Halloween Food Ideas To Amp Up Your Party Recipe

I conjured creepy-cute rice krispie treat monsters and other Fun Halloween Snacks that will have guests peeking around every corner to see what I come up with next.

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I never wanted Halloween to be predictable, so I load up the table with Rice Krispie Treat Monsters and a pile of Mummy Hot Dogs that look like they might scuttle away. Guests always laugh then reach in anyway, which is exactly the point.

These are the sort of Fun Halloween Snacks that get devoured before the lights go out, and they double as easy Dessert Halloween options when dessert panic hits. I’m always chasing that perfect mix of goofy and a little gross, the kind of spread that makes kids squeal and grown ups act like kids again.

Ingredients

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Rice Krispie Treat Monsters
- Rice Krispies cereal, light crunchy carbs for quick energy, not much fibre
- Marshmallows, pure sugar, very sweet, melts smooth, no real nutrients
Mummy Hot Dogs
- Hot dogs, protein and fat, processed meat, savory not healthy if often eaten
- Crescent roll dough, buttery carbs adds flakiness and calories, fluffy not whole grain
Witch Hat Cookies
- Chocolate wafer cookies, sweet crunchy base with simple carbs, addictive snack
- Hersheys Kisses, chocolate bite adds rich cocoa and sugar, small portion
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
- Cream cheese, rich creamy fat and protein, high calorie but satisfying
- Sharp cheddar, savory protein and calcium, bold flavor boosts party dip
Spider Deviled Eggs
- Eggs, high quality protein, vitamins and healthy fats, very filling
- Black olives, briny add texture and salty flavor, low calories
Ghost Pizza Bagels
- Bagels, dense carbs filling, gives chewy base and energy
- Mozzarella, melts creamy provides protein and calcium, mild flavor
Caramel Apples
- Apples, fiber rich slightly sweet tart crunch, vitamin C
- Caramel, sweet sticky sugar adds calories and chew, crowd pleaser
Spooky Chocolate Bark
- Dark or milk chocolate, antioxidants in dark, milk is sweeter, both add richness
- Candy eyes and sprinkles, visual fun adds sugar and crunch, mostly decorative

Ingredient Quantities

Rice Krispie Treat Monsters
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 10 oz marshmallows about 40 regular sized or 4 cups mini
- 12 oz assorted candy melts or white chocolate to coat and decorate
- 1 cup candy eyes
- 1/2 cup mini M&M’s or mini chocolate chips for teeth and accents
- Nonstick cooking spray or a little extra butter for shaping

Mummy Hot Dogs
- 8 hot dogs or cocktail sausages
- 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough or 8 oz puff pastry sheet
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard or ketchup for eyes

Witch Hat Cookies
- 24 chocolate wafer cookies like Fudge Stripe style
- 24 Hershey’s Kisses or similar chocolate kisses
- 1/4 cup orange or purple frosting or 4 oz candy melts to glue kisses to cookies

Pumpkin Cheese Ball
- 16 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or crushed pretzels for coating
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- paprika for color
- pretzel sticks or small breadstick piece for stem
- a few chives for vine accents

Spider Deviled Eggs
- 12 large eggs
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup black olives sliced for spider bodies and legs
- paprika for dusting

Ghost Pizza Bagels
- 8 mini bagels or 4 large bagels split
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- black olives sliced for eyes
- optional pepperoni slices or mini pepperonis

Caramel Apples
- 6 medium apples, firm and dry
- 14 oz bag caramels or 1 1/2 cups caramel bits
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 6 wooden craft sticks
- toppings optional chopped nuts sprinkles crushed cookies

Spooky Chocolate Bark
- 12 oz dark or milk chocolate chips
- 6 oz white chocolate chips for drizzling
- 1/2 cup candy eyes and assorted Halloween sprinkles
- 1/4 cup crushed pretzels or chopped candy for texture

How to Make this

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1. Rice Krispie Treat Monsters: In a large pot melt 4 tbsp butter over low heat, add 10 oz marshmallows and stir till smooth, remove from heat and fold in 6 cups Rice Krispies until coated; grease your hands or spray with nonstick spray and shape into monsters on parchment, let cool a few minutes; melt 12 oz candy melts or white chocolate and either dip or drizzle over the shapes, press on candy eyes and 1/2 cup mini M&M’s or mini chocolate chips for teeth and accents while coating is still tacky, set until firm.

2. Mummy Hot Dogs: Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Wrap 8 hot dogs or cocktail sausages in thin strips cut from 1 can crescent roll dough or an 8 oz puff pastry sheet leaving a little gap for eyes, place on a baking sheet and bake 12 to 15 minutes till golden; squeeze tiny dots of mustard or ketchup in the gap for eyes after they come out of the oven.

