23 Halloween Treats Kids Can Make (2024)

Halloween Dessert Nachos

Coaxing the kids into eating fruit isn't always easy, but even picky eaters won't be able to resist when you team up to make this easy Halloween treat. Ask your little ones to garnish their own little plates of apple "nachos" with drizzles of melted PB&J, handfuls of Halloween candy pieces, and not-so-scary Candy Eye Balls.

Marshmallow Pops

Parents, you can tell your kids you do know jack—Jack o' lantern, that is. The orange sprinkle-coated variation of this Halloween dessert for kids will be the MVP of your bash. And you don't need a lot to bring them to life. Marshmallows (feel free to make your own if you like), a set of Green Paper Straws, and your kid's imagination are all you need to create a collection of frightful friends.

Halloween Pumpkin Bundt Cake

Your Halloween party can really take shape around this creatively-configured edible centerpiece. Bake a couple of Bundt cakes in a 12-Inch Bundt Pan, allow them to cool, then invite the kids to assist with flipping one on top of the other and drizzling them with homemade almond-flavor frosting. A green ice cream cone makes for a spot-on "stem."

Ghostly Cupcakes

"How are those ghosts floating above the party cupcakes so perfectly—and eerily?" everyone will ask. The hidden surprise inside: A doughnut hole. This just-spooky-enough dessert comes together in just a few easy steps, thanks to purchased fondant.

Halloween Candy Bark

Looking for a salty and sweet snack for a kids party? This irresistible blend of pretzels, chocolate, and candy is frighteningly good and an easy Halloween dessert recipe.

Candy Corn Poke Cake

This festive Halloween cake couldn't be easier to make. Bake a simple cake (or use a boxed mix), then melt candy corn, to create a sweet, sugary combination. Poke holes in the baked cake and pour the mixture over the top so it trickles down into the holes. Top with whipped cream and a classic Halloween combo: Candy corn and peanuts.

Gummy Worm Popcorn Balls

Classic popcorn balls taste even better when you sneak in a few candy treats—make these Halloween treats by coating your popped popcorn with a homemade vanilla sugar syrup, then sprinkle with gummy worms and candy corn before rolling into balls. If you're making them for a school gathering or Halloween party, individually package them in Clear Cello Treat Bags, (Target).

Halloween Pumpkin Cookies

For a classic and easy Halloween treat for kids that skews delightful over frightful, bake a batch of festively decorated sugar cookies.

To make, follow these steps:

1. Use a Pumpkin-Shape Cookie Cutter to cut pumpkins from rolled sugar cookie dough that's prepared according to your favorite recipe. Bake as directed.

2. Spread a layer of orange icing on the main portion of the pumpkin.

3. Add your favorite jack-o'-lantern face shapes to the pumpkin cookies using black icing, and cover the stems with green icing.

Candy Corn Cupcakes

Start with boxed cake mix and these cute cakes come together in one, two, three. 1. ) Prepare the batter according to the package instructions. 2.) Bake. 3.) Pipe with a tall stack of tinted frostings. Oh yes, and 4.) Enjoy!

Owl Cupcake

Try this wise idea for creating cute Halloween cupcakes. Top a plain cupcake with purchased cookies and sliced almonds to get the look. This hooting fellow will be the star of your spread of snacks for a kid's party.

Candy Corn Marshmallow Pops

Melt, dip, and dry are the basic steps for enjoying these delightful marshmallow pops. These Halloween desserts make a pretty centerpiece, in addition to being sweet treats.

To make, follow these steps:

1. Place orange-color and yellow-colored candy coating disks in separate microwave-safe bowls. Microwave separately on high until melted and smooth, stopping to stir every 30 seconds.

2. Insert orange straws into bases of large marshmallows. Dip part or all of each marshmallow in candy coating, spooning it over if necessary and letting the excess drip off into bowl.

3. If desired, sprinkle with orange and black nonpareils.

4. Lay the marshmallows on waxed paper (or insert the straws into florists foam to avoid a flat side) to let harden.

5. For two-layer candy corn marshmallows, omit the nonpareils. After the first coating layer has firmed up, dip the marshmallow in a second color of candy coating, keeping the first layer of coating visible. Let them stand on waxed paper or in florists foam until coating is firm.

Little Monster Sandwich Cookies

Don't worry, these monster sandwich cookies won't bite—soft chocolate-espresso cookies filled with rich orange mascarpone cream make for a spooky and fun snack for a kids party, especially when topped with big marshmallow eyes. (Speaking of which, have you ever tried your hand at homemade marshmallows?)

