These Oreo Spiders with pretzels are one of the easiest Halloween treats you can make. With just 4 ingredients, no baking and only 10 minutes needed, they are a fun Halloween snack that kids can get involved with making too.
These Halloween Oreo spiders combine crunchy Oreos, salty pretzel legs and silly edible eyes, making these Oreo spider cookies perfect for a Halloween party table, an after-school spooky snack or adding to a bigger Halloween platter.
Every October I like having a few Halloween recipes that look impressive without actually creating loads of extra work, and these are exactly that. There is no cooking involved and very little mess, which is always a win when the kids want to help.
You can also make them in slightly different ways depending on what you can find in the shops, so don't worry if you can't get exactly the same edible eyes or pretzel sticks that we used.
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.
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Why You'll Love Them
- Just 4 ingredients - You only need Oreos, pretzel sticks, edible eyes and a little honey.
- Ready in 10 minutes - Ideal when you want some fun Halloween party food without spending hours in the kitchen.
- No-bake Halloween treat - There is no oven or cooking needed.
- Fun for kids to make - Children can help break the pretzels, add the legs and decorate their own spiders.
- Easy to adapt - Swap the pretzel legs, eyes or "glue" depending on what you already have.
- Perfect for a Halloween party - Make a whole tray of Oreo spiders or add them to a larger Halloween snack board.
Recipe Overview
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: No cooking required
- Makes: 8 Oreo spiders
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Best for: Halloween party food, kids' Halloween snacks and spooky dessert tables
- Make ahead: Up to 2 days, although they are crunchiest on the day they are made
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Oreos - We used regular Oreos, but supermarket own-brand cookies and cream biscuits work too. Double Stuf Oreos are particularly useful because the thicker layer of creme makes it easier to push the pretzel legs in without the cookie coming apart.
Halloween Oreos with orange creme would also be really fun if you can find them. - Pretzel sticks - These make the spider legs and add a nice salty crunch against the sweet Oreo. We snap each stick in half so the legs aren't too long.
Chocolate biscuit sticks such as Mikado or Pocky work too. You could also use thin pieces of liquorice/licorice if you like the flavour. - Edible eyes - These instantly turn an Oreo into a Halloween spider. Bear in mind that some candy eyes are quite hard, so they may not be suitable for very young children.
If you can't find edible eyes, try mini marshmallow pieces with a tiny chocolate chip in the middle or little dots of icing. - Honey - A tiny amount of honey is enough to stick the eyes onto the cookies if you are serving them fairly soon.
For Oreo spiders that need to be transported or made further ahead, melted chocolate is a more secure option because it sets firm.
Oreo Spider Variations
One of the best things about these Halloween Oreo spiders is that every one can look a little different.
Chocolate legs - Swap the pretzels for pieces of Mikado or Pocky for an extra chocolatey version.
Liquorice legs - Thin strips of black liquorice make bendy spider legs. We aren't big liquorice fans in our house, but it definitely gives them a creepy Halloween look.
Different eyes - Give your spiders two eyes, four eyes or even eight. Mini marshmallows, icing, M&Ms or small chocolate chips can all work if you don't have candy eyes.
Fangs - Add tiny pieces of white icing or white chocolate to give your spiders fangs. Candy corn tips also work if you can find them.
Halloween Oreos - Orange-filled Halloween Oreos make these look even more seasonal.
How To Make Spider Oreos
- Make the legs: Snap the pretzel sticks in half so you have eight short pieces for each Oreo.
- Add the legs: Carefully push four pretzel pieces into the creme filling on each side of the Oreo to make eight spider legs.
If the pretzels are too thick to slide in easily, gently twist the Oreo apart first, arrange the legs in the creme and put the top back on.
- Add the eyes: Put a tiny dot of honey onto the back of each edible eye using the end of a teaspoon handle, then stick two eyes onto each Oreo.
- Allow to set: Leave them for a few minutes before moving them so the eyes have time to stay in place.
What To Serve with Oreo Spiders
These Oreo spider cookies are ideal for a Halloween party because you can make a tray of them in minutes and they don't need plates or cutlery.
For a bigger spread, add them to our Halloween Platter with a mixture of sweet and savoury spooky foods.
For something sweet alongside them, our Halloween Popcorn and Halloween Doughnut Bats are both easy recipes that kids can get involved with.
I also like putting out some fresher options alongside all the Halloween treats. Our Halloween Fruit Tray or Halloween Veggie Tray are both really colourful additions to a party table.
If you want to turn it into more of a meal, serve these after our Easy Halloween Pizzas with some Halloween Tortilla Chips on the side.
For another really simple savoury Halloween snack, our Babybel Cheese Monsters are great fun too.
Make Ahead and Storage
These Oreo spiders can be made ahead, although they are at their crunchiest on the day they are made.
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Put them in a single layer if possible so the eyes and pretzel legs don't get knocked off.
