Halloween Treats That Take 30 Minutes or Less

While we may think of "the holidays" as kicking off with Thanksgiving and going through the New Year, in reality, we find that it starts with Halloween. No, it's not a super heartwarming holiday all about family, the way Thanksgiving is, or a great reason to gather all our friends, family, and neighbors around, the way the rest of the winter holidays are. But for moms, Halloween is when we end up starting in on all of the treat-making associated with holidays. There are always bake sales and class parties and every other form of social activity for kids around this holiday, and that means that parents — and let's be real, in our culture, moms especially — are expected to bake tons of treats. But we don't always have time to make special Halloween treats for a whole bunch of kids. So what's a mom to do? Luckily for us, these Halloween treats take just 30 minutes or less. 

This list is great to have on hand when your kid casually mentions that he is supposed to bring a whole tray of treats in the night before the class party because he forgot to mention it earlier (thanks, kiddo — mom has another whole set of gray hairs coming in just for this one). But it's cool because moms are masters of making something out of nothing — and doing it fast. That said, we can always use other moms' ideas for inspiration and help. This Halloween, whether it's last-minute treats or last-minute costumes, we're banking on a little help to get there. That's why we love Halloween costumes in 5 minutes (or less). What mom hasn't been in the position where she needs to slap something together at the last minute? And for moms who need to come up with healthy recipes for the Halloween party (and maybe have a little extra planning time), take a peek at some  no-sugar Halloween treats — they're delicious and better for us, too.

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This cookie spiderweb brownie is a semi-homemade treat, since it uses store-bought cookies and a box of brownie mix, making it a way easier recipe than many others of its type — basically just stir everything together and throw it in the oven!

Candy Apples

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Is there anything more classically autumnal than the candy apple? They're not everyone's favorite treat — especially anyone with braces — but they're one of our favorite treats in the fall. And we love how they can be topped with tons of extra sprinkles and other candy options.

Air Fryer Cookies for Halloween

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These air fryer cookies for Halloween are amazingly fast. As the author notes, "Baking season is upon us, and if you are a busy mom like me, efficiency in the kitchen is crucial. Put your air fryer to work alongside your oven with these delicious air fryer cookies for Halloween."

Quick From-Scratch Halloween Cupcakes

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Did anyone know cupcakes in 30 minutes were a real thing? We're so stoked on the idea. This amazingly quick from-scratch Halloween cupcake recipe is delicious, smart, fast, and totally gives us that made-from-scratch vibe.

Oreo Bats

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This 10-minute recipe combines two perfect elements: Oreo cookies (yes, please, always) and a totally seasonal theme! These bats are much less spooky than they are adorable. They're also tastier than any 10-minute recipe should be!

Caramel Apples

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The close cousin of the candy apple, some people really love caramel apples instead. A lot of the more complicated recipes involve actually making caramel, but if that sounds intimidating, this low-key, 20-minute-prep recipe involves just melting some caramel squares instead.

Vampire Teeth Cookies

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These vampire teeth cookies are totally freaky — and pretty amazing. They just require assembly since the cookies are pre-made in this recipe, so overall, it's only a 10-minute recipe from start to finish.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

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These white chocolate-studded pumpkin spice cookies are a combination of basically all of our fall flavors. People are welcome to call us basic — pumpkin spice is totally delicious, and we think anyone who can resist it is choosing to be cool over choosing flavor.

Maple Fudge

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What says autumn quite like the delicious, rich flavor of maple syrup? We love a good maple fudge, and this recipe — with just 10 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cook time — is an excellent fit for busy schedules this fall.

Witch Fingers Cookies

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Witch finger cookies are one of those treats of the season that are about as creepy and ghoulish as they are tasty. There are a lot of recipes out there for this strangely classic Halloween treat, but we love that this one uses premade sugar cookie dough to cut down on time.

Monster Rice Krispies Treats

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Rice Krispies treats are a traditional kid-friendly dessert, and this recipe for monster Rice Krispies treats updates the classic snack so they're Halloween-appropriate. These spooky, scary treats only take 15 minutes to make from start to finish, and they're wonderful.

Easy Halloween Sugar Cookies With Royal Icing

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These easy Halloween sugar cookies with royal icing are exactly what we think of for a cute Halloween bake sale treat or classroom party — and they take way less time than anyone might image. Just pick up some Halloween-shaped cookie cutters and it's go time!

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A lot of Halloween cookies rely on a basic sugar dough recipe — which we adore and are in no way above. But these are Halloween cookies made with chocolate cookie dough, which in our book, pops them up an extra level. Who doesn't want a little extra chocolate?

Pumpkin Spice Oreo Truffles

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These pumpkin spice Oreo truffles take just five minutes of active time to make, although they'll need more time in the fridge and freezer to set completely, so they're better made the night before they're needed. They're super easy to roll together, so the kids can help make them, too.

Halloween Pretzel Rods

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These Halloween pretzel rods are a cute, nut-free treat ideal for making as a project with kids (or for mom to doing the night before the class Halloween party with a glass of wine in hand). They're super simple, festive, and very tasty.

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These peanut butter candy corn cookie cups are the ultimate bake sale treat — a combination of traditional peanut butter flavor and those yummy, creamy candy corn pumpkins that taste a little like sugar-coated marshmallows.

Marshmallow Popcorn Balls

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Marshmallow popcorn balls are an annual fall tradition for many families — so why not start this for the little ones? The orange color adds a lot of pumpkin-y Halloween fun, but for anyone who avoids food coloring, it's totally OK to leave it out and go natural, too.

Semi-Homemade Cupcakes

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Anyone who doesn't have time to make cupcakes all the way from scratch can do the part kids like best: the decorations! These semi-homemade cupcakes offer up a lot of great Halloween ideas to make easy, simple, totally cute Halloween decorations.

Monster Chocolate Bark

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For those of us who are maybe less good at the craft side of things (look, we don't all have those skills!), this monster chocolate bark is a perfect fit. It looks super cool, it takes 30 minutes, and it requires no artistic talent whatsoever. Ideal.

Old-Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies

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These old-fashioned soft pumpkin cookies use a whole can of real pumpkin — not pumpkin pie filling — which also means they're actually kind of healthy! The texture is a lot more like cake than cookies, and they're extremely soft and delicious.