Cooking activities are a wonderful way for students with disabilities to practice communication, motor skills, following directions, and teamwork—all while having fun! This series of Fall/Halloween-themed recipes is designed with classroom participation in mind, offering simple, step-by-step tasks that learners of all ability levels can enjoy. Each recipe encourages engagement, builds independence, and adds a festive touch to your fall lessons—because every student deserves the chance to take part in the seasonal fun!

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🔥 Preheat

Most classrooms do not have a kitchen, so if you’re like me, you need to find other ways to do cooking in the classroom! I love this electric griddle that we use for many recipes. Preheat a non-stick skillet or griddle to medium-high heat.

 🥣 Mix the batter

This step is all about setting students up for success. For this recipe, I use a pancake mixer and dispenser instead of a traditional bowl and whisk. From start to finish, using this dispenser just makes it easier to mix and then pour the batter. You can absolutely practice mixing skills if that fits your lesson, but I wanted to share this adapted cooking tool — it’s a great option for students who may find stirring or pouring challenging due to fine motor needs. Follow the directions on the pancake mix box to measure your ingredients (the dispenser provides measurements on the side). Add the pancake mix and water or milk to the dispenser. Shake the mixer/dispenser until all clumps gone.

Optional: Add orange food coloring (red + yellow) to make your pancakes extra festive! Check out this dye-free plant-based food color.

🎃 Creating the pumpkins

Lightly grease the griddle and the inside of the cookie cutter with cooking spray. Place a metal or silicone cookie cutter on the griddle (⚠️ no plastic—it can melt!). Carefully squeeze the batter into the cookie cutter to fill the shape, and keep the cutter in place while it cooks.

Optional: Using the batter dispenser, you can also draw different characters/shapes such as a spider. This obviously takes a little more skill, but it is a great option for students who have a creative itch!

⏲️ Cook the pancakes

Cook for 2–4 minutes, until you see bubbles forming on top. Carefully remove the cookie cutter using tongs or heat-safe gloves — it may be hot!

🔄 Flip the pancake

Use a spatula to flip the pancake and cook for about 2 more minutes, or until it’s golden brown. This visual timer is a great tool to help them see how much time is left. You can use a large pancake spatula or try a spatula with tong-style handles — a great option for students who need extra fine motor support.

🍽️ Let cool & eat!

Serve and enjoy with your favorite toppings such as butter, syrup, whipped cream, or fruit.

✏️Recipe Comprehension

Extend the cooking lesson with a comprehension activity to check for understanding and build additional skills such as reading a recipe, vocabulary, and sequencing. This resource includes differentiated, visual worksheets and a digital slides version that can be used for whole-group instruction or as visual support for students completing their worksheets.

Cooking activities like this are a fun and engaging way to bring seasonal excitement into your classroom while supporting important life skills. From following directions to making choices and practicing fine motor skills, every step offers a meaningful learning opportunity. Whether your students are building independence or simply enjoying the sensory experience, this recipe is sure to be a classroom favorite. Happy Halloween, and happy cooking! 🎃

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