These easy Halloween doughnuts might be one of the simplest spooky treats you can make. Mini chocolate doughnuts are turned into little bats with Oreo wings, edible eyes and sprinkle fangs, and the whole thing takes just 5 minutes.
There is no baking, melting chocolate or complicated decorating involved. They make a fun Halloween snack or easy Halloween party food without creating another big job for yourself.
We first had doughnut bats as part of a Halloween afternoon tea and I have been recreating them ever since. They are always one of the things the kids head for first, and because every little bat ends up looking slightly different, they have so much character.
Recipe update: This recipe was originally published on 19 October 2021 and was updated in September 2026 with expanded instructions, serving suggestions, tips and FAQs.
They are also perfect for adding to our Halloween Platter if you are putting together a full spread of Halloween party food.
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Why You Will Love Them
- Just 4 ingredients - Everything can be picked up from a normal supermarket.
- Ready in 5 minutes - Ideal for last-minute Halloween party food or an after-school treat.
- No baking needed - We use store-bought mini doughnuts, so this is really more of an assembly job than a recipe.
- Fun for kids - Once the Oreo wings have been cut, children can help add the eyes and fangs.
- Easy to make in a big batch - Simply scale the ingredients up for a Halloween party.
- Easy to adapt - There are plenty of alternatives if you can't find mini Oreos or edible eyes.
Recipe Overview
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Total time: 5 minutes
- Makes: 8 Halloween doughnut bats
- Method: No-bake assembly
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Halloween parties, after-school treats and Halloween snack tables
- Make ahead: Prepare the Oreo wings and decorations in advance, then assemble on the day
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days; best eaten the same day
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Mini chocolate doughnuts - Store-bought mini ring doughnuts make this recipe incredibly quick. We use chocolate-topped ones because the dark colour is perfect for bats and it means there is no need to add your own chocolate coating.
You could use plain mini doughnuts and dip or drizzle them with chocolate if that is what you have. Full-sized doughnuts work too, but you will need larger biscuits for the wings. - Mini Oreos - These make the bat wings. Once separated and cut in half, they are just the right size for mini doughnuts.
If you can't find mini Oreos, another small chocolate sandwich biscuit will work. For larger doughnuts you could use regular Oreos or another thin chocolate biscuit. - Edible eyes - Candy eyes instantly make these look like Halloween bats. They can be quite hard, so for younger children you could use tiny pieces of marshmallow with a little dot of chocolate instead.
- White sprinkles - Long white sprinkles make easy little fangs. White chocolate shards or tiny pieces of white icing would work too.
Halloween Doughnut Variations
Although we made these as bats, you can use the same store-bought mini doughnut shortcut to make all kinds of Halloween doughnut ideas.
Vampire doughnuts - Leave off the wings and add eyes and two larger white fangs.
Monster doughnuts - Add mismatched edible eyes, colourful sprinkles and a little icing for a mouth.
Spider doughnuts - Add thin pretzel pieces to the sides for legs and finish with edible eyes.
Sparkly bats - A light spray of edible glitter makes them a little more dramatic. Bats don't usually sparkle, but Halloween is probably the time to ignore the rules!
You can also make larger bat doughnuts using full-sized chocolate doughnuts and regular Oreos.
How To Make Halloween Doughnut Bats
- Make the wings: Carefully twist the mini Oreos apart. Cut each biscuit in half to create two bat wings.
- Add the wings: Make a small slit on either side of each mini chocolate doughnut. Gently push an Oreo half into each slit to create the wings.
- Add the eyes: Press two edible eyes into the chocolate topping. If they don't stick, use a tiny dot of melted chocolate or icing to hold them in place.
- Add the fangs: Push two long white sprinkles into the inside edge of the doughnut hole to create the fangs.
Halloween Party Serving Suggestions
These make a really easy sweet addition to a Halloween party table, especially because they don't take up oven space and can be put together at the last minute.
For a full Halloween spread, serve them as part of our Halloween Platter, alongside Halloween Popcorn and a Halloween Fruit Tray.
