Halloween Baking Ideas: 12 Delicious Treats to Try

Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy — it’s also a baker’s playground. From ghostly cupcakes to spiderweb cookies, Halloween baking allows you to get creative and surprise guests or family with creepy-cute treats.

Below are 12 carefully curated Halloween baking ideas with ingredients and step-by-step instructions so you can easily whip them up at home.

1. Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

These adorable spider cookies start with soft peanut butter cookies, topped with mini peanut butter cups and chocolate legs. They’re spooky, fun, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious — perfect for kids’ parties.

Ingredients:

• 1 batch of peanut butter cookies (homemade or store-bought)
• Mini Reese’s peanut butter cups
• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Candy eyes

Instructions:

1. Prepare and bake peanut butter cookies as directed; let them cool completely.
2. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
3. Place a mini Reese’s cup upside down on the center of each cookie.
4. Transfer melted chocolate to a piping bag (or a zip-top bag with a small corner snipped). Pipe eight legs around each cup to form a spider shape.
5. Add candy eyes to the top using a dab of chocolate as glue. Let set until firm.

2. Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies

Rich chocolate cookies get a spooky upgrade with a white spiderweb icing design. These are visually striking and perfect for Halloween dessert platters.

Ingredients:

• Chocolate cookie dough (homemade or pre-made)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Bake chocolate cookies as instructed; let them cool completely.
2. Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to create a thick icing. Transfer to a piping bag.
3. Pipe three or four concentric circles on each cookie.
4. Use a toothpick to drag lines outward from the center to create a spiderweb effect.
5. Allow the icing to set before serving.

3. Witch Hat Cookies

These easy treats look like mini witch hats, made with fudge cookies and Hershey’s Kisses. They’re quick, adorable, and fun for kids to help decorate.

Ingredients:

• Fudge stripe cookies or similar
• Hershey’s Kisses
• Orange or green frosting

Instructions:

1. Place fudge cookies chocolate-side up on a tray.
2. Add a dollop of frosting to the center of each cookie.
3. Press a Hershey’s Kiss onto the frosting to secure it.
4. Pipe a ring of frosting around the base of each Kiss to finish the witch hat effect.

4. Mummy Cookies and Cream Bark

This no-bake treat combines white chocolate, Oreo cookies, and candy eyeballs to create a bark that looks like mummy wrappings. It’s perfect for a fast, crowd-pleasing Halloween snack.

Ingredients:

• 16 oz white chocolate or white candy melts
• 1 cup crushed Oreos
• Candy eyeballs

Instructions:

1. Melt white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl until smooth.
2. Spread melted chocolate onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a thin, even layer.
3. Sprinkle crushed Oreos evenly on top.
4. Drizzle additional melted white chocolate across to create a “mummy wrap” effect.
5. Place candy eyeballs randomly on the surface.
6. Chill in the refrigerator until set, then break into pieces.

5. Halloween Cheesecake Parfaits

These layered no-bake parfaits combine crunchy Oreo crumbs, creamy cheesecake filling, and mini marshmallow ghosts on top. They’re fun to assemble and look impressive at parties.

Ingredients:

• 20 Oreo cookies, crushed
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup whipped topping (Cool Whip or whipped cream)
• Orange food coloring
• Mini marshmallows and black icing for ghosts

Instructions:

1. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
2. Fold in whipped topping. Divide into two bowls; tint one portion orange.
3. In clear cups, layer Oreo crumbs, orange cheesecake mixture, then white cheesecake mixture.
4. Decorate mini marshmallows with black icing to create ghost faces and place on top.
5. Chill until ready to serve.

6. Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Ghost Toppers

Soft, moist pumpkin cupcakes topped with orange buttercream and cute white chocolate ghosts. These cupcakes capture all the fall flavors and Halloween spirit.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp ginger
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• Orange buttercream frosting
• White chocolate for ghosts

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with liners.
2. Whisk dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl, mix pumpkin puree, sugar, oil, and eggs until smooth.
3. Combine wet and dry ingredients.
4. Fill liners two-thirds full; bake 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
5. Melt white chocolate and pipe ghost shapes on parchment. Add black icing for eyes.
6. Frost cooled cupcakes with orange buttercream, top with white chocolate ghosts.

