What’s better than a bunch of mischievous monsters? Monsters made of marshmallows on a stick, of course, because, let’s face it, everything is more fun when it’s on a stick!
These Monster Marshmallow Kabobs are a festive and frightfully fun Halloween treat the whole family can create together. They’re colorful, customizable, and wonderfully low-pressure (which is exactly what we need when the costumes are crooked, the candy bowl is mysteriously shrinking, and somebody has lost a fake spider).
And the best part? You don’t need fancy pastry skills or a frighteningly expensive shopping list. All you need are marshmallows and a few inexpensive decorating supplies to craft your very own marshmallow monster mash.
So gather our little goblins, put on some spooky music, and let’s get decorating!
Penny-pinching party tip: This is a perfect activity for a Halloween gathering, classroom-style treat table, or cozy family snack project. For more seasonal inspiration, visit our Halloween recipe collection and our fall recipes.
Here’s What You’ll Need
- Marshmallows (regular or jumbo for extra spookiness)
- Bamboo skewers, lollipop sticks or straws (for little goblins, opt for straws or lollipop sticks for safety)
- Assorted decorating supplies: gelatin powder, colored sugars, candy melts, candy eyeballs, edible markers and melted chocolate
That’s it, my frugal fiends. No specialty candy-shop pilgrimage required. Use what you have, shop the seasonal clearance aisle, or let everyone raid the baking cupboard for bits and bobs. A slightly lopsided monster is still a monster, and frankly, the lopsided ones have the most personality.
Monster Mash Time
- Line cookie sheets with wax paper to keep things tidy.
- Gather small bowls and fill them with your spooky decorating materials.
- Now, let’s create your creepy creatures.
I love a craft that begins with lining a cookie sheet. It gives us the illusion of total control (even when the candy eyes are rolling across the counter and the sugar is somehow in our elbows).
Decorating Tricks and Tips
Gelatin Powder Magic
Dip marshmallows in water, blot with a paper towel and roll in gelatin powder for a burst of color and flavor. Orange makes perfect pumpkins, while lime makes fun green monsters.
Bonus tip: orange gelatin marshmallows plus dark chocolate equals delicious!
The gelatin creates bright, candy-coated color without requiring a fancy setup. It’s a little bit of kitchen magic and a whole lot of cheerful, sugary sparkle.
DIY Colored Sugars
Don’t have pre-colored sugar? No problem! Toss white sugar into a jar or bag, add food coloring, start with 6 drops and add more as needed, and shake it up until the sugar is vibrantly hued.
Roll marshmallows in your homemade sugar for a colorful sugary coating. This is a fabulous way to use plain pantry sugar, and it lets us make exactly the colors we want: ghastly green, pumpkin orange, ghostly white, or any other monster-making shade.
Candy Melts
Melt candy melts in the microwave: 30-second increments, stirring in between, and dip marshmallows for a smooth, glossy coating.
Pro tip: A teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil makes the candy coating easier to work with.
Once coated, let them harden on wax paper. And please, my dazzling dippers, remember that candy melts can go from smooth to scorched in a hurry. Slow and steady wins the spooky snack race.
Here’s How We Created Our Spooky Squad
1. Frankenstein’s Monster
Coat marshmallow with green candy melts. Press mini chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles on top while the coating is tacky for “hair.”
Add candy eyeballs, then use a toothpick dipped in melted chocolate to draw stitches, eyebrows and a ghoulish grin.
Frankenstein doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, a crooked eyebrow or wonky smile makes him even more charming (and possibly more affordable, because perfection is expensive).
2. Pumpkin Faces
Dip marshmallows in orange gelatin powder, then use a toothpick dipped in chocolate to draw jack-o’-lantern faces.
Add green candies on top for stems. Make happy pumpkins, grumpy pumpkins, surprised pumpkins, or one that looks like it has just discovered the Halloween candy budget.
3. Mummies
Dip marshmallows in white sugar, then drizzle with white candy melts for “bandages.”
Attach candy eyes using melted chocolate. Leave a little space between the drizzles so those peepers can peek through. These are delightfully messy, which means our decorating technique is officially working.
4. Ghosts
Coat marshmallows with white candy melts, letting the excess pool at the bottom to form a ghostly shape.
Once hardened, use a toothpick and chocolate to create spooky faces. Boo! Or perhaps “Boo-hoo, someone ate my marshmallow.” Either way, they’re adorable.
5. Googly Monsters
Roll marshmallows in green sugar, then attach three candy eyes and draw silly monster faces with melted chocolate.
Three eyes are better than two when you’re trying to keep track of Halloween shenanigans. These little guys can be silly, sassy, sleepy, or spectacularly suspicious.
6. Bloodshot Eyeballs
Use red food coloring or an edible marker to draw bloodshot squiggles on marshmallows.
Top with a candy eyeball for extra spook factor. This is the easiest design in the bunch and a terrific job for kids who want to join the decorating crew without tackling complicated details.
Bonus Tips for a Smooth and Safe Sticking Experience
Please read this section before we start impaling marshmallows, my safety-savvy sweethearts.
- Butter your bamboo skewers before impaling sticky marshmallows: it makes a world of difference. A little goes a long way; I used just a 1/4 teaspoon to coat a whole bunch of skewers.