I wouldn't refrigerate them. The moisture in the fridge can make both the Oreos and pretzels soften.
If you are making them several hours ahead for a party or need to transport them, I recommend attaching the eyes with melted chocolate rather than honey because it sets firmly.
Dannii's Top Tips
- If the pretzel legs won't fit easily, carefully twist the Oreo apart, add the legs and sandwich it back together. A little melted chocolate inside will help hold everything securely.
- If the edible eyes slide off with honey, use melted chocolate instead and leave it to set before moving the spiders.
- Double Stuf Oreos give you more creme to hold the pretzel legs and are especially useful if your pretzel sticks are thick.
- Keep the pretzel pieces fairly short. Long legs put more pressure on the cookie and are easier to snap.
- If making these for a party, store them in a single layer so the eyes and legs stay intact.
- Assemble them as close to serving as you reasonably can for the crunchiest pretzels.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The Oreo breaks when adding the legs | The pretzel sticks are too thick or the creme layer is too thin. | Gently twist the Oreo apart, arrange the pretzel legs in the creme and replace the top. Double Stuf Oreos are also easier to work with. |
| The pretzel legs keep falling out | The pretzel pieces are too long or aren't pushed far enough into the creme. | Use shorter pretzel pieces and gently press them further into the filling. A tiny amount of melted chocolate can help secure them. |
| The edible eyes slide off | Too much honey has been used or the spiders have been moved before it has had time to hold. | Use just a tiny dot of honey and leave the spiders still for a few minutes. For a firmer hold, use melted chocolate or thick icing. |
| The pretzel legs have gone soft | The spiders have been refrigerated or stored for too long. | Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature and, for the crunchiest result, assemble them on the day you are serving them. |
| The spiders get damaged when stored or transported | They have been stacked or packed too tightly. | Store them in a single layer and use melted chocolate rather than honey for the eyes if they need to be transported. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can make them a day or two before you need them and keep them in an airtight container at room temperature.
For the best texture, I prefer making them on the day of the party as the pretzels stay crunchier.
Some Oreos have a thinner layer of creme than others and some brands of pretzel sticks are thicker.
Rather than forcing the pretzels into the side, gently twist the Oreo apart. Arrange four pretzel pieces on either side of the creme and replace the top.
Double Stuf Oreos are also easier to work with.
Honey works well when these are being eaten fairly soon, but it doesn't set hard.
If you need a stronger hold, use a small amount of melted chocolate or thick icing instead.
Try tiny pieces of marshmallow with chocolate chips, little dots of white icing with melted chocolate pupils or small sweets such as M&Ms.
Yes. Chocolate biscuit sticks such as Mikado or Pocky work really well, or you could use thin strips of liquorice/licorice.
They are a really fun Halloween activity for children because there is no baking involved.
Younger children might need help inserting the pretzel sticks without breaking the Oreos, and some edible candy eyes can be very hard, so choose decorations that are appropriate for the children eating them.
No. In fact, I recommend keeping them out of the fridge because the extra moisture can make the pretzels and cookies soften.
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature instead.
More Halloween Recipes
If you are planning a spooky party, try these Oreo spiders alongside
If you've tried these Oreo Spider cookies, 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
Oreo Spiders with Pretzels
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 8 Oreo biscuits
- 32 Pretzel sticks - snapped in half
- 16 Edible eyes
- 1 teaspoon of Honey
Instructions
- Make the legs: Snap the pretzel sticks in half so you have eight short pieces for each Oreo.32 Pretzel sticks, 8 Oreo biscuits
- Add the legs: Carefully push four pretzel pieces into the creme filling on each side of the Oreo to make eight spider legs.1 teaspoon of Honey, 16 Edible eyes
- Add the eyes: Put a tiny dot of honey onto the back of each edible eye using the end of a teaspoon handle, then stick two eyes onto each Oreo.
- Allow to set: Leave them for a few minutes before moving them so the eyes have time to stay in place.
Recipe Notes
- Double Stuf Oreos are easiest to use because there is more creme to hold the pretzel legs.
- If the legs won't push in easily, carefully separate the Oreo first and arrange them in the filling.
- For spiders being made ahead or transported, use melted chocolate instead of honey to secure the eyes.
- Store in a single layer at room temperature for up to 2 days.
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.
Sharon says
These little Halloween treats are so easy to make and perfect for school and holiday parties.
Andrea says
These spiders are so fun! My grandkids are going to love making these with me.
Angela says
This recipe is so easy! I love how cute these little spiders are. The perfect Halloween treat.
Tavo says
Super fun recipe! My nephews are going to go crazy on these ones! Thanks for sharing!
Tara says
Oh how fun!! My kids would absolutely love these Oreo spiders. So easy for them to put together too!
Pam says
Made these with the kids and we had fun plus had a seasonal snack when finished. Win-win!