Boo-it-Yourself Halloween Treats: Last-Minute Snacks to Raise Your Spirits

Spooktacular Sweets You Can Whip Up Faster Than a Witch on a Broomstick

Looking for some last-minute Halloween treats to serve for dessert? These hacks are spooky, sweet, and easy to make with edible “googly eyes”.

Whether transforming simple store-bought treats or whipping up a quick recipe, these ideas will prepare you for any frightful celebration. From colorful Monster Crinkle Cookies and googly-eyed Monster Macarons to deliciously creepy Mummy Strawberries and blood-dripping Vampire Donuts, these playful desserts add a fun, festive touch to your Halloween table.

Get ready to thrill your guests with these simple, spooktacular sweets!

Here’s a quick recipe for Monster Crinkle Cookies using premade sugar cookie dough:

Ingredients:

• 1 tube of premade sugar cookie dough
• Food coloring (purple, blue, green)
• Powdered sugar (for rolling)
• Edible googly eyes

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to the temperature specified on the cookie dough package.
2. Divide the cookie dough into three equal portions in separate bowls.
3. Add food coloring to each portion (purple, blue, and green). Mix until the color is evenly distributed.
4. Roll dough into balls and then roll each ball in powdered sugar.
5. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between cookies.
6. Bake according to package instructions. Remove from the oven when the cookies have puffed and cracked.
7. While still warm, press edible googly eyes into the tops of the cookies.

Here’s a fun twist for Monster Macarons using premade macarons:

Ingredients:

• Premade French macarons (any color)
• Edible googly eyes
• Black flat baking candies (or black sprinkles)
• A small amount of frosting (for glue)

Instructions:

1. Unbox the premade macarons and place them on a serving tray.
2. Attach googly eyes using a small dot of frosting on the macaron’s surface.
3. Using a bit of frosting, add black flat baking candies (or black sprinkles) on top of the macarons, creating funny monster “hair.”
4. Let set for a few minutes so the frosting can firm up.

Here’s how to make Mummy Strawberries for a spooky treat:

Ingredients:

• Fresh strawberries
• White chocolate chips or white candy melts
• Edible googly eyes

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry the strawberries thoroughly.
2. Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 15-20 seconds until smooth.
3. Dip each strawberry in the melted white chocolate, coating evenly, and place on a parchment-lined tray.
4. Drizzle white chocolate over the dipped strawberries in a zig-zag pattern to create a “mummy wrap” effect.
5. Attach edible googly eyes before the chocolate sets.
6. Let them cool until the chocolate hardens completely.

For an even quicker option, use pre-made chocolate-covered strawberries, add the eyes, and drizzle white chocolate. Enjoy!

Here’s how to create Vampire Donuts for a spooky treat:

Ingredients:

• 1 dozen premade donuts (any flavor)
• White plastic vampire teeth
• Edible googly eyes
• Strawberry sauce or strawberry jelly

Instructions:

1. Place each donut on a flat surface.
2. Insert the white plastic vampire teeth into the center hole of each donut, adjusting so they fit snugly.
3. Attach edible googly eyes to the top using a bit of icing or frosting as glue.
4. Drizzle strawberry sauce or spread a bit of strawberry jelly around the mouth area to create a “bloody drool” effect.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy these sweet, spooky treats!

Perfect for a last-minute Halloween dessert!

Did you know?

Adding a bit of cornstarch to the melted white chocolate for mummy strawberries helps it set faster and keeps the drizzled “mummy wrap” looking sharp and defined? It’s a pro tip for getting those spooky drizzles just right!

A little history:

Edible googly eyes originated as a fun, decorative addition to baked goods, inspired by the classic craft googly eyes used in art projects. While the concept of candy eyes dates back to the early days of cake decorating in the 20th century, their popular use took off in the 1990s as whimsical, store-bought edible eyes became widely available.

Initially, professional bakers and pastry chefs used royal icing to create eyes for characters on cakes and cookies. As the demand for kid-friendly, fun desserts grew, so did the need for simple decorations that could instantly add personality to treats. This led to the mass production of candy eyes made from sugar, cornstarch, gelatin, and food coloring.

Today, they are a Halloween staple, often appearing on monster cupcakes, cookie creatures, and even candy apples. They make any dessert delightfully spooky and playful!