Fall is one of those magical seasons where the kitchen feels extra cozy and alive. The crisp air outside makes the smell of cinnamon, pumpkin, or buttery pastry even more inviting indoors. For families, it’s also the season of pumpkins on porches, leaves crunching underfoot, and creative afternoons spent dreaming up festive treats. One of the best parts of this season is finding kids Halloween recipes that bring everyone into the kitchen. Baking together turns ordinary afternoons into special memories, and for our family, that tradition took on a new twist with something playful: mini Halloween pies shaped like little ghosts. They’re spooky, sweet, and completely plant-based — the perfect excuse to celebrate seasonal flavors while keeping things wholesome and fun.
Why Halloween Baking With Kids Is Special
There’s something about baking with kids during fall that feels timeless. The weather signals it’s time to slow down and warm up, and that often means pulling out the mixing bowls and floury rolling pins. When kids get involved in holiday baking, recipes become more than just food — they become traditions. I’ve found that recipes like these mini Halloween pies aren’t just fun for little hands to help with, they’re also a way to teach kids about seasonal fruits, share family stories, and spark creativity in the kitchen.
Over the years, we’ve tried everything from homemade pumpkin muffins to caramel apples, but nothing gets the laughter (and excitement) rolling quite like shaping dough into friendly ghost figures. These little fall themed baking projects turn regular afternoons into imaginative play. Kids don’t just eat the hand pies — they help create them, from pressing the cookie cutters into the dough to painting on a shiny glaze. Seeing the joy on their faces when a tray of ghost-shaped pies comes out of the oven, golden and glowing, is what makes this baking ritual so special.
While cupcakes and cookies often take the spotlight during October, hand pies quickly became our family’s runaway favorite. Why? Because they combine the comfort of pie with the fun of bite-sized treats. Once we discovered how perfectly ghost shapes worked for this recipe, it was impossible not to make them part of our fall baking tradition.
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Kid-Friendly Vegan Ghost Hand Pies for Fall
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 8 hand pies 1x
Description
These adorable vegan ghost hand pies are perfect for fall baking with kids. Flaky dairy-free crusts are filled with juicy blueberry filling and finished with a sweet lemon glaze. Fun to make, customizable, and great for Halloween celebrations.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. In a bowl, mix flour and salt. Cut in chilled coconut oil until mixture is crumbly.
2. Add cold water 1 tbsp at a time, mixing until dough forms. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Roll chilled dough on a floured surface to ¼” thickness. Cut out 16 ghost shapes using a cookie cutter.
5. In a small bowl, combine blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch.
6. Place 8 ghost cutouts on the baking sheet. Spoon 1–2 tsp filling onto each. Top with remaining cutouts and seal edges with a fork.
7. Brush each hand pie with plant-based milk. Bake 18–22 minutes until golden.
8. Cool on a wire rack. Whisk powdered sugar with lemon juice or plant milk until smooth; drizzle over pies.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
Nutrition
- Calories: 210
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Protein: 2
The kids love the “spooky but cute” factor — the way each little ghost seems to have its own personality. For parents, they’re practical because they’re mess-free, portable, and can be prepped ahead of time. And when we switched to making them vegan, we realized they were every bit as delicious as the originals. A simple dairy-free crust, paired with juicy blueberry filling and topped with a sweet, tangy lemon glaze, makes them both kid-approved and parent-friendly.
Kid-Friendly Vegan Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of these vegan ghost hand pies is that the ingredients are simple, familiar, and easy to adapt for different dietary needs. Parents often look for wholesome, minimal-stress ingredients when baking with children, and this recipe delivers. Here’s what you need to bring these spooky-cute treats to life:
- For the Dough (Vegan Pie Crust): All-purpose flour (or substitute a gluten-free blend if needed), chilled coconut oil or vegan butter, a pinch of salt, and cold water.
- For the Filling: Fresh or frozen blueberries, a sprinkle of sugar or maple syrup (optional), a squeeze of lemon juice, and cornstarch or arrowroot powder.
- For the Glaze: Powdered sugar with lemon juice or plant-based milk for a smooth finish.
Swap Ideas: This recipe is nut-free, but you can adapt with gluten-free flour blends. Try other fillings like diced apples with cinnamon, cherry preserves, or pumpkin purée for more fall themed baking fun.
Tools and Supplies That Make Baking Easier
- Ghost-shaped cookie cutter or stencil
- Rolling pin
- Baking sheet with parchment paper
- Pastry brush
- Small spoons for filling
- Cooling rack
With these simple tools, you’ll transform dough and filling into cute easy baked goods that look festive and taste amazing. Assign kids fun, safe tasks like cutting shapes, spooning fruit, or glazing. Seeing their ghosts come to life makes everything worthwhile.
How to Make Vegan Ghost Hand Pies (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Prepare the Dough: Mix flour, salt, and chilled coconut oil until crumbly. Add cold water slowly. Wrap and chill 30 minutes.
- Roll and Cut: Roll dough ¼ inch thick. Use ghost cutter for even pairs of shapes.
- Mix the Filling: Stir blueberries, lemon juice, cornstarch, and optional sweetener.
- Assemble the Ghosts: Place one cut-out on a baking sheet, add filling, top with another ghost, and seal edges with a fork.
- Bake: Brush with plant milk or oil. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18–22 minutes until golden.
- Cool and Glaze: Let cool on a rack, then drizzle glaze or let kids “paint” the ghosts.
You’ll end up with flaky, fruity fall recipes for kids that look just as fun as they taste.
Fun Variations & Creative Glaze Ideas
- Fillings: Apple-cinnamon, pumpkin spice purée, or cherry preserves.
- Glazes: Beet juice for pink, spirulina for green, or orange juice glaze for citrus flavor.
- Faces: Add mini chocolate chips or raisins for eyes, or use icing pens or fruit purée to decorate expressions.
Encourage kids to give each ghost a unique personality — turning these mini Halloween pies into edible art and seasonal fun.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kid-Friendly Vegan Ghost Pies
1. Can I make these hand pies ahead of time?
Yes! You can assemble them in advance, refrigerate, and bake later. If baked already, reheat for a few minutes to freshen up.
2. What can I substitute for blueberries?
Switch the filling with spiced apples, cherry preserves, or pumpkin purée. These fall recipes for kids adapt perfectly to what fruits your family likes most.
3. How do I store leftovers?
Keep at room temperature for two days, refrigerated for four, or freeze unglazed pies. Warm before serving to enjoy a crisp crust.
4. Can they be made gluten-free?
Yes! Use a high-quality gluten-free blend made for baking. Keep the process the same to enjoy these kids Halloween recipes without worry.
Closing Thoughts on Festive Fall Baking With Kids
At the heart of these kid-friendly vegan ghost hand pies for fall is something more than baking: it’s about cozy, joyful family moments. Kids love the floury fun, parents love the wholesome ingredients, and everyone loves the sweet reward.
They’re festive without being complicated, filled with flavor that feels like fall, and perfectly portioned for little hands. Most importantly, they invite kids to see the creativity and joy that comes from the kitchen.
So gather your little helpers, roll out some dough, and let your ghosts take shape. These cute easy baked goods will fill your kitchen with warmth, your home with laughter, and your fall traditions with memories worth keeping.
