Halloween is a time of pure magic for kids—a season filled with costumes, spooky stories, and, of course, delicious treats.
When it comes to planning a party for your little monsters, the dessert table is often the star of the show.
Creating a spread of fun and festive Dessert Halloween treats can make your celebration extra special and memorable for every child who attends.
The thought of making elaborate, themed desserts might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be a scary process.
This guide is your friendly companion for creating stunning party treats that are perfect for kids.
We’ve gathered a collection of simple, no-fuss recipes that are big on “wow” factor but low on complexity.
From adorable ghosts to creepy crawly spiders, these ideas use everyday ingredients and are perfect for getting the kids involved in the kitchen.
Get ready to whip up some spooktacular sweets that will have everyone screaming with delight!
Essential Tools for Your Spooky Sweet Shop
Before you start creating these ghoulish goodies, having a few key tools on hand will make the entire process easier and much more fun. These simple items are the secret to turning basic ingredients into amazing Dessert Halloween masterpieces.
- For Creating Spooky Shapes: The quickest way to make your treats festive is with themed cutters.
The {Wilton Halloween Metal Cookie Cutter Set} is a must-have, perfect for making shaped cookies, cutting brownies into bats, or even shaping sandwiches. - Bringing Treats to Life: A simple dab of frosting and an edible eye can turn any dessert into a cute creature.
A container of {Wilton Edible Candy Eyeballs} is an absolute essential for any parent making Halloween treats. They instantly add personality to cookies, cupcakes, and more. - For Dipping and Decorating: Achieving a smooth, even coating on your treats is key to a polished look.
The {Wilton Candy Melts Candy and Chocolate Melting Pot} is a fantastic tool that keeps your candy melts at the perfect temperature for dipping without any risk of burning. - For Magical Colors: To get those signature bright oranges, spooky purples, and ghoulish greens, you need good food coloring.
The {McCormick Assorted Food Color Gels} are easy to find and perfect for coloring frosting, cake batter, and more without a chemical taste. - Essential Sticks and Sprinkles: Many kid-friendly desserts are fun to eat on a stick.
A large pack of {Wilton Lollipop Sticks} is sturdy and food-safe for making cake pops or dipped marshmallows. And don’t forget the {Spooky Halloween Sprinkles Mix} to add a final festive touch to everything!
With these simple supplies in your kitchen, you’ll be all set to create an impressive and fun dessert spread for your little ghouls and goblins.
15 Stunning Dessert Halloween Treats For Kids
Get ready to build a dessert table that will delight kids of all ages. This list features a fantastic mix of no-bake treats, easy baked goods, and fun, interactive ideas that are perfect for a children’s party.
No-Bake Spooky Sweets
These no-bake options are perfect for when you’re short on time or want to get the kids involved without turning on the oven.
1. Adorable Strawberry Ghosts
These are a perennial favorite for a reason. They are incredibly cute, surprisingly healthy for a dessert, and so easy to make that even the youngest kids can help.
How to make them:
- You will need large, fresh strawberries, a bag of white chocolate melting wafers, and some mini chocolate chips for the eyes.
- Wash and thoroughly dry the strawberries. This is a very important step, as any moisture will cause the chocolate to seize and become lumpy. Leave the green tops on to act as convenient handles for dipping.
- Melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until it’s completely smooth.
- Holding a strawberry by its green leaves, dip it into the melted white chocolate, twirling it to coat it almost completely. Let the excess chocolate drip off.
- Place the dipped strawberries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Before the chocolate has a chance to set, quickly and gently press two mini chocolate chips into the coating for the ghost’s “eyes.” For a screaming ghost, you can use a regular-sized chocolate chip turned on its side for a wide-open “mouth.”
- Refrigerate for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chocolate is completely firm.
2. Creepy Crawly Oreo Spiders
This is one of the simplest and most classic Dessert Halloween ideas. With just two main ingredients, you can create a whole army of creepy crawlers in minutes.
How to make them:
- You will need a package of Oreo cookies (or any similar chocolate sandwich cookie) and a bag of black licorice laces.
- Cut the licorice laces into 2-inch pieces. You’ll need eight “legs” for each spider you plan to make.
- Carefully twist open an Oreo cookie to expose the cream filling.
- Arrange four licorice legs on each side of the cream filling, pressing them in gently so they stick.
- Gently press the top half of the cookie back on to hold the legs securely in place.
- For a final touch, you can use a tiny dab of frosting to attach two small red or yellow sprinkles for eyes to make them look extra menacing.
3. Magical Witches’ Hat Cookies
This is another brilliant no-bake treat that looks like it came from a fancy bakery but is incredibly easy to assemble with just three store-bought ingredients.
