There’s something wonderfully British about a treacle tart recipe. It’s a nostalgic dessert that always vanishes far too quickly from the table.

But when the nights draw in and pumpkins start glowing, there’s no reason this old-school favourite can’t dress up for Halloween. In fact, it’s the perfect excuse!

Keep reading to discover some ideas on playful ways to transform this classic into an au-some Halloween bake.

Simple yet delushious, the recipe for treacle tart blends gooey golden syrup, fresh breadcrumbs, and the citrusy zing of lemon zest in a crisp pastry case. It’s perfect as it is, but this is the season of sugar highs and a little theatrical fright, so why not have some fun?

Baking for Halloween is all about little twists that make your creations stand out. Your treacle tart can still keep its sticky, golden centre, but just show up to the party looking a bit more mischievous.

Here are some ideas that can give your tart a spooktacular edge.

An easy way to dress up a treacle tart for Halloween is to give the filling a hint of colour. A few drops of red food colouring stirred into the golden syrup mixture turns it a rich ruby shade.

When paired with a pastry pumpkin face or spiderweb, the colour peeks through the cut-outs and makes the designs pop.

Swap the usual lattice for something a little more spirited. Skeleton faces, ghosts, cobwebs, or even a gravestone or two can all be cut from pastry and laid across the tart.

The pastry doesn’t have to cover the whole surface, you can place designs around the edge instead, letting the filling shine through the middle. The result is playful and unmistakably Halloween.

This one is a little theatrical, but a lot of fun! Cut finger shapes out of your pastry, press a sliced almond at the top for a nail, add to the top of the tart and bake until the pastry is golden.

A dab of red food gel where the “nail” meets the pastry adds a spine-tingling finishing touch that makes the tart look like it’s sprouting hands of its own.

Sometimes the simplest ideas have the biggest impact. Roll out your pastry, cut bold letters, and spell out a Halloween message right on top of your bake. “BOO!”, “TRICK OR TREAT,” even “EEK!” all puff up beautifully in the oven, turning golden against the glossy filling.

If pastry cut-outs feel like too much effort, this trick couldn’t be easier. Once your tart has cooled a little, place a Halloween stencil over the top and dust with icing sugar. Lift it away and you’re left with a design that pops against the golden crust. It takes seconds but looks like you’ve gone all out.

However you decorate it, a treacle tart will always be a treat worth sinking your teeth into. Decorations raise the oohs and aahs, but it’s the filling that keeps everyone coming back for seconds.

Lyle’s Golden Syrup is what makes a treacle tart marvellicious. Pick up a tin before you start baking and give this Halloween dessert recipe the gold star it deserves!