Easy No-Bake Halloween Cookies (No Frosting Required)

story by JAMES CARTER • photo by DAISY ANDERSON / PEXELS

Frosting can be messy, and not everyone has time or patience to bake from scratch, or use fancy decorating tools. But Halloween treats don’t have to be complicated. These no-bake zombie cookies are creepy, cute, and made with pantry staples you probably already have. No oven, no decorating tools, just sticky hands and whole a lot of Halloween spirit. They’re spooky enough for a party tray or bake sale, and simple enough if you need a quick pre-trick-or-treating treat or a classroom party activity.

Simple Ingredients

The base is a chewy, crunchy combo of quick oats and crispy cereal, held together with peanut butter and honey. After a quick chill, they firm up beautifully and stay solid at room temperature.

Easy Decorating

Instead of dealing with food coloring or frosting, we’re going full zombie with berry jam “blood,” white chocolate chip eyes, and toothpick-drawn scars. You don’t need any special tools, just your fingers, a little creativity. Cleanup is minimal, and no risk of frosting explosions either.

---

Easy No-Bake Halloween Zombie Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups crispy cereal (like Rice Krispies or Frosted Flakes)
  
• 1¼ cups quick oats
  
• ½ cup peanut butter
  
• ½ cup honey or light corn syrup
  
• ¼ tsp salt

Optional add-ins:

• ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• ¼ cup finely chopped nuts or shredded coconut
  

For Decorating:

• Jam (raspberry, blackberry, or strawberry = perfect zombie “blood”)
• Candy eyes or white chocolate chips
• Toothpicks or skewers (for drawing scars, mouths, or stitches)
• Black or red decorating gel/food coloring (optional)
  

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet or plate with parchment paper.
   
2. Mix the dry ingredients: Combine crisp rice cereal, quick oats, salt, and any optional mix-ins in a large bowl.
   
3. Melt the wet ingredients: Heat peanut butter and honey (or syrup) in a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl until smooth. Stir in vanilla, if using.
   
4. Combine: Pour the wet mix into the dry and stir until fully coated and sticky.
   
5. Shape into zombies: Use 2–3 tablespoons per cookie and form into rough, flat discs. Press in little indentations for the eyes and wounds while the mix is still warm. Note: if your mix is too sticky to handle, let it cool for a few minutes before shaping.
   
6. Chill for 1 hour: This helps them firm up completely. After that, they should stay solid at room temp.
   
7. Decorate: Stick on eyes, drag jam across the surface for gory “wounds,” and use toothpicks to create facial features. It’s Halloween, so the messier and creepier, the better!

Busy Parent/Teacher Hack:

You can also make this recipe in advance, and they’ll keep well. However, if you’re short on time, use pre-made oatmeal cookies and just do the decorating part.