These Halloween cookies use only 4 ingredients each and include 4 different fun, festive, and, most importantly, delicious ideas!

To add to your Halloween fun, make sure to try these FREE Halloween bag toppers (great party favors), Halloween appetizers, or Halloween Oreo Pops.

Overhead photo of Halloween Cookies.

Easy Halloween Cookies

Halloween is my favorite time of year, and I always am looking for ways to get in the spirit. With October being so busy, these Halloween cookies are my go-to for a quick, festive treat! Get the kids involved and enjoy these fun and delicious cookies!

The recipes below are simple and quick, perfect for last-minute treats or if you’re not into baking. For those who love baking and have extra time, I’ve included how to make each cookie from scratch. Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

Halloween cookies decorated to look like spiders.

How To Make Spider Halloween Cookies From Scratch:

Prepare these cookies using the base recipe (with or without caramel and substituting extra chocolate chips for M&Ms), refrigerated dough (see recipe below), or store-bought chocolate chip cookies.

Once your cookie base is ready, follow instruction #2 to finish the cookies!

4.67 from 3 votes

Easy Spider Cookies

Get ready for a spooky treat with these spider cookies! These easy four-ingredient Spider Cookies are the perfect addition to your Halloween cookie platter.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chilling/Set-up Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies

Equipment

  • Sheet pan
  • Piping bag or resealable plastic bag

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 (16-ounce) package ready-to-bake chocolate-chip cookie dough see note 1
  • 24 Whoppers or other malted candies
  • 14 chocolate-covered raisins
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips or dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 teaspoon shortening or vegetable oil, optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven per cookie package directions. Bake cookies on lined sheet pans according to package instructions.
  • Let cookies cool for 2 minutes, then press a Whopper into the bottom third of each cookie and a chocolate-covered raisin right above it. Cool for 3 more minutes, then transfer to cooling racks and cool completely, about 30 minutes.
  • Once cooled, place chocolate chips (and shortening/oil if using) in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-second bursts, stirring for 10 seconds between bursts, until melted and smooth.
  • Transfer melted chocolate to a piping bag fitted with a #2 or #3 tip or a resealable plastic bag with a small cut tip. Pipe spider legs from the Whopper to near the cookie edges. Allow to set at room temperature. Enjoy within 2โ€“3 days.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1:ย If youโ€™d rather make cookies from scratch, see the recipe shown in the post.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 164mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Monster-face cookies decorated for Halloween.

How To Make Monster Halloween Cookies From Scratch:

Prepare these cookies with or without caramel and use extra chocolate chips instead of M&Ms, or use refrigerated dough (as in the recipe below) or store-bought sugar cookies. Make the frosting (minus the cinnamon) and follow the instructions to turn your cookies into monsters.

For a fun twist, use snickerdoodle cookies as the base, fill with cream cheese frosting, and roll in cinnamon sugar instead of sprinkles!

5 from 1 vote

Monster Cookies

Ready for a Halloween cookie upgrade? These adorable Monster Cookies are easy to make and a tasty treat at any Halloween party!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 cookies

Equipment

  • Sheet pan

Ingredients  

  • 1 (16-ounce) package ready-to-bake chocolate-chip cookie dough see note 1
  • 1 container vanilla frosting or cream cheese, see note 1
  • 24 M&Mโ€™s I use blue and green
  • 1/2 cup Jimmies rainbow sprinkles

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to the temperature specified on the cookie package. Line sheet pans with parchment or silicon baking mat. Bake cookies as directed on the package. Cool completely.
  • Once cooled, spread frosting on the inside of 12 cookies. Top with the remaining 12 cookies to form sandwiches. Press sandwiches gently to let frosting ooze out.
  • While frosting is still soft, roll frosting edges into a bowl of rainbow sprinkles (see video).
  • Place remaining frosting in a plastic bag. Cut off the tip and pipe two circles on each cookie sandwich. Press an M&M into each circle to create eyes. Best enjoyed within 2-3 days.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Not a fan of store-bought cookies or frosting? Check out the links above this recipe for my favorite homemade cookies and cream cheese frosting!

Nutrition

Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 164mg | Potassium: 65mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Halloween cookies decorated to look like bats.

