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41 Best Halloween Cookies to Warm Up the Spooky Season in 2025

Last Updated on Aug 28th 2025
Halloween Cookies

Bring a delicious spark to the spooky season with these tasty Halloween cookies. With plenty of trickery going around, it's time for some serious homemade treats. Not only does baking produce mouthwatering delights, according to A Healthier Michigan, but it is also an effective way to boost self-esteem and mental well-being.

Get ready for some eye-opening Halloween cookie recipes. Our fun Monster Mash Cookies and Glowing Black Widow Oreos will bring a creative edge to your Halloween cookie jar. While our Pumpkin Cheesecake cookies are even keto-friendly! Don't fear, we haven't forgotten the classics. Pumpkin Snickerdoodles and Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies are safe in our hands.

So, amidst your preparation of Halloween party ideas and Halloween painting ideas, don't forget the humble Halloween cookie. It's easy to get caught up in the search for last-minute Halloween costume ideas, but who knows, they might even be helpful for your love life as part of your next Halloween date idea. Ready to get into the spooky spirit? Let's see which of our favorite spine-chilling treats are on the menu this year. 

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Best Halloween Cookies for Toddlers

1. Meringue Ghost and Pumpkins

Meringue Ghost
Meringue ghosts (via Canva)

This idea might not be a traditional cookie as such, but our spooky meringues are a certified favorite for toddlers. The meringue melts in the mouth, making it easy to digest. Include your toddler in the decoration process, in the design they love. Make their favorite character or use the staples for Halloween cookies like ghosts and pumpkins.

2. Spider Cookies

Our spider Halloween cookies take a different approach. Instead of baking them from scratch, grab some of your favorite cookies from your local supermarket and then crush them up with your toddler at home. Form them into a spider shape and add the legs and eyes to make a scary spider.

3. Skeleton Gingerbread Cookies

Skeleton Gingerbread Cookies
Transform gingerbread men into skeletons (via Canva)

We'll take any opportunity to turn this Christmas sweet treat into a Halloween delight. All you need to do is decorate delicious gingerbread men as skeletons. You could either buy premade gingerbread cookies or make them from scratch. Then, decorate them with various spine-chilling expressions. Use sweet vanilla icing to make a delicious taste with these soft yet spicy Halloween cookies.

4. Sugar Cookie Eyeballs

These cookies are our favorite to make with toddlers because they're essentially just decorated ovals, which keeps things nice and simple. Use premade cookie dough to bake these easy Halloween cookies. The eyeball DIY Halloween decorations will make them creepy enough for Halloween, but not too scary for your little one. To cook these easy Halloween cookies, use a muffin pan.

5. Peanut Butter Cookies

peanut butter halloween cookies
Peanut butter cookies (via Canva)

Our peanut butter Halloween cookies are a great way to entertain toddlers because they need a lot of hands-on action to create. Help your toddler press their thumb into the cookies to create space for a peanut butter filling. Then top it up with peanut goodness. Of course, if you have a peanut allergy, you'll need to find some peanut butter alternatives.

6. Soft Candy Corn Cookies

If your toddler prefers soft cookies rather than the crunchy type, you should consider making these colorful and easy Halloween cookies! Replace the tooth-wrecking candy corns with their cookie lookalikes. We love soft cookies as they stay delicious for just that little bit longer in the Halloween cookie jar.

7. Monster Mash Cookies

Monster Mash Cookies
Create cute or scary monster cookies (via Canva)

Get creative with your toddler, letting their imagination soar, and bake up all types of monsters with these Easy Halloween cookies. From the infamous Frankenstein's creation and vampires to less spooky nightly ghouls like ghosts and even owls, the options are plentiful. We suggest creating a variety of different shapes and sizes to make these unique Halloween cookies a true decorative delight.

