50 Spooktacular Halloween Baking and Sweet Treat Recipes: A Step-by-Step Guide

Halloween is the perfect time to bring some spine-chilling creativity into the kitchen. Whether you’re hosting a party or looking for fun family activities, these 50 Spooktacular Halloween baking and sweet treat recipes will help you whip up eerie delights that are as delicious as they are spooky. Grab your ingredients, channel your inner chef, and let’s get started!

Get your oven mitts ready — this is your ultimate, candy-corn-sprinkled roster of 50 Halloween baking ideas and sweet treats that span spooky classics, clever twists, and crowd-pleasing showstoppers. I grouped recipes by type so you can pick a theme (cookies-only, quick party bites, sugar-free alternatives, etc.) and included short descriptions, why they work for Halloween, quick tips, and simple swaps for dietary needs. Let’s make your Halloween deliciously eerie.

Quick tips before we bake

• Plan by prep time. Pick a few “make-ahead” items (brownies, fudge) and a couple of “fresh” items (decorated cookies, cream puffs).
• Theme with color. Black, orange, purple, and green food coloring + sprinkles = instant Halloween.
• Use molds & cutters. Ghost, bat, pumpkin, and skull cookie cutters speed things up and look pro.
• Allergy swaps. Use gluten-free flour blends and dairy-free butter/milk where needed; aquafaba works as an egg replacer in many recipes.
• Make it interactive. Set up a cookie-decorating station for parties.

I. Classic Halloween Cookies & Bars

1. Pumpkin Spice Soft Cookies — Chewy, moist cookies with brown sugar and warm pumpkin spice. Tip: Chill dough 30 min for thicker cookies.
2. Black Cocoa Double Chocolate Cookies — Dark, dramatic cookies perfect for “witchy” aesthetics.
3. Ghost Meringues — Crisp, airy meringues piped into ghost shapes and dotted with chocolate eyes. Egg-white based; aquafaba substitute available.
4. Monster Eyeball Sugar Cookies — Sugar cookies topped with royal icing and an edible “eyeball” (candied cherry + chocolate).
5. Candy Corn Shortbread — Layered shortbread colored to mimic candy corn; buttery and festive.
6. S’mores Brownie Bars — Fudgy brownies topped with marshmallow and graham cracker crunch. Make ahead and slice.
7. Graveyard Oreo Dirt Cups — Chocolate crust, creamy filling, crushed Oreos “dirt,” and cookie-tombstones.
8. Caramel Apple Blondies — Browned-butter blondie base with apple chunks and salted caramel drizzle.
9. Spiderweb Lemon Bars — Tangy lemon curd on short crust, with chocolate spiderweb piping.
10. Blood-Red Velvet Thumbprints — Red velvet cookies with raspberry or cherry jam centers.
11. Peanut Butter Bat Cookies — Classic peanut butter with bat-shaped cutters and mini chocolate chips.
12. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cranberry Bars — Hearty, spiced bars with chewy texture and bright cranberries.

II. Cakes, Cupcakes & Layered Treats

13. Witch Hat Cupcakes — Chocolate cupcakes topped with cone-shaped chocolate hats and edible glitter.
14. Graveyard Chocolate Cake — Rich chocolate layer cake decorated with cookie gravestones and piped “dirt.”
15. Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars — Creamy pumpkin cheesecake on gingersnap crust.
16. Black Forest Haunted Gateau — Chocolate-cherry cake with dark frosting and spooky silhouette toppers.
17. Spiderweb Vanilla Cupcakes — Swirled frosting with piped chocolate spiderwebs and candy spiders.
18. Jack-o’-Lantern Orange Bundt Cake — Glazed bundt cake with orange zest; add a chocolate stem.
19. Ghostly Pavlova Cake — Large pavlova base topped with whipped cream and placeable mini meringue ghosts.
20. Creepy Crawly Red Velvet Layer Cake — Red velvet layers with cream cheese, topped with candy worms.
21. Candy-Fiend Trifle — Alternating layers of cake, pudding, crushed candy and whipped cream in a clear bowl.
22. Black Velvet Mirror Glaze Cake — Shiny black glaze, dramatic centerpiece for adult gatherings.

III. Quick Party Bites & No-Bake Treats

23. Mummy Rice Krispie Treats — Rice Krispies shaped into rectangles, wrapped with white chocolate “bandages,” with candy eyes.
24. Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Witches’ Brooms — Pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate and tied with licorice.
25. Pumpkin Spice Energy Balls — Oats, pumpkin puree, nut butter — healthy-ish and festive.
26. Spooky Popcorn Mix — Caramel popcorn with candy corn, pretzel bites, and chocolate drizzle.
27. Monster Marshmallow Pops — Marshmallows dipped in candy melts with silly face decorations.
28. Ghost Bananas — Frozen banana halves dipped in white chocolate and dotted with eyes — refreshingly simple.
29. No-Bake Oreo Truffles — Crushed Oreos + cream cheese — rolled and coated in chocolate; decorate like skulls.
30. Pumpkin Spice Fudge — Smooth, spiced fudge made on stovetop; slice into pumpkin shapes.
31. Candy Apple Slices — Thin apple slices dipped in caramel/chocolate and sprinkled.
32. Witch’s Brew Chocolate Bark — Melted chocolate with dried fruit, nuts, and candy mixed in; break into shards.

