Impress your kids and all the guests at your Halloween party with these spooky, delicious, and creative treats

If you’ve already sorted out your crew’s costumes and carved up your pumpkin, and you’ve still got time, how about crafting up a few easy Halloween treats? We’ve got all the goodies (and even Halloween-themed dinners) for kids you could ever want, from healthy(ish) picks to snacks inspired by creepy crawlers.

Cute Halloween Cat Treats

A black cat cookie with candy corn eyes
A Taste of Madness

Whole Wheat Black Cat Cookies. How cute are these kitty cookies from A Taste of Madness? You don’t need special cookie cutters to make them, and the kiddos can help top them off with adorable candy corn eyes. Using wheat flour helps make them a little more wholesome than your average dessert, too. 

Black Cat Oreo Treats.
These treats from Moments with Mandi are sure to impress your little ones—they’re (almost) too cute to eat. We love the wide eyes drawn on the chocolate candies and the chocolate chip “ears.” 

Classic Betty Crocker Black Cat.
Your kittens will go crazy for this delish cake from Betty Crocker. No fancy pans are required for this one—just round cake pans and a bit of clever cutting to make the cat shape. Topped off with licorice whiskers, it’ll be just as tasty as it looks.

Black Cat Cutout Cookies. For an easy but delicious treat, make these cutout cats from Cinnamon Girl. The recipe is pretty straightforward, and you can let your little sous chefs dot on watchful eyes once the cookies have cooled. 

Related: Easy Halloween Decorations You Can Make for About $5

Mummy-Themed Easy Halloween Treats

Madeleine cookies are decorated to look like mummies and Minions for Halloween treats
Sugar Bowl Bakery

Mummy Madeleines. These Madeleine Mummies and Minions look like you slaved away in the kitchen, but they're fuss free. Just put some white frosting in a piping bag with a cross-hatch tip, then make lines or zigzags before popping on some candy eyes and sprinkles. We tend to love these soft and fluffy traditional or pumpkin spice Madeleines from Sugar Bowl Bakery.

Mummified Oreos. How Does She serves up a spooktacular assortment of haunted treats, including to-die-for Mummy Oreo Suckers. And think about it: If you can make Oreos into something cute, what other cookies can you transform?

Halloweeño Jalapeño Popper Mummies
. If you’re a fan of spice, this hot idea from The Hopeless Housewife is sure to startle your taste buds. Terrifyingly simple to bake, these Jalapeño Popper Mummies make a great savory appetizer for your Halloween bash.

Mummy Pretzels. This salty, sweet, and spooky treat is scarily simple to make. The most difficult step according to Simply Being Mommy is waiting for the chocolate to cool and harden before eating!

Witch-Inspired Halloween Treats

Decorated chocolate kisses sit on top of Oreos to create the Halloween treat Witch Hat Cookies
Princess Pinky Girl

Witch Hat Cookies. This super easy recipe from Princess Pinky Girl results in adorable witch hat treats in no time flat. Gather up Oreos and chocolate kisses plus a few other ingredients for this party-ready dessert.  

Witch Guacamole Dip. Bright green guacamole glows from underneath a tortilla chip hat in Spicy Southern Kitchen’s Witch Guacamole.  Mash up some avocados or grab your fave store-bought guac as the base for this healthy Halloween treat. 

Butterscotch Brooms.
Every witch needs her broom, so you’ve got to whip up some cute broomsticks inspired by From Calculus to Cupcakes. They’re super quick to throw together, and they hit the perfect balance between sweet and savory.

Deathly Chocolate Graveyard Cakes. We think this spooktastic dessert from Half Baked Harvest is genius. With gravestones made out of brownies and witch legs made out of rolled wafer cookies, decorating them is half the fun. 

