Spider Donuts Guide: How to Make Creepy Halloween Donuts

Halloween baking gets a playful twist with these spooky Spider Donuts. Soft chocolate donuts are coated in a vivid green glaze and finished with a cute chocolate spider on top — a fun, festive treat that’s easy to make and delicious to eat.

These homemade donuts are moist, rich, and full of chocolate flavor. Decorating them is part of the fun: with bright green glaze, Halloween sprinkles, and chocolate truffles for spider bodies, you can make a memorable dessert for parties, school events, or a cozy fall afternoon with family.

I started making these Spider Donuts for my grandkids, and they quickly became a Halloween tradition. What I love most is how the green glaze transforms a plain chocolate donut into something special and seasonal. They disappear fast, so plan to make extra — at a block party they vanished in under an hour!

Don’t worry if you’re not an expert baker: this recipe is forgiving. Slightly wobbly spider legs or imperfect glaze won’t affect the flavor, and imperfect spiders can even add to the spooky charm.

Ingredient Notes

See the printable recipe card below for exact measurements and full instructions.

• All-purpose flour – Regular all-purpose flour works well; no need for cake flour.
• Cocoa powder – Unsweetened cocoa gives deep chocolate flavor; Dutch-processed or natural are both fine.
• Butter – Use unsalted butter at room temperature for easy mixing and better control of salt.
• Milk – Whole milk yields the best flavor, but 2% is a suitable substitute.
• Green food coloring – Gel food coloring creates a bright, concentrated hue without thinning the glaze.
• Dark chocolate truffles – Lindor truffles work beautifully for spider bodies, but any round chocolate candy will do.
• Halloween sprinkles – Choose any festive mix; orange and black are especially seasonal.

How To Make Spider Donuts

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 12-cavity donut pan by spraying each cavity with non-stick cooking spray. If using silicone pans, place them on a baking sheet for stability.

Whisk the dry ingredients — all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and unsweetened cocoa powder — in a bowl to remove lumps. In a separate large bowl, beat together room-temperature butter, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and 1 cup of milk to the wet ingredients and mix until the batter is smooth and creamy.

Transfer the batter to a large zip-top bag, snip off a corner, and pipe or squeeze batter evenly into each donut cavity for a neat, low-mess fill. Bake for 17–18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in a donut comes out clean. Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the green glaze by whisking 2 cups powdered sugar with 4 tablespoons milk until smooth. Add green food coloring a few drops at a time until you reach the desired color. Dip the tops of cooled donuts into the glaze, set them back on the rack, and sprinkle with Halloween sprinkles before the glaze sets.

For the spider legs, combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 tablespoon milk to make a chocolate glaze. Spoon the glaze into a small piping bag or use a zip-top bag with a tiny corner cut off. Pipe legs onto each donut, then press a chocolate truffle in place for the spider’s body. Add small candy eyes if desired, using a dab of glaze to adhere them.

Allow the decorations to set for a few minutes, and your Spider Donuts are ready to serve — spooky, fun, and irresistibly chocolatey.

Decoration Variations

• Spider eyes: Attach small candy eyes to the truffle body with a dot of glaze or melted chocolate.
• Colorful spiders: Glaze some donuts in purple or orange for a mixed-color Halloween platter.

Storing and Freezing

Store: Keep donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Refrigerate if your kitchen is warm to prevent glaze softening.

Freeze: Freeze donuts in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid (about 2 hours), then transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Avoid overmixing the batter — mix just until combined to keep donuts tender.
• Place parchment under the cooling rack to catch glaze drips for easier cleanup.
• If glaze is too thick, add milk a teaspoon at a time. If too thin, add powdered sugar gradually.
• Work quickly with sprinkles; the glaze sets fast.
• Practice piping spider legs on parchment paper first for neater results. Thin licorice strings can be used as an alternative for legs.

Glaze too runny?

If the glaze is too thin, add powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time until it coats the back of a spoon.

Spider legs look messy?

Practice piping on parchment or use thin licorice for tidy, uniform legs.

These Spider Donuts are an easy, festive addition to any Halloween spread. With rich chocolate donuts, bright green glaze, and playful spider decorations, they’re simple to prepare and guaranteed to delight kids and adults alike.