One of my favorite things about Halloween parties is the food!
It’s the one time of the year I can get super creative with things like finger foods, treats, and drinks.
And Halloween food should be fun…and easy enough to whip up so you’re not dreading the festivities.
Because no one needs complicated recipes when the goal is to make spooky snacks that match the vibe!
Just remember that you don’t need to fill your entire appetizer table with freaky foods.
I usually do 2 or 3 then add in simple things like pretzels, trail mix, and other easy to throw in a bowl treats.
Makes everything a lot less stressful.
Anyway, here are some Halloween appetizers that are quick to throw together and look deliciously devlish for any party:
Halloween Finger Foods
Halloween finger foods are easy to throw together and perfect for piling on platters.
They’ll be gone faster than you can say Trick or Treat!
1. Hot Dog Mummies
Grab a pack of crescent roll dough and slice it into thin strips.
Wrap each hot dog like you’re tucking it into a cozy mummy sleeping bag, leaving a little gap for “eyes.”
Bake at 375°F until golden brown and slightly puffed.
Once they’re cooled for a few minutes, dot on mustard or ketchup eyes with a toothpick.
You can also cut the hot dogs in half first to make mini mummies (they’re easier for kids to grab that way).
2. Spider Pizza Bites
Start with refrigerated biscuit dough and flatten each piece into a little round.
Spoon some pizza sauce in the center, sprinkle with cheese, and tuck in a slice of pepperoni if you’re feeling bold.
Fold up the edges to seal, then bake until golden.
Once they’re out, cut black olives into skinny strips and stick them on as legs with half an olive for the body.
3. Boo-schetta
Super cute name and appetizer!
Toast slices of baguette until crisp, then rub lightly with a garlic clove.
Mix diced tomatoes, olive oil, and basil, then pile it on the bread.
For the spooky part, cut ghost shapes out of mozzarella slices using a cookie cutter or small knife and lay them on top.
A quick broil will melt the cheese just enough to look melty and ghostlike.
4. Jalapeno Mummies
Slice some jalapeños in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.
Fill each half with cream cheese (sometimes I mix in cheddar or bacon bits when I want extra flavor).
Wrap the peppers in thin crescent roll strips, leaving little gaps for eyes.
Bake until golden, then press in candy eyeballs or small dots of sour cream for that googly-eyed mummy look.
If you’re worried about spice, swap in mini sweet peppers instead.
5. Breadstick Bones
Roll out pizza dough and cut it into strips about 6 inches long.
Make bumps on each end to make bone shapes and place them on a baking sheet.
Brush with garlic butter, sprinkle with parmesan, and bake until golden.
These are hilarious when served with a side of marinara “blood” for dipping!
6. Crescent Roll Witch Hats
Cut crescent roll dough into triangles and place a piece of cheese and a little pepperoni slice near the wide end.
Roll them up into cone shapes, pressing the edges together to seal.
Bake until golden, then garnish with a band of sliced black olive or a thin strip of red pepper as a “hat ribbon.”
A little ranch or marinara on the side works great for dipping.
7. Ghost Hand Pies
Use refrigerated pie crust and cut out ghost shapes with a cookie cutter (or freehand with a knife if you’re brave).
Place filling in the middle (apple, cherry, or even Nutella!) then lay another ghost cut-out on top and crimp the edges.
Cut two little holes for “eyes” before baking so the steam can escape.
Brush them with egg wash and sprinkle sugar on top so they sparkle a bit after baking.
Powdered sugar dusting works too if you want a pale ghostly finish.
8. Hot Dog Spiders
Cut hot dogs into thirds and slice each piece lengthwise halfway up to make little “legs.”
Boil or bake them and watch as the legs curl out like a creepy crawler.
Stick them on toothpicks for easy serving and pair with a small dab of ketchup or mustard as a “spider bite.”
For a fun twist, I sometimes wrap the middle in biscuit dough to make a puffy spider body!
9. Boo-nanas
There’s nothing wrong with offering a healthy snack at a Halloween party!
Peel bananas and cut them in half crosswise, then stand each piece upright and press in mini chocolate chips for eyes and mouths.
Dip the tops in melted white chocolate if you want a smoother ghostly finish.
These are perfect for when you need something quick that doesn’t involve turning on the oven.
I like to stick them on lollipop sticks for less mess.
10. Monster Lips
Slice apples into wedges and spread peanut butter on one side of each slice.
Place mini marshmallows between two slices to look like teeth, then gently press them together.
For vampire vibes, add two almond slivers as fangs.
If you need a nut-free version, sunflower seed butter works just as well.
I’ve even used strawberry jam instead of peanut butter for a gooier “mouth.”
