48 Easy Halloween Desserts for a Sweet and Simple Celebration

Halloween brings plenty of costume drama, pumpkin carving, and spooky playlists, so dessert should stay stress-free. Each treat on this list calls for basic pantry items and minimal decorating skills, yet still delivers plenty of seasonal flair. Pick a handful for a party spread or use them as afternoon projects with the kids—either way, you’ll have something sweet ready in a flash.

1. Candy Corn Bark

Melt white chocolate, swirl in a drizzle of orange candy melts, then sprinkle candy corn over the top before it sets. Once chilled, crack the slab into rustic pieces for a colorful assortment of sweet, crunchy shards. Store in an airtight tin and hand them out as party favors.

2. Mummy Brownies

Start with your favorite boxed or homemade brownie base and let the pan cool completely. Pipe thin ribbons of vanilla frosting back and forth to look like linen strips, then stick two candy eyes on each square. The result is fudgy, festive, and almost too cute to bite into.

3. Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats

A dash of pumpkin-pie spice and a spoonful of canned pumpkin transform classic cereal treats into an autumn snack. Press the mixture into a buttered pan, let it set, and slice into tidy bars. Drizzle white chocolate on top for extra flair.

4. Ghost Meringues

Whip egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks form, then pipe tall swirls onto a parchment-lined sheet. After a low-and-slow bake, the meringues turn crisp outside and marshmallow-soft inside. Dot on melted chocolate eyes to bring each little specter to life.

5. Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

Bake classic crisscross peanut-butter cookies and press a miniature chocolate cup in the center while they’re still warm. Once cooled, use melted chocolate to draw eight skinny legs radiating outward. Finish with two sugar-pearl eyes for an adorable arachnid effect.

6. Black Cat Cupcakes

Chocolate cupcakes provide the perfect canvas for these midnight felines. Tint buttercream with black gel coloring, then pipe generous swirls on top. Add mini Oreo halves as ears, candy eyes, and snipped licorice strings for whiskers.

7. Caramel Apple Nachos

Swap the stick for a shareable platter by slicing crisp apples and arranging them in overlapping rings. Warm caramel sauce until pourable, drizzle over the fruit, and follow with a zig-zag of chocolate. Scatter chopped peanuts or mini chocolate chips for crunch.

8. Witch Hat Cone Cookies

Attach chocolate-dipped ice-cream cones to fudge-striped cookies with a dab of melted chocolate. Pipe a colored frosting band around the base to mimic a hat ribbon. The simple two-piece construction makes assembly quick enough for kids’ parties.

9. Chocolate Bat Truffles

Roll ganache into bite-size balls, then coat in cocoa powder or melted chocolate. Break thin chocolate wafers in half and press the curved pieces on each side as wings. Candy eyes finish these bite-size flyers in seconds.

10. Monster Mash Popcorn

Toss freshly popped kernels in melted white chocolate dyed neon green. While the coating is still tacky, add pretzel sticks, candy eyes, and mini marshmallows for texture. Spread on parchment to set, then break apart for a salty-sweet snack.

11. Bloody Red Velvet Cupcakes

Moist red velvet cupcakes form the base, topped with tangy cream-cheese frosting. Puree strawberries or raspberries and strain to make a bright red coulis. Flick the sauce over the frosting for dramatic, dripping streaks.

12. Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops

Skewer jumbo marshmallows and dip them in green-tinted candy melts. Once set, add a chocolate-covered “hairline” and stick on candy eyes. Draw a stitched smile with an edible marker for instant Frankenstein vibes.

13. Graveyard Dirt Pudding Cups

Layer chocolate pudding and whipped cream in clear cups, then blanket the top with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies. Push a rectangular cookie into the “soil” as a tombstone and pipe “RIP” with melted chocolate if you like. Gummy worms peeking out add playful horror.

14. Candy-Stuffed Monster Cookies

Use a chewy chocolate-chip cookie dough as the foundation, then mix in assorted baking candies for bursts of color. Add candy eyeballs before baking so they peek out of the cracked surface. Each cookie looks like a different goofy creature and tastes like childhood.

15. Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip

Beat together cream cheese, pumpkin purée, powdered sugar, and warm spices until fluffy. Chill for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Serve with graham crackers, ginger snaps, or apple wedges for dunking.