3. Witch Hat Cookies: Put a small dab of 1/4 cup orange or purple frosting or melted candy melts on 24 chocolate wafer cookies, press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center to make a hat, pipe a little contrasting frosting band if you like for color, chill briefly so the “hat” sets.

4. Pumpkin Cheese Ball: In a bowl beat 16 oz softened cream cheese with 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder and 1/4 tsp salt until well combined; form into a ball, refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes to firm up then roll in 1/4 cup chopped pecans or crushed pretzels, dust with paprika for that pumpkin color, insert a pretzel stick or small breadstick for the stem and tuck a few chives on top for vine accents.

5. Spider Deviled Eggs: Place 12 eggs in a pot, cover with cold water, bring to a boil then simmer 10 minutes, cool in an ice bath and peel; halve eggs, remove yolks and mash with 1/3 cup mayo, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tsp white vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, pipe or spoon the filling back into the whites; top each with 1/3 cup sliced black olives cut into one slice for the body and thin strips for legs, dust lightly with paprika.

6. Ghost Pizza Bagels: Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Split 8 mini bagels or 4 large bagels, spread with pizza sauce, pile on 2 cups shredded mozzarella and shape the cheese into a ghost shape with a spoon or tear slices of cheese into ghosts, add black olive slices for eyes and optional pepperoni for mouths, bake 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.

7. Caramel Apples: Insert 6 wooden craft sticks into firm, dry apples; melt a 14 oz bag of caramels or 1 1/2 cups caramel bits with 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk in 30 second microwave bursts stirring between until smooth, dip apples and let excess drip, roll in toppings like chopped nuts sprinkles or crushed cookies, place on parchment and chill until set.

8. Spooky Chocolate Bark: Melt 12 oz dark or milk chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second bursts stirring until smooth, spread thinly on a parchment lined sheet, melt 6 oz white chocolate chips and drizzle over, scatter 1/2 cup candy eyes, Halloween sprinkles and 1/4 cup crushed pretzels or chopped candy for texture, chill until firm then break into pieces.

9. Time and staging tips: Bake items that need the oven together to save time, chill cheese ball and bark while other things bake, and do decorations like eyes and M&M teeth right before serving so nothing gets soggy. Work in batches, clean as you go, and keep a tray of parchment ready so nothing sticks.

10. Quick hacks: Spray your hands when shaping sticky rice krispie treats, warm caramels with a tablespoon of cream if they look grainy, use a piping bag or zip bag with the corner snipped for neat deviled egg filling, and press candy eyes on warm chocolate with a toothpick so they stay put.

Equipment Needed

1. Large heavy pot for melting marshmallows and heating fillings
2. Baking sheets lined with parchment or silicone mats youll want at least two
3. Mixing bowls in assorted sizes for cheese ball deviled egg filling and more
4. Microwave safe bowls for melting chocolate candy melts and caramels
5. Rubber spatula and wooden spoon for stirring folding and scraping
6. Measuring cups and spoons plus a small kitchen scale if you have one
7. Piping bag or zip top bag with the corner snipped for deviled eggs and frosting
8. Knife and cutting board for apples olives and chopping toppings

FAQ

Q: Can I make these ahead of time and how should I store them?

Yep. Pumpkin cheese ball and deviled eggs are best made 1-2 days ahead, keep them refrigerated in airtight containers. Rice Krispie monsters stay good 2 days at room temp, longer if wrapped and chilled. Witch hat cookies and chocolate bark can be made 2-4 days ahead, store in a single layer so they don’t smush. Caramel apples are best same day, or up to 24 hours if wrapped tight and chilled. Mummy hot dogs and ghost pizza bagels are easiest to bake right before serving, but you can prep and reheat at 350 F for 5-8 minutes.

Q: I have allergies, any easy swaps for dairy, nuts or gluten?

Totally doable. Use dairy free butter and vegan marshmallows for rice krispies. Swap gluten free bagels and crescent or puff dough for GF versions. Replace chopped pecans with crushed pretzels, seeds or toasted oats for the cheese ball. For chocolate, use allergen friendly candy melts. Always check labels for cross contact if it's a severe allergy.

Q: What’s the fastest way to melt chocolate or candy melts without ruining them?

Microwave in 15-20 second bursts, stir between each burst until smooth. Or use a double boiler over low heat. If it’s too thick add a teaspoon of neutral oil or shortening to loosen. Never let even a drop of water touch melting chocolate or it can seize up.

Q: How do I stop things from getting soggy when I’m serving a party?

Assemble items with crunchy toppings at the last minute. Keep sauces and sprinkles separate for people to add themselves. For caramel apples, dry apples well and dip on parchment, chill so caramel sets before adding toppings. For pizza bagels toast bagels first so they don’t get soggy under sauce.

Q: Any safety tips for handling hot caramel and eggs?

