Easy Halloween Snacks and Desserts

Halloween snacks and desserts work best when they’re simple, fast, and a little playful. Most home cooks don’t have hours to build elaborate cakes on a busy weeknight, and that’s fine. You can still put out a fun spread with a few pantry ingredients, smart shortcuts, and a focus on texture and color. Think creamy pudding against crunchy cookie “dirt,” smooth white chocolate with jagged cookie “gravel,” or crisp cookie cups filled with cool cream. These contrasts make every bite feel special without a lot of effort.

If you’re cooking for a mix of ages, small, individual portions help. Cups, bars, and bite-size pieces are easy to pass around and easy to decorate. It also makes cleanup simpler. When a recipe uses just a bowl and a tray, you’re more likely to make it again.

Most of the ideas below rely on the same backbone: store-bought pudding mixes, sandwich cookies, and meltable chocolate or candy wafers. None of that prevents you from keeping a homemade feel. Crush the cookies yourself. Whisk the pudding so it sets thick and glossy. Add a fresh touch with fruit or a swirl of whipped cream. Use basic tools you already own: a muffin pan, a baking sheet, a few bowls, and a whisk.

Food safety still matters on a holiday table. Keep dairy-based desserts chilled until serving. If you’re setting snacks out for a party, plan to rotate smaller trays from the fridge so things stay fresh. For allergens, label treats that contain dairy, gluten, or gelatin. If you need a vegetarian option, choose gummy worms made without gelatin or skip them and add crushed chocolate cookies and candy eyes for the same spooky look.

The recipes are built to scale. You can halve a batch for a small gathering or double it for a classroom party. Decorating is flexible, too. A sprinkle of cookie crumbs can become a garden bed, a pumpkin patch, or a graveyard depending on what you add. Keep the base solid and let the toppings tell the story. That’s the easy way to get variety without rewriting your grocery list.

Below you’ll find four reliable Halloween treats. Each one includes equipment, times, ingredients in US and Metric units, step-by-step instructions, serving yield, and a nutrition estimate so you can plan your menu with confidence.

Vanilla Dirt Cups

What equipment do I need?

Mixing bowl, whisk, food processor or rolling pin, spatula, measuring cups, 8–12 clear cups, refrigerator

How long does it take?

Prep 20 minutes, Chill 30 minutes

How many servings?

12 cups

Ingredients

• Oreo-style chocolate sandwich cookies, 45 cookies | 405 g
• Cold milk, 2 cups | 480 ml
• Vanilla instant pudding mix, 3.4 oz box | 96 g
• Whipped topping, thawed, 8 oz | 226 g
• Gummy worms, 24 to 36 pieces | 180–270 g

Instructions

1. Crush cookies to fine crumbs in a food processor. Or place in a zip bag and crush with a rolling pin. Set aside 1 cup crumbs for topping.
2. In a bowl, whisk cold milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes to thicken.
3. Fold whipped topping into the pudding until smooth.
4. Spoon 2 tablespoons cookie crumbs into the bottom of each cup. Fill cups three-quarters full with pudding mixture.
5. Top with remaining cookie crumbs. Press 2 to 3 gummy worms into each cup so they “crawl” out.
6. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition (per cup, estimate)

Calories 350, Protein 3 g, Carbs 52 g, Total Fat 14 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Fiber 1 g, Total Sugars 37 g, Sodium 260 mg

Chocolate Worms-in-Dirt Cups

What equipment do I need?

Mixing bowl, whisk, rolling pin or processor, clear cups, refrigerator

How long does it take?

Prep 15 minutes, Chill 20 minutes

How many servings?

10 cups

Ingredients

• Oreo-style cookies, 30 cookies | 270 g
• Chocolate instant pudding mix, 3.9 oz box | 110 g
• Cold milk, 2½ cups | 600 ml
• Gummy worms, 20 to 30 pieces | 150–225 g

Instructions

1. Crush cookies to medium crumbs. Place 2 tablespoons crumbs in each cup.
2. Whisk pudding mix with cold milk for 2 minutes. Let thicken 5 minutes.
3. Spoon pudding over crumbs, leaving space on top.
4. Add more crumbs to cover the surface. Tuck in gummy worms.
5. Chill 20 minutes to set.