16. Spiderweb Chocolate Pretzels

Dip large pretzel rings in dark chocolate and lay them on parchment. Pipe thin white-chocolate lines from the center outward to form webs. Mini chocolate spiders, made with a candy melt body and piped legs, perch in the corner for fun detail.

17. Jack-O’-Lantern Hand Pies

Use refrigerated pie dough to cut out pumpkin shapes in pairs. Spoon a spoonful of pumpkin butter or spiced apple filling onto one half, top with the other that’s been carved with a simple face, and crimp the edges. After baking, brush with an orange glaze for shine.

18. Ghoulish Green Jello Squares

Prepare lime gelatin in a shallow pan and chill until firm. Cut into cubes and arrange on a platter. Pipe small whipped-cream ghosts on top of a few squares and add candy eyes for contrast.

19. Skeleton Bone Meringues

Pipe bone shapes using stiff meringue onto a lined baking sheet. Bake at a low temperature until dry and crisp. Pair them with chocolate sauce for dunking or use as edible décor on cakes.

20. Vampire Bite Cheesecake Bars

Basic vanilla cheesecake bars get a spooky upgrade with two small holes poked on top. Fill each indentation with tart raspberry coulis so it oozes slightly. The creamy texture and vibrant red punctures create a chilling yet tasty scene.

21. Chocolate Coffin Cake Slices

Spread a sheet cake with dark chocolate frosting, then slice into narrow coffin shapes. Pipe an outline and a cross using contrasting icing, and add candy bone sprinkles for effect. Serve on a black platter to complete the theme.

22. Eyeball Cake Pops

Mix crumbled cake with a bit of frosting, roll into balls, and chill on sticks. Dip in white candy coating, add a candy melt disk for the iris, and pipe a chocolate pupil. Red food-coloring gel squiggles mimic veins for a realistic look.

23. Creepy Crawler Gummy Parfait

Alternate chocolate pudding with cookie crumbs in clear glasses to create a soil effect. Tuck gummy worms halfway into the layers so they appear to wriggle out. A quick chill firms the layers before serving.

24. Haunted Haystack Cookies

Melt butterscotch chips with peanut butter, then fold in chow-mein noodles for instant crunch. Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper and lightly press on candy eyes while still tacky. They firm up in minutes for a salty-sweet bite.

25. Black Magic Oreo Bark

Spread melted semisweet chocolate onto parchment and sprinkle generously with crushed Oreos. Drizzle with purple candy melts for a mystical touch. Break into jagged pieces once set.

26. Caramel Corn Pumpkin Mix

Toss homemade or store-bought caramel corn with candy-coated pumpkin seeds and mellowcreme pumpkins. A light dusting of pumpkin-pie spice ties the flavors together. Perfect for movie night or trick-or-treat snack bags.

27. Spooky S’mores Dip

Layer chocolate chips in a small skillet, top with large marshmallows, and bake until gooey. Dot a few marshmallows with chocolate eyes to resemble ghosts peeking out. Serve hot with graham crackers for scooping.

28. Candy Corn Fudge

Make an easy microwave fudge base and divide it into three bowls. Tint two portions orange and yellow, leaving one plain, then layer each color in a loaf pan. Once chilled, slice into small squares that mimic the classic candy.

29. Witches’ Brew Pudding Parfaits

Whisk vanilla pudding with purple food coloring for a magical hue. Spoon into glasses and chill. Right before serving, crown each portion with green-tinted whipped cream and spooky sprinkles.

30. Day-Glow Swirl Brownies

Reserve a bit of brownie batter and tint cream-cheese mixture in bright Halloween shades. Dollop both over the pan and drag a skewer to create swirls. After baking, the vibrant pattern pops against the dark chocolate base.

31. Pumpkin Pie Dip with Graham Crackers

Combine pumpkin purée, vanilla pudding mix, whipped topping, and spices for a fluffy dip. It captures all the flavor of pumpkin pie without turning on the oven. Scoop it up with grahams, pretzels, or fruit.