Bloodshot Peanut Butter Eyeballs

You won't be able to take your eyes off these eerie Halloween peanut butter bites. These Halloween desserts are eye-catching and irresistible at any event, whether served as snacks for a kids party or added to the buffet at your adult get-together.

To make, follow these steps:

1. In a mixing bowl stir together 1/2 cup peanut butter and 3 tablespoons softened butter. Gradually add 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, stirring until combined. Shape into 1-inch balls; place on waxed paper. Let stand until dry (about 20 minutes).

2. Chop 8 ounces of vanilla-flavor white candy coating. Place in a heavy saucepan; cook and stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Dip the balls, one at a time, into the coating. Let the excess coating drip off. Place them on waxed paper and let them stand until the coating is firm.

3. Use a clean, small paintbrush and red food coloring to paint veins on the eyeballs.

4. Pipe small dots of black icing for the pupils.

Sparkling Blackbird Sugar Cookies

Beady-eye blackbirds aren't so menacing when they're sweet. Use bird-shaped cookie cutters or substitute any other black Halloween figures, such as a cat, a witch, or a bat. A brushing of corn syrup after baking is the trick to getting the black sugar coating to stick.

Spooky Strawberry Pumpkin Patch

Introducing our pick for the cutest Halloween fruit recipe. Candy-coated strawberries act as faux pumpkins in this candy crumble "patch."

Test Kitchen Tip: Take this Halloween dessert to the next level by building a cake foundation, frosting, then sprinkling on the cookie crumbles. Finish with the dipped strawberries and frosting "vine" decorations.

Tangled-Web Shakes

Spin a sugary spiderweb to lure your party guests toward the Halloween dessert table. These thick caramel-chocolate shakes are eye-catching and tastebud-tempting all at once. Drizzled caramel and dark chocolate ice cream toppings create an oozing effect on the glass.

Test Kitchen Tip: Because the webs set up quickly, we recommend that a second person (such as your little sous chef) add the salt as you drizzle each web.

Dracula Mouth Cookies

On this occasion, it's okay for the kids to say, "Bite me!" Halved chocolate oatmeal cookies make for a menacing mouth. Then get creative with red frosting "gums," mini marshmallow "teeth," and slivered almond "fangs."

Chocolate Spidey Cupcakes

No need to choose between cookies, cake, or candy. This mash-up recipe features all three in one sweet package. Stir together and bake a batch of vanilla cupcakes, then ask the kids to layer on the chocolate frosting, add black licorice "legs," and finish with a chocolate-covered marshmallow cookie "body."

Spider Truffle Cookies

Homemade candy meets cookie in this spider web-inspired snack. It is Halloween after all, so you might as well double up on the sweets. Purchased candy eye balls bring the spider truffles to life, while a dusting of powdered sugar on the chocolate cookies spins the web.

Monster Cupcakes

For a delicious and easy Halloween treat for kids, enlist your little ones to help decorate these beastly cupcakes. With swirly eyes and spooky teeth, they're ghoulishly good.

To make, follow these steps:

1. Pipe frosting high onto prepared cupcakes. Carefully slice chocolate swirl snack cakes in 1/4-inch pieces for the swirly zombie eyes. The chocolate coating on the cakes will crack off easily, so be careful during this step. Or just remove the outer chocolate altogether.

2. Press the eyes onto the frosting faces atop the cupcakes. Cut round gummy candies in half, and press them into the sides of the frosting like ears.

3. Cut black licorice into small pieces and attach as the zombies' noses. Finally, press gum or mints into the frosting to create teeth.

Ghost Sandwich

Transform plain peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into ghostly Halloween snacks. To make as a snack for a kids party, use a variety of Halloween-themed cookie cutters, like pumpkins, witch hats, and cats, to make a festive and tasty sandwich platter. Make a regular peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut the sandwich. Next, press two raisins into bread—use peanut butter if necessary to make them stick—for the ghost's eyes.

Halloween Monster Cookies

Halloween recipes don't have to be complicated. This fun-to-make treat starts with a classic cookie recipe but gets the Halloween treatment, thanks to the simple addition of candy eyeballs.

Scary-Easy Mummy Brownies

Add some spook to a pan of classic brownies. The scary twist in this easy Halloween dessert comes by way of dipped chocolate sandwich cookies and candy "eyes." Voila: Mini mummy faces to adorn each square.