30 Halloween Party Food Ideas And Cocktail Recipes

Halloween makes for a spook-tacular party theme: It gives you and your guests an excuse to dress up in fun costumes (which, if you're anything like us, you probably never outgrew), has endless options for decor (both scary or not-so-scary, depending on the age of your invitees and your personal preference), and takes place during a season with so many delicious foods featuring fall flavors — think cinnamon, pumpkin, and ginger — in combinations you really don't get the rest of the year.

And although throwing a themed party can be a lot of work for many of those very same reasons, pulling together a Halloween soirée for friends and loved ones doesn't have to be stressful if you're armed with a list of food and beverage ideas that can easily help you turn any party into a blast. We've rounded up 30 cocktail and recipe ideas that will make planning your Halloween party a little less frightening.

We can't think of a lot of people who would say "no thanks" to crunchy calamari served at a party. But while this has long been a popular bar snack, the appetizer can sometimes become unpleasantly oily or cold in transit. Our recipe makes it easy to enjoy calamari in the comfort of your own home without sacrificing quality; The perfect snack to greet your Halloween party guests ready to fill up on some fried food before moving on to candy or cocktails.

Just remember the calamari needs to soak in buttermilk for half an hour before being coated in flour and fried – the perfect amount of time to mix up a Halloween-themed punch or put the finishing touches on your spooky costume.

Recipe: Crispy And Crunchy Fried Calamari

Kimchi is the star of this spicy Bloody Mary, which adds a unique touch to the familiar brunch cocktail. The drink — famous for its fun garnishes like celery, olives, and even shrimp cocktail — includes some ingredients you have maybe never thought about adding to it like fish sauce, wasabi, and togarishi, a Japanese spice blend made with orange peel, red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds (via Food52).

The color alone makes it the perfect drink to serve at your Halloween party, but if you want to go above and beyond garnish your Kimchi Bloody Mary with pimento-stuffed olives to resemble an eyeball floating in your drink.

Recipe: Kimchi Bloody Mary

"I'm not in the mood for chicken wings," said almost no one ever, which is why we think this recipe for baked chicken wings is sure to be a hit at your Halloween party. Unlike many recipes which call for the chicken to be fried, our wings are baked for a few minutes and then basted with a flavorful sauce before they are returned to the oven to ensure they come out crisp.

Ready in about an hour, these wings would also be the perfect app to feed unexpected post-trick-or-treat guests — just make sure you've got wings on standby!

Recipe: Crispy Baked Chicken Wings

Though — in our opinion — all cookies are perfect just the way they are, sometimes you want to take your premade treats to the next level (or perhaps take a recipe shortcut and skip making them from scratch).

Our Oreo Balls recipe takes Oreo cookies, naturally, and blitzes them up into a sandy powder. Next, the pulverized cookies are mixed with nut butter (the recipe calls for almond butter, but you can feel free to swap with whatever you prefer — from peanut to allergen-friendly sunflower seed) before the resulting mixture is reformed into balls and then decorated with melted chocolate and festive sprinkles. If you'd like you can swap the milk chocolate for white to resemble mummies.

This recipe is great for kids and allowing them to decorate their own Oreo Balls would make a fun party activity! 

Recipe: Oreo Balls

While you may be used to consuming pumpkin in Thanksgiving pies or in spiced lattes as part of an annual fall ritual, we're sure this luscious Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake will make a wonderful addition to your Halloween party spread.

Like many similarly-themed desserts and drinks, this cake is full of pumpkin-spiced goodness and topped with a dollop of whipped cream. The best part is — because it starts off with a boxed cake mix — this dessert is easier than pie.

Recipe: Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

If you're a party-throwing pro, you likely have your go-to guacamole recipe, but we're pretty certain that once you've tried Tasting Table recipe developer Michelle McGlinn's version you'll agree this could be the One Guacamole Recipe to Rule Them All. We keep this guac basic but add a little something-something in the form of Creole/Cajun seasoning.