Best Halloween Cookies for Kids

8. Cake Mix Cookies

Cake Mix Halloween Cookies
Easy-to-make cake mix cookies (via Canva)

A really easy way to make Halloween cookies with kids, especially if you're in a rush, is to just use cookie mix. Pour the mix onto a sheet, spread it evenly, add colorful sprinkles or Halloween decorations and then put them in the oven. And voila, you have your sweets for Trick and Treat.  

9. Magnifying Glass Cookies

To inspire any future detectives you may have running around, take inspiration from their favorite instruments and turn them into delicious cookies. We like to turn this into a game by hiding all the ingredients around the house, then giving them some cryptic and fun clues and letting the little one use their skills to find them. After you've gathered all the items, solve the mystery by baking your cookies.

10. Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Pumpkin Snickerdoodles (via Canva)

Because it's the harvest season in the North, many Halloween decoration ideas use pumpkins. Utilize this abundant fruit (yup, pumpkins are a fruit according to Agri Life Today) in your Halloween cookies with this recipe. Buy some pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree to make this Halloween special, Snickerdoodle and then add cinnamon to make it even more delicious.

11. Glowing Black Widow Oreos

We can never have too many Oreo Halloween cookies. Take your chocolatey cookies and coat them in some more chocolate. Then, use your pastry tip and add some spider webs on the dark chocolate area. These Halloween cookies are simply delightful and super easy to make with your kids.

12. Halloween Candy Cookies

Halloween Candy Cookies
Halloween chocolate M&M cookies (via Canva)

These easy cookies make a beeline right for our sweet tooth. Take your base of cookie dough and then add all the best Halloween candy into the mix, like M&Ms and chopped-up chocolate pieces. We think these Halloween candy cookies are some of the best going around because they use up leftover candies as you mash them up into chewy and buttery treats.

13. Cookie Monster Oreos

Take this beloved snack and equally beloved Muppet and combine them! Get some standard Oreos and cover them with blue sanding sugar. Add some candy eyes on the top and then stick a mini chocolate chip in the mouth.

Now you've turned your Oreos into the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. Your kid can pretend they're a giant and munch down on the Cookie Monster! These would be great for Halloween party themes that involve Sesame Street characters. 

14. Twix Cookies

Homemade Twix Cookies
Twix cookies (via Canva)

These Halloween cookies will bring the deliciousness of a Twix bar into a cookie form. To recreate your kid's favorite chocolatey treat, top shortbread with caramel and then finish it off with milk chocolate to make a Twix-like cookie. You can also add some spooky decorations like sugary cobwebs to give these cookies an extra Halloween flair.

Best Halloween Sugar Cookies

15. Candy Corn Sugar Cookies

Candy Corn Sugar Cookies
Candy corn sugar cookies (via Canva)

These colorful cookies mix the bright Halloween colors of candy corn with the soft yet crunchy texture of sugar cookies. Because they're instantly attractive, don't be surprised if they're gone in a second.

16. Mummy Sugar Cookies

These Halloween cookies might look difficult to make at first glance, but they're super simple to create. Purchase some pre-packaged sugar cookies and coat them in white candy. Then, add mini M&Ms for eyes and presto, they become mummies in no time.

17. Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Pumpkin Sugar Halloween Cookies
Pumpkin spice sugar cookies (via Canva)

Grab some pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and of course, pumpkin icing to create an orange bomb of pumpkin flavor. These cookies are soft, chewy and filled with autumnal tastes. We've loved these cookies for years and won't be stopping anytime soon.

18. Nutella Sugar Cookies

You can make these decadent cookies with the same recipe as normal sugar cookies, only adding a cup of glorious Nutella. Chewy, delicious and extremely moreish, take it from us, it's wise to make an extra batch.

19. Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies 

Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies
Salted caramel sugar cookies (via Canva) 

These Halloween cookies will always be in high demand as the sweetness of the sugar blends perfectly with the saltiness of the caramel. Make Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies with browned butter and thick caramel. Then, drizzle the caramel and a few salted flakes onto the cookies to create a nutty and sweet Halloween favorite.

