You’ve settled on your costumes, now you need just the right Halloween food ideas to really make your bash spook-tacular! Whether you’re looking for “appalling” appetizers or “disgusting” desserts, we’ve rounded up some Halloween snacks your little monsters are sure to love. Scroll through for the recipes.

 

Creepy, Dead Man’s Finger Food Sandwiches

 

 

 

Talk about the perfect Halloween appetizers! These bloody digits, a combo of white bread, peanut butter, almonds and jam, make a spooky, healthy, finger food.

 

You will need:

 

• Thin sliced white bread, crusts removed
• Soft margarine
• Cream cheese or peanut butter
• Almonds
• Strawberry Jam

1. Gently flatten the slices of bread with a rolling pin to make them more pliable.
2. Spread with a little margarine and some cream cheese or peanut butter.
3. Roll up the sandwiches and make three indentations with a blunt knife to form the finger joints.
4. Trim the ends of the fingers into a ‘V’ shape and stick an almond on to each tip with a little cream cheese to form the nails.
5. Now for the gruesome bit—add a dollop of strawberry jam over the end of the finger for the blood!

 

Yummy Chocolate, Orange Spider Halloween Cupcakes

 

 

 

If you’re looking for easy Halloween treats, how about these spooky dessert cupcakes accessorized with Pocky sticks? The bug-eyed spiders are perfect for Halloween parties and trick-or-treating fun.

 

You will need:

 

 

• 1 stick plus 1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips or 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped into small pieces
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest

 

Decoration

 

• 1/4 cup store-bought chocolate flavor frosting (such as Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines)
• Chocolate sugar sprinkles
• 120 chocolate Pocky stick cookies (from 4 or 5 x 2.8-ounce boxes, such as Lu or Glico)
• 1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips or 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped into small pieces
• Licorice Allsorts

 

1. First make the cupcakes. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a muffin pan with 10 paper muffin cups. In an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Whisk the flour and cocoa powder together in a bowl. Add the eggs to the creamed butter mixture a little at a time, adding a tablespoon of the flour mixture with the second egg to stop it curdling. Fold in the orange zest and the remaining flour then stir in the chocolate chips.

 

2. Fill each paper muffin cup 2/3 full with cake batter. Bake the cupcakes for 20 to 22 minutes. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack and let cool completely.

 

3. When cool, spread a little chocolate buttercream over each of the cupcakes , put some chocolate sprinkles into a bowl and dip the cupcakes upside down into the sprinkles so that they stick to the buttercream. To make the legs, take the Pocky sticks and cut off the piece not covered with chocolate. Cut a quarter of the sticks in half . Stick four short lengths of Pocky sticks on each side of the spider’s body, then melt the chocolate. Dip one end of each of the long and the short Pocky sticks into the chocolate and arrange them on trays or baking sheets lined with greaseproof or baking paper so that they attach at an angle of about100 degrees and allow the chocolate to set. The melted chocolate will harden as it cools keeping the legs stuck together. Push one end of the short Pocky stick leg into the body of the spider and then repeat until you get four legs either side. Finish off with Licorice Allsort eyes.

 

 

 

 

Easy, Spooky Ghost Cakes

 

 

 

 

A popover mold is ideal for baking these spooky little cakes, but you could also use cut-up pound cake under the white icing to create this fun Halloween food.

 

You will need:

 

1 stick unsalted butter plus extra for greasing
Half cup plus 1 tablespoon Superfine sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 large eggs
One cup self-rising flour
Cornstarch for dusting
Non stick baking spray

1 x 24 oz box white rolled fondant icing
1 tube of black Writing Icing

 

1. Beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla essence until light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time adding a tablespoon of flour with each egg. Beat well and fold in the remaining flour.

 

2. Preheat the oven to 350F. Spoon the batter into a popover pan that has been sprayed with non stick baking spray and fill each molds till just over half full. Place on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Allow to cool, cut off the top of the cakes to form a flat surface then turn out onto a board or plate. Allow to cool completely.

 

Dust your work surface with cornstarch and roll out the icing . Cut out circles to drape over the cakes. You can use a saucer as a guide. Drape these over the sponge cakes to form ghosts. From the trimmings either use a mini cutter to cut out some tiny white oval shapes or roll out some tiny balls of white icing into oval shapes . Dampen them with a little water and stick them onto the front of the ghost. Use a blob of black Writing Icing for the pupils of the eyes.

 

 

Slimy Jell-O Treats

 

 

Watch it wiggle! Use green or blue gelatin to create eerie, glowing Halloween treats, then add gummy worms to really up the gross food factor.

