Gross everyone out with these creepy cookies.

Creepy Witches' Fingers

Yield: 5 dozen

1 cup Butter, softened
1 cup Icing sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp Almond extract
1 tsp Vanilla
2 2/3 cups Flour
1 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp Salt
3/4 cup Almonds, whole blanched
1 Tube red decorator gel
(optional, not shown in picture)

In bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond extract
and vanilla. Beat in flour, baking soda, and salt. Cover
and refrigerate 30 minutes. Working with one quarter of the
dough at a time and keeping remainder refrigerated, roll heaping
teaspoonful of dough into finger shape for each cookie. Press
almond firmly into 1 end for nail. Squeeze in centre to create
knuckle shape. (Accompanying picture showed long rolled shape
with bulge at centre for knuckle; you puff it out rather than
squeeze it in.) Using paring knife, make slashes in several
places to form knuckle.

Place on lightly greased baking sheets; bake in 325 degree
oven for 20-25 minutes or until pale golden. Let cool for
3 minutes.

Optional:  If desired, for a bloody, scary effect, lift up almond, squeeze red decorator gel onto nail bed and press almond back in place, so gel oozes out from underneath.  You can also make slashes in the finger and fill them with blood.

Remove from baking sheets and let cool on racks. Repeat with remaining dough.

HAVE A WONDERFULLY SPOOKY HALLOWEEN!!!