With a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until well mixed.
Add the vanilla and enough red coloring to make the mixture red. Mix.
Add the flour and salt and mix until blended.
Use your hands to form into a ball and place on a piece of plastic wrap.
Pat into a cylinder and wrap. Chill for 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface about ¼-inch thick.
Cut out as many fish as you can and transfer them to one or two unlined, ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 12-14 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your fish.
Let cool for a couple minutes before transferring to cooling racks.
Once the cookies have completely cooled, slather the backs of two cookies with caramel.
Place a stick at least halfway up (if using), sticking out from the bottom tail, and sandwich the other sticky fish on top, leaving the stick trapped in the middle.
Repeat with the remaining cookies.
Serve to your favorite witches.
