Oreo Spiders

Adorably creepy and deliciously fun, these Oreo spiders are easy to make and only require Oreo cookies, pretzel sticks, melted chocolate, and candy eyes.

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About Oreo Spiders

An easy treat that’s fun to make and decorate, these Oreo spiders would be an adorably creepy addition to any Halloween party or horror movie marathon.

What’s in Oreo spiders?

To make a batch of these creepy crawly cookies, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Double Stuf Oreos – Because you need delicious Oreo cookies to make creepy Oreo spiders. You can technically use any type of Oreo, but I highly recommend using Double Stuf so that there’s enough cream to keep the spider legs in place.
• Pretzel sticks – Used for creating the spider legs.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips – Used for coating the pretzel rods to give these spiders a uniform brown color. You can switch this up for other types of chocolate (milk chocolate, bittersweet, etc) or you can even use colorful Halloween-themed candy melts.
• Jimmie sprinkles in red and white – If you’d like to give your Oreo spiders a mouth and fangs, these sprinkles are a simple way to do it.

What type of chocolate should you use?

“Cooking chocolate” is a staple in baking – you can find it in the baking supply area, and it typically looks like a large candy bar – and while there are multiple brands to choose from, I do think there are significant differences in the quality of the chocolate for each brand.

Baker’s is by far the most common brand, but I’ve found their chocolate to have a dry texture and the flavor to be a little “off.” It’s not a bad choice by any means, especially if Baker’s is all you can find, but I’ve been happier with my baked goods and candy if I can get my hands on another brand.

And because of this, I highly recommend using Ghirardelli chocolate bars or chips (and for this recipe, their semi-sweet chocolate chips.) Ghirardelli is a little more expensive, but trust me, you’ll appreciate the flavor and consistency you’ll get from the premium quality.

Why are there only six legs?

These adorable Oreo spiders only have six legs, and while that’s not technically accurate for a true spider, it all has to do with the available real estate. Oreo cookies are a set size, and in order for the spider legs to have enough space and separation, only six legs will comfortably fit. Adding any more would either make the legs too crowded or not leave a gap in the front or the back of the spider, making it harder to tell that these cookies are meant to be spiders at all.

However, if your Oreo spiders must have four legs, you should increase the number of pretzel rods to 24 and the amount of chocolate to 3/4 cup.

Can you make these in advance?

Certainly! These cookies are shelf stable and made for lasting at room temperature.

To ensure the best presentation, I recommend making these treats up to 24 hours in advance.

How should they be stored?

To ensure these spider cookies keep their texture, storing them in the refrigerator is recommended. Before serving, set them on the counter for 30 minutes to bring them back to room temperature.

How long are Oreo spiders good for?

While these cookies are shelf-stable and can be stored in a sealed container on the counter for up to two or three days, the cookies themselves may soften over time and the texture could become unenjoyable.

For best results, plan on eating them within three days. Storing them in the refrigerator may extend this up to four to six days.

Can you freeze these spider cookies?

Yes, you totally can!

To freeze, store the decorated cookies in a single layer in a freezer bag or storage container. If you need to stack the cookies, separate each layer with a sheet of wax paper.

Cookies can be frozen for up to three months.

Notes & tips for these spider cookies

• The iris part of the candy eyes has a tendency to smudge, ruining the cook of a gazing eye. You can avoid this by handling them with clean, dry hands, tweezers, or tongs. If the iris of the candy eye does smudge, use a lightly damp Q-tip or napkin to clean it.

More fun Halloween treats

How to make Oreo spiders

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – To start things off, add the semi-sweet chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave until smooth.

Step 2 – Coat the pretzel sticks in the melted chocolate, then place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper to dry. NOTE: Make sure the pretzels are completely dry before using them in future steps.

Step 3 – Twist off a top of a Double Stuf Oreo cookie, then use a butterknife or spatula to smooth out the cream on both cookies.

Step 4 – If needed, reheat the semi-sweet chocolate so that it’s smooth again.

Step 5 – Pick one of the cookies and press three coated pretzels on the left-hand side. Next, press three more legs on the opposite right side. Add a small dollop of melted chocolate to the middle of the cream, then place the top cookie back in place. Gently press everything together to ensure that it’s secure.

Step 6 – Use a toothpick to dab chocolate on the back of a few candy eyes, then decorate the top of the Oreo cookie as you see fit, adding anywhere from 2-6 candy eyes of different sizes. If making a mouth and fangs, press two white jimmie sprinkles into the Oreo cream vertically (for fangs) and connect them with a horizontally placed red jimmie sprinkle (for a mouth). You can also use a bit of melted chocolate to help secure these.

Step 7 – Let cookies set completely.

Step 8 – Serve and enjoy!