JELL-O Halloween Spiders: Fun Spider JIGGLERS for Kids

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Looking for a fun and slightly creepy Halloween treat? These JELL-O Halloween spiders are such a cute addition to a Halloween party or a fun afternoon of Halloween food crafting with kids!

Made with dark-colored JELL-O, blackberries, licorice legs, and candy eyes, these little edible spiders are almost too cute to eat. Almost!

We made these years ago, and my kids thought they were THE COOLEST. They could barely keep their hands off them while I was putting them together!

And once I had made a few (and taken my pictures!), they were more than ready to jump in and make their own.

 

How to Make JELL-O Halloween Spider JIGGLERS

The fun thing about these spiders is that they’re made from ordinary ingredients, but the finished treats look like little creepy-crawly creatures.

You can make them ahead of time for a Halloween party or let the kids help assemble them as a Halloween kitchen activity.

Ingredients and Supplies

• 1 package grape-flavored JELL-O
• ½ package lime-flavored JELL-O
• Water, according to the firm JIGGLERS preparation method
• Blackberries for the spider heads
• Black string licorice for the legs
• Small red candies for the eyes
• Ice cube trays or small silicone molds
• A little cooking spray for the molds
• Toothpicks for assembly, if needed

Note: Use the firmer JIGGLERS-style preparation rather than the regular gelatin dessert directions. Firm gelatin is much easier to remove from the molds and decorate. The exact amount of water depends on the package sizes and recipe you’re using.

Step 1: Make the Dark Spider Bodies

Did you know you can make JELL-O look almost black by combining grape and lime flavors?

I hadn’t thought of that before we tried this recipe!

Mixing the purple and green colors creates a very dark shade that’s perfect for Halloween spiders.

Prepare the gelatin using the grape JELL-O and half a package of lime JELL-O, following the proportions for firm JIGGLERS.

Step 2: Pour into Molds

Lightly grease an ice cube tray or silicone mold so the gelatin will release more easily.

Pour the prepared gelatin mixture into the molds.

Refrigerate until completely firm. Plan on several hours of chilling, depending on the size of your molds.

Once set, carefully remove the gelatin pieces. These will become your spider bodies!

Step 3: Add the Spider Heads

Place a blackberry at one end of each gelatin body to make the head.

The original version we made used a toothpick to hold the blackberry in place.

For serving to children, I recommend avoiding toothpicks in the finished treats. Try placing the blackberry directly against the gelatin or using a tiny dab of firm gelatin to help it stay in place.

Step 4: Make the Licorice Legs

Cut black string licorice into pieces approximately 1½ inches long.

Carefully arrange four legs on each side of the spider body.

This is probably the trickiest part of the whole project! The legs don’t always want to stay where you put them.

If the gelatin is very soft, return it to the refrigerator for a little longer before decorating.

Step 5: Add the Candy Eyes

Finish your spiders with little red candy eyes.

I happened to have some red fish candies when we made ours, so that’s what I used!

You could also use small candy decorations or edible eyes.

And that’s it! Your creepy-crawly JELL-O spiders are ready for Halloween!

Tips for Making Halloween JELL-O Spiders

After making these with my kids, I have a few suggestions to make the process easier.

Make the gelatin ahead of time. The spiders are much easier to assemble when the bodies are completely firm and cold.

Use small molds. Ice cube trays create a nice size for individual spider treats.

Keep the ingredients chilled. If the gelatin starts to soften while you’re decorating, pop it back in the refrigerator.

Let the kids decorate! My kids were so excited to help once they saw the first few spiders come together. The legs take a little patience, but the rest is pretty easy.

Assemble close to serving time. Moisture from the gelatin can soften the candy decorations and licorice if they sit too long.

And remember to remove any assembly toothpicks before serving. For younger children, choose age-appropriate decorations and cut pieces as needed to reduce choking risks.

A Fun Halloween Food Activity for Kids

One of my favorite things about this Halloween snack was watching how excited my kids were to make it.

They could hardly wait for the gelatin to set!

Once they saw me assemble a few spiders, they wanted to do the rest themselves.

It turned into one of those simple kitchen activities that’s just as much fun to make as it is to eat.

You could even set up a little build-your-own JELL-O spider station with the chilled gelatin bodies, blackberries, licorice pieces, and candy eyes.

Let kids design their own silly or spooky spiders!

These would be fun for a Halloween party, a family Halloween night, or an edible spider-themed activity.

More Fun Halloween Food Ideas

Looking for more creative Halloween treats and snacks? Try these ideas, too!

• Funny Face Veggie Platter — A playful way to serve vegetables at a party.
• Gross Halloween Party Food — Silly, creepy food ideas for a Halloween celebration.

These JELL-O Halloween Spider JIGGLERS were such a hit with my kids, and I still love how cute they turned out.

Sometimes the simplest Halloween projects are the most memorable!

Have fun making your own creepy-crawly spiders!

Pair It with Some Spider Learning:

Spider Web Snowflakes: Halloween Craft + Math

Spider Web Fraction Game for Kids (Halloween Math Activity!)

Glue and Salt Spiderweb Craft