No-Bake Halloween Treats

Poke a lollipop stick into big marshmallows (don’t push it all the way through because the marshmallow will slide down the stick). Then, use an edible marker to draw on faces. If you’re not in the mood for plain marshmallows, sandwich them with graham crackers and chocolate, pop them in the microwave for about 15 seconds, and you’ve got s’mores! (To buy: Lollipop sticks, $2.79</a>; edible marker, $4.69.)

For the shorter hats, stick a Hershey’s Kiss on top of a chocolate wafer cookie. Circle the bottom of the Kiss with icing. For the tall hats, use chocolate frosting to stick sugar cones upside-down on top of fudge cookies. Then drizzle with chocolate and colored icing writer (this is a little thinner than frosting, and will drip down the cones).

Melt one 12-ounce package of chocolate morsels in the microwave. (This will take about a minute.) Mix melted chocolate with a 12-ounce package of chow mein noodles until the noodles are totally covered. Form noodles into clusters and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet or plate. Put two dots of peanut butter on each cluster for eyes. Then freeze until the monsters are firm.

Melt caramel squares (you’ll find these in your grocery store’s candy section) in a tall, narrow pot according to the directions on the package. Stick lollipop sticks into the tops of green apples, and dip them in the caramel once it’s melted. While the caramel is still soft, roll the apples in your choice of toppings. We used crushed Oreos, black sprinkles, and chocolate frosting.

If the thought of all that caramel sticking to your kids’ teeth is starting to scare you, maybe this dentist’s words will ease your mind. “Although the caramel is sticky, the apples are crisp and help to clean the surfaces of the teeth,” Dr. Joyce Kahng, cosmetic dentist and assistant professor at the USC School of Dentistry, told Insider.

Stick pretzel sticks in the sides of double-stuffed Oreos. Then, use frosting to stick M&Ms on top of the Oreos for eyes. That’s it! This is a great recipe for kids to help with — no hot or dangerous materials, and lots of margin for error.

Hang gummy worms off the edges of glass or plastic cups. Then prepare lime Jello according to the directions on the package, and pour into cups. Leave extra room at the top for the Oreos (coming later!) and put the cups in the fridge. Then put plain Oreos in a plastic bag and crush them using a heavy spoon or kitchen hammer. Once the Jello is firm, top off the cups with the crushed Oreos. (Here’s a recipe for making your own gummy worms — you’ll have to turn on your stove, but it’ll be worth it!)

Cut green apples into small slices — we got about 16 pieces from one apple. Spread peanut butter on the edge of two apple slices. On top of one slice, line up miniature marshmallows. Then top it off with the other slice. The peanut butter will help the marshmallows stick and also look like gums.

*Note: While these foods are made from gluten-free or nut-free ingredients, check the labeling on your particular brand to make sure there is no chance of cross-contamination from being processed in the same facility as nut or gluten products.

This is not a treat for the kids, but will make cooking so much more fun! Fill a cocktail shaker half-full of ice. Add 1 ounce mocha Kahlua, 1 ounce green crème de menthe liqueur, and 1.5 ounces coconut milk. Shake well and pour into a cocktail glass.

And yes, after all of your hard work on these Halloween treats (even if they are no-bake), you deserve to treat yourself to something decadent. “If there’s one day a year that you can guarantee your drinks will be gaudy and over-the-top, it’s October 31, because there’s nothing like Halloween cocktails,“ food writer Justina Huddleston wrote for Brit+Co.

Pin these no-bake Halloween treats to your Pinterest boards as an idea to prepare fabulous desserts for your little ones.