Hot caramel can cause bad burns, so use long handled spoon and don’t touch the melted syrup. Dip apples on a cooled surface and let caramel set. For eggs, chill boiled eggs in an ice bath right after cooking and refrigerate within 2 hours. Eat deviled eggs within 24 hours for best safety.

Q: Short on time, how can I still make the spread look impressive?

Use store bought shortcuts: candy eyes, pre-shredded cheese, pre-made dough and premade cookie cutters. Use squeeze bottles or zip bags with a corner snipped for quick decorating. Make big items like the cheese ball the focal point, then sprinkle smaller easy things like bark and cookies around it so the table looks full fast.

Halloween Food Ideas To Amp Up Your Party Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Rice Krispie Treat Monsters
- Rice Krispies cereal: swap with puffed rice cereal, crisped brown rice, or even Corn Flakes if thats all you’ve got
- Butter: use coconut oil, margarine, or 1/4 cup peanut butter for a nutty twist
- Marshmallows: use marshmallow creme, vegan marshmallows, or 1 cup sweetened condensed milk (a bit stickier)
- Candy melts/white chocolate: replace with almond bark, melted white chocolate chips, or colored candy melts
Mummy Hot Dogs
- Hot dogs: swap with chicken sausages, cocktail sausages, or veggie dogs for a meatless option
- Crescent roll dough: use puff pastry, biscuit dough, or rolled pizza dough cut into strips
- Mustard/ketchup eyes: use tiny olive pieces, mini chocolate chips, or edible food marker dots
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
- Cream cheese: use Neufchatel, whipped cream cheese, or vegan cream cheese
- Shredded cheddar: swap for smoked gouda, Colby Jack, or pepper jack for more zip
- Coating: use crushed pretzels, chopped toasted pecans, crushed tortilla chips, or crispy fried onions
- Stem/vines: use pretzel sticks or breadstick pieces for the stem, and green onion or parsley instead of chives
Caramel Apples
- Caramels: use dulce de leche, salted caramel sauce, or melted chocolate as the coating
- Heavy cream: substitute with milk, evaporated milk, or a little butter to loosen the caramel
- Toppings: chopped nuts, crushed cookies, sprinkles, toasted coconut, or crushed pretzels
- Sticks: wooden craft sticks, sturdy skewers, or cinnamon sticks for extra flavor

Pro Tips

1) Plan your oven and fridge time so you arent scrambling. Do all the stuff that needs baking at once and use the same temp pans when you can, then chill things like the cheese ball and chocolate bark while the oven is running. Saves time and stops you from reheating coatings or having melted chocolate go weird.

2) Sticky stuff gets easier if you prep your tools. Spray your hands or rub a little butter when shaping Rice Krispie monsters, use parchment or a silicone mat so nothing sticks, and keep a bench scraper or offset spatula handy to neaten edges. When coating with melted chocolate or candy melts press candy eyes and M&M teeth in gently with a toothpick right after dipping so they set in place.

3) Fixes and small hacks that rescue a dud. If caramels look grainy warm them with a tablespoon of cream and stir till smooth, and if melted chocolate seizes give it short microwave bursts and stir, or add a tiny splash of neutral oil to loosen. Use a zip bag with a corner snipped instead of a piping bag for clean deviled-egg filling and frosting bands on witch hat cookies.

4) Do as much as you can ahead but keep crunchy bits separate. Make the cheese ball, bark, and dipped treats a day ahead, but add eyes, sprinkles and crunchy toppings right before serving so they stay fresh and dont get soggy. Store dipped apples and anything with a sauce on a single layer so they dont stick together.

Halloween Food Ideas To Amp Up Your Party Recipe

Recipe by Tina Bueller

0.0 from 0 votes

I conjured creepy-cute rice krispie treat monsters and other Fun Halloween Snacks that will have guests peeking around every corner to see what I come up with next.

Servings

servings

Calories

520

kcal

Equipment: 1. Large heavy pot for melting marshmallows and heating fillings
2. Baking sheets lined with parchment or silicone mats youll want at least two
3. Mixing bowls in assorted sizes for cheese ball deviled egg filling and more
4. Microwave safe bowls for melting chocolate candy melts and caramels
5. Rubber spatula and wooden spoon for stirring folding and scraping
6. Measuring cups and spoons plus a small kitchen scale if you have one
7. Piping bag or zip top bag with the corner snipped for deviled eggs and frosting
8. Knife and cutting board for apples olives and chopping toppings