Top Healthy Halloween Cookies

20. Almond Joy Cookies

almond joy cookies
Almond joy cookies (via Canva)

There's no need to skimp on flavor when it comes to healthy Halloween cookies. A few substitutions are all it takes to make this delicious and healthy alternative. We use almond flour, maple syrup, and coconut oil as the base of our recipe. Place a few whole almonds in the mix, along with a few chocolate chips for extra texture and flavor. 

21. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

Because it's pumpkin season, we'll keep riding the train. You can make these cookies gluten-free, rich in protein and they are even keto-friendly meals. The biggest difference you'll have to remember is to use baking soda, not baking powder, to get that cakey texture.

Use brown sugar to retain the moisture, add cream cheese and then put in some whey right at the end if you're looking to pack in some protein for a post-workout Halloween snack. 

22. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Pumpkin oatmeal cookies (via Canva)

Another great healthy Halloween cookie idea is to use oatmeal in your pumpkin dough. These soft and chewy oatmeal cookies have plenty of kick to them, especially if you add a maple glaze and some pumpkin spice.

23. Potato Chip Cookies

For a healthier version of chocolate chip Halloween cookies, swap the chocolate for potato chips. This adds a sweet and salty taste with a wonderfully crunchy texture. People might think you're a little crazy at first, but they'll only need one bite to understand.

24. Apple Crisp Cookie Cups

For these delicious Halloween cookies, start with an oatmeal base, shape it into a small hollowed cup and then add a spicy baked apple filling with a caramel drizzle. Because of the deliciously healthy fruit at the center, these cookies are also a treat for your gut.

25. Mummy Maple Cookies

Mummy Maple Halloween Cookies
Mummy maple cookies (via Canva)

Just like our previous mummy cookies, these are super tasty and easy to create. Bake your cookies as per usual, then add a layer of thick white frosting made from powdered sugar, maple syrup and milk. This will act as the mummy's bandages. Finish off your treats with edible googly eyes. 

Best Halloween Cookies for a Party

26. Buckeye Cookies

Buckeye Cookies
Gooey chewy buckeye cookies (via Canva)

Another one of the best Halloween cookies is the dependable buckeye cookie. These tasty treats are covered in chocolate but filled with gooey peanut butter that explodes with flavor once you take a bite. 

27. Jack Skellington Oreo Pops

What is the best type of cookie in the world? Many would say Oreos are the best. So why not mix the best cookie with one of Halloween's most ubiquitous faces — Jack Skellington from A Nightmare Before Christmas? Place all the best Halloween quotes from the movie around the cookies for that added Burtonesque touch. 

Keep in mind that you need to get the double-stuffed Oreos to make this treat. For Jack's snow-white skin, we like to use melted white chocolate chips, but you can also get away with white candy melts or even almond bark. Make his eyes and mouth from dark royal icing. Place everything on a black and white straw and finish it off by adding an edible candy bat for his signature tie. 

28. Leaf Cookies

Leaf Cookies
Leaf cookies (via Canva)

Step away from the spooky and create some chewy treats that celebrate the season with these Autumnal leaf cookies. These colorful cookies bring out the beauty of fall's vibrant colors, which also make for fantastic Thanksgiving desserts.

29. Halloween Chocolate Cookies

These are very similar to our Halloween candy cookies, but this time they're filled with glorious chocolate. Place your leftover Halloween candy inside the dough and maybe a few eyeballs too for that extra spooky factor.

30. Pumpkin Spice and Chocolate Chip Biscotti

Pumpkin Chocolate Biscotti
Pumpkin spice and chocolate chip biscotti (via Canva)

Turn a traditional crunchy biscotti into an instant Halloween favorite. What's the quickest way to turn normal biscotti cookies into Halloween cookies? Add pumpkin, of course! Use pumpkin puree to add some spice and moisture to the twice-baked biscuit to create a treat that we can only describe as devilishly magical.

31. German Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

These enormous cookies are filled with pecans, coconut and delectable German chocolate. Towers of the cookie world, they are totally addictive, especially for chocolate lovers. Combining our favorite cookie elements, moist, chewy and sweet — they're the perfect cookie sandwich combination.