Easy Halloween Treats That Aren’t Too Sugary

Low-sugar pumpkin mousse sits in a bowl
Super Healthy Kids

Mousse Made Easy. Looking for a kid-approved party dessert that won’t scare away adults? Like a light, fluffy piece of pumpkin pie without the crust, this pumpkin mousse from Super Healthy Kids uses only six simple ingredients. Prep it in advance and make the most of your time with guests. 

Awesome Apple Cupcakes. Love the taste of old-fashioned Halloween treats? Take a trip down memory lane with luscious fall flavors of apple and cinnamon. These beautiful cupcakes from Sarah Bakes Gluten Free will remind you of the sweet caramel apples of your youth without too much of the sticky stuff.

Not-So-Basic Bark. Turn after-school grumps into giggly ghouls with this super-cute candy bark from Fork and Beans. Vegan and gluten-free with no icky preservatives, you’ll love getting your (somewhat healthy) chocolate fix. It’ll take a few steps to get to the finished product, but we promise this bark will make you want to take a big bite. 

 

(Sort of) Nutritious Halloween Treats

Mini monster sandwiches topped with olive eyes
My Own Road

Monster Sandwiches. What's a monster mash without monster sandwiches? This idea from My Own Road is an easy way to ensure that there's hearty food on your Halloween menu—you know, before the giant sugar rush. Plus, it's a cinch to customize these mini monster sandwiches with your fam's fave deli meat and fillings.

Halloween-Themed Sushi Balls. These adorable Halloween-themed sushi balls from Chopstick Chronicles are fairly easy to make, and you can change up the ingredients according to your little monster's palate. Put a bunch together as a main dish or spread them around as creepy little sides.

Frozen BOO-nana Ghosts. These ghost-shaped boo-nana popsicles are a fun treat the kids will love making as much as eating. Erin Clarke at Well Plated takes the healthy route and dips the banana shapes into vanilla yogurt rather than white chocolate—and you can turn these treats into mummies with a bit of peanut butter, caramel or nut butter, and coconut sugar.

Hooting Owls. Not as spooky as ghosts and gravestones but how can you resist these delicious Halloween owls? Spread peanut butter or cream cheese on crackers and add sliced and whole almonds for this nocturnal nibble from Charity Mathews at Foodlets.

Related: 30 Perfectly Spooky Halloween Books to Read This Year

Creepy, Crawly Treats

Bakerella

Spider Cake Pops. One bite of these creepy crawly cake pops and you might understand why the old lady swallowed the spider. Wriggle over to Bakerella to learn to make these eerily delicious arachnids. Hint: The placement is all about timing.

Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups. We dig this easy-to-make dessert from Like Mother Like Daughter. Great for serving the kids at your Halloween party, they’re also fun for spring and Earth Day, too.

Creepy Corn Dog Centipedes. Hungry Happenings transformed ordinary mini corn dogs into a Halloween centipede, complete with ketchup eyes. If your kids like creepy crawlers and enjoy playing with their food, this might be the snack for you.

Jello Worms. Mel’s Kitchen Cafe used straws and a package of gelatin to make this squirmy Halloween treat. While they might gross out older ghosts, these squiggly creatures are sure to be a hit with your little goblins, and they’re super easy to make.

Kooky Halloween Monster Treats

These Halloween treats are chocolate monster cookies with candy googly eyes, chewy chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate ganache.
Self Proclaimed Foodie

Chocolate Monster Cookies. We’d welcome these monster cookies from Self Proclaimed Foodie to any Halloween party. The secret lies in the edible googly eyes—but don’t forget the perfect chocolate chip cookies and chocolate ganache.

S’more Monsters. What’s better than s’mores? S’mores that look like monsters! You won’t need a campfire to create this delicious Halloween-themed treat from Jodi Levine over at Say Yes, but you will need cookies, marshmallows, and little helping hands.

Dangerous Donuts. Donuts get a monstrous makeover with this snack from A Spicy Perspective that the little ones will go crazy for. Either make ahead for your guests or lay out the supplies and let the kids take creative control. You’ll need some plastic vampire fangs, sprinkles, and you guessed it… candy eyes.

