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Halloween parties are the perfect excuse to go all out on dessert. 🎃
Whether you’re hosting a big Halloween bash, bringing treats to a school party, or creating a charcuterie board for a spooky movie night, these Halloween party treats are perfect for any spooky celebration.
And because nobody wants to be baking while their guests are arriving, I’ve included make-ahead tips to help you get ahead of the party prep. I’m also sharing some of my favorite Halloween party essentials to help you pull everything together!
Now all that’s left is to pick your favorites and start baking!
How Far in Advance Can I Make Halloween Desserts?
Planning ahead makes hosting a lot easier! For the best freshness, here’s a general guide for when to make your desserts. Specific make-ahead and storage instructions may vary by recipe and will be included in the recipe post, so be sure to peek there before planning your party menu!
Dessert Make-Ahead Guideline
| DESSERT | HOW FAR AHEAD? | STORAGE |
|---|---|---|
| Cookie Dough | 6 weeks | Freezer (learn how to bake from frozen here!) |
| Baked Cookies | 1 day | Airtight container |
| Brownies | 1-2 days | Airtight container or refrigerated for extra fudginess |
| Cakes and Cupcakes | 1-2 days | Unfrosted – covered at room temp Frosted – let sit at room temp for 1-2 hours for frosting to soften before serving |
| Frosting | 1-3 days | Refrigerated |
Easy Halloween Cookies
1
These Double Chocolate Halloween Cookies will be a hit with any crowd! You just need one bowl and about 30 minutes to enjoy these chocolaty cookies. Adored by kids and adults every year.
2
Finally, the perfect Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies, with a thick chewy texture, soft center, and golden brown edges. This kitchen-tested, easy recipe can be made in 30 minutes. Now with gluten-free and egg-free options! Swap half the chocolate chips for festive M&Ms for an easy Halloween cookie.
3
Make these Homemade Oreo Cookies, adding in a few drops of orange gel food coloring to the filling (or any color of your choice!). If you notice the coloring isn’t to your preference, add additional drops of gel coloring until your desired shade is reached.
4
My Monster Cookies have been tested to thick & chewy perfection with peanut butter, chocolate, and M&Ms. Ultra-quick recipe, your family will go crazy for these!
5
Brown Butter Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are super chewy pumpkin spice cookies loaded with caramelized brown butter flavor and gooey chocolate chips. Not a hint of cakeiness here! This delicious fall cookie is so easy to make, you don’t even need a mixer.
6
How to make the most adorable Jack-o'-Lantern Cookies, perfect for Halloween! This recipe features my easy chocolate cut-out sugar cookies, filled with homemade cream cheese frosting. The cutest Halloween dessert ever.
7
Black Cocoa Halloween Sugar Cookies yield festive jet-black cookies that hold any cookie cutter shape, with an easy kid-friendly dough.
8
Pumpkin Snickerdoodles are ultra thick, soft, and loaded with classic pumpkin spice flavors. The perfect EASY fall recipe that everyone loves!
9
Bakery-quality Giant Reese's Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookies are thick, chewy, chunky, and soft, with a delightful amount of peanut butter mix-ins! An incredible combination of peanut butter and chocolate – for real PB-lovers only!
Halloween Brownies & Bars
10
These Halloween Brownies are as adorable as they are delicious! Quick and easy to make, these spooky brownies are the perfect addition to any Halloween party.
11
Monster Cookie Bars are gooey, chewy, and ultra-thick, packed with peanut butter flavor, and loaded with chocolate chips and M&Ms. These cookie bars are easy to make, ready in under 45 minutes!
12
Pumpkin Bars with Brown Sugar Frosting are the perfect fall crowd-pleasing treat! The pumpkin spice bars are soft and slightly cakey, and the thick layer of brown sugar frosting on top is slightly crunchy and delicious. Easy to make and transport!
13
Swap in orange Halloween Oreos for a quick and easy spooky brownie! These Oreo Brownies are thick, fudgy, chewy, and packed with chopped Oreo cookies. Ready in under an hour.
14
Brown Butter Triple Chocolate Blondies are insanely flavorful, with caramel-y browned butter notes, three kinds of chocolate, and a perfectly chewy texture. Ready in under 1 hour!
15
Simple and easy Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars are luscious, thick, and smooth with a crunchy, buttery crust and swirls of chocolate. The perfect fall baking treat!
16
Loaded Cookie Bars are stuffed with Oreo cookies, M&M’s, and Reese’s candy but you can toss in whatever you want! They’re thick, chewy, and scrumptious. Perfect for leftover Halloween candy! No mixer required.
Halloween Cupcakes & Cakes
17
5 easy decorating ideas for Halloween Cupcakes! Decorating can be intimidating, so I've broken these down into easy-to-follow steps, including a how-to video. These cupcakes are so fun for your Halloween party dessert table – or set up all the equipment and buttercream and let your guests decorate their own!
18
19
Salted Caramel Apple Sheet Cake features an ultra-tender, slightly spongy cinnamon apple cake with a thick and shiny salted caramel glaze. Easy sheet cake recipe, no mixer required!
20
Easy Pumpkin Cake with Whipped Ganache features a super simple spiced pumpkin sour cream cake topped with creamy and light whipped chocolate ganache, for a quick fall treat perfect for any party or craving!
21
This red velvet cake is soft, moist, and buttery, topped with a creamy homemade frosting. The batter comes together easily and bakes up into tender, velvety layers.
Creative Halloween Treats
22
How to Make Caramel Apples! The decadent caramel against the slightly tart, crunchy apple is so much fun to enjoy in the fall. This easy Caramel Apples recipe uses a scratch-made caramel that sets perfectly, without being sickly sweet or annoyingly sticky. Add chocolate, nuts, sprinkles, crushed Oreos, or any other toppings you desire!
23
Pumpkin Cookie Butter Truffles are fall perfection in each bite! Creamy pumpkin spice and Speculoos cookie filling, enrobed in rich, crisp chocolate. Easy no-bake recipe, no chocolate tempering required!
24
Adorable Pumpkin Hand Pies are the perfect fall baking treat or Halloween. Perfectly spiced and made with the easiest homemade pastry crust ever (seriously!).
25
This spooky Halloween Charcuterie Board is perfect for your fall party needs! This board is totally customizable, so add any combination of sweet and savory snacking items, and make it as adult or kid-friendly as you like. Lots of ideas for the best cheeses, meats, nuts, crackers, treats, and more for your cheese board are listed below.
26
Pumpkin Old Fashioned Doughnuts are fried to perfection and loaded with pumpkin spice flavors and a thick shiny pumpkin glaze. No yeast required!
27
These Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treats are crispy, gooey, and deeply flavorful. Add festive sprinkles or food coloring for a quick and easy Halloween dessert crowd-pleaser!
Get Party Ready
Tips for a Halloween Dessert Table
- Make ahead whenever possible. Choose desserts that can be baked or assembled ahead of time for a stress-free party day.
- Offer a little variety. Choose 2–3 different types of desserts, like cookies, brownies, and cupcakes.
- Include a grab-and-go treat. Bite-sized cookies, bars, or other individual treats make it easy for guests to help themselves.
- Create some height. Use cake stands, tiered trays, or serving platters to give your dessert table a little more visual interest.
- Keep chilled desserts chilled. If you’re serving something that needs refrigeration, like cheesecake, keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to serve.
