Sweeten up the scariest night of the year with cute and creepy Halloween recipes, affordable decorations and party tricks that are just as fun as they are festive. From spider cupcakes to mummy pizzas, these ideas will help you throw a party that’s spooky, sweet and stress-free.
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Are you ready to take your Halloween cuisine to the next level? You’ve come to the right place!
Every October, my kitchen basically turns into a haunted bakery. (Think: sprinkles everywhere, melted chocolate fingerprints on the counter and at least one kid sneaking candy eyes by the handful.) The result? A lineup of festive snacks and sweets that are as fun to make as they are to eat.
Whether you’re hosting a big bash, packing classroom treats or just looking for a weekend activity with the kids, I’ve got you covered with:
- Spooky Halloween Recipes (both sweet and savory!)
- Budget-Friendly DIY Decorations anyone can pull off
- Party Games that don’t require a Pinterest-level craft kit
- Leftover Candy Recipes (because that stash won’t eat itself)
Halloween Recipes for Every Occasion
Whether you’re hosting a full-on Halloween bash or just need something fun for the kids after trick-or-treating, these recipes have you covered. Think crowd-pleasing party desserts, spooky classroom treats and easy snacks that disappear faster than a ghost at midnight.
- Mini Bagel Mummy Pizzas: Gooey cheese “bandages” + olive eyes = instant kid-approved dinner or snack.
- Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops: Quick, quirky and made for little hands to help decorate.
- Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats: Add a festive sweet to your Halloween dessert lineup with a quick and easy recipe for Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats that are soft, chewy and oh-so-spooky.
- Halloween Breadstick Bones: A savory break from the sugar overload (bonus: dip them in homemade marinara“blood”).
- Chocolate Halloween Pretzels: Grab the kids and let them get in on the decorating fun with this easy Halloween dessert recipe starring chocolate-dipped pretzels and spooking toppings.
- Halloween Dirt Cups: You can make individual puddings or one large trifle. Then it’s time to decorate with all the zombie candy hands and bone sprinkles!
- Double Stuf Oreo Bat Cookies: Just 4 ingredients and no baking required.
- Spider Cupcakes: Creepy, crawly, and a little wonky—in the best way! Moist chocolate cupcakes are topped with swirled buttercream and chocolate spiders, making these the ultimate Halloween party treat.
- Monster Cookies: My boys love these cookies 365 days a year but come October, I add creepy candy eyes to transform them into the ultimate Halloween treat.
- Halloween Snack Mix: Sweet, salty, crunchy and chewy—all in one spooky, customizable mix! Packed with cereals, toasted nuts, chewy caramel corn, and festive candies, it’s the perfect party snack for little ghouls and goblins.
- Halloween Sugar Cookies: These soft and buttery pinwheel cookies are studded with candy eyes. Best of all, the dough can be made ahead and frozen for slice-and-bake cookies.
- Easy Candy Apples: My 2011 recipe that’s been tried by millions (and loved every fall since!).
- Homemade Caramel Apples: A classic for good reason, with all my tips for glossy, no-slip caramel.
- Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies: Melted chocolate and candy eyes transform soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies into a spooky treat everyone will love.
- Homemade Caramel Corn: Sweet, crunchy and the perfect party snack.
- Spiced Pumpkin Bundt Cake: Cozy fall flavors with a hint of spooky fun! This recipe even landed me on the cover of the October 2022 issue of Woman’s World Magazine.
- Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies: A dramatic swirl that looks just as good on a Halloween table as it tastes.
- Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes: This cupcake recipe stars my go-to sour cream chocolate cake recipe topped with tangy orange cream cheese frosting, pretzel “stems” and swirly green candy melt vines—perfect for a festive and kid-friendly Halloween treat!
Quick & Creepy Dessert Hack: Marshmallow Spider Webs
This is honestly the easiest way to turn any dessert into a spooky showstopper—brownies, cakes, cupcakes—you name it.
- Microwave 1 cup of marshmallows for 20–30 seconds.
- Stir until smooth.
- Pull the marshmallows apart with your fingers until stringy, then stretch over your dessert to create instant spiderwebs.
Try this easy marshmallow cobweb trick on my go-to homemade brownie recipe!
Budget-Friendly Halloween Decorations & DIY Ideas
A few simple pieces can totally transform your space—without giving your wallet nightmares.
Here are some of my favorites:
- Melting Finger Candles
- BOO sign
- Bat Runner
- Skull centerpiece
- Halloween Drink Umbrellas
- Do Not Enter tape
- Bloody handprint & footprint stickers
- Ghost throw pillow covers
- Mini Pumpkin Soy Candles
Pro Tip: Keep the color palette simple—think black + ivory or black + burnt orange—for a pulled-together look without spending hours decorating. Add low light, a few battery-operated orange tea light candles, and you’ve created a vibe that’s spooky and fun.
And of course, no Halloween story in my house is complete without a little chaos. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know all about Home Depot Spidergate: I ordered what I thought was a small lawn spider, but what arrived was an 8-foot, 64.2-pound behemoth with bendable joints, LED eyes and a motion sensor that haunts me to this day.
My kids named him Steven, and yes, he’s now a permanent (and slightly terrifying) member of our Halloween crew. #StevenTheSpider
How to Make Ghost Candles
Nothing says spooky chic like a flickering ghost candle. Here’s the trick: soak taper candles in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes until they soften slightly, then bend them into eerie, ghost-like shapes. Use a permanent marker to make eyes, and you’ve got instant haunted house vibes without spending a fortune.
Candy Corn Vase Floral Arrangement
Nestle a small glass vase or mason jar inside a larger clear vase. Fill the space between the two with candy corn, then add water and your favorite flowers to the smaller vase. Instant centerpiece! (These faux Halloween blooms are great if you don’t want to fuss with fresh ones.)
How to Make a Skeleton Cake
This one is a showstopper. Bake up my Best Chocolate Cake (trust me, it’s a crowd favorite), then grab this posable skeleton prop. Disassemble the skeleton and arrange the bones right on top of the frosted cake. It’s creepy, it’s delicious, and it’s guaranteed to get a reaction.
Fun Halloween Party Games for All Ages
These games keep kids (and adults!) entertained without a ton of setup:
- Pumpkin Bowling: Line up empty water bottles as pins and roll a mini pumpkin as your “ball.” Add glow sticks inside the bottles for an after-dark twist.
- Mummy Wrap Race: Split into teams and see who can wrap a “mummy” the fastest using toilet paper. Bonus points if the mummy can still walk when they’re done!
- Freeze Dance—Monster Edition: Crank up “Monster Mash” or “Thriller” and stop the music randomly. Anyone still moving is out. Bonus points for the creepiest zombie dance moves.
- Pin the Hat on the Witch: A Halloween spin on a birthday party classic—print out a witch, cut out paper hats, and see who can pin them on blindfolded.
What to do with leftover Halloween candy?
Make the most of Fright Night extras with these top-rated recipes:
- Halloween Candy Bark: This has been the #1 recipe for leftover Halloween candy for the past five years!
- Leftover Halloween Candy Blondies: A soft and chewy cookie-like base is studded with a holiday’s worth of extra sweets.
- The Ultimate Candy Skillet Cookie: Grab those Halloween leftovers for this giant cookie that’s soft and chewy in the center and slightly crispy around the edges. Pile on the ice cream then grab the spoons and dig in!
Trick or treat
Sweeten up the scariest night of the year with festive dessert recipes
Red Velvet FOR THE WIN
Add a colorful twist to the spookiest celebration of the year
