[For Seniors] Handmade Halloween Treats to Enjoy: Fun Ideas with Pumpkins and Ghosts
Why not make Halloween even more exciting with homemade treats? We’re sharing recipes full of joy to make together with older adults—from the gentle sweetness of pumpkin to adorable ghost decorations.
Mixing ingredients, enjoying the aroma while they bake, and decorating together create fun moments filled with smiles and conversation.
Let’s share the joy of making and eating together, with easy doughnuts using pancake mix and the delicate flavors of traditional Japanese sweets.
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[For Seniors] Handmade Halloween Treats to Enjoy: Fun Ideas with Pumpkins and Ghosts (21–30)
pumpkin pudding
How about making some pumpkin pudding that’s perfect for Halloween? There are lots of recipes out there, so try searching with keywords that suit you, like “easy,” “cute,” or “less sweet.” Plain pudding is great, but you can make it feel even more Halloween-y by decorating the top or drawing designs on clear plastic containers.
Ghost Mini-Dora
When it comes to Halloween treats, most people think of Western sweets like candy, cookies, and chocolate, but traditional Japanese confections are great too.
Let me introduce “Obake no Mini Dora,” mini dorayaki shaped like little ghosts.
Since they use sweet red bean paste, they’re a safe choice even for seniors who aren’t fond of Western sweets.
The batter can be made with pancake mix, and if you buy tsubuan (chunky red bean paste), it’s very easy.
Just draw the eyes with whipped cream and chocolate sauce to give them a ghostly look—give it a try!
Ghost Chips
Let’s make ghost chips out of gyoza wrappers—perfect for Halloween! Use a cookie cutter to cut the wrappers into ghost shapes.
Use a straw to poke holes for the eyes and mouth.
Once you’ve made a few, brush them with oil and bake them in a toaster oven.
Sprinkle with salt and eat them like potato chips, or dip them in salsa or tartar sauce like tortilla chips.
Make lots and enjoy Halloween with everyone!
pumpkin dumplings
How about serving simple, homey pumpkin dumplings as treats for your Halloween event? Dumplings are familiar and comforting even for older adults, and adding pumpkin boosts their nutritional value! Soften the pumpkin in the microwave, then while it’s still hot, mash it with a fork and mix in potato starch and salt.
Shape the dough into flat rounds, brown them in a frying pan, and they’re ready to serve! The potato starch gives them a pleasant, chewy texture that makes them fun to eat.
The method is simple, too, which can help reduce staff workload.
Halloween Pumpkin Pudding
How about serving pumpkin-based sweets—perfect for Halloween—at your event? Homemade pudding might seem a bit intimidating, but if you have a convection or microwave oven, it’s actually easy to make! The trickiest part is the caramel, so it’s fine to skip it if you like.
Pumpkin softens quickly in the microwave; after that, just add the other ingredients, pour into heatproof cups, and bake in a water bath in the oven.
Decorating them with ghost faces or spiderweb patterns for a Halloween touch will surely be a hit!
Halloween cookie(s)
Let’s give store-bought chocolate cookies a Halloween makeover! Since we’ll sandwich a stick between the cookies to make them lollipop-style, cookies with a cream filling work best.
To make them: first twist the cookie open, spread melted white chocolate (heated in a bain-marie) on the stick, then sandwich it back together to secure.
Next, coat the cookie with white chocolate and chill in the refrigerator until set.
For the finishing touch, decorate with a chocolate pen to draw ghost faces and more.
They’re easy to eat one-handed—perfect for parties!
Eyeball candy
While it’s great to go all out with homemade sweets for a Halloween party, if you’re short on time or not confident in the kitchen, why not just combine store-bought items? Let’s make some spooky eyeball treats that capture the Halloween vibe! Simply coat store-bought donuts with chocolate melted in a double boiler, then use a chocolate pen to decorate them as eyeballs.
If you stick forks or picks into the donuts ahead of time, it not only enhances the creepy effect but also makes them easier to eat—highly recommended.