 

You will need:

 

1. Prepare a package of lime or apple Jell-O as directed and divide among 8-ounce mason jars or clear bowls, filling only halfway; refrigerate them until firm.

2. Prepare another Jell-O flavor, such as cherry, berry-blue or grape. While Jell-O is cooking, place three gummy worms on top of set gelatin and let another hang over the lip. Pour second flavor over the worms, filling to the top; refrigerate.

 

 

 

Spooky Veggies ‘N Dip

 

 

Cruel-dite, anyone? Kids won’t mind eating their veggies when they look as creepy as these Halloween appetizers consisting of carrots, green beans and cherry tomatoes.

 

You will need:

 

1. Put a dip of your choice in a small bowl and set in the center of a serving platter. Spread some dip onto carrot tips to form fingernails; set on platter.

2. Heap green beans next to carrots. Dot ends of beans with ketchup to create snake eyes.

3. Slice cherry tomatoes in half and place on platter, flat side up; top with an olive slice and a pea to create eyes.

 

 

 

 

Hootwiches

Whether you serve them as a cute snack or as the main course, add cheese sandwiches with pickle chip-and-olive eyes to your Halloween dinner ideas.

 

You will need:

 

1. Place a slice of cheese, such as muenster or American, on top of an English-muffin half and put on cookie sheet.

2. Add pickle chips for eyes, and top those with sliced olives. For the nose, set a green bean between the eyes.

3. Put under broiler until cheese is melted, approximately 2 minutes.

 

 

Frankentreats

 

 

Doctor up your Rice Krispies Treats in a flash with these Halloween snacks made with white chocolate and food coloring.

 

You will need:

 

1. Start with packaged (or homemade) Rice Krispies Treats, and push each one onto a wooden skewer; set aside.

2. Melt 1 cup white-chocolate chips and 1 Tbs shortening; stir in green or neon-green food coloring.

3. Spoon melted chocolate over all sides of the treats; place on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet.

4. Use M&M’s to create eyes and ears, a piece of gummy worm for the mouth and Jujubes for the neck bolts. Refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened, then remove from skewers. Draw on hair and dot eyes with black decorating icing.

 

 

 

Witch on a Stick

 

When it comes to Halloween themed food, you’ve got to have witches, and we’re enchanted by these adorable pretzel stick versions.

 

You will need:

 

1. Cut off the tops of pretzel rods and set aside.

2. Melt 1 cup white-chocolate chips, 1 Tbs shortening and a few drops of green food coloring; stir until smooth.

3. Dip the cut end of the pretzels into the chocolate, covering the top 2 inches. Place on wax paper and sprinkle the sides of each with coconut flakes to form hair.

4. Top each with a Hershey’s Kiss and refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened. Draw on eyes, nose and mouth with black decorating icing; finish by covering the Kiss, too.

 

 

 

Freaky Hot Dog Fingers

 

 

Wrap hot dogs in crescent rolls for a handy Halloween appetizer or snack.

 

 

You will need:

 

1. Cut hot dogs in half, widthwise and then lengthwise into quarters.

2. Open a package of crescent-roll dough and roll until very thin. Cut the dough into strips, and wrap around each piece of hot dog, leaving a little bit of the tip uncovered. Bake as directed.

 

 

 

Fruity Ghoul’s Brew

These bloody, bright drinks pack quite a punch and pair well with any gross food menu.

 

 

You will need:

 

1. Put 1 maraschino cherry in each section of an ice-cube tray, then fill with cran-raspberry juice. Add 2 drops red food coloring to each section, and freeze.

2. Mix 2 parts orange juice and 1 part ginger ale in a pitcher, and set aside. To create blood, add red food coloring to some corn syrup.

3. When ready to serve, dip the rim of each glass into the syrup and allow it to drip down the sides. Fill with punch mixture and add 2 maraschino ice cubes.

 

 

 

You only need ice cream, M&M’s and strawberry syrup to conjure up these easy Halloween treats. Serve them for dessert and watch them disappear.

 

You will need:

 

• 1 quart vanilla ice cream
• Strawberry syrup (such as Hershey’s)
• 8 M&M’s (blue, green or brown)
• Black decorating gel

1. Scoop ice cream into balls and set on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet. Freeze until ready to serve (at least 20 minutes).

2. Place two ice cream balls on each serving plate, an inch apart.

3. Drizzle syrup onto each ball to create a bloodshot effect. Put an M&M (logo facing down) at the center of each and top with a drop of black decorating gel to form a pupil.

Yield: 4 pairs of “eyeballs”

 

 

Slime-Ade

 

 

Need a sickening sip to go with your gross food? We’ll drink to that! Try this refreshing brew made from white grape juice, apple juice, seltzer and food coloring.