Halloween Dips
Some of my favorite appetizers are the ones you can scoop!
Halloween dips are easy to throw together and set out with tortilla chips, crackers, or veggie sticks.
You can even make them ahead if you have other things to do.
11. Cauldron Queso Dip
Melt some Velveeta or cheddar with a can of diced tomatoes and green chiles in a saucepan or slow cooker.
Stir until smooth and bubbling, then pour into a black cauldron-shaped bowl for that witchy touch.
Add a handful of chopped jalapeños if you want extra heat.
12. Spider Spinach Dip
Mix together thawed spinach, sour cream, and a packet of onion soup mix until creamy.
Scoop it into a shallow dish and spread evenly.
For the spiders, use a whole black olive for the body and cut another olive into legs, arranging them on top.
13. Spider Bread Bowl Dip
This one is too cute!
Hollow out a round loaf of bread and save the inside chunks for dipping.
Fill the hollowed bread with your favorite spinach artichoke dip or cheese dip.
Use breadsticks to form legs on each side, anchoring them with toothpicks if needed.
For the head, slice off a dinner roll and attach it at the front with toothpicks.
I brushed the “spider body” with garlic butter before serving and it makes the bread even tastier.
14. Boo-fallo Chicken Dip
Shred a couple cups of cooked chicken and mix it with cream cheese, ranch dressing, hot sauce, and shredded cheddar.
Spread the mix into a baking dish and bake until bubbling.
Once it’s down, lay some ghostly shaped slices of mozzarella on top and let them melt into the dip while it’s hot.
You can use black olive bits or currents for eyes too.
15. Graveyard Dip
Layer some refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, and olives in a glass dish so the layers show.
Crush tortilla chips on top to look like dirt.
Stick in rectangular tortilla pieces or crackers decorated with “RIP” written in black food gel or edible marker.
When I want it extra gory, I drizzle salsa on top for that freshly-dug look.
16. Zombie Snot Dip
Looks gross, tastes great!
Start with a can of white queso cheese and heat it up in a saucepan until it’s creamy.
Then add a few drops of green coloring and stir…the greener the better!
I like to use neon green for the perfect snot look.
Pour the dip into a bowl and serve with some tortilla chips
17. Puking Pumpkin Dip
Another gross one but hey, it’s Halloween.
Carve a small pumpkin with a simple triangle face and set it on a platter.
Arrange guacamole spilling out of its mouth to look like it’s, well, losing its lunch.
Surround with tortilla chips for dipping.
If you’re short on time, store-bought guac totally works (I’ve done it and no one complained).
18. Ghost S’mores Dip
Spread chocolate chips and mini marshmallows in a skillet.
Bake until the chocolate is melty and the marshmallows puff up.
Press ghost-shaped marshmallows (Peeps makes them) on top for a spooky finish.
Serve with graham crackers for dipping.
I sometimes throw in peanut butter chips for a Reese’s-style surprise!
19. Jack O’ Lantern Taco Dip
Spread a layer of refried beans on a round platter, then top with seasoned sour cream.
Sprinkle cheddar cheese evenly to cover, then use black olive pieces and blue corn tortilla chips to make the face.
I love this one because you can make the dip underneath however you want.
Sometimes I add in some guac for a gooey green surprise.
Halloween Cocktails
Just a word of warning: These are Halloween cocktails are adult drinks.
But you can always make them kiddo friendly by leaving out the alcohol!
They’re fun and creepy enough for a Halloween party.
20. Purple People Eater
Mix up some blue curacao, grenadine, pomegranate juice (or cranberry juice), lemonade, and something bubbly like club soda or ginger ale.
To make the eyeballs, shove a blueberry into a lychee fruit (you can buy them canned).
It’s a perfectly boozy halloween drink!
And if you want to make it a mocktail, you can get non-alcoholic blue curacao.
21. Bloody Sangria Cocktail
Combine red wine, cherry juice, and some spiced rum in a large pitcher.
I like to toss in sliced oranges, apples, and blackberries, then chill for a few hours so the flavors mix.
Right before serving, pour in some pomegranate juice for extra “bloody” color.
You can also rim the glasses with red sugar crystals for extra drama.
22. Shirley Temple of Doom
Fill a glass with ice and pour in lemon-lime soda, then drizzle grenadine over the top so it sinks down.
Add a few maraschino cherries, letting the red juice swirl for a creepy effect.
Stick in a striped straw or a little plastic skeleton hand for fun.
My kids love these, and honestly, so do I…it’s basically candy in a glass!
23. Witches Brew Cocktail
To make this one, mix some vodka and blue curacao with grenadine and lemon-line pop.