7. Frankenstein Rice Krispies Treats

Classic gooey Rice Krispies treats get a monster makeover with green chocolate coating, candy eyes, and pretzel bolts.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp butter
• 4 cups mini marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• Green candy melts
• Black decorating gel or melted chocolate
• Candy eyes
• Mini pretzel sticks

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a pot, add marshmallows, and stir until smooth.
2. Remove from heat; stir in cereal until coated.
3. Press mixture into a greased pan; cool and cut into rectangles.
4. Dip tops into melted green candy melts; let set.
5. Add candy eyes and pipe black gel to create hair and stitches.
6. Insert pretzel pieces on the sides for bolts.

8. Vampire Red Velvet Cupcakes

These rich red velvet cupcakes are filled with “bloody” raspberry jam and topped with cream cheese frosting for a deliciously spooky twist.

Ingredients:

• Red velvet cake mix (or homemade batter)
• Raspberry jam or puree
• Cream cheese frosting
• Red gel icing for blood effect

Instructions:

1. Bake cupcakes as directed; let cool.
2. Cut a small hole in each cupcake center; fill with raspberry jam.
3. Frost with cream cheese frosting.
4. Drizzle red gel icing to mimic dripping blood.

9. Mini Cookie Cheesecakes

Soft sugar cookie crusts topped with creamy cheesecake filling make these treats simple yet impressive — ideal finger desserts for Halloween gatherings.

Ingredients:

• 1 roll of sugar cookie dough
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a mini muffin tin.
2. Slice cookie dough and press each piece into muffin cups to form a base.
3. Beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Spoon filling over cookie crusts.
5. Bake for 15–18 minutes or until set. Cool and chill before serving.

10. Ghost Nutella Pop-Tarts

Hand pies shaped like cute ghosts, stuffed with Nutella, then decorated with simple icing — fun for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients:

• Ready-made pie crusts
• Nutella spread
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk
• Black decorating gel

Instructions:

1. Roll out pie crusts and cut ghost shapes using a cookie cutter.
2. Spread Nutella on half the shapes, leaving a border.
3. Place remaining ghost shapes on top and seal edges with a fork.
4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 15 minutes or until golden.
5. Whisk powdered sugar and milk for icing. Drizzle over cooled ghosts.
6. Add eyes and mouth with black gel.

11. Candy Corn Truffles

These layered truffles mimic candy corn colors and add a sweet, bite-sized treat to your Halloween table.

Ingredients:

• 12 oz white chocolate, melted
• Orange and yellow candy melts
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Shape small balls from melted white chocolate mixed with vanilla; chill until firm.
2. Dip bottom third in yellow melts; let set.
3. Dip middle section in orange melts; let set completely.
4. Serve in mini wrappers for extra flair.

12. Halloween Butter Tarts & Pumpkin Scones

A combination of traditional fall favorites — rich, gooey butter tarts and tender pumpkin scones, perfect for a Halloween brunch or dessert table.

Ingredients for Butter Tarts:

• Pastry shells
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup raisins or chopped nuts (optional)

Instructions for Butter Tarts:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs, vinegar, and vanilla.
3. Divide mixture among pastry shells; top with raisins/nuts if using.
4. Bake 20–25 minutes until filling is set.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Scones:

• 2 cups flour
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ cup cold butter, cubed
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup milk

Instructions for Pumpkin Scones:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Whisk dry ingredients together. Cut in butter until crumbly.
3. Mix pumpkin, egg, and milk; combine with dry ingredients.
4. Pat dough into a circle; cut into wedges.
5. Bake 15–18 minutes until golden.

Conclusion

With these 12 Halloween baking ideas, your kitchen can become the ultimate haunted bakery. Each recipe is designed to deliver spooky charm and delicious flavors that delight guests of all ages. From spider cookies to Frankenstein treats and buttery tarts, there’s something for everyone. So gather your ingredients, put on your favorite Halloween playlist, and let your creativity run wild.