 

 

You will need:

 

• 2 cups white grape juice
• 2 cups apple juice
• 12 to 15 drops neon-green food coloring
• 4 to 7 drops neon-blue food coloring
• 2 cups seltzer
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 6 to 12 gummy worms, optional

1. In a pitcher, mix grape and apple juices. Add 10 to 12 drops neon-green food coloring, plus 3 to 5 drops neon-blue. Stir. Add seltzer; set aside.

2. For “slime,” pour corn syrup into a small bowl (wide enough for the rim of a glass). Stir in 2 to 3 drops neon-green food coloring, and 1 to 2 drops neon-blue.

3. Dip the rims of 6 glasses into syrup. Turn glasses upright. (Note: You can do this ahead of time; just be sure to store “slimed” glasses in a cool, dry place.)

4. Fill each glass with juice/seltzer mixture. Garnish with gummy worms if you like—they’ll stick to the slime.

Yield: 6 cups

 

 

Icy Witch

 

 

These frightfully sweet witches are one of our favorite Halloween party food ideas. Kids will love making — and eating — them, thanks to fun ingredients like Oreo ice cream cones, gummy candy and licorice!

 

 

You will need:

 

• 1 qt vanilla ice cream
• 2 pouches shredded wheat cereal
• 4 Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers
• Chocolate icing
• 4 Oreo ice cream cones
• 8 chocolate chips
• 1 bag gummy candy
• 1 red licorice lace

1. Divide ice cream into four 1-cup scoops; wrap each in plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours.

2. Pull apart shredded wheat into thin strips to use as hair; set aside. Spread chocolate icing on each wafer cookie and stick on a cone for the hat.

3. Unwrap each ice-cream scoop and place on a plate; top with shredded-wheat hair. Use chocolate icing as glue to stick cone hat atop hair, as shown. Add chocolate-chip eyes, gummy-candy nose and licorice-strip mouth. Serve this wicked witch before she melts!

Makes 4 witches; freeze 3 hours before serving.

 

 

 

Giant Black Widow

 

 

These creepy, chocolatey, not-so-itsy-bitsy spiders are a tasty addition to any Halloween party food menu.

 

 

You will need:

 

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 10-oz bag marshmallows
• 2 1/2 cups Cocoa Pebbles
• 5 cups Cocoa Puffs
• Cooking spray
• 1 red Fruit Roll-Up
• 4 yellow M&M’s or Skittles
• 16 pieces black licorice

 

1. Melt butter in pot over low heat. Add marshmallows and melt over medium-low heat, stirring.

2. Pour 1/3 marshmallow mixture into a bowl; add Cocoa Pebbles. Combine, cool slightly and roll mixture into two balls to form spiders’ heads.

3. Pour Cocoa Puffs into remaining marshmallow mixture and stir until all cereal is coated.

4. Coat two bowls with cooking spray. Cool Cocoa Puff mixture slightly and press half into each bowl for bodies.

5. Put one head and body each onto two plates. Cut two circles out of the red Fruit Roll-Up and place each on top of spiders. Add M&M’s for eyes. Cut licorice pieces in half and stick four under each side of the spiders for legs.

Yield: 2 large spiders, 4 servings each

 

 

Frightful Fingers

 

 

This delightfully gross food is made from filling a latex glove with green chocolate and almonds. And the best part? It takes only 15 minutes to make!

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 2 minutes
Refrigerate: 2 hours

 

 

You will need:

 

• Two 11-oz bags white chocolate chips
• 4 drops green food coloring
• 3 powder-free latex gloves
• 15 M&Ms or almonds

 

1. Microwave chips in a bowl on medium power for 75 seconds. Stir until smooth. Stir in green coloring.

2. Drop an M&M or an almond into the bottom of the fingers of each glove. Fold down the end of the glove and, using a funnel, pour the melted white chocolate into each glove, using the end of a wooden spoon to push it through the funnel. Add just enough to fill each finger, pressing the chocolate into the fingers and thumb to work out any air bubbles.

3. Tie the end of the glove or close it with a rubber band. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Carefully peel off glove.

 

 

 

Snake Bites

 

 

You can use any food coloring you like to create these chewy Halloween snacks, which get their bite from crispy rice cereal.

 

 

You will need:

 

• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 3 Tbs butter
• One 10-oz bag marshmallows
• Green food coloring
• 4 cups crispy rice cereal
• Cooking spray
• Raisins
• Red fruit leather

 

Safety note: Always supervise children under 4 with small candies, raisins and other choking hazards.