Chocolate Monster Pops. You’ll have plenty of little monsters gathering around a batch of these chocolate Frankensteins from Handmade Charlotte. The supplies include basic baking stuff: chocolate bars, coconut, and icing. We are especially zinging with delight over the Hershey Kiss neck bolts. 

Related: 36 Halloween Movies That Aren’t Too Scary for Kids

Ghost-Inspired Treats

Sugar Bowl Bakery

Brownie Bites with Fondant Ghosts. Need a last-minute Halloween treat? We love these adorable desserts from Sugar Bowl Bakery that use store-bought brownie bites and small pieces of fondant to create the perfect, non-scary ghost friend.

3-Ingredient Easy Ghost Cookies. The only thing scary about these cookies from Butter with a Side of Bread is how easy they are to make. All you need are Milano cookies, white chocolate, and small chocolate chips to whip up these friendly, Casper-style sweets.

Ghosts in the Graveyard Dessert Shooters. Don't worry, these alcohol-free treats from Sugarspun Run are for everyone! Think OREO dirt cup with a marshmallow ghost that is fun and easy to make.

Frightfully Easy Halloween Cupcake Treats

Easy to make RIP cupcakes with chocolate wafers, pumpkin shaped candy corn, vanilla wafers and chocolate frosting.
Christal Yuen

Ghoulish Graveyard. What you'll need: crumbled chocolate wafers, pumpkin-shaped candy corn, vanilla wafers, and chocolate frosting. What to do: After covering the chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting, crush chocolate wafers and sprinkle them over the frosting as "dirt." Set a pumpkin-shaped candy corn on top and write "RIP" on the vanilla wafer before planting it in the "graveyard."

Wicked Witch. What you'll need: green icing, one straw cut in half, and gum drops. What to do: Frost your cupcake in plenty of bright green frosting. Snip your straw in half, and slice a red gum drop down the center, so you have two identical halves (and a pair of ruby slippers). Stick one to each end of the straws and lay the "legs" on your serving platter. Now lay your cupcake house upside down on top of the legs. We can almost hear Dorothy trotting away in glee. 

Not-So-Scary Mummy. What you'll need: Mini M&Ms and white frosting. What to do: Using a piping bag (either store-bought or DIY), place lines across your cupcake to form your mummy's bandages and then two affix candy eyes.

Caught in a Spiderweb. What you'll need: White frosting and black gel icing. What to do: After frosting the cupcake in white, use your gel icing to make three concentric circles on top. Take a toothpick and, starting in the center, drag the toothpick through the icing to the edge (imagine slicing a pizza) to create the spooky spiderweb effect.

If you’ve started making your list and checking it twice, remember to add your fur babies! Since they’ve been our ride or die throughout the pandemic, our pets deserve some holiday love.

Target has every cat parent covered this year with a slew of new cat scratchers that will keep those kitty claws in check. Coming in at $40 and under, you can even afford to spoil your feline a little more than usual this holiday.


Toy Kingdom Holiday Train

$25 BUY NOW

Christmas Tree Multilevel Cat Scratcher

$30 BUY NOW

3 Pack Christmas Village

$40 BUY NOW

Santa's Sleigh

$35 BUY NOW

Classic Christmas Camper

$15 BUY NOW

Double Decker Cat Scratcher House

$17 BUY NOW

Present

$13 BUY NOW

––Karly Wood

 

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Waffles and Pancake aren’t your average kitty siblings. Even a trip to the science museum is an out-of-this-world, cat-tastic adventure. In Waffles and Pancake: Planetary-YUM, two cool cats learn all about space as they navigate an unexpected journey within the museum…

Waffles and Pancake: Planetary-YUM is the first book in a new early graphic novel series from Drew Brockington, the creator of CatStronauts. He takes readers back in time to when Waffles (everyone’s favorite CatStronaut!) was just a kitten. One special Saturday, Dad-Cat takes Waffles and his sister Pancake to the science museum where they see extraordinary things like 4D hairballs (cough, cough!) and the awe-inspiring planetarium. But while they’re busy learning about constellations and Neil Pawstrong, they get separated from Dad-Cat. How will they find their way through the big museum and back to their dad?