IV. Bread & Pastry Treats

33. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls — Soft rolls with pumpkin-scented dough and cream cheese icing. Great for morning parties.
34. Bat-Shaped Cookies & Croissants — Use bat cutters for shaped pastries or fill mini croissants with chocolate.
35. Apple Cider Donuts — Pan-fried or baked, coated in cinnamon sugar. Seasonal classic.
36. Savory Pumpkin Herb Scones — For a balance of sweet and savory on your spread.
37. Stuffed Jack-o’-Lantern Buns — Brioche buns with pumpkin-shaped tops, filled with sweet-savoury filling (or red bean).
38. Maple Pecan Halloween Loaf — Quick loaf with fall spices and chopped pecans.
39. Cinnamon Roll Mummy Buns — Mini cinnamon rolls arranged and decorated like mummies.

V. Drinks & Chilled Desserts

40. Blood Orange Panna Cotta — Silky panna cotta with blood-orange gelée for eerie color.
41. Witch’s Brew Hot Chocolate — Deep cocoa with green whipped cream (matcha whipped cream optional).
42. Spiked Pumpkin Milkshake — Boozy adult treat with pumpkin spice ice cream and rum or bourbon.
43. Purple Galaxy Smoothie — Berry-based chilled drink with vivid purple swirl — a kid-friendly “potion.”
44. Black Sesame Ice Cream — Nutty, slightly savory ice cream with dramatic color.

VI. Vegan / Gluten-Free / Allergy-Friendly Options

45. Vegan Pumpkin Muffins — Oil-based, applesauce binder, with dairy-free glaze.
46. Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake — Almond + oat flour base; fudgy and dense.
47. Vegan Ghost Meringues (Aquafaba) — Aquafaba whipped into meringue and piped into ghost shapes.
48. Sugar-Free Halloween Truffles — Using sugar alternatives and dark chocolate for lower-sugar options.
49. Nut-Free Monster Cookies — Oat and seed-based “cookies” with allergy-safe mix-ins.
50. Date-Sweetened Pumpkin Bars — No refined sugar; dates and pumpkin make them moist and rich.

How to use this list — menu ideas & pairings

• Kids’ Party Pack: Ghost Meringues, Mummy Rice Krispie Treats, Spiderweb Vanilla Cupcakes, Candy Apple Slices.
• Adult Cocktail Night: Black Velvet Mirror Glaze Cake, Spiked Pumpkin Milkshake, Blood Orange Panna Cotta.
• Brunch Spread: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, Apple Cider Donuts, Pumpkin Spice Fudge (for takeaways).
• Low-effort Buffet: Graveyard Oreo Dirt Bars, S’mores Brownie Bars, Witch’s Brew Hot Chocolate.

Shopping list essentials (general)

• Flour, sugar (white & brown), baking powder/soda
• Cocoa, black cocoa (optional), chocolate chips and candy melts
• Pumpkin puree, apples, citrus (blood orange, lemon, orange)
• Spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin spice mix
• Butter, eggs (or aquafaba), cream cheese, heavy cream or non-dairy alternatives
• Decorative candies, sprinkles, food coloring, cookie cutters, piping bags

Make-ahead & storage guide

• 4–7 days fridge: Cheesecakes, puddings, trifle (assembled or components).
• 2–3 days room temp: Most cookies in airtight containers.
• Freeze: Brownies and unfrosted cakes freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge.
• Decorations: Keep candy toppers separate and apply just before serving to avoid melting.

Costume-friendly plating & presentation ideas

• Use black or orange platters, tiered cake stands, and parchment printed with themed labels.
• Put dry ice in a separate bowl for fog effects (never place dry ice directly on food).
• Label a few items “Kid-Friendly,” “Contains Nuts,” or “Vegan” to help guests choose.

Quick recipes spotlight (pick 3 to master first)

1. No-Bake Oreo Truffles: Easy, fast, crowd-pleaser — great to learn coating technique.
2. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls: Impressive aroma and big “wow” factor; can be made the night before.
3. Witch Hat Cupcakes: Simple to decorate but visually striking.

Final spooky notes

This list gives you flexibility—mix and match, scale recipes for big crowds, and tweak flavors for your region. Want me to expand any single recipe into a full, step-by-step recipe (with exact measurements, timings, and photoshoot plating tips)? Tell me which three you’d like to master first and I’ll write them out in full.