Ingredients

Rice Krispie Treat Monsters
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 oz marshmallows about 40 regular sized or 4 cups mini
12 oz assorted candy melts or white chocolate to coat and decorate
1 cup candy eyes
1/2 cup mini M&M's or mini chocolate chips for teeth and accents
Nonstick cooking spray or a little extra butter for shaping
Mummy Hot Dogs
8 hot dogs or cocktail sausages
1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough or 8 oz puff pastry sheet
2 tablespoons yellow mustard or ketchup for eyes
Witch Hat Cookies
24 chocolate wafer cookies like Fudge Stripe style
24 Hershey's Kisses or similar chocolate kisses
1/4 cup orange or purple frosting or 4 oz candy melts to glue kisses to cookies
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
16 oz cream cheese softened
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped pecans or crushed pretzels for coating
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
paprika for color
pretzel sticks or small breadstick piece for stem
a few chives for vine accents
Spider Deviled Eggs
12 large eggs
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon white vinegar
salt and black pepper to taste
1/3 cup black olives sliced for spider bodies and legs
paprika for dusting
Ghost Pizza Bagels
8 mini bagels or 4 large bagels split
1 cup pizza sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
black olives sliced for eyes
optional pepperoni slices or mini pepperonis
Caramel Apples
6 medium apples, firm and dry
14 oz bag caramels or 1 1/2 cups caramel bits
2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
6 wooden craft sticks
toppings optional chopped nuts sprinkles crushed cookies
Spooky Chocolate Bark
12 oz dark or milk chocolate chips
6 oz white chocolate chips for drizzling
1/2 cup candy eyes and assorted Halloween sprinkles
1/4 cup crushed pretzels or chopped candy for texture

Directions

Rice Krispie Treat Monsters: In a large pot melt 4 tbsp butter over low heat, add 10 oz marshmallows and stir till smooth, remove from heat and fold in 6 cups Rice Krispies until coated; grease your hands or spray with nonstick spray and shape into monsters on parchment, let cool a few minutes; melt 12 oz candy melts or white chocolate and either dip or drizzle over the shapes, press on candy eyes and 1/2 cup mini M&M's or mini chocolate chips for teeth and accents while coating is still tacky, set until firm.
Mummy Hot Dogs: Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Wrap 8 hot dogs or cocktail sausages in thin strips cut from 1 can crescent roll dough or an 8 oz puff pastry sheet leaving a little gap for eyes, place on a baking sheet and bake 12 to 15 minutes till golden; squeeze tiny dots of mustard or ketchup in the gap for eyes after they come out of the oven.
Witch Hat Cookies: Put a small dab of 1/4 cup orange or purple frosting or melted candy melts on 24 chocolate wafer cookies, press a Hershey's Kiss into the center to make a hat, pipe a little contrasting frosting band if you like for color, chill briefly so the “hat” sets.
Pumpkin Cheese Ball: In a bowl beat 16 oz softened cream cheese with 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder and 1/4 tsp salt until well combined; form into a ball, refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes to firm up then roll in 1/4 cup chopped pecans or crushed pretzels, dust with paprika for that pumpkin color, insert a pretzel stick or small breadstick for the stem and tuck a few chives on top for vine accents.
Spider Deviled Eggs: Place 12 eggs in a pot, cover with cold water, bring to a boil then simmer 10 minutes, cool in an ice bath and peel; halve eggs, remove yolks and mash with 1/3 cup mayo, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tsp white vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, pipe or spoon the filling back into the whites; top each with 1/3 cup sliced black olives cut into one slice for the body and thin strips for legs, dust lightly with paprika.
Ghost Pizza Bagels: Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Split 8 mini bagels or 4 large bagels, spread with pizza sauce, pile on 2 cups shredded mozzarella and shape the cheese into a ghost shape with a spoon or tear slices of cheese into ghosts, add black olive slices for eyes and optional pepperoni for mouths, bake 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
Caramel Apples: Insert 6 wooden craft sticks into firm, dry apples; melt a 14 oz bag of caramels or 1 1/2 cups caramel bits with 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk in 30 second microwave bursts stirring between until smooth, dip apples and let excess drip, roll in toppings like chopped nuts sprinkles or crushed cookies, place on parchment and chill until set.
Spooky Chocolate Bark: Melt 12 oz dark or milk chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second bursts stirring until smooth, spread thinly on a parchment lined sheet, melt 6 oz white chocolate chips and drizzle over, scatter 1/2 cup candy eyes, Halloween sprinkles and 1/4 cup crushed pretzels or chopped candy for texture, chill until firm then break into pieces.
Time and staging tips: Bake items that need the oven together to save time, chill cheese ball and bark while other things bake, and do decorations like eyes and M&M teeth right before serving so nothing gets soggy. Work in batches, clean as you go, and keep a tray of parchment ready so nothing sticks.
Quick hacks: Spray your hands when shaping sticky rice krispie treats, warm caramels with a tablespoon of cream if they look grainy, use a piping bag or zip bag with the corner snipped for neat deviled egg filling, and press candy eyes on warm chocolate with a toothpick so they stay put.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.