Make Halloween extra creepy with Pastillas Fingers! This easy Filipino dessert needs just 3 ingredients and is so much fun to decorate.
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Growing up in the Philippines, Halloween parties weren’t really a thing. I never went trick-or-treating or attended a costume party. So imagine my delight moving to the US and experiencing Halloween on a whole new level.
Of course, I had to bring something to the table, with a little Filipino flair.
These spooky fingers are made from pastillas de leche, a childhood treat I grew up eating. This isn’t the traditional recipe, but my own super simple version. I’d literally mix milk powder, sugar, and milk and shape them into sweet little treats.
This time, I shaped them into something a little spookier.
What is Pastillas?
Pastillas, or pastillas de leche, is a popular Filipino milk candy made with milk and sugar. It’s soft, sweet, and has a rich, milky flavor.
Traditionally, pastillas is made by cooking fresh carabao’s milk with sugar until it thickens, then shaping it into small pieces and rolling them in sugar. Modern homemade versions often use powdered milk and sweetened condensed milk instead.
For this recipe, I made an even simpler no-cook version with powdered milk, sugar, and regular milk.
Why You’ll Love This Halloween Dessert
- So easy. I made this version of pastillas super simple. There’s no cooking, and you only need 3 ingredients for the pastillas itself.
- Fun to make. Get the kids to help shape and decorate the fingers however they like. It’s a fun little Halloween activity you can eat afterward.
- Lots of flavor options. The basic recipe is delicious as is, but you can add cocoa powder, extracts, lemon juice, and more to create different flavors.
- Delicious. Pastillas is a childhood favorite of mine! They’re sweet and milky with a soft, chewy texture.
Ingredients for Pastillas de Leche
You’ll only need 3 ingredients to make the pastillas itself. Then, add a few simple decorations to give them a creepy finish.
- Milk powder. This makes up the base of the pastillas and gives it that classic milky flavor.
- Sugar. Adds sweetness and is also used for rolling the fingers.
- Milk. Add it gradually until the mixture is soft and easy to shape.
- Almonds. Use almond slivers or slice whole almonds yourself to make the fingernails.
- Edible markers. Perfect for adding color to the nails and defining the knuckles. You can find edible markers here.
- Oreo cookies. Crush them into “dirt” for serving the pastillas fingers.
How to Make Spooky Pastillas Fingers
This is a fun, super easy Halloween activity you can do with the kids. You can have them shape and decorate the fingers!
1. Make Pastillas de Leche
Mix the milk powder and sugar. Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time until a soft, moldable dough forms. Chill for 30 minutes.
2. Shape the Fingers
Scoop out a spoonful, roll it in sugar, and shape it into a finger. Make sets of five in different sizes to form full hands. If the mixture gets sticky, rub a little sugar on your hands.
3. Add the Creases
Use a toothpick to make small lines for the knuckles. For more definition, trace the lines lightly with an edible marker.
4. Add the Nails
Use almond slivers or thinly sliced almonds. Color them with an edible marker for creepier nails. Press an almond into the tip of each finger.
5. Serve
Arrange the fingers into hands over crushed Oreo cookies for an extra-spooky presentation. Happy Halloween!
Tips and Variations
- Add the milk gradually. Start with 4 tablespoons and add more only as needed. Too much can make the pastillas mixture soft, sticky, and difficult to shape.
- Use sweetened condensed milk. This is actually the more traditional choice for Filipino pastillas. I used regular milk because that’s what I had on hand.
- Try chocolate pastillas. Mix in a little cocoa powder for a chocolate version. You may need an extra splash of milk if the mixture gets too dry.
- Add a little lemon. A small splash of lemon juice adds a light tang that balances the sweetness.
- Try other flavors. Add vanilla, ube extract, pandan extract, or a little instant coffee for an easy flavor change.
- Adjust with milk powder. If the mixture gets too sticky, mix in a little more milk powder until it’s easier to handle.
- Make different sizes. Shape some fingers shorter, longer, thicker, or crooked. They look creepier when they’re not all identical.
More Ways to Decorate Pastillas for Halloween
- Change the colors. Add a tiny amount of food coloring to the pastillas mixture to make green, purple, or gray monster fingers.
- Witch fingers: Tint the mixture green and use pointed almond slices for long, creepy nails.
- Zombie fingers: Use gray or pale green food coloring, then add red gel around the ends.
- Neon fingers: Use neon food coloring for bright green or purple monster fingers.
- Add some “blood.” Dab a little red decorating gel around the almond nails or ends of the fingers.
- Add warts. Press mini chocolate chips or small candy pieces into the fingers before serving.
- Make severed fingers. Flatten or rough up one end and add red decorating gel to make it look freshly cut.
- Make a dirt cup version. Stick the pastillas fingers into individual cups of chocolate pudding topped with crushed Oreos.
How to Store Pastillas de Leche
To Store: Keep the pastillas fingers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Place parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking together.
To Freeze: Freeze them in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Thaw them in the refrigerator before serving.
Spooky Pastillas Fingers (Easy No-Bake Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups milk powder
- ½ cup granulated sugar plus more for rolling
- 4-5 tablespoons milk
- Almond slivers or sliced almonds
- Crushed Oreo cookies for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Add milk powder and sugar to a bowl. Add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until a soft, moldable dough forms. You may not need all 5 tablespoons.
- Cover and refrigerate the mixture for about 30 minutes to firm up.
- Take a spoonful of the mixture and roll it in granulated sugar. Shape it into a log that resembles a finger. Make sets of five in different sizes to form full hands. If the mixture gets sticky, rub a little sugar on your hands.
- Use a toothpick to etch small lines across the finger to create knuckle creases.
- Optional: For more definition, lightly darken the creases with an edible marker.
- Use almond slivers for the fingernails, or slice whole almonds yourself. Color the almonds with an edible marker for creepier nails.
- Press one almond into the tip of each finger to create the nail.
- Serve the pastillas fingers on a bed of crushed Oreo cookies for an extra-spooky presentation. Happy Halloween!
