30 Scarily Perfect Recipes to Serve at Your Halloween Party
Surprise guests with these sweet treats, savory snacks, and scary cocktails.
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Who's ready for Halloween, the most bewitching, devilish day of the year? No party is complete without easy Halloween recipes that satisfy both your sweet and dark sides. If you're throwing a bash for all your ghoulish family members and friends, then these bite-sized appetizers, desserts, and beverages are sure to hit the spot.
Thematic desserts such as the halloween brownies, seen here and our "I Scream" graveyard pie are sweet treats that princesses, firefighters, and ghosts are sure to adore. Make use of any leftover Halloween candy in our tasty blondies, which are topped with hard-shelled chocolate candies.
Planning an adults-only bash? The creepy cocktail recipes here are sure to taunt guests until they reach the very last drop. One of our favorite Halloween cocktail recipes features black vodka, blood-like Maraschino cherry liqueur, and stuffed "eyeball" olives—that's enough to send shivers up any spine. But if you're inviting little ones along, you'll be pleased to know that there are also recipes for the little goblins in your life—our pumpkin pie milkshake can be served either virgin or with a boozy twist for grown-up ghosts.
A fun element to add to your beverage service is dry ice, which will keep liquids bone-chillingly cold, and adds a spooky, smoky effect. It's completely safe to let it float about—just make sure guests do not touch it with bare hands as it can burn skin.
When setting up Halloween décor for the party, create a spooky spread of bowls of candy, trays of tartlets, and more. Light a match on flickering candles, hang make-shift cobwebs, lay out black and orange linens, and arrange books of spells and potions to help your guests get in the supernatural spirit. Party-goers will revel in these twisted, tasty Halloween recipes.
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Jalapeño Popper Dip
Get the party started with this creamy, spicy hot dip. It's sure to be a hit with all the ghosts, ghouls, and witches at your Halloween party.
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Devil's Inferno Cake
A dessert that's also a party centerpiece, that's this truly devilish take on devil's food cake. Those impressive flames on top are edible—and all you need to make them is sugar, water, a candy thermometer, and food coloring.
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Bloody Floats
Did someone say boo? Combine grape juice and white wine with lime juice and raspberry sorbet for a vampire-approved, sweet-tart drink that is best enjoyed at twilight.
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Prosciutto-Wrapped Fig Hearts
Be still, my beating heart. These savory poppers are as dark as the night sky and so good. Dried figs get stuffed with tangy goat cheese, then wrapped in rich prosciutto for a very adult Halloween bite.
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Crisp Candy-Corn Treats
Spike the colored layers of these marshmallow crispy treats with orange and lemon zest for a new take on Halloween's signature candy.
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"I Scream" Graveyard Pie
Take mud pie to the extreme with this tombstone treat, where candy, cookies, and ice cream can rest in peace together.
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Grape-Lemonade Ghost Ice Pops
Give your guests the shivers with these fruity pops. Honeydew melon balls serve as the can't-look-away eyes that stay suspended in frozen grape juice.
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Halloween Blondies
Add some Halloween spirit to blondies with festively colored candies. With just a handful of ingredients and less than 15 minutes of prep work, something scarily sweet comes fast.
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Pimento-Cheese-and-Pumpernickel Sandwiches
Spooky cookie cutters transform these savory sandwiches into Halloween treats. Making your own pimento cheese is surprisingly simple, so whip up a double batch and leave some out for dipping.
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Scaredy-Cat Brownies
The minty treat inside these brownies will make them a Halloween staple. They're easy for kids to decorate too (which saves you some pre-party prep time!).
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Creepy Cocktail
We can hear the shrieking already. Shake up a batch of this concoction before guests arrive (it scales up easily), as they're sure to love this ghostly, gloomy drink. Dangle plastic spiders and other creepy crawlers from the edge of the glass to create a big-time scare.
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Mini Triple-Treat Cupcakes
Take a vampire-worthy bite out of these orange and black cuties. Mini cupcakes become a delightful Halloween concoction when they're packed with candy.
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Halloween Whoopie Pies
Chocolate whoopie pies are given the Halloween spirit with orange nonpareils. We added applesauce to create a soft and moist batter.
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Eyeball Martini
What's creepier than a cocktail that gazes back at you? Turn a classic martini into a Halloween specialty with this spooky trick. Use small radishes for the whites of these "eyeballs," so they will fit in an ice-cube tray.
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Chewy Caramel Mystery Cookies
A mystery awaits! Chopped up chocolate bars and caramel candy mixed into these cookies will give everyone a pleasant surprise. Break the cookie in half down the middle and watch as an oeey-gooey caramel creates a luscious pull.
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Deviled Eggs
Everyone loves these little spicy devils. Garnish with tantalizing poppy seeds for a bewitching hue and crunch.
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Halloween Cupcakes
Vanilla cupcakes become Halloween desserts with the addition of orange and black jelly beans. Reduced-fat sour cream works as well as the regular version in giving these cupcakes a moist crumb and slightly tangy taste.
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Pumpkin-Chocolate Whoopie Pies
Talk about hitting the sweet spot! Pumpkin pie spice gives these treats classic fall flavor while still staying true to the orange-and-black color scheme.
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Black-Tahini and Eggplant Dip
Dress up baba ghanoush with black tahini for a suitably dark and decadent dip. Serve with Wavy Grissini (otherwise known as breadsticks in the shape of creepy crawling snakes).
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Popcorn on the Cob
For a fun harvest twist on the usual popcorn ball, try shaping the mixture into corn on the cob.
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Halloween Bloody Mary Shooters
This adults-only beverage is bloody awesome. Create a super spooky appearance with black vodka and black lava salt, which may make guests think twice before sipping.
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Smoky Black-Bean Salsa
Quick, prepare this salsa before the monsters come! In just 15 minutes, this spicy, eerie (but totally edible) bean dip comes together. Go ahead and double dip!
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Creepy Cherry Cocktail
Maraschino cherry liqueur swirls and twirls throughout this gin-based drink. It creates a bloody hue and bewitching (okay, sweet) flavor—drink it if you dare.
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Crudites with Miso-Yogurt Dip
Serving raw vegetables alongside an umami-rich dip will always be a hit. Choose produce in vampy shades like dark purples and reds so that even your endive leaves look spooky.
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Blood-Moon Punch
This kid-friendly punch is a real treat. Freeze orange juice in a dome-shaped bowl to create the illusion of a full moon. It's a fruity combination of grape juice, lime juice, seltzer water, and ginger soda, all of which add a bit of fizz to your festivities.
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Spider-Web Cupcakes
Cast a lasting spell: These crowd-ready pull-apart cupcakes are sinfully delicious. Piping the cobwebs on with melted chocolate is so easy, a ghost could do it!
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Pumpkin Bars
It's not Halloween without sweet pumpkin treats. Similar to a sheet cake format, these are easy to slice and serve to all the little goblins.
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Berry Scary Martini
Take a sip of this deathly-looking cocktail before the clock strikes 12. A variety of fresh berries and cherry juice sweeten this killer concoction.