Nutrition (per cup, estimate)

Calories 270, Protein 4 g, Carbs 42 g, Total Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Fiber 1 g, Total Sugars 30 g, Sodium 260 mg

Sugar Cookie Cups with Orange Vanilla Cream

What equipment do I need?

24-cup mini muffin pan, mixing bowls, hand mixer or whisk, piping bag or spoon, cooling rack, oven

How long does it take?

Prep 20 minutes, Bake 10–12 minutes, Cool 30 minutes

How many servings?

24 mini cups

Ingredients

• Sugar cookie dough, chilled, 16 oz | 454 g
• Cream cheese, softened, 8 oz | 226 g
• Powdered sugar, ½ cup | 60 g
• Heavy cream, ½ cup | 120 ml
• Vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon | 5 ml
• Orange zest, 1 teaspoon | 2 g
• Fresh berries or candy eyes for garnish, 1 cup | 150 g

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F | 175°C. Lightly grease a mini muffin pan.
2. Divide dough into 24 equal pieces. Roll into balls and press into cups, creating a shallow well.
3. Bake 10–12 minutes until edges are set and lightly golden. While hot, use a teaspoon to press the centers down to deepen the wells. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then fully on a rack.
4. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar, then vanilla and orange zest.
5. Whip heavy cream to soft peaks. Fold into the cream cheese mixture.
6. Pipe or spoon cream into cooled cookie cups. Garnish with a berry or a candy eye. Chill 20 minutes before serving.

Nutrition (per mini cup, estimate)

Calories 140, Protein 2 g, Carbs 15 g, Total Fat 8 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Fiber 0 g, Total Sugars 9 g, Sodium 85 mg

White Chocolate Graveyard Bark

What equipment do I need?

Baking sheet, parchment paper, microwave-safe bowl or double boiler, spatula, knife

How long does it take?

Prep 15 minutes, Set 30 minutes

How many servings?

20 pieces

Ingredients

• White chocolate or vanilla candy melts, 16 oz | 454 g
• Mini marshmallows, 1 cup | 50 g
• Pretzel sticks, broken, 1½ cups | 85 g
• Chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs, 1 cup | 100 g
• Candy eyes or small Halloween sprinkles, ½ cup | 60 g
• Red decorating gel, 1 tablespoon | 15 g (optional)

Instructions

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Melt white chocolate in 20-second microwave bursts, stirring between each, or over a double boiler until smooth.
3. Spread melted chocolate into a 10 by 12 inch | 25 by 30 cm rectangle.
4. Scatter pretzels and marshmallows over the surface. Sprinkle cookie crumbs to create “soil.” Add candy eyes.
5. Drizzle a few thin lines of red gel for a spooky finish if you like.
6. Let set at room temperature 30 minutes or refrigerate 15 minutes. Break into pieces.

Nutrition (per piece, estimate)

Calories 180, Protein 2 g, Carbs 23 g, Total Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Fiber 0 g, Total Sugars 20 g, Sodium 70 mg

Cookie Cup Troubleshooting

How do I keep cookie cups from shrinking?

Chill the dough and avoid over-greasing the pan. Press the wells again while warm to reshape.

Can I bake ahead?

Yes. Bake cups a day ahead and store at room temperature in an airtight container. Fill the day you serve so the shells stay crisp.

Pudding Cup Tips

How do I get thick, scoopable pudding?

Use very cold milk and whisk for the full time on the package. Let it sit 5 minutes to finish hydrating before folding in any whipped topping.

How can I make a vegetarian option?

Choose gummy candies made without gelatin or swap in chocolate rocks or candy eyes. The look stays festive.

Bark Storage and Variations

How do I store bark without blooming?

Keep it in an airtight container at cool room temperature for up to 5 days. If your kitchen runs warm, refrigerate it and bring to room temperature before serving.

Can I switch the base?

Yes. Use milk or dark chocolate for a less sweet bark. Add roasted nuts for crunch if allergies aren’t a concern.

Planning and Serving

Chill cups until the last minute so the layers hold clean lines. For a party, set out smaller trays and refresh from the fridge. Offer a few plain pieces for guests who skip candy decorations. Keep tongs and small plates nearby. With these simple builds, you’ll cover a table quickly and still make time to enjoy the night.