57 Fun Halloween Food Ideas for a Scary-Good Feast
All treats, no tricks.
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When you close your eyes and imagine Halloween food, what are the chances you're even imagining real food at all? You're probably thinking about piles of fun-size chocolate bars or once-a-year sugar bombs like candy corn, right? Or there are the typical Halloween food ideas from your childhood, which may have included apples in a barrel for bobbing or peeled grapes pretending to be eyeballs. You can definitely do better for your next Halloween party.
If you're throwing or attending a themed party this October, the recipes ahead are perfect for your coworkers to gather around or your kids to scream and giggle over. Some dishes might even be a great fit for, dare we say, an upscale scary-chic dinner party. Yep, it's totally possible.
Halloween food isn't all kitschy skeleton molds and spaghetti brains. Many people forego the spooky side of the holiday altogether and instead pull from classic fall flavors for treats like pumpkin bread, caramel apples, and pecan blondies. An elegant gothic Halloween party theme a la Morticia Addams is an option too. Even better, some of our favorite Halloween food ideas can be thrown together in about 10 minutes. So serve these appetizers, desserts, cocktails, dinners, and snacks at your bash and watch them disappear—just like magic.
Oh, and if you're one of those folks who like to be entertained while you're cooking and baking, stream House Beautiful's haunted house podcast, Dark House, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to get in the spirit.
Flavored Popcorn Trio
The perfect pairing for your Halloween movie marathon, this popcorn trio is the ideal blend of savory and sweet.
Get the recipe from Magnolia.
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Once you've finished carving your pumpkins, don't throw away the seeds. Instead, roast them in the oven for a delicious seasonal treat.
Get the recipe from AllRecipes.
Black Magic Margarita
Hosting an adults-only Halloween party? Put a spooky (and sweet) spin on a fan-favorite drink by adding food coloring and a black sanding sugar rim.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Pumpkin Deviled Eggs
Give this classic appetizer the holiday treatment by adding some spice and a cheeky garnish to transform the yolks into miniature pumpkins.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Snickerdoodle Coffee
Halloween and fall treats aren't reserved for dessert. Start your mornings on the right note by adding a fall iteration of your favorite coffee drink to your routine.
Get the recipe from Magnolia.
Witch Finger Cookies
Not a perfectionist? These witch-finger-esque cookies get better and scarier the less uniform they are.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Mummies in a Blanket
A spookier version of pigs in a blanket, these miniature mummies are just as delicious. Add candy eyes for a hilarious look.
Get the recipe from AllRecipes.
Zombie Brain Cupcakes
A festive spin on a favorite dessert for all ages, these sweets look almost too incredible to eat.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Halloween Pretzels
A cross between a recipe and a craft idea, consider these pretzel cookies a two-in-one spooky season activity. Use the recipe from Half Baked Harvest as guidance and to get general instructions, but feel free to add your own ingredients to get creative with the creatures you Frankenstein together.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Reese's Pieces Oatmeal Cookie Bars
These are the perfect October after-school snack! Complete with Reese's Pieces, everyone is sure to devour these oatmeal cookie bars. You could also use another leftover Halloween candy and make them in November to keep the cheer going for just a few more days.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Vegan Fudgey Peanut Butter Brownies
If you want a fall-friendly dessert that's also relatively healthy and vegan, look no further. These fudgey brownies with peanut butter swirls and topped with flaky sea salt flakes will do just the trick. They're both oil and grain-free, plus they feature a Halloween color scheme!
Get the recipe from The First Mess.
Caramel Apple S'mores
Swapping apples for graham crackers isn't just healthier—the slices don't crumble like crackers do and have a satisfying crunch.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Salted Caramel Apple Snicker Cake
Here's proof that Halloween food can be elegant, not kitschy. But just because it looks fancy doesn't mean it's not full of fun flavors. This super pretty dessert is actually a salted caramel apple Snickers cake.
Get the full recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Bloody Mary Syringes
Okay, these aren't appropriate for a kids' party for several reasons, but for an adults-only bash, try a squirt of this spicy stuff.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Maple Sugar Cookies
Another favorite fall flavor? Maple. But just because your cookies aren't pumpkin-spiced doesn't mean they can't be pumpkin-shaped.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Bat Truffles
Rumor has it these bats turn to vampires if not eaten ASAP. Well, that'll be our excuse at least, when whoever makes them asks us where they all went so quickly.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Homemade Spaghetti O's
Need something super quick and easy to whip up on a busy October night? This homemade version of "Spaghetti-O's" is exactly what you've been looking for.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Cheesecake-Stuffed Pumpkin Bread
Want to delight your coworkers on Halloween (with or without dressing up)? Bring in this indulgent dish.
Get the recipe from Delish.
Vegan Pumpkin Bread
Or perhaps you want a healthier alternative to the classic pumpkin bread treat. Don't worry, this one is just as tasty, it just happens to be vegan and calls for ingredients like coconut oil and spelt flour.
Get the recipe from The First Mess.
'Hocus Pocus' Brownies
Summon up everyone's favorite witchy trio, the Sanderson Sisters, with these Hocus Pocus spell book brownies from Half Baked Harvest.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
Kate McGregor is House Beautiful's SEO Editor, writing in-depth home renovation cost guides, design inspiration stories while overseeing gardening content through routine plant care guides. With over five years in the shelter industry creating content for brands like Domino, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest’s Clever, Kate has developed a passion for uncovering the personal stories that often lie behind the inspiration for people’s spaces. She previously worked as the assistant market editor at ELLE Decor, where she identified top products and brands in the industry as well as interviewed emerging designers about their thoughts on the latest interior design trends. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. When not researching the specificities of begonia plant care, you can find Kate scouring vintage markets for the ideal wrought-iron chair, knitting yet another cardigan, or reading historical nonfiction.
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