Easy Mini Chocolate Donut Spiders

Make these easy mini chocolate donut spiders for a fun, no-bake Halloween party treat. Kid-friendly, quick to assemble, and perfect for spooky celebrations!

After hosting more Halloween parties than I can count, and managing everything from haunted scavenger hunts to DIY fog machines, I’ve learned one golden rule: don’t overcomplicate the food!

If you’re wrangling costumes, stringing faux cobwebs from every corner of your house, and trying to locate that one missing tombstone prop, the last thing you need is a hard-to-make dessert or party snack with tons of prep time.

That’s where these easy mini chocolate donut spiders come in. They’re a no-bake dream: cute enough to charm the kids, easy enough to whip up in under 20 minutes, and spooky enough to earn a prime spot on your Halloween dessert table.

Whether you’re throwing a school party, hosting a neighborhood get-together, or just want something fun to do with the kids on a chilly October weekend, this sweet little project checks all the boxes.

Let’s break down the easiest Halloween treat you’ll ever make—your guests (and your stress levels) will thank you.

Why These Donut Spiders Are Perfect For Halloween Parties

These mini chocolate donut spiders are perfect for any age. Here’s why I keep them in my Halloween party rotation year after year:

• No baking required. Save your oven space for mummy meatballs or spooky skull pizza bites.
• Kid-approved (and kid-assembled). This recipe is simple enough for little helpers.
• Fast and festive. You can assemble a batch in under 20 minutes.
• Zero stress, all fun. No special skills needed—if you can spread frosting and press on candy eyes, you’re good to go!
• Easy to customize. Want rainbow or glittery spiders? Get creative!

 

What You’ll Need to Make Your Donut Spiders

Let’s talk about what you’ll need to make these mini donut spider treats. The ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store, and bonus points if you already have most of the items in your pantry!

The Base

• Mini chocolate donuts: These are your spider “bodies.” Store-bought is just fine—frosted or glazed both work.

The Spider’s Legs

You have a few fun options here:

• Pretzel twists (large): Break the curves off the sides to create sturdy, crunchy legs.
• Black shoestring licorice: Soft and flexible, great for a more “creepy crawly” look.

The Eyes

• Candy eyeballs: Find them in the baking aisle. Some even have red veins!
• M&M’s or Skittles: A colorful alternative, especially fun if you’re adding your own “pupils” with a food writer pen.

Optional Extras

• Chocolate frosting: Acts as edible glue. You can also add a “hairy” texture to your spiders!
• Chocolate sprinkles (Jimmies): Add them to the chocolate frosting to fill the donut hole, or press them into the frosting for a fuzzy spider vibe.
• Black food writer pen: Great for drawing pupils on M&M eyes if you’re skipping the candy eyeballs.

Tools

• Toothpicks: Helps create holes for licorice legs.
• Small plate or bowl: Great for dipping frosted donuts into sprinkles.

Step-By-Step: How to Make Easy Mini Chocolate Donut Spiders

Grab your donut base and let’s build your spooky little spider snacks!

1. Prep the legs

• Pretzels: Break off the curved sides of the pretzels to make six “legs” per spider. Try to keep them similar in size.
• Or if using licorice: Cut into 1.5-inch pieces. They’re bendy and easy to shape once inserted.

2. Insert the pretzel legs

• For pretzels: Gently press four or six legs into each side of the donut. Be careful not to crack the donut.
• For licorice: Use a toothpick to make six small holes around the donut. Insert a piece of licorice into each.

Quick tip: If you’re using licorice, push the ends in about halfway so they don’t fall out later.

3. Add frosting

• Spread a dollop of frosting on top of each donut, filling in the center hole.
• Or press the donut into a bowl of chocolate sprinkles for that fuzzy spider look (optional).

4. Add the edible eyes

• Dab a little frosting on the back of your candy eyeballs.
• Press onto the top front of each donut—close together for a bug-eyed look, or wide apart for a more spaced-out stare.

Optional: If using M&M’s, add pupils with a food writer pen.

5. Let them sit

Let the spiders sit for about 10–15 minutes so the frosting can firm up a bit. They’ll hold together better, especially if you’re transporting them.

Tips for Making Mini Spider Donuts

These easy mini chocolate donut spiders are simple, but a few insider tricks make them even better:

• Presentation matters. Even simple treats feel festive with a fun tray and creepy-crawly accents.
• Pre-cut all legs. Whether pretzels or licorice, having them ready saves time.
• Use melted chocolate for glue. A sandwich bag with the corner snipped works great.
• Let kids help with decorating. Assign them to eyes and sprinkles—it’s a fun way to get them involved.
• Make just before serving. These are best the day of. If you need to prep ahead, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day.

How to Customize Your Spider Donuts

Want to match your Halloween party theme or surprise your guests with something extra creative? Here’s how you can personalize your chocolate donut spider recipe:

For a colorful twist

• Use brightly colored candy melts to dip your donuts before adding eyes and legs—orange, green, or purple work great.

For a fancy finish

• Use gourmet bakery donuts and upscale toppings—think dark chocolate curls, gold sprinkles, or white chocolate drizzle.

For more texture

• Swap sprinkles for crushed Oreos or coconut flakes for different “fuzzy” effects.

For themed parties

• Add tiny witch hats or candy fangs.
• Use red licorice for a “fire spider” look.
• Draw a spider web pattern with white icing on top of the donut.

Bonus: Assign each spider a name—kids love coming up with characters like “Spidey Spice” or “Fuzzy Fred.”

How to Display Your Donut Spiders

You’ve put in the effort—now let’s make your mini chocolate donut spiders look party-perfect:

• Use faux spiderwebs as a base on your treat table or platter.
• Add plastic spiders around the plate to up the creepy factor.
• Serve on cake stands at varying heights for a fun visual effect.
• Label with mini chalkboard signs or printable tags that say things like “Beware: spider bites ahead!”

Fun tip: Set up a donut spider-making station at your party so guests can decorate their own!

 

Don’t miss this easy Halloween Candy Bark recipe!

That’s everything you need to build your own easy mini chocolate donut spiders—no oven, no stress, all fun! Whether you’re feeding a classroom, a crowd, or just your family, these little guys will disappear fast. I promise.

So, how will your donut spiders look this Halloween? Will they have curly pretzel legs, licorice limbs, or colorful candy eyes? I’d love to see your creations! Share your photos in the comments or tag me @prettymyparty on Instagram. I can’t wait to see your Halloween treats!

Meet the Author
Cristy Posten is a party stylist, entertaining expert, and founder of Pretty My Party, with over a decade of experience helping readers make life’s biggest milestones truly special. She shares creative ideas for parties, holidays, and everyday celebrations — all designed to inspire and make hosting feel fun, beautiful, and stress-free.