Young readers (ages 6-9) will enjoy following along on Waffles and Pancake’s adventures in this early graphic novel series, packed with educational facts about space. Purr-fect for new readers, books are short, engaging, and promote independent reading with an approachable comic-style format. Plus, this series brings a great balance of silliness and scientific information.
Fans of beloved duos like Narwhal and Jelly and Elephant & Piggie will soon be hooked on this fun, feline pair.

Ready to blast off on an adventure? Launch a love of CatStronauts and snag a copy of Waffles and Pancake: Planetary-YUM.

-Jessica Solloway

If your kids got hooked on Gabby’s Dollhouse they weren’t alone! The first season premiered on Netflix in January and quickly became a top 10 show on the platform. Good news for Gabby fans: the second season is coming out on August 10!

The show is a mix of live-action and animation, inviting kids into a magical dollhouse with Gabby and her feline friends. Episodes include DIY crafts, science experiments, original music and more! Season two’s trailer promises “more baking, more crafts and more cat-tastic music.”

Aimed at the preschool crowd, the show emphasizes the importance of finding creative solutions to overcome mistakes. As Gabby says, it’s ok to “fail fantastically,” which builds resilience. The show’s creators are the minds behind Blue’s Clues so you know the plots are rock solid! While your fam waits for season two to come out, you can follow Gabby’s adventures on YouTube.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Netflix

 

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Whether you’re bringing home a brand new kitten or you’ve had a feline family member for a while kids can play an important role in caring for your crew’s cat. Not only does this help take some to-dos off your plate, but it gives little ones a chance to learn responsibility and get in some great bonding time with their beloved pet. Cats are generally independent and low-maintenance, but they still require lots of love and care. Here are five ways children can help with cat tasks:

Feeding Routines

Once you have a feeding schedule that works for your cat, kids can help scoop out the appropriate amount of dry food for the day. If your cat eats canned food, a grownup may have to assist with opening the can, depending on your child’s age. Kids can also be in charge of doling out treats for good behavior, keeping an eye on the water bowl and refilling it with fresh, clean water as needed.

Grooming

Cats enjoy keeping themselves clean and don’t require baths often. (They sure make a pet owner’s job easier!). Enlist your children to help brush their kitties regularly to keep their coats clean, reduce shedding and avoid hairballs. Find a brush that works gently and is easy for little hands to hold.

 

Litter Box Duties

Older children can help keep the litter box clean and tell you when the cat litter is low. Elementary school-aged children are more likely to be able to use the litter box scoop to remove daily droppings, carefully dispose of them in a nearby garbage can and wash their hands well afterward. Your cat will appreciate having a tidy place to “take care of business.”

Interactive Play

Cats make great friends and love to be mentally stimulated. Your child can spend endless time with your pet, teaching him new tricks, playing to stoke his curiosity and simply cuddling. Pro tip: the forts your kids make out of pillows and blankets are just as exciting for cats. They can also use their arts and crafts supplies to make DIY cat toys or cat trees out of cardboard. Toys that include bells, balls, fur, feathers, treats and catnip are always a fan-favorite among the feline set. And be sure to include your kitty in birthday festivities—they love turning crinkly wrapping paper into toys. Cats also make great pretend play partners (we’ve heard of many furry princesses, superheroes and dragons!).

Physical Activity

Cats benefit big time from physical activity. Playing is a purr-fect way to keep your cat active. Kids can try using a wand with toys attached that they can catch, similar to snagging their “prey.” Many people use laser pointers to get their kitty some physical activity, just make sure they don’t get frustrated by not being able to grab something real. Pulling a string across the floor like a snake always gets a kitty moving. (To avoid choking hazards, never leave string out once you’re done playing.)

