As the nights draw in and pumpkins start popping up on every doorstep, it can only mean one thing — Halloween is just around the corner!

This time of year, the shops are overflowing with spooky snacks and sugary treats… but why buy them when you can have some family fun making your own?

From googly-eyed cookies to haunted chocolate bark and glossy vampire apples, here are three easy Halloween treats that are perfect for a weekend of baking (and sneaky sampling!) with the kids

👁️ Googly-Eyed Jam Cookies

These are such a fun bake to do with little helpers — simple, quick, and full of personality. Plus, it’s a great excuse to use your own homemade jam (we used our Witch’s Brew Jam — recipe linked below).

Instructions:

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Softening the butter first makes this step much easier, especially for little hands!

Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.

Stir in the flour to form a soft dough. If it’s too sticky, add a touch more flour.

Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 160°C.

Roll into small balls and place on a lined baking tray, leaving space for them to spread.

Press your thumb into the centre of each ball to make a little well, then spoon in a bit of jam.

Bake for 10–15 minutes until golden.

Add googly eyes once cooled — and maybe dust with icing sugar if you’re feeling fancy!

They might not be perfectly shaped, but they’re full of charm (and jam).

🧙‍♀️ Try it with our Witch’s Brew Jam recipe for an extra spooky twist

🍫 Haunted Chocolate Bark

A no-bake treat that’s as easy as it is fun. You can swirl, decorate, and get creative — it’s basically edible art!

Instructions:

Line a baking tin with greaseproof paper.

Melt the milk chocolate gently using a heatproof bowl over simmering water (don’t let it touch the water).

Pour into the tin and spread evenly. Licking the spoon is optional… but encouraged!

Melt the white chocolate in the same way and pour it straight into the milk chocolate.

Swirl with a spoon or skewer to create a marbled effect.

Chill in the fridge for about an hour to set.

Decorate however you like — mini marshmallows, spooky sprinkles, even edible eyes. Use a dab of maple syrup or melted chocolate to stick them down if needed.

Break into chunks and enjoy your haunted masterpiece — it’s sweet, simple, and guaranteed to vanish faster than a ghost!

🍎 Vampire Candy Apples

No Halloween is complete without a candy apple! These glossy, blood-red beauties are a classic — crunchy, sticky, and perfectly dramatic.

Instructions:

Wash and dry your apples, then push a skewer or stick through the centre of each one.

Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper — you won’t be baking, just setting the apples on it later.

In a pan, mix the sugar, water, and golden syrup. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil.

Continue boiling until the syrup reaches the hard crack stage (150°C) — if you don’t have a thermometer, dip in a spoon: it should come out coated like glass.

Add a few drops of red food colouring for that signature vampire hue.

Working quickly, dip each apple into the syrup, twisting to coat evenly.

Set on the tray to cool and harden.

If you’ve cooked the sugar long enough, they’ll set hard and shiny with a satisfying crunch. If not, they’ll be softer and stickier — still delicious either way!

Optional: drizzle with chocolate (if you haven’t mysteriously run out like I did!)

Wrapping It Up

And there you have it — three spooky Halloween treats that are fun to make, easy to adapt, and perfect for family baking days.

They might not be picture-perfect, but they’re ours — homemade, full of laughter, and a little bit of sticky chaos.

If you try any of these recipes, tag me on social media — I’d love to see your creations!
And don’t forget to check out the Witch’s Brew Jam recipe that inspired these bakes.

Until next time — keep crafting self-reliance, one skill at a time. 🕸️