10 Last-Minute Halloween Treats to Make Tonight

You don’t need hours in the kitchen to put out a spooky spread. Every treat on this list takes 30 minutes or less, most need no baking at all, and many use ingredients you probably already have at home.

Here are 10 quick Halloween treats that look fun, taste great and come together in time for tonight.

1. Banana Ghosts

The easiest healthy Halloween snack there is.

Time: 5 minutes
You’ll need: Bananas, mini chocolate chips.

How to make: Peel the bananas and cut them in half crossways. Stand them cut-side down on a plate and press in mini chocolate chips for eyes and a mouth.

Tip: Make them just before serving, as bananas brown quickly. A squeeze of lemon juice helps.

2. Clementine Pumpkins

Cute, colourful and completely no-cook.

Time: 10 minutes
You’ll need: Clementines or mandarins, a stick of celery.

How to make: Peel the clementines, keeping them whole. Cut the celery into small pieces and push one into the top of each clementine as a pumpkin stem.

Tip: Draw jack-o’-lantern faces on unpeeled clementines with a food-safe marker for a version that keeps longer.

3. Monster Mouths

A silly, crunchy snack kids love to help make.

Time: 15 minutes
You’ll need: Red apples, peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version), mini marshmallows.

How to make: Core the apples and cut them into wedges. Spread peanut butter on one side of each wedge, line mini marshmallows along the edge as teeth, and top with a second wedge to make a grinning mouth.

Tip: Add a strawberry slice between the “lips” for a tongue.

4. Oreo Spiders

Turn a packet of cookies into a creepy-crawly army.

Time: 15 minutes
You’ll need: Oreo cookies, thin pretzel sticks, a little melted chocolate, candy eyes.

How to make: Break the pretzel sticks in half. Gently twist open each cookie, press four pretzel pieces into each side of the creme for legs, and close it again. Use a dot of melted chocolate to stick on two candy eyes.

Tip: Chill them for 10 minutes so the legs stay put.

5. Pretzel Broomsticks

A savoury treat that’s perfect for little witches and wizards.

Time: 10 minutes
You’ll need: String cheese, pretzel sticks, chives (optional).

How to make: Cut each cheese stick into thirds. Use a knife to cut slits halfway up one end to make the bristles. Push a pretzel stick into the uncut end as a handle, and tie a chive around the top if you like.

Tip: Assemble just before serving so the pretzels stay crunchy.

6. Jack-o’-Lantern Quesadillas

A quick, filling option for a Halloween dinner before trick-or-treating.

Time: 20 minutes
You’ll need: Tortillas, grated cheddar or Monterey Jack, optional fillings like beans or chicken.

How to make: Use a small knife to cut jack-o’-lantern faces into half of your tortillas. Sprinkle cheese and fillings over the plain tortillas, top with the cut-out ones, and cook in a dry pan for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and melted.

Tip: The melted cheese shows through the face, so use plenty of it.

7. Strawberry Ghosts

An elegant, spooky treat that takes minutes.

Time: 20 minutes, plus setting
You’ll need: Strawberries, white chocolate, mini chocolate chips.

How to make: Wash and thoroughly dry the strawberries. Melt the white chocolate, dip each strawberry, and place on baking paper. While the chocolate is still soft, press in chocolate chips for eyes and a mouth. Chill for 15 minutes to set.

Tip: Any water on the berries will make the chocolate seize, so dry them well.

8. Witches’ Popcorn

A sweet and salty snack mix that’s perfect for a scary movie night.

Time: 15 minutes
You’ll need: Popped popcorn, pretzels, candy corn or colourful sweets, a little melted chocolate.

How to make: Spread the popcorn and pretzels on a lined tray. Drizzle with melted chocolate, scatter the sweets over the top, and let it set before breaking into clusters.

Tip: Divide into small paper bags or cups for easy party favours.

9. Frozen Yoghurt Monster Bark

A colourful treat you can make in the morning and serve tonight.

Time: 10 minutes, plus 2–3 hours freezing
You’ll need: Greek yoghurt, honey, berries, candy eyes.

How to make: Stir a little honey into the yoghurt and spread it thinly on a lined tray. Scatter berries over the top and press in candy eyes. Freeze until firm, then break into pieces.

Tip: Add a few drops of food colouring to the yoghurt for monster-green or pumpkin-orange bark.

10. Cauldron Hot Chocolate With Marshmallow Ghosts

A cosy drink to warm everyone up after trick-or-treating.

Time: 10 minutes
You’ll need: Milk, hot chocolate powder or chopped chocolate, large marshmallows, a black food-safe marker or melted chocolate.

How to make: Warm the milk and whisk in the chocolate until smooth. Draw ghost faces on the marshmallows with the food-safe marker or a dab of melted chocolate, and float them on top.

Tip: Serve in dark mugs for a bubbling cauldron effect.

Quick Tips for a Stress-Free Halloween

Pick three or four treats: You don’t need to make all 10. Choose a mix of sweet and savoury.
Start with the make-ahead ones: Frozen yoghurt bark and strawberry ghosts can be made earlier in the day.
Get the kids involved: Banana ghosts, monster mouths and Oreo spiders are easy jobs for little hands.
Label allergens: Several of these treats contain nuts, dairy or gluten. Small labels help guests choose safely.
Watch the little ones: Candy eyes, marshmallows and small sweets can be choking hazards for young children.

It’s not too late to make Halloween special. With a few simple ingredients and a little imagination, you can whip up spooky treats in 30 minutes or less, from banana ghosts and Oreo spiders to cauldron hot chocolate. Pick your favourites, get the kids involved, and have a frightfully fun night.