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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Top down view of a dark plate covered in prepared Oreo spiders, surrounded by plastic spiders and cobwebs for decoration.

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.
Top down view of multiple Oreo spiders on a wooden surface, decorated with strings of cobwebs and a large plastic spider.

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.

Side view of a tiered tray holding multiple prepared Oreo spiders.

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.
Close up side view of a single Oreo spider, showing off candy eyes and sprinkle mouth and fangs.

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!

Recipe Details

Top down view of a dark plate covered in prepared Oreo spiders, surrounded by plastic spiders and cobwebs for decoration.
5 from 1 vote

Oreo Spiders

45 minutes prep + 1 hour Setting Time
102 kcal
Yields: 12 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.

Ingredients 

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with wax paper, then set nearby.
  • Add semi-sweet chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds on 50% power, then stir. Continue to heat for 15-second intervals, mixing in between, until chocolate has completely melted.
    1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Drop a pretzel stick into melted chocolate, then use a fork to toss and coat. Lift pretzel from chocolate, gently shake off any excess, then place coated pretzel on prepared baking sheet. Repeat this step until all pretzel sticks are coated.
    18 pretzel sticks
  • Transfer baking sheet to the refrigerator and set pretzel rods chill for 30 minutes or until set. Reserve any melted chocolate for decorating (will not need much.)
  • When ready to decorate, prepare your work area. Line another baking sheet or plate (large enough to hold completed Oreo spiders) with wax paper. Reheat the remaining chocolate until smooth. Have candy eyes and jimmie sprinkles handy, as well as some toothpicks to help with decoration placement.
    candy eyes, red and white jimmie sprinkles
  • Carefully twist off top cookie of a Double Stuf Oreo. Use a butterknife or small spatula to gently smooth cream on both sides of the cookie. Place cookes, cream-side up, on prepared baking sheet.
    12 Double Stuf Oreos
  • On one cookie, press 3 coated pretzels into left side of cream, then press 3 coated pretzels on right side, forming 6 total legs. Add a small dab of melted chocolate to the center of the cream, then gently press the top cookie back in place until cream is distrbuted and sealed.
  • Finish decorating by using a toothpick to dab candy eyes with melted chocolate and place 2-6 on top of the Oreo spider. If using sprinkles, gently press two white jimmie sprinkles vertically (to form fangs) and a red jimmie sprinkle horizontally between them (to form a mouth).
  • Repeat steps 6-8 until all Oreo spiders have been assembled.
  • Allow chocolate to set until firm, about 30 minutes.
  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Oreo spider | Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 0.5mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 72mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 2mg

I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.

Author: Chrisy