- For younger kids, swap bamboo skewers for lollipop sticks or straws. If using straws, snip the ends at an angle to make inserting them easier.
- Avoid choking hazards for toddlers by serving decorated marshmallows on a festive plate instead of kabobs. And keep an eye on those sugar eyeballs.
The good news is that these treats are easy to adapt for different ages. The bad news is that sugar eyeballs are tiny, slippery little escape artists. So keep them contained, supervise young children, and choose the plate option for toddlers. No shame, no stress, just smart snacking.
Serving and Display Ideas
Arrange the finished kabobs in a sturdy glass, jar, or festive container to create a monster bouquet. Group the ghosts together, let the Frankenstein crew stand proudly in front, and tuck the bloodshot eyeballs somewhere unexpected (but not where they can roll under the refrigerator, because we have enough eye rolling and household mysteries).
You can also serve the creations on a platter lined with wax paper. Add Halloween sprinkles around the edges, or use extra colored sugar for a bright, budget-friendly border.
Whether you’re hosting a Halloween bash or just adding a little spooky fun to snack time, these Monster Marshmallow Kabobs are sure to be a hit.
Get creative, make memories and enjoy every sweet bite: happy haunting!
Full Recipe: Monster Marshmallow Kabobs
Ingredients and Supplies
- Marshmallows, regular or jumbo
- Bamboo skewers, lollipop sticks or straws
- Gelatin powder
- Colored sugars or white sugar
- Food coloring
- Candy melts
- Candy eyeballs
- Edible markers
- Melted chocolate
- Mini chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles
- Green candies
- Shortening or coconut oil, optional
- Butter, for coating bamboo skewers
- Wax paper
- Cookie sheets
- Small bowls
- Toothpicks
- Paper towels
Instructions
- Line cookie sheets with wax paper to keep things tidy.
- Gather small bowls and fill them with your spooky decorating materials.
- Butter your bamboo skewers before impaling sticky marshmallows. Just 1/4 teaspoon coats a whole bunch of skewers.
- For younger kids, use lollipop sticks or straws instead of bamboo skewers. If using straws, snip the ends at an angle to make inserting them easier.
- For gelatin-coated marshmallows, dip marshmallows in water, blot with a paper towel and roll in gelatin powder.
- For homemade colored sugar, toss white sugar into a jar or bag, add food coloring, start with 6 drops and add more as needed, and shake until vibrantly hued. Roll marshmallows in the sugar.
- For candy melts, melt them in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between. Add a teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil if desired, then dip marshmallows for a smooth coating. Let them harden on wax paper.
- Decorate the marshmallows as Frankenstein’s Monsters, Pumpkin Faces, Mummies, Ghosts, Googly Monsters or Bloodshot Eyeballs.
- Thread the decorated marshmallows onto the prepared skewers, lollipop sticks or straws.
- For toddlers, skip the sticks and serve decorated marshmallows on a festive plate instead. Keep an eye on sugar eyeballs and supervise young children.
Notes
- Orange gelatin makes perfect pumpkins, while lime makes fun green monsters.
- Orange gelatin marshmallows plus dark chocolate are delicious.
- Use regular marshmallows for smaller treats and jumbo marshmallows for extra-spooky designs.
- For a safe toddler serving option, always serve the decorated marshmallows on a plate instead of a skewer.
Monster Marshmallow Kabobs
Equipment
- Bamboo Skewers
- Lollipop Sticks
- Straws
- wax paper
- Cookie sheets
- Small bowls
- Toothpicks
- Paper towels
Ingredients
- Marshmallows regular or jumbo
- Bamboo skewers lollipop sticks or straws
- Gelatin powder
- Colored sugars or white sugar
- Food coloring
- Candy melts
- Candy eyeballs
- Edible markers
- Melted chocolate
- Mini chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles
- Green candies
- Shortening or coconut oil optional
- Butter for coating bamboo skewers
Instructions
- Line cookie sheets with wax paper to keep things tidy.
- Gather small bowls and fill them with your spooky decorating materials.
- Butter your bamboo skewers before impaling sticky marshmallows. Just 1/4 teaspoon coats a whole bunch of skewers.
- For younger kids, use lollipop sticks or straws instead of bamboo skewers. If using straws, snip the ends at an angle to make inserting them easier.
- For gelatin-coated marshmallows, dip marshmallows in water, blot with a paper towel and roll in gelatin powder.
- For homemade colored sugar, toss white sugar into a jar or bag, add food coloring, start with 6 drops and add more as needed, and shake until vibrantly hued. Roll marshmallows in the sugar.
- For candy melts, melt them in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between. Add a teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil if desired, then dip marshmallows for a smooth coating. Let them harden on wax paper.
- Decorate the marshmallows as Frankenstein’s Monsters, Pumpkin Faces, Mummies, Ghosts, Googly Monsters or Bloodshot Eyeballs.
- Thread the decorated marshmallows onto the prepared skewers, lollipop sticks or straws.
- For toddlers, skip the sticks and serve decorated marshmallows on a festive plate instead. Keep an eye on sugar eyeballs and supervise young children.
Notes