How To Make These Bat Halloween Cookies From Scratch:

Prepare these Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies  as the base, or use refrigerated cookie dough or store-bought cookies. Follow the rest of the recipe to decorate with bats on top.

5 from 1 vote

Bat Cookies

Get ready for some spooky fun with these 4-ingredient bat cookies! Gooey Rolo candy forms the batโ€™s body, while Oreo wings complete the look. Enjoy these creepy cuties as a great Halloween treat!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies

Ingredients  

  • 1 (16-ounce) package ready-to-bake chocolate-chip cookie dough see note 1
  • 24 Rolo candies
  • 1 package chocolate sandwich cookies I like to use Oreo Thinsโ€”they break the best!
  • 48 candy eyeballs
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon shortening or vegetable oil, optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to the temperature specified on the cookie package. Line sheet pans with parchment or silicon baking mat. Bake cookies as directed on the package.
  • Remove cookies from oven and let cool 1โ€“2 minutes. Press an unwrapped Rolo candy into the bottom of each cookie. Let stand for a few minutes to soften.
  • Separate Oreos, scrape off the cream, and break them in half for wings. (Expect some breakage.) Press Oreo wings into the soft Rolo.
  • The Rolo should get melty enough to hold on the eyes. If not, use some chocolate chips and shortening (melt in the microwave and stir to combine) to pipe melted chocolate to the back of the eyes and attach them to the top of the Rolo. You can also make these cookies without the eye candyโ€”they still look like cute bats!
  • Allow to set up at room temperature.ย Best enjoyed within 2โ€“3 days.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Not a fan of store-bought cookies? Click the link above this recipe for my favorite homemade cookies!

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 153mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Halloween cookies decorated to look like a witch's hat.

How To Make These Witch Hat Halloween Cookies From Scratch:

Prepare these cookies as the base and this frosting recipe (minus the cinnamon), or use refrigerated cookie dough or store-bought cookies.

Dye the homemade cream cheese frosting with green dye and follow the rest of the instructions to make your cookies look like a witch’s hat.

5 from 2 votes

Witch Hat Cookies

Get ready to indulge in some Halloween magic with these 4-ingredient Witch Hat Cookies! Just bake, frost, and top with a chocolate kiss.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies

Equipment

  • Sheet pan
  • Resealable plastic bag or piping bag

Ingredients  

  • 1 (16-ounce) package refrigerated chocolate cookie dough Note 1
  • 1 container vanilla frosting or cream cheese, use green food coloring if desired, see note 1
  • 24 chocolate kiss candies
  • pareil sprinkles optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven according to cookie package directions. Line sheet pans with parchment or silicon baking mat. Bake cookies as directed on the package. Cool completely.
  • Dye frosting if desired and transfer to a resealable plastic bag or piping bag fitted with an extra large pastry tip. If using plastic bag, cut off the tip with scissors. Pipe a blob of frosting in the middle of cookies.
  • Press a chocolate kiss into the middle of frosting. Add sprinkles if desired. Best enjoyed within 2โ€“3 days.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Not a fan of store-bought cookies or frosting? Click the links above this recipe for my favorite homemade cookies and frosting.

Nutrition

Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 85mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 7IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Halloween Fun:

FOUR Halloween Cookies with only FOUR ingredients each!! Spider, monster, bat, and witch hat cookies are the perfect easy (and great last minute) Halloween treat via chelseasmessyapron.com #halloween #treat #cookie #cookies #bat #witch #hat #spider #monster #easy #kidfriendly #cute

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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4.67 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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6 Comments

  1. Chelle says:

    Can I just say, you might need to look up the definition of โ€œfrom scratchโ€ because using pre-made cookie dough isnโ€™t โ€œfrom scratchโ€! Making it using raw ingredients like flours, sugars, chocolate etc, THATS from scratch.

    1. Chelsea says:

      If you read the text above each recipe, I include cookie recipes that are from scratch you can use in place of the packaged/pre-made cookies.

      1. Caitlyn says:

        Roast her, Chelsea

  2. Sabrina says:

    5 stars
    love the bats, how much fun, thank you for all of this Halloween inspiration!

  3. Julia says:

    Love these Halloween cookies! Perfect project for kids as well.

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thanks Julia! ๐Ÿ™‚