We’re Here for a Gourd Time
Halloween parties seem a little…childish for some. They conjure images of gimmicky costumes and sticky fingers, not to mention sore tummies from all the candy we ate. But the charm of spooky season isn’t just for the munchkins; it’s a great time of year to bust out your culinary prowess and impress all your friends! Let’s indulge in the nostalgia and the best apps around.
1. Mummy Jalapeño Poppers
If you have peppers, pastry, and a penchant for spicy appetizers, there’s nothing better than mummy poppers! This simple dish brings all the spooky heat you know and love, only now, they look completely bound in bandages. To help dilute the heat, you can also squirt fresh lime juice on top.
2. Sweet and Sour Meatballs
We know sweet and sour meatballs don’t seem all that fitting, but have you ever truly looked at this popular appetizer? They’re practically dripping with sauce, which is all you need for Halloween aesthetics. They also have all kinds of flavors in small, perfectly sized bites.
3. Decorated Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are already versatile enough—you can deep fry them, sprinkle red pepper flakes on top, or even stuff them with bacon and avocado. However, you can also tweak the outside to make them Halloween-ready. Poke holes in your hard-boiled eggs to make a skull’s face or use a fork to turn its filling into a pumpkin!
4. Bat Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
PB&J sounds a little boring, but sometimes, the best apps are the simplest. Bring everyone back to their childhood with an easy dish that only requires a bat cookie cutter and eyes made of jelly.
5. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
If you want something a little less Halloween-themed, you can still bring the flavor with roasted pumpkin seeds! You don’t need to make them into any scary creatures, either; you can simply roast any leftover seeds with a pinch of black pepper and chili powder.
6. Marinated Olives
Hey, we all like martinis. But this is a Halloween party we’re talking about, and that calls for a bit of pageantry! You can marinate them in any number of tasty ingredients: olive oil, rosemary, feta, and chili flakes all work wonders. Of course, you can also dial down the heat if you plan to pop them in martinis.
7. Caprese Ghosts
Everyone loves a good caprese salad, but there’s nothing more fitting for spooky season than turning the cheese into adorable ghosts. That’s the only change to this recipe, too! You can stick your boo-tiful creations atop crostini bread and tomatoes, then drizzle with balsamic reduction.
8. Witches' Brooms
If you grew up in the late ‘90s, you definitely saw these at a childhood Halloween party. That’s because they’re fun and easy to make! For this one, all you need to do is cut a cheese string in half, split it open into wide strips, and stick a pretzel in the top.
9. Homemade Salsa
Not everyone has the creativity to turn an everyday pizza into Frankenstein’s monster. That’s okay! You can still send chills with everyday apps, like salsa. The chunkier the better in this case, as you want it to look like guts in a bowl. But even a blended concoction goes over well.
10. Mummy Pigs in a Blanket
Pigs in a blanket are a classic party staple, and they just earned their place among costumed guests! Instead of a traditional puff pastry wrap, bind them in strips akin to bandages. You can even dot your weenies with tiny pastry eyes for more effect.
William F. Yurasko on Wikimedia
11. Pumpkin Pie Dip
Not every guest wants to stick something savory on their plate, and that’s where this dish comes in. Made with pumpkin puree, vanilla pudding, and pumpkin spice, this tasty spread is perfect for gingersnap or even sugar cookies.
12. Ghost Strawberries
Sorry, we’re not done with the spirits yet! As whimsical as chocolate-covered strawberries are, they’re nothing compared to their spooky cousin, a berry dipped in all white chocolate and given a haunted milk chocolate expression.
13. Pumpkin Cheese Balls
Cream cheese, roasted red pepper, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper make the base for pumpkin cheese balls, an easy appetizer straight from the patch. These look like cute pumpkins, yes, but you can also roll them in Dorito dust for a touch of color and a serious wallop of flavor.
14. Halloween Guacamole
So, you don’t want to dip your ladyfinger biscuits. You aren’t really interested in salsa, either. Well, don’t you worry—guacamole has you covered. Not only can it be made with a handful of ingredients, but it’s also the perfect color for Frankenstein’s monster, allowing you to get creative with its display.
15. Bacon-Wrapped Weenies
Alright, mummy weenies are cute and everything, but they aren’t nearly as gnarly as the bacon-wrapped variety. For a truly gruesome (and delicious) appetizer, wrap your cocktail weenies with bacon instead.
16. Spooky Charcuterie Board
Are you in the mood to express your creative side? There’s no better canvas than a charcuterie board! The best spreads already look magazine-ready, but you can turn the entire thing into a giant spider or lay out olives that look like eyes!
17. Ghost Pizza
Pizza doesn’t always have to be a greasy mess. In fact, the best pies are homemade with fresh ingredients and hand-rolled dough. For this dish, all you have to do is arrange the mozzarella into ghostly figures, letting them bake into melted ghouls over tomato sauce and fresh rosemary.
18. Mummy-Wrapped Brie
Do you know what’s better than baked brie? That’s right—binding it in pastry! It’s an easy-peasy addition that brings your brie back from the grave, making it the perfect, gooey centerpiece for any Halloween party.
19. Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Move over, peanut butter brittle; it’s pumpkin’s time to shine! With a few pumpkin seeds, some brown sugar, and a bit of sea salt, you can turn this crunchy app into the ultimate Halloween dish. A pinch of baking soda also keeps the consistency exactly where you want it.
thebittenword.com on Wikimedia
20. Caramel Grapes
Who doesn’t love a mouthwatering candy apple? Though they’re great desserts, they don’t always make the best appetizer. Enter its little cousin, caramel-covered grapes! Once you dip ‘em, roll them in chopped nuts for a truly tasty app that doesn’t spoil the main event.
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