How to make them:
- You will need a package of fudge-striped shortbread cookies, a bag of Hershey’s Kisses, and a tube of colored decorating frosting (orange, green, or purple).
- Place the fudge-striped cookies on a platter with the chocolate-striped side facing up.
- Pipe a small, circular dollop of the colored frosting right in the center hole of each cookie.
- Unwrap a Hershey’s Kiss and immediately press it gently onto the frosting. The frosting acts as both the “glue” and the colorful band of the witch’s hat.
- Let the frosting set for about 20-30 minutes before serving to ensure the hats stay together securely.
4. Goofy Monster Mouths
This is a fun, healthy, and interactive snack that kids love to help assemble. It’s a great way to add a fresh, crunchy element to a sugar-filled dessert table.
How to make them:
- Core and slice a green apple into thick wedges.
- Spread a layer of peanut butter, almond butter, or even cream cheese on one side of two apple slices of a similar size.
- Place a row of mini marshmallows on one of the apple slices to look like silly, goofy teeth.
- For a tongue, stick a sliced strawberry or a piece of red fruit leather onto the peanut butter so it hangs out from the mouth.
- Gently press the second apple slice on top to complete the “mouth.”
5. Spooky Graveyard Dirt Cups
A classic kids’ dessert that is tailor-made for Halloween. Layers of “dirt” and “mud” with gummy worms crawling out are both spooky and irresistibly delicious.
How to make them:
- Prepare a batch of instant chocolate pudding according to the package directions.
- Crush a package of Oreo cookies in a zip-top bag until they resemble fine dirt.
- In clear plastic cups, alternate layers of chocolate pudding and crushed Oreo “dirt.”
- Top the final layer with a generous amount of Oreo dirt.
- Stick a gummy worm or two into the top so it looks like they are crawling out.
- For a tombstone, use a Milano cookie or a rectangular shortbread cookie. Write “RIP” on it with a black edible marker or a tube of black icing and stick it into the cup.
6. Donut Hole Eyeballs
Turn simple store-bought donut holes into a gruesome, sweet treat. This is the perfect last-minute addition to your Halloween menu when you’re short on time.
How to make them:
- You’ll need a box of glazed or powdered donut holes.
- Place a red gummy lifesaver or a similar round red candy in the center of each donut hole to act as the “iris.”
- Fill the hole of the gummy candy with a dot of black decorating icing or by pressing in a mini chocolate chip to create the “pupil.”
- For a bloodshot effect, use a red edible marker to draw thin, squiggly lines on the white glaze, radiating out from the gummy “iris.”
7. Halloween Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)
An addictive, easy-to-make snack that’s great for a large crowd. It’s perfect for filling up goodie bags or a large bowl for guests to scoop out themselves.
How to make it:
- Make a classic puppy chow recipe by coating Chex cereal in a mixture of melted chocolate and peanut butter, then tossing it in powdered sugar.
- Spread the coated cereal on a baking sheet to cool and set.
- Once cool, toss the puppy chow with a generous amount of Halloween-themed candies. Good choices include Reese’s Pieces, candy corn, and orange, purple, and brown M&Ms. Add some of your {Spooky Halloween Sprinkles Mix} for extra color.
8. Silly Monster Rice Krispie Treats
A classic, beloved treat gets a fun and colorful Halloween makeover. This is a perfect project for kids because there’s no wrong way to decorate a monster!
How to make them:
- Prepare a standard batch of Rice Krispie treats. Before pressing the mixture into the pan, add a few drops of your {McCormick Assorted Food Color Gels} (green, purple, or orange work well) and mix until the color is evenly distributed.
- Press the colored mixture into a greased pan and let it cool completely.
- Cut the treats into squares.
- Melt some candy melts in a contrasting color. Dip one end of each square into the melted candy to create “hair.” Before it sets, add some fun sprinkles.
- Use a dab of the melted candy to “glue” one, two, or a whole cluster of {Wilton Edible Candy Eyeballs} onto each monster.
9. “Mummy” Brownies
Take a simple pan of brownies from a box mix and give them an adorable and spooky makeover with a simple piping technique.
How to make them:
- Bake a pan of brownies according to the box directions and let them cool completely. Cut them into rectangles.
- Prepare a batch of simple white vanilla frosting. Place the frosting in a piping bag fitted with a flat, ribbon-like tip.
- Pipe strips of frosting back and forth across each brownie to look like mummy bandages. Make sure to leave a small gap for the eyes.
- In the gap, place two candy eyeballs. If you don’t have any, two mini chocolate chips work just as well.
10. Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
A spooky and delicious twist on a classic peanut butter cookie. The “spider” body is a decadent chocolate truffle.
How to make them:
- Prepare your favorite peanut butter cookie dough. Roll the dough into balls and press them down slightly on a baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies according to your recipe’s directions.
- As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, while they are still warm and soft, gently press a chocolate truffle (like a Lindt Lindor truffle) or a Rolo candy into the center of each cookie.
- Let the cookies cool completely. The chocolate will set and stick to the cookie.
- Once cooled, use a tube of black decorating icing with a small round tip to draw eight little spider legs, four on each side of the chocolate “body.”
11. Ghost S’mores Dip
This warm, gooey, and shareable dessert is perfect for a cool autumn evening. It brings the fun of a campfire indoors with a ghostly twist.
How to make it:
- In a small cast-iron skillet or another oven-safe dish, spread a layer of chocolate chips evenly across the bottom.
- Top the chocolate with a single layer of large marshmallows, packed closely together.
- Use a black edible marker to draw simple ghost faces (two eyes and a mouth) on a few of the marshmallows before placing them on top.
- Bake at 450°F (230°C) for 5-7 minutes, until the marshmallows are puffed up and golden brown on top.
- Carefully remove from the oven and serve immediately with graham crackers, pretzels, and apple slices for dipping.
12. Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars
Get the delicious taste of decorated sugar cookies without all the intricate work of cutting and icing individual shapes. These bars are soft, chewy, and easy to make for a crowd.
How to make them:
- Prepare a simple sugar cookie dough and press it into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Bake until the edges are just golden. Let it cool completely.
- Prepare a batch of vanilla buttercream and dye it a festive color like orange or purple.
- Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie base.
- Top with a generous amount of your {Spooky Halloween Sprinkles Mix}.
- Cut into squares and serve.
13. Pumpkin Patch Brownie Bites
Turn simple brownie bites into an adorable, edible pumpkin patch. This is a great way to elevate a store-bought shortcut.
How to make them:
- Bake or buy a batch of mini brownies (the two-bite kind).
- Prepare a batch of orange-colored vanilla frosting.
- Use a piping bag with a round tip to pipe a pumpkin shape on top of each brownie bite.
- Before the frosting sets, add a small green sprinkle or a piece of a green sour candy straw for the pumpkin stem.
14. Clementine “Pumpkins” and Banana “Ghosts”
This is the ultimate healthy Dessert Halloween option. It’s incredibly simple, requires no cooking, and is a fantastic way to offer a fun, nutritious choice among the sweets.
How to make them:
- For the Clementine Pumpkins: Peel a clementine, leaving it whole. Cut a small, thin piece of celery or a green gummy candy and gently push it into the hole at the top of the clementine to create a “stem.”
- For the Banana Ghosts: Peel a banana and cut it in half crosswise. For each half, gently press two mini chocolate chips near the top for “eyes.”
15. Witch Finger Pretzels
Salty, sweet, and wonderfully spooky! These witch fingers are an easy-to-make treat that looks fantastically creepy on a dessert table.
How to make them:
- You will need a bag of pretzel rods, a bag of green candy melts, and some sliced almonds for the fingernails.
- Melt the green candy melts in a tall glass or a deep bowl.
- Dip about three-quarters of each pretzel rod into the melted green coating.
- Lay the coated pretzels on a sheet of parchment paper. Before the coating hardens, press a sliced almond onto the tip of each pretzel to look like a long, crooked fingernail.
- Let them set completely in the refrigerator until the coating is firm.
Quick Reference: Spooky Shopping List
Here’s a handy table of the key products mentioned to help you prepare your perfect party treats.
| Product Name | Brand | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Wilton Halloween Metal Cookie Cutter Set | Wilton | Bakeware/Tools |
| Wilton Edible Candy Eyeballs | Wilton | Decorating Supplies |
| Wilton Candy Melts Candy and Chocolate Melting Pot | Wilton | Kitchen Gadgets |
| McCormick Assorted Food Color Gels | McCormick | Baking Supplies |
| Wilton Lollipop Sticks | Wilton | Baking Tools |
| Spooky Halloween Sprinkles Mix | Wilton | Decorating Supplies |
Creating a memorable Dessert Halloween spread for kids is all about having fun and letting your creativity run wild.
These ideas are designed to be a starting point, so feel free to mix and match them, add your own ghoulish twists, or even invent new monsters.
The most important ingredient is to enjoy the process, especially if you have little helpers in the kitchen.
So, put on some spooky tunes, gather your supplies, and get ready to make some terrifyingly tasty treats that will make your Halloween party a smash hit!
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