Why baking at Halloween works
Baking together during the half-term provides so many benefits:
A playful way to embrace the Halloween spirit, make memories, and keep kids engaged.
Baking allows kids to help in the kitchenâmeasuring, mixing, decoratingâso they feel involved and proud.
Itâs more than just treats: it becomes a craft/activity that leads to tasty rewards.
According to recipe guides, Halloween recipes for kids can be fun, simple and hands-on. Good Food+2Love In My Oven+2
A few themed treats like ghostly cupcakes or spider cookies can lift the mood, decorate a party platter, or serve as a sweet finish to a day of fun.
1. Ghost Cupcakes
What to do:
Bake a simple vanilla or chocolate cupcake base.
Let the kids ice them with white frosting (or fondant) to form a âghostâ drape.
Add two little chocolate chips or edible candy eyes for ghost faces.
Why itâs great:
Easy to customise and decorate.
Kids love the âghostâ look and the simple design means minimal mess but maximum fun.
Guides point out such designs are among the top Halloween recipes to make with kids. Good Food+1
Tip: Use muffins or cupcakes with liners to make it easier for little hands to handle.
2. Spider Cookies
What to do:
Bake or buy plain cookies (oatmeal/peanut butter works well).
Press a small peanut butter cup (or similar) in the centre for the spider body.
Use melted chocolate to pipe on âlegsâ (4 on each side) and add candy eyes.
Why itâs great:
Kids can help with pressing the body and placing candy eyes.
Very visual and fun - spiders = spooky but in a cute way.
As one blog notes: âThese cute little spider cookies ... youâll love these!â Love In My Oven
Tip: If kids are younger, pre-pipe the legs or have the adult do the chocolate detail so the kids place the pieces.
3. Monster Rice Crispy Treats
What to do:
Make a standard Rice Krispies treat base.
When cooled slightly, cut into squares or shapes.
Provide melted candy melts, sprinkles, edible eyes and let kids decorate each square with âmonsterâ faces: green frosting, candy eyes, gummed mouths etc.
Why itâs great:
Requires less baking skill (just setting cold), so good for less experienced little bakers.
Decoration is the fun part, so kids get to experiment visually.
Recipe collections list such easy treats as top picks for kids. Love In My Oven+1
Tip: Provide lots of decorating bits and let the children come up with their âmonstersâ â some will be silly, some spooky.
4. Mummy-Wrapped Pastries
What to do:
Use ready-rolled puff pastry or cookie dough.
Wrap mini sausages (for savoury) or chocolate bars (for sweet) in strips to look like mummy bandages.
Bake until golden. Add little candy eyeballs afterwards.
Why itâs great:
Combines savoury and sweet options (you could do both).
Kids find the âmummyâ aesthetic fun and itâs a little different from the purely sweet treats.
Guide lists âmummy cookiesâ and similar ideas for Halloween treats with kids. Good Food
Tip: Supervise oven use closely. For younger kids, do the wrapping together, then adult handles the baking.
5. Healthy-ish Fruit Monsters & Ghosts
What to do:
Slice bananas lengthways and add chocolate chip eyes for ghosts.
Slice apples and spread nut/seed butter, add berry tongues, candy eyes for monster faces.
Arrange a platter of mixed fruit decorated to look spooky or fun.
Why itâs great:
Offers a lighter alternative and balances all the sugary baking.
Kids can get creative with faces and weird expressions.
One popular blog says kids ate these as fast as the sugar options.
Tip: Prepare a little ahead and let kids choose their own fruit and decoration bits.
đ¸ď¸ Tips for Kids
Let children help spoon batter into cases and decorate the ghosts.
Keep a few ânakedâ cupcakes so they can experiment with designs.
Play Halloween music while decorating for extra fun!