McGlinn warns those who make this for their Halloween party to taste as they go and use a light hand with the salt, especially since the tortilla chips you inevitably serve it with will bring an element of saltiness, too.

Recipe: Crave-worthy Guacamole

Thanks to the magic of food coloring, you can transform these delightful Candy Corn and Peanut Popcorn Balls into a dark-as-night treat worthy of a place on your Halloween party menu.

The snack is both easy-to-make and fuss-free, just make sure you grease up your hands or wear some latex gloves when forming the balls so they don't stick. Not a peanut fan? Feel free to swap with another small treat — we're thinking M&M's or candy corn — for a fun and festive addition to your spooky popcorn ball. 

Recipe: Candy Corn and Peanut Popcorn Balls

Armed with our Cheesesteak Stromboli recipe, you won't have to work hard to get your little goblins to eat a proper meal before they dive into their Halloween candy (or your decidedly grown-up gouls to fill their stomachs before imbibing in the seasonal pumpkin cocktails you're serving up).

Recipe developer Jessica Morone makes use of pre-made pizza dough to turn this stromboli into a dish that's as easy to prepare as it is to serve. (The hardest part is waiting for the stromboli to cool.) As a bonus, leftovers — if any — can be eaten the next day.

Recipe: Cheesesteak Stromboli

Though hummus is best when it's made from scratch, many people opt for store-bought believing the dip is difficult and time-consuming to make at home. But our Instant Pot Hummus recipe is here to help you achieve the smooth, homemade hummus of your dreams.

The use of an Instant Pot means you can make your hummus from dried chickpeas, which Tasting Table recipe developer Ting Dalton says are key. Dalton explains, hummus made with canned chickpeas "really doesn't taste the same. There is no intensity of flavor." 

Recipe: Instant Pot Hummus

If you enjoy your pumpkin flavors packed into a creamy beverage, then this boozy Halloween treat is just for you.

This festive cocktail starts with a serving of pumpkin butter, which is amped up with bourbon and triple sec, leaving you with a citrusy, pumpkin-packed beverage to be enjoyed at your Halloween party. (You may want to also play Tim Burton's creepy 1999 film "Sleepy Hollow" in the background if you really want to run with the theme.) The addition of egg white creates a slightly foamy, silky texture.

Recipe: Headless Horseman

A true party classic (deviled eggs have been around since at least 1877, per Southern Kitchen, when a recipe for the appetizer appeared in Alabama newspaper "The Montgomery Advertiser"), there are more than a few ways to enliven your standard deviled egg recipe — and this one makes use of kimchi to kick the eggs up by a notch or two.

Not only does the chopped kimchi add some spice and tang to your deviled eggs, it also adds a pop of color, taking the yolk filling from pale yellow to a festive orange-red hue. Top them off with a sprinkling of black sesame seeds for a perfect Halloween party snack.

Recipe: Kimchi Deviled Eggs

As the days get colder and shorter, peak fruit and vegetable season begins to come to an end, but this is also the time of year apples make their stunning debut. And what better way to use up some of fall's bounty than with a delicious apple crisp?

Our Classic Apple Crisp recipe makes it easy for you because no specific apple is needed to make the fall dessert; All you need to do is make sure you choose apples firm enough to stand up to the oven's heat (think Cortland, Honeycrisp, or even Granny Smith). Serve warm with vanilla ice cream as dessert and then eat leftovers for breakfast the next day before you clean up after your Halloween festivities.

Recipe: Classic Apple Crisp

There are moments when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and we'd like to think that an Italian sub is one of those moments, particularly when a medley of deli meats and cheese meet fresh veg and a flavorful selection of spices, all held together with two mouth puckering condiments: a pickled cherry pepper spread and a red wine vinaigrette. 