32. Chocolate-Dipped Spiderweb Cookies

Chocolate-Dipped Spiderweb Cookies
Chocolate spiderweb cookies (via Canva)

Sticking with the chocolate theme, because who doesn't love chocolate! These cookies are similar to the coated spider web chocolate Oreos mentioned earlier. The major difference is that you can use shortbread as your base.

33. Cameo Cookies

Take your favorite Halloween cookies and add an extra ghoulish touch using a cameo mold. Add a layer of royal icing over your cookies and then place your edible cameo on top of the cookie. Brush the cameo cavities with some cornflour and then press ivory fondant into the cavity. This will take some time and practice, but the result is beautiful, elegant and, of course, spooky.

Tasty Halloween Cookie Recipes

34. Black Cat Cookies

Black Cat Cookies
Iconic black cat cookie (via Canva)

Witches and black cats are among the most iconic images of Halloween. Channel one of the most popular Halloween movies, Hocus Pocus, and recreate the star character as a cookie, Thackery Binx! Use black cocoa powder as your base to create these moist, chewy and chocolatey cookies.

35. Shortbread Owls

You can make gorgeous and cute shortbread owls quite easily with icing, almonds and zesty lemon. These adorable owls are a small move away from the often-scary Halloween characters, but still keep within the spooky theme. We love them for their simplicity but also for the fact that they're a bit lighter than your average Halloween treat. 

36. Churro Cookies

churro cookies
Churro icecream cookie (via Canva)

If your Halloween is looking a bit chaotic, but you still need to create impressive cookies, you'll need the quickest Halloween cookie recipes available. Churro cookies are your savior. You can either place the chocolate ganache dipping sauce on the side (like they do in Spain). Or, if you have more time, use the chocolate lava cake technique and put the chocolate inside the cookies. Better yet, serve the churro cookies with ice cream in the center!

37. Paprika Pecan Shortbread

This is a super simple Halloween cookie recipe that adds an autumnal theme to your batch of goodies. Create the usual shortbread cookies, but add some paprika and pecans for a nutty and spicy fall finish.

38. Butterscotch Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Butterscotch Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Butterscotch chocolate chunk cookies (via Canva)

Soft yet tasty, these Halloween cookies take plain chewy dough and add delicious butterscotch chips and chocolate chunks to make a delightful treat. If you want a bit of an extra kick, add some sea salt to your dough. We also love these with a little bit of whipped cream as a late-night snack, but maybe we're just a bit greedy.

39. Mummy Milanos

We’ve covered a few mummy Halloween cookies here, but these might be the easiest to make. For a Halloween take on simple yet moreish Milanos, add a layer of melted white chocolate and edible googly eyes or black pearl sprinkles for an easy, yet fun activity.

40. Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peanut Butter Blossoms
Chocolate-filled Peanut Butter Blossoms (via Canva)

This Halloween cookie recipe is very easy to make and is great for putting into trick-or-treat bags. They also make for a fantastic Christmas party food. They use a peanut butter dough with a gooey chocolate drop at their center.

41. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple-Spice Filling

An easy Halloween cookie that is also fun to make is the pumpkin whoopie pie. The name's already super fun to say, but the end result is even more joyful. These whoopie pies are infused with pumpkin and maple spices, where the chewy shell melts into the sweet white maple filling.

Looking to make some Halloween gifts for the bake sale, cookie exchange or Halloween party? These are perfect treats to bring.

What is the most popular cookie to eat? At Halloween, all spooky cookies are popular; the more tasty and unique the cookie is, the more popular it is! Whether you're in a rush and need easy Halloween cookies or you want to pass some time with a fun activity with your kids, you'll now have plenty of ideas to start you off.

But this ghoulish day doesn't start and end with cookies; there are also many more Halloween food ideas, as well as multiple Halloween craft ideas and Halloween activities to keep you and your family entertained. Have a spectacularly spooky Halloween!

For even more fun Halloween ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!