I like adding some savoury options too so the table isn't completely sweet. Our Sausage Mummies, Easy Halloween Pizzas, Halloween Tortilla Chips and Halloween Dip all work really well alongside these.
If you are serving them as a simple Halloween snack rather than party food, add some fruit or cheese on the side.
Make Ahead and Storage
These Halloween doughnuts are best assembled as close to serving as possible because the biscuit wings will gradually soften.
You can get ahead by separating and cutting the Oreos and getting all the decorations ready earlier in the day. Then the bats take just a few minutes to assemble when you need them.
Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, although the texture is best on the day they are made.
I wouldn't refrigerate them, as this can make the biscuits soften more quickly.
Dannii's Top Tips
- Use chocolate-topped mini doughnuts to save yourself an extra decorating step.
- Cut a small slit for each wing before adding the Oreo to help prevent it breaking.
- Have a couple of spare Oreos available, as some can crack when they are cut.
- Assemble the bats on the day you are serving them for the best texture.
- Use a tiny dab of melted chocolate or icing if the eyes won't stay in place.
- Let an adult cut the Oreo wings and make the slits in the doughnuts if children are helping.
- Scale the recipe up easily for a larger Halloween party.
- Add edible glitter just before serving if you want them extra spooky.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Oreo wings keep breaking | Make a small slit in the doughnut before pushing the biscuit in rather than forcing it straight through. Keep a couple of spare Oreos too. |
| The eyes won't stick | Use a tiny dot of melted chocolate, thick icing or frosting as edible glue. |
| The doughnut splits when adding wings | Keep the slit shallow and gently wiggle the Oreo into place rather than pushing hard. |
| The wings have gone soft | Assemble the doughnuts closer to serving time and keep them at room temperature rather than refrigerating them. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Because we start with store-bought mini doughnuts, there is no baking involved. All you need to do is assemble and decorate them.
Yes. Use full-sized chocolate doughnuts and swap the mini Oreos for regular Oreos or another chocolate biscuit that is large enough to look like wings.
Any small, fairly firm chocolate biscuit can work. You could also experiment with chocolate-covered pretzels, although the finished bats will look slightly different.
You can prepare all the individual pieces in advance, but I recommend assembling them on the day you are serving them. This keeps the Oreo wings crisp.
Children can definitely help decorate the doughnuts and add the eyes and fangs. An adult should cut the Oreo wings and make the small slits in the doughnuts.
Also bear in mind that some edible candy eyes are very hard, so they might not be suitable for very young children.
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They are at their best on the day they are made because the biscuit wings will soften over time.
Not as written. To make a gluten-free version you would need to use gluten-free mini doughnuts and gluten-free sandwich biscuits, and check that all decorations are suitable too.
More Halloween Recipes
If you've tried these Doughnut Bats, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy and use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Easy Halloween Doughnut Bats
Ingredients
- 8 Mini chocolate doughnuts
- 4 Mini Oreos
- 16 Edible eyes
- 16 Long white sprinkles
Instructions
- Make the wings: Carefully twist the mini Oreos apart. Cut each biscuit in half to create two bat wings.
- Add the wings: Make a small slit on either side of each mini chocolate doughnut. Gently push an Oreo half into each slit to create the wings.
- Add the eyes: Press two edible eyes into the chocolate topping. If they don't stick, use a tiny dot of melted chocolate or icing to hold them in place.
- Add the fangs: Push two long white sprinkles into the inside edge of the doughnut hole to create the fangs.
Recipe Notes
- Make a little cut in the side of the doughnuts, as this makes it easier to put the wings in, without breaking the Oreos.
- You can make these extra fancy by spraying them with edible glitter. I mean, you don't often find bats covered in glitter, but I think all rules have gone out the window here.
Nutritional Information
Where nutritional information is provided, it is approximate and calculated using online tools. Values can vary depending on the ingredients and brands used, but we endeavour to be as accurate as possible.
All timings are a guide and may vary depending on the ingredients, equipment and, where relevant, the appliance used. Changing the serving size may also affect the time needed.
Jovita says
Amazing and delicious! The best doughnut idea to make with my kids! Thanks for sharing :)