This recipe can be cut into smaller sandwiches for a filling nibble that can be consumed standing or scaled up and left larger for your Halloween party guests to enjoy.

Recipe: Italian Sub Sandwich

Weather you're team Muddy Buddy or team Puppy Chow, we can all agree this delightful, chocolate sensation is always a welcome sight on Halloween party snack tables.

Quick and easy to make, these Muddy Buddies can also be packed in little baggies and given away to familiar trick-or-treaters who might come knocking at your door or as party favors. Mix in some M&M's for an extra dose of chocolate and a pop of color, and remember to add a peanut warning for those who might have sensitivities.

Recipe: Homestyle Muddy Buddies

Sweater weather fans can toast the start of cozy season with our Apple Cider Hot Toddy, which recipe developer Molly Madigan Pisula created for Tasting Table to bring together two fall favorites.

With its winning combination of classic autumnal spices — namely, ginger and cinnamon — as well as a generous shot of bourbon, this drink is sure to warm up your Halloween party. Perfect for a pre- or post-trick-or-treating adventure, make sure to heat up a batch of booze-free cider for the kids.

Recipe: Apple Cider Hot Toddy

Perfect for the Halloween party set that has aged out of roaming the neighborhood asking for free candy, made with layers of chocolate, caramel, and pecans, you can be forgiven for thinking that chocolate turtles are a difficult dessert to make. But Tasting Table recipe developer Kate Shungu dispels that notion with her Chocolate Turtle recipe, which can be whipped up in under an hour.

Just remember to make these chocolate turtles in advance so they have time to set and you don't end up with a gooey mess.

Recipe: Chocolate Turtles

Loaded potato skins may not be a go-to appetizer if you're short on time, but if you're willing to put in the work this is a snack that's guaranteed to please.

In our Loaded Potato Skin recipe, boiled potatoes are hollowed out and then filled with peppers, cheese, and bacon before being topped with sour cream and chives. If you're looking to make your potato skins just a little more spooky, top each dollop of sour cream with a slice of olives or piece of red pepper to resemble a watchful eye.

Recipe: Loaded Potato Skins

Few flavors have come to symbolize the fall season quite like pumpkin, and this delectable recipe brings together the sweetness of pumpkin pie and the tang of cream cheese like no other. The perfect blend of sweet, spice, and everything nice, our Classic Pumpkin Cheesecake is a dream dessert to serve at the end of a meal or set out on a Halloween snack table.

The cheesecake is best served after it has spent at least six hours in the fridge, so you'll want to plan in advance if you'd like to offer this up to your Halloween party guests.

Recipe: Classic Pumpkin Cheesecake

Fans of tangy, bold flavors will love our Whipped Feta Dip.

The recipe combines two kinds of cheese — feta and cream cheese — and comes together in just five minutes with the help of a food processor. Served simply with crackers, pita, or raw veggies if you're looking to add something a little fresh to your Halloween party lineup, this dip is perfect for those times when unexpected company shows up or when your party snack levels look like they are running low.

Recipe: Whipped Feta Dip

Crunchy and creamy would be a great way to describe crab rangoon, but the popular Chinese-American restaurant classic doesn't have to be delivered.

Our Homemade Crab Rangoon recipe is sure to please, just remember to give yourself a bit of time to master the art of folding. Once you've got that down, you're only minutes away from enjoying these crisp hot treats. You can even prep them in advance and freeze to cut down on day-of party tasks.

Recipe: Homemade Crab Rangoon

Candy corn may be one of the more controversial Halloween treats, but even its haters will be hard-pressed to say no to a piece of our Candy Corn Bark.

The best part of this recipe is that it's super easy to make and customize; You can use any candies you like in the mix. The only thing to be cognisant of when making the colorful confection is not to overcrowd the candy.

Recipe: Candy Corn Bark

Our Boozy Cider Slushie is what happens when summer and fall walk into a bar and decide to come up with a tasty treat that incorporates the best of both seasons. This drink incorporates the flavors of chai, ginger, and bourbon in a slushie made with apple cider.