It’s a vibrant and fruity drink perfect for a Halloween party!
This one is best served on ice but you can also make and freeze some lychee eyeballs to up the spook factor.
Just take some canned lychees, pop a blueberry in the middle, and freeze until it’s time to serve.
24. Poisoned Apple Halloween Cocktail
Shake together apple cider, pomegranate juice, and vodka with a splash of grenadine.
Strain into a martini glass rimmed with black sugar.
Drop in a thin apple slice that’s been soaked in lemon juice to keep it crisp.
This one tastes like fall but looks sinister, especially if you serve it with dry ice fog rolling over the rim.
25. Spooky Sangria
Pour some red wine into a large pitcher, then add orange juice, brandy, triple sec, and grenadine.
Add some orange, lemon and lime slices in to give it some zing!
Sometimes I add in a few raspberries or blackberries to give it a bit of fruitiness.
26. Bloody Mimosa
Pour equal parts champagne and orange juice into a flute.
Add a splash of raspberry or cranberry juice for that bloody red swirl.
Garnish with a blackberry on a cocktail pick for extra Halloween flair.
27. Pink Witch Punch
Mix cranberry juice, pink lemonade, and lemon-lime soda in a pitcher.
Add scoops of raspberry sherbet for frothy bubbles on top.
For the grown-up version, stir in a splash of prosecco or vodka.
You can toss in some frozen raspberries instead of ice.
They keep the drink cold and look like little floating spells.
Halloween Treats
Last but not least, some halloween treats!
They’re the perfect way to finish off your party spread.
Some are easy to grab, some need a napkin, but they’re all totally delicious.
28. Rice Krispie Brains
Melt marshmallows and butter, then stir in some red food coloring and Rice Krispies until coated.
Shape the mixture into small oval mounds while it’s still warm then press a “seam” down the middle of each with a butter knife.
Super easy!
You can drizzle some strawberry syrup over the top to make them look for gooey.
29. Oreo Spiders
Twist apart Oreos and stick four pretzel sticks or licorice strings into the filling for legs, then press the cookies back together.
Add candy eyes with a dab of frosting to make them come alive.
If you want variety, try using different flavored Oreos (the pumpkin spice ones look especially festive!).
These disappear fast, so make a double batch.
30. Bloody Popcorn
Pop a big bowl of popcorn and drizzle melted white chocolate over it.
While it’s still tacky, splatter with red food coloring mixed into corn syrup for that gory effect.
Toss in candy eyeballs or red M&Ms for texture.
I once used cherry Kool-Aid powder for a tangy twist!
It stuck to the chocolate and gave it a sweet-sour punch.
31. Mini Eyeball Pies
Use refrigerated pie dough to cut small circles, then fill with jam or pie filling of your choice.
No need to cover it, leave these guys open!
Once baked, top each pie with a candy eyeball.
They’re creepy but surprisingly cute on a tray.
32. Vampire Bite Trail Mix
Mix together pretzels, peanuts, candy corn, chocolate chips, and dried cranberries.
The cranberries look like little blood drops, which is what makes the mix “vampire-approved.”
I pack leftovers in zip bags for school snacks, though most of it never makes it past the party bowl!
You can swap in sunflower seeds if you need a nut-free version.
33. Graveyard Pudding Cups
Layer chocolate pudding with crushed Oreos in clear cups.
Stick a Milano cookie upright in each one and write “RIP” on it with black food gel.
Add a gummy worm peeking out of the “dirt” for fun.
Kids especially love these because they get their own little graveyard to eat.
34. Cauldron Brownies
Bake your favorite brownies in a muffin tin so they’re individual-sized.
Once cooled, scoop a little out of the center and fill with green frosting or pudding.
Stick in a pretzel stick for a “stirring spoon” and sprinkle on candy bits as potion bubbles.
I used crushed Skittles once and they looked like rainbow magic floating on top.
35. Black Candy Apples
Melt sugar, corn syrup, and black food coloring until it reaches hard-crack stage, then dip apples on sticks.
Set them on parchment to harden into glossy black treats.
They look wicked but taste just like a regular candied apple!
36. Bloody Guts Cinnamon Rolls
Unroll refrigerated cinnamon roll dough, twist it into a coiled “gut” shape on a baking sheet, and bake.
Drizzle the icing packet over the top, then add red gel icing or raspberry syrup so it looks like it’s oozing.
The effect is gross but delicious!
Creeping It Real with Hallowe’en Appetizers!
Halloween only comes once a year, so why not go all in on the creepy-cute snacks?
You just need to put a few on the table and you’ve got instant spooky vibes.
And if your guests leave a little freaked out and very full, you know you nailed it!