 

1. In a large saucepan over low heat, melt peanut butter, butter and marshmallows, stirring until smooth, about 5 minutes.

2. Remove from heat; stir in a few drops food coloring, then add cereal.

3. Coat a 9×9-inch pan with cooking spray, then spread mixture evenly in the pan. Let cool 20 minutes.

4. Invert pan on a cutting board and slide out the cooled square. Cut it into about 8 long rectangles.

5. Mold each rectangle into the shape of a snake and press in 2 raisins for eyes and a pointed sliver of fruit leather for the tongue.

 

Yield: About 8 snakes

 

 

 

Ghostly Guzzle

 

 

Kids will declare this rich Halloween drink nice and slimy! This shake is like dessert in a cup — perfect for slurping.

 

 

You will need:

 

• 3 Tbs butter
• 3 Tbs sugar
• 3 Tbs light corn syrup
• 2 3/4 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup whipped topping, thawed
• 8 mini-chocolate chips

 

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together butter, sugar and corn syrup until sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 cup of milk; transfer to a large bowl.

3. Add the rest of the milk and whisk in the yogurt. Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.

4. Fill 4 short glasses with the shake and top each with a peaked dollop of whipped topping. Gently place 2 mini-chocolate chips for eyes.

 

Yield: 4 servings

 

 

Choco-Caramel Critters

 

 

Here’s a quick and tasty way to create your own creepy crawlers. Just combine caramels, chocolate and sliced almonds for the ultimate Halloween snacks.

 

 

You will need:

 

• 24 caramel candies, such as Brach’s Milk Maid Caramels
• Red licorice laces, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3/4 cup milk- or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• For decorating: sliced almonds, red hots, colored candies or sprinkles

 

Safety note: Always supervise children under 4 with small candies, raisins and other choking hazards.

 

 

1. Flatten each caramel into a circle between 2 sheets of waxed paper.

2. lace 3 pieces of licorice on each side of 12 of the caramel circles for legs. Top with remaining caramel circles and press closed.

3. Melt chocolate in a small bowl in microwave for 60 seconds, stirring halfway through, until smooth.

4. With a butter knife, spread the top of each bug with chocolate to cover.

5. Decorate with sliced almonds for wings and red hots for eyes, or let kids use any Halloween candy you have on hand.

 

Yield: 12 bugs

 

 

White-Chocolate Ghosts

 

 

Twinkies covered in white chocolate are a spook-tacularly good Halloween food.

 

 

You will need:

 

• 6 Twinkies
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 12-oz package white chocolate chips
• 16 Raisinettes or raisins

 

1. Cut off bottom quarter of each Twinkie and stand them up on a plate. Bring cream to a boil in a saucepan. Add chips, reduce heat to low and stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.

2. Spoon the cream mixture over each Twinkie, covering the cake and letting some pool at the bottom to form a base. Keep the mixture warm and stir regularly as you go. Add Raisinettes or raisins for spooky eyes.

 

Yield: 6 ghosts

 

Ghostly Goodies

 

 

 

Spooked by the idea of cooking up a whole Halloween party menu? These no-bake ghosts require only marshmallows placed on skewers and decorated with chocolate and cinnamon candies.

 

 

You will need:

 

• 8 large marshmallows
• 6 wooden skewers (points cut off)
• 1 cup white-chocolate chips
• 1 Tbs vegetable shortening
• 12 cinnamon Red Hots
• Black decorating gel

 

1. For each ghost, push three marshmallows onto end of skewer; set aside.

2. Microwave white-chocolate and shortening in a microwave-safe dish on medium-high for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave in 10-second intervals until smooth.

3. Holding the skewer, spoon the melted mixture over marshmallows until covered; place on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet. Use two Red Hots for eyes and decorating gel for a mouth.

4. Refrigerate until chocolate has hardened; serve

 

Yield: 6 phantoms

 

 

Friendly Ghosts

 

 

This meringue recipe is a great Halloween party treat for kids and takes only 10 minutes to prep.

 

Prep: 10 minutes
Dry: 6 hours
Serves: 12

 

 

You will need:

 

• 6 large egg whites
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar
• Brown or black decorating gel

 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using the whisk attachment and an electric mixer, beat the egg whites on high speed until soft peaks just start to form, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Add the sugar in a slow, steady stream and continue beating on high speed until very stiff peaks form, about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes more.

2. Scoop out large spoonfuls of the whipped egg whites and place them a few inches apart on the cookie sheet, using your fingers to shape the mounds like ghosts. Turn off the oven and place the meringues in the oven to dry, at least 6 hours or overnight.

3. Remove the meringues from the oven and draw on eyes with the decorating gel.