Chef Kelly Fields, who envisioned the drink, said she was looking to "create a cider drink that felt warm but was still cool and refreshing" and in our opinion, she succeeded!

Recipe: Boozy Cider Slushie

Cheesesteak and egg rolls are a match made in party food heaven, taking the classic Philly cheesesteak ingredients and turning them into a portable, handheld snack.

Rolling the egg rolls is much easier than you might think, and Tasting Table recipe developer Michelle McGlinn shared some helpful frying tips to make the somewhat daunting task more manageable. In the end, the reward is well worth the effort, and your Halloween party guests will thank you for the cheesy, fried offering when they're a few cocktails or candy bars deep.

Recipe: Crispy Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls

You might think of dirt pudding as a dessert that only a dedicated child — or pet — might want to dig into, but we expect you'll change your mind when you learn more about our Easy Dirt Pudding recipe.

Not only does this appeal to the young and young at heart, but recipe developer Jaime Shelbert also improved the classic treat by spiking it with a bit of extra cocoa to really make the chocolate flavor stand up and zing and entice even the most discerning palate.

For an extra fun Halloween twist, top with gummy worms or fun-sized Heath bars to resemble gravestones! 

Recipe: Easy Dirt Pudding

It's thick. It's crispy. It's square-cut. And it's generously blanketed with from-scratch tomato sauce and melting layers of provolone. It can only be Detroit-style pizza.

Unlike many pizza recipes, you'll find our Detroit-Style Deep Dish Pizza takes you from actual start to finish — no shortcuts here! Perfect for seriously impressing your Halloween party guests or bringing to a spooky potluck.

Recipe: Detroit-Style Deep Dish Pizza

If you think the name of this recipe is a mouthful, just wait until you see what it yields: a giant crispy rice treat shaped like a pumpkin, with a secret crevice filled with two cups of Halloween candy.

This edible pinata promises to make any Halloween party one you and your kids will remember forever (though we think adults would equally appreciate the tasty activity), just be sure to grease your hands properly before you attempt to make our Candy-Filled Rice Krispies Treat Pumpkin so you don't end up with a sticky mess.

Recipe: Candy-Filled Rice Krispies Treat Pumpkin

We can't think of a party treat quite as popular as spinach dip, which brings together melty, creamy cheeses and Popeye's favorite vegetable.

Quick to pull together and needing just 20 minutes in the oven to bake, our Creamy Spinach Dip is perfect served with a crusty baguette, crackers, or even alongside a crudites platter. Don't forget to add the crushed red pepper, which puts a kick into this already memorable nibble.

Recipe: Creamy Spinach Dip

This pumpkin brittle recipe carries a spicy kick and a pop of color (both delivered by cayenne pepper), as well as an irresistible sugar-and-salt contrast that will have your Halloween party guest clamoring for more.

Ready in an hour, our Spicy Pumpkin-Seed Brittle is the perfect last-minute snack or hostess gift, but it can also be made up to one week in advance and stored in an airtight container for all you serious party planners.

Recipe: Spicy Pumpkin-Seed Brittle

A popular bar snack, if you've got hungry masses over for a meal, sliders are a quick and easy way to provide nourishment. This Sheet Pan Slider recipe allows you to make as many as your tray — or your oven — can hold and removes the work of flipping burgers and standing over a hot grill while your friends and family party.

Serve alongside a platter of toppings (think ketchup and mustard, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickles, etc.) so your guests can customize their mini burgers.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Sliders

Your Halloween party guests will be seriously stunned when they spot this homemade Pumpkin Spice Liqueur on your bar cart.

Made with vodka and sugar, the drink embraces fall flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice, and is perfect for drinking neat, mixed into your favorite cocktail, or for shaking up a decidedly adult version of your favorite fall coffee.

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Liqueur