When October rolls around, there’s nothing more festive than baking a batch of Halloween doughnuts. These treats aren’t just delicious—they’re also a blank canvas for spooky creativity. From ghost doughnuts and monster doughnuts to Halloween doughnuts with teeth, this recipe is perfect for parties, bake sales, or a fun family activity.
If you’ve been searching for the best Halloween doughnuts ideas, you’re in the right place. We’ll walk you through the step-by-step recipe, share decoration tips, and even suggest how to serve them with other fun fall desserts like pumpkin cheesecake truffles or rice krispie treat ghosts.
Table of Contents
Why Halloween Doughnuts Are the Perfect Spooky Treat
Halloween is all about playful creativity, and doughnuts make the perfect base. Whether baked or fried, these round pastries can be transformed into ghoulish characters that delight kids and adults alike.
- Endless decoration options – from ghostly glazes to monster eyes.
- Kid-friendly – a fun project to decorate together.
- Party-perfect – portable, festive, and guaranteed to stand out on dessert tables.
- Customizable – make them glazed, powdered, or stuffed with sweet fillings.
For more spooky inspiration, check out these festive recipes like pumpkin French toast roll-ups and crescent roll mummy hot dogs.
Ingredients for Homemade Halloween Doughnuts
Here’s a simple base recipe for baked Halloween doughnuts. You can always fry them if you prefer a more traditional texture.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Glaze and Decoration
- Powdered sugar
- Milk or dairy-free alternative
- Food coloring (orange, green, black, purple)
- Candy eyes
- Mini marshmallows, pretzel sticks, or plastic vampire teeth
- Chocolate chips for detail work
For more fall-flavored bakes, try pairing these doughnuts with pumpkin magic custard cake or mini pumpkin bread with cinnamon swirl.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Halloween Doughnuts
Step 1: Prepare the Batter
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease your doughnut pan.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients until smooth.
Step 2: Bake the Doughnuts
- Pour batter into greased doughnut molds, filling about ¾ full.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool on a wire rack before decorating.
Step 3: Glaze and Decorate
- Make glaze by mixing powdered sugar with milk until smooth.
- Divide into bowls and add different food coloring shades.
- Dip cooled doughnuts in glaze, then decorate with candy eyes, marshmallows, or chocolate details.
If you’re looking for more creative dessert decorating inspiration, don’t miss pumpkin sheet cake with cream cheese frosting—a fall classic that’s just as fun to dress up.
Halloween Doughnuts Ideas
Here are some creative designs to inspire your spooky baking:
Ghost Doughnuts Halloween Style
Coat doughnuts in white glaze, then add black dots for eyes and a mouth. These pair well with ghost fruit skewers for a haunting snack spread.
Monster Doughnuts for Halloween Parties
Use green glaze, candy eyes, and gummy worms for a creepy, silly monster look. You can even add vampire teeth for an extra scare.
Halloween Doughnuts With Teeth
Insert plastic vampire teeth into the hole of the doughnut, then decorate with red icing “blood” for a terrifying but tasty centerpiece.
Spooky Donut Decorations for Kids
Add sprinkles in orange, purple, and black, or draw cobwebs with black icing. Kids will love making their own unique doughnut designs.
For another kid-friendly Halloween recipe, check out pumpkin rice krispie treats.
Monster Doughnuts Halloween Treats
Monster-themed doughnuts are always a hit at school parties or family gatherings. Pair them with Halloween dirt cups for a dessert table that screams spooky fun.
Pairing Halloween Doughnuts With Other Festive Recipes
Want to create a full Halloween dessert spread? Serve doughnuts alongside:
- Pumpkin poke cake
- Bloody cinnamon rolls
- White chocolate Halloween Oreo bark
- Rice krispie treat ghosts
Tips for Perfect Halloween Doughnuts
- Don’t overmix the batter—this keeps them fluffy.
- Cool completely before glazing so decorations stick.
- Use bright food coloring for bold designs that pop.
- Mix up flavors by adding pumpkin spice or cocoa powder to the batter.
For flavor twists, check out pumpkin whipped cottage cheese for a protein-packed fall treat.
Fun Halloween Dessert Table Ideas
Doughnuts can be part of a larger Halloween spread. Arrange them with:
- Ghost lollipops for easy grab-and-go treats.
- Monster cupcakes decorated with edible eyes.
- Apple fritter donuts like these apple fritter donuts for fall flavor balance.
Storing and Serving Halloween Doughnuts
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerate if using dairy-based frosting.
- Freeze unglazed doughnuts for up to 2 months and decorate after thawing.
FAQs About Halloween Doughnuts
Can I fry instead of bake the doughnuts?
Yes! Frying will give them a classic texture, but baking is easier and less messy.
How do I make them gluten-free?
Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of all-purpose flour.
Can I prepare them ahead of time?
Bake the doughnuts a day before, then decorate on the day of the party for freshness.
Final Thoughts on Halloween Doughnuts
Halloween doughnuts are one of the most versatile and fun ways to celebrate spooky season. Whether you go for ghost doughnuts, monster doughnuts, or the ever-popular Halloween doughnuts with teeth, they’re guaranteed to steal the show. Easy to bake, simple to decorate, and endlessly customizable, they’ll become a Halloween tradition your family looks forward to every year.
Pair them with other fall treats like pumpkin brownies or pumpkin oatmeal cream pies for the ultimate dessert spread.
PrintSpooky & Fun Halloween Doughnuts – The Perfect Party Treat
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 12 doughnuts 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These spooky & fun Halloween Doughnuts are soft, sweet, and endlessly customizable! Baked to perfection and decorated with candy eyes, vampire teeth, or ghostly glaze, they’re the ultimate Halloween party treat. Perfect for kids and adults alike, these festive doughnuts double as both dessert and decoration.
Ingredients
Doughnuts:
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze & Decorations:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3–4 tbsp milk
- Food coloring (orange, black, green, purple)
- Candy eyes
- Marshmallows
- Red licorice strings
- Candy corn
- Plastic vampire teeth
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a doughnut pan.
- Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.
- Gently fold wet mixture into dry mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Spoon or pipe batter into doughnut molds, filling ⅔ full.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until golden and springy. Cool completely.
- Mix powdered sugar with milk to form glaze. Divide and tint with food coloring.
- Dip doughnuts in glaze. Decorate with candy eyes, marshmallows, licorice, or vampire teeth for spooky designs.
Notes
- For fried doughnuts, fry at 350°F (175°C) for about 2 minutes per side.
- Ghost doughnuts: white glaze + candy eyes.
- Monster doughnuts: brightly colored glaze + multiple candy eyes.
- Donuts with teeth: insert plastic vampire fangs in center and add eyes above.
- Best decorated the day of serving for freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Halloween, Party Treats
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 doughnut
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Halloween Doughnuts, Spooky Donuts, Monster Donuts, Ghost Donuts, Party Treats