Parenting a pet is a lot of work, but new data shows that furry friends make life better. A survey of over 2,000 U.S. pet parents revealed that four-legged companions are calming, improve moods and “nourish the soul.”

A study conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Fuzzy—The Pet Parent Company, found that pets are significantly improving their parents’ lives. Seventy-nine percent of pet owners said they wouldn’t be as happy as they are now without their pet, 76 percent said that having a pet nourishes their soul and a whopping 82 percent said having a pet in the house provides a sense of calmness throughout the home.

 

Just like parents of human children, pet moms and dads have their fair share of concerns. Almost half (44 percent) worried about becoming parents for the first time and over half (54 percent) didn’t expect to spend so much money on their canine or feline companion.

“Pet parents are often surprised by the unexpected costs and time required to be a good pet parent. From medical bills to toys for playtime it’s a full-time responsibility. Having a pet by your side, however, is worth the cost” says Dr. Cherice Roth, Chief Veterinary Officer for Fuzzy.

Survey respondents certainly seem to agree that it’s worth the cost. And even as the pandemic brought many unwelcome changes to the world, 69 percent said they used the time to bond with their pet more than ever before. Turns out your fur baby might be even more essential than you think!

—Sarah Shebek

Video courtesy of Fuzzy and OnePoll/Feature photo: Annenberg PetSpace

 

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In honor of Pixar’s latest release, Soul, which follows the journey of musician Joe Gardner as he travels to the Great Before (while trying to make his way back to Earth), there’s been a release of cool products and gear that ranges from a play set and Funk Pop! figurines to blankets and more. We got a sneak peek at what’s hitting the market and pulled out our favorites. Keep reading to see our top picks for the best merchandise commemorating the release of Soul.

This note-perfect play set will strike a chord with your little one. Inspired by Disney and Pixar's Soul, this set includes 12 mini figures including Joe and feline friend Mr. Mittens in both earthly and soul forms.

Buy it here, $29.99.

22 Funko Pop!

22 might be a little disillusioned when it comes to life on Earth, but she might be just the key to getting Joe back to his body. This adorable Funko Pop version of the soul is an adorable addition to anyone’s collection. 

Get one here, $12.99.

"Soul" Pajamas for Kids

If your kiddo likes pizza, they’ll find a kindred spirit in 22. This adorable pajama set has raglan sleeves and a comfy fit. 

Get a set here, $19.99.

 Soul Little Golden Book

Bring the story of Joe’s journey to your littlest fans with a Golden Book version of Pixar’s latest story. 

Buy it here, $4.99.

 

Disney Pixar Soul ‘The Village’ by Bee Harris & HUE Silk Touch Throw Blanket

This stunning work of art is also a blanket! It’s in high demand, so don’t wait, buy it now! 

Order it here, $39.05

—Gabby Cullen

 

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Twinkies made the sweetest comeback in history a few years back. Thanks to Walmart, there is another comeback on the horizon. Tiger Tails Twinkies are coming to a store near you. 

Tiger Tails Twinkies

If you don’t remember, the original Tiger Tails had a raspberry topping and a coconut crème filling. The new Tiger Tails Twinkies are more in touch with their feline side. The golden sponge cakes are filled with a fluffy orange crème filling. Additionally, each Twinkie comes wrapped in a tiger-striped package. 

Tiger Tails Twinkies will be available for a limited time only and are hitting Walmart shelves exclusively the week of Jul. 21. Each package of 10 individually wrapped cakes retails for $2.86.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Walmart

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Do you ever feel like you’re parenting from a crouched position? Sure, I literally crouch to talk to my kids at eye level, to pick up toys before someone trips, and to find that missing sock. But I also crouch mentally—constantly prepared to pounce on any problem that comes my way.

Moms are at the ready. All. The. Time.