32. Marshmallow Ghost Hot Cocoa Bombs

Form hollow white-chocolate shells in silicone molds and fill with cocoa mix and mini marshmallows. Seal the halves together, then draw simple ghost faces using melted dark chocolate. Drop one into hot milk and watch the ghost melt away into cocoa.

33. Cobweb Topped Cheesecake

Bake a classic vanilla cheesecake and cool completely. Pour a thin layer of chocolate ganache over the top, then pipe concentric white-chocolate circles. Drag a toothpick from center to edge to create the cobweb pattern.

34. Midnight Chocolate Mousse

Whip heavy cream and fold into melted dark chocolate for a silky mousse. Spoon into small glasses and chill until set. Edible gold or silver shimmer adds a sophisticated Halloween gleam.

35. Cinnamon Sugar Bat Chips with Dip

Use a bat-shaped cookie cutter on flour tortillas, brush with butter, and coat with cinnamon sugar. Bake until crisp and golden. Pair with a lightly sweet pumpkin-yogurt dip for a balanced snack.

36. Poison Apple Cupcakes

Top chocolate cupcakes with black-tinted buttercream swirls. Heat red candy melts with a bit of corn syrup to create a mirror-like glaze and spoon it so it drips over the frosting. The dramatic color contrast nods to fairy-tale apples.

37. Graveyard Sheet Cake

Cover a chocolate sheet cake with nearly black buttercream. Dye shredded coconut green for grass and sprinkle it along the cake edges. Push cookie tombstones upright and pipe icing vines for extra creepiness.

38. Monster Eye Donuts

Glaze baked or fried donuts with vibrant icing in slime green, purple, or orange. While still wet, stick on multiple candy eyes at random angles. The playful design hides any icing imperfections and delights younger guests.

39. Glow-in-the-Dark Cotton Candy Cups

Whisk tonic-water powder into a sugar syrup before spinning cotton candy; quinine gives it a subtle glow under blacklight. Portion the floss into clear cups for easy grabbing. Keep the cups sealed until serving to preserve the fluff.

40. Ghostly White Chocolate Strawberries

Dip ripe strawberries in white chocolate and let excess drip off to form a wavy “sheet.” Place two mini chocolate chips for eyes before the coating sets. Chill briefly so they’re ready in under 20 minutes.

41. Spider-Infested Caramel Apples

Submerge crisp apples in homemade or store-bought caramel and let them cool on parchment. Drizzle dark chocolate in thin lines and attach miniature chocolate-mold spiders all around. It’s a fun twist on a fall classic.

42. Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

Add pumpkin purée and seasonal spices to standard snickerdoodle dough for extra softness and flavor. Roll each ball in cinnamon sugar before baking so the exterior develops its signature crackle. The cookies stay chewy for days, making them ideal make-ahead treats.

43. Black Velvet Snack Cake

Use Dutch-process black cocoa powder to achieve a naturally inky crumb. A quick mix-and-pour batter bakes in a square pan and cools fast. Frost with vanilla buttercream and dust with edible glitter for subtle sparkle.

44. Candy Corn Poke Cake

Bake a vanilla sheet cake, then poke holes all over with a skewer. Pour orange and yellow gelatin into alternating rows so it seeps into the crumb. Frost with whipped topping and sprinkle candy corn on top.

45. Boo-Berry Mini Cheesecakes

Line mini muffin tins with paper cups and fill with blueberry-swirled cheesecake batter. After baking, chill until firm. Top each with a small white-chocolate ghost cutout for a fruity, creamy bite.

46. Chocolate Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Combine cocoa powder with pumpkin purée for tender cake-like cookies. Whip cream cheese, butter, and a touch of maple syrup for the filling and tint it orange. Sandwich a generous spoonful between two cakes for handheld indulgence.

47. Haunted Peppermint Bark

Melt dark chocolate and spread it thinly, then drizzle with white chocolate and swirl slightly. Press in crushed candy canes for a refreshing crunch and use a small spatula to shape a few white swirls into ghost silhouettes. Snap into pieces once firm.

48. Maple Pumpkin Blondies

Swap a portion of brown sugar for pure maple syrup in a classic blondie batter, then stir in pumpkin purée and spices. Bake until the edges pull away slightly and the center is set. A thin maple-powdered sugar glaze adds shine and rich fall flavor.