together around the table, each person adding their own touch with candy, whiskers, and a pinch of creativity.
What are Hocus Pocus Binx Cookies?
Hocus Pocus Binx Cookies are soft chocolate cookies designed to look like Binx, the mischievous black cat from the classic Hocus Pocus movie. The dough is rich with cocoa, shaped into rounds, decorated with almond “eyes,” candy “pupils,” and chocolate whiskers. They’re both whimsical and delicious, bridging the gap between playful edible crafts and indulgent chocolate treats.
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Hocus Pocus Binx Cookies – Halloween Baking Made Fun
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Chewy chocolate cookies decorated like Binx the cat from Hocus Pocus. A festive Halloween treat kids love to decorate and everyone loves to eat.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup black cocoa powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp kosher salt
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sanding sugar
48 almond slices
¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips
48 mini green M&M’s
24 mini brown M&M’s
Instructions
Mix dry ingredients.
Cream butter and sugars.
Add egg, vanilla.
Combine and chill 30 minutes.
Shape into 24 cookies, add ears, almond eyes.
Bake 8–10 min at 350°F.
Melt chocolate, attach candy pupils and noses, pipe whiskers.
Notes
Chill the dough for thicker cookies.
Decorate after cooling fully.
Freeze dough balls for later use.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: ~22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Hocus Pocus Binx Cookies, Halloween cookies, chocolate cat cookies, spooky treats
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🎃 Festive & Fun – The perfect Halloween showstopper.
- 🐾 Kid-Friendly – Children love helping with the decorating.
- 🍫 Rich Chocolate Flavor – Deep cocoa with a chewy bite.
- 🕒 Make-Ahead Friendly – Dough can be chilled or frozen.
- ✨ Customizable – Switch colors or candies to create your own cat characters.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Ingredient | Purpose | Substitutions |
---|---|---|
All-purpose flour | Provides structure | Gluten-free 1:1 baking blend |
Black cocoa powder | Deep color & rich chocolate flavor | Dutch-process cocoa + 1 tsp espresso powder |
Unsalted butter | Fat and flavor | Dairy-free margarine |
Light brown sugar | Moisture and chewiness | Dark brown sugar, coconut sugar |
Granulated sugar | Sweetness and crisp edges | Cane sugar |
Large egg | Binds dough | Flax egg (1 tbsp flax + 3 tbsp water) |
Almond slices | Eye base decoration | Candy wafers, pumpkin seeds |
Semisweet chocolate chips | For piping whiskers | Dark, milk, or white chocolate |
Mini M&M’s (green & brown) | Eyes and nose | Candy melts, small chocolate candies |
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, ¼ cup black cocoa powder, ½ tsp baking soda, and ¼ tsp salt.
- Cream Butter & Sugars: In a large bowl, beat ¾ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup butter, and ½ cup brown sugar until creamy (about 2 minutes).
- Add Egg & Vanilla: Beat in 1 large egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth.
- Combine & Chill: Mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat & Prep: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop 24 dough balls (1 ½ tbsp each), roll in sanding sugar, and flatten to 2″ circles.
- Form Ears: Roll tiny ¼-tsp dough balls, coat in sugar, press 2 on top of each cookie, pinch into triangles.
- Add Eyes: Press 2 almond slices into each cookie.
- Bake: 8–10 minutes, until edges set but centers are soft. Cool on wire racks.
- Decorate: Melt ¼ cup chocolate chips, pipe dots on almonds, and attach green M&M pupils. Add a brown M&M nose. Pipe two whiskers on each side. Let the chocolate set before serving.

Tips & Variations
- Chill dough overnight for thicker, chewier cookies.
- Add orange or purple sprinkles for extra festivity.
- Use candy eyes instead of almonds for a shortcut.
- Turn them into “bat cookies” by shaping ears differently.
- For a lighter option, replace half the butter with applesauce.
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Mistake | What Went Wrong | Easy Fix |
---|---|---|
Cookies spread too much | Dough wasn’t chilled | Chill at least 30 min, better overnight |
Dry or crumbly cookies | Overbaked | Bake only until edges set; centers should look soft |
Decorations slide off | Piped too soon | Wait until cookies cool fully before decorating |
Whiskers too thick | Bag tip too wide | Snip a smaller hole in piping bag |
Uneven shapes | Dough pressed unevenly | Flatten into even 2″ circles before baking |
Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating
- Dough: Refrigerate up to 48 hours or freeze up to 2 months.
- Baked Cookies: Store in an airtight container for 4 days.
- Reheating: Warm in a 300°F oven for 3 minutes to refresh.
- Freezer Tip: Freeze undecorated cookies, then add faces after thawing for best results.
Serving Suggestions & Pairings
Pair these cookies with:
- Hot cocoa topped with marshmallows.
- Pumpkin spice lattes for adults.
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream for cookie sandwiches.
- Other spooky treats like Eyeball Pasta Salad (/eyeball-pasta-salad/) or Ghost Oreo Balls (/ghost-oreo-balls/).
They also look great on a black platter sprinkled with purple sanding sugar, echoing the cat’s magical theme.
FAQs
Can I make them nut-free? Yes—use candy wafers or omit almonds.
Do I need black cocoa powder? It adds drama, but Dutch cocoa works fine.
How do I keep cookies chewy? Bake until the edges are set but the centers look slightly underdone.
Can I involve kids in decorating? Absolutely! Kids love adding eyes and whiskers.
Conclusion
Hocus Pocus Binx Cookies are as fun to decorate as they are to eat. With their chocolatey bite, playful design, and nostalgic movie tie-in, they’re bound to become a family favorite. Bake them for Halloween parties, cozy movie nights, or simply to bring a little magic into your kitchen.xt spooky gathering, and watch smiles appear as quickly as the cookies disappear!