We are ready to bear hug a child fearing a flu shot, whip up dinner in five minutes flat, sing the ABCs on repeat, and keep walking through the sleet when their toddler falls asleep in the stroller. Ready to unearth a Band-Aid from a forgotten purse pocket, change wet sheets at 2 a.m., pump if the baby won’t latch, and come up with a logical consequence for every new form of naughtiness.

We relentlessly plan for the day, knowing full well that something will derail along the way. A playdate will turn sour. The milk will run out. The babysitter will get pink eye. The broccoli will (heaven forbid!) touch the mac and cheese on a dinner plate. A loving brother will devolve into a pest. One twin will wake after 30 minutes and the other after 2 hours. Someone will forget to pack a snack. Toothpaste will squirt on my shirt. School will get canceled because of a virus scare.

This is what makes parenting so exhausting, both physically and mentally. We have to be ready, even when we’re (in theory) off-duty. Case in point, my 3-year-old will wake us both out of deep, peaceful dreams just so I can smooth out her blanket—which she doesn’t even want on her, just precisely placed along her side. Ugh.

And so, we channel Pete the Cat and just keep walking along, singing our song.

Even with that catchy, optimistic feline soundtrack playing in my head, living in a constant state of on-call is hard work. Thankfully, it provides ample opportunity to model for my kids how to handle with grace whatever life sends our way. Kids are sponges in many regards. They certainly soak up their parents’ behavior—good and bad. Resilience in the face of setbacks is a character trait I strongly hope my kids soak up. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

In a family of six, there are plenty of chances for plans to go awry. And, hence, teachable moments abound.

I’m careful not to make empty promises to my kids, given that Plan A can quickly shift to Plan B, C, or D. For instance, we may have planned an outing to Central Park with a classmate, but if it starts to rain or the friend bails, I take a moment to say, “Oh, bummer, that’s too bad we can’t scoot in the park with Jake today. I hope he feels up to playing soon. Plus, it’s rainy anyway, so this would be a great day to head to the library. I wonder if they have any new graphic novels to check out?” And off we go.

Changes to plans like this are so frequent in our family that it doesn’t even phase my kids anymore. Does the airplane has screens on the backs of the seats? Cool. If not, no biggie—we are always prepared with our bags of tricks. Someone’s too short to board the carnival ride? Then let’s walk over to that barn and see the farm animals instead while the others get dizzy. We forgot the cookies in the oven and now only the tops are salvageable? Sounds like a great topping to crumble over ice cream!

If the plan has to change because of a mistake I made, I try to acknowledge my fault in front of the kids. My husband’s new job schedule means I’m now on school drop-off duty, so I have been re-figuring out my morning routine. In the elevator the other day, I admitted, “Whoops, I made a mistake. I didn’t set my alarm early enough and had to rush through the shower to get everyone to school. Next time, I’ll try to start exercising earlier to leave more cushion time. Sorry it got so hectic this morning.” Hugs and kisses. “Let’s go have a great day!”

They see me recognizing a problem and my role in it rather than just dishing out blame and yelling, “You guys are old enough to get yourselves ready for school! Why do I come out of the shower only to find unpacked backpacks and shoeless feet?! Can’t you see the clock?” They also see me making a plan for how to go forward and wrapping up the conversation on a positive note.

It still amazes me that I’m in charge of raising four tiny humans. I know I can’t do this depending upon my own strength. I take comfort knowing that, even when the day spins out of my control (because even my Ziploc bag of granola bars, playing cards, and Wet Wipes has its limits), I have a Good, Good Father in charge of the master plan. With that perspective, this on-call mom can calmly handle any curveball our messy world throws my way.

Kristin Van de Water
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Kristin Van de Water is a former journalist and teacher who relies on humor, faith, and her mom crew to get her through the day. Raising four kids in a two-bedroom NYC apartment, Kristin is always on the lookout for life hacks to save time, space, money, and her sanity.