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Halloween is by FAR the biggest holiday of the year for Life Between Weekends, and before that, Collegiate Cook, our sister site. We’ve been celebrating since the site launched in 2009, first with a single recipe post, then expanding into pop culture costumes and All Hallows Eve-themed treats.
Over the years, some recipes have stood out more than others, and some year-round favorites have become staples at our Halloween parties, even if they don’t have a Jack O’Lantern’s face carved into ’em. (Shocking, right?) Here are some of the standout treats.
Our 12 Favorite Halloween Snacks & Drinks
1. Oreo Ghost Truffles
When I first discovered Oreo truffles in 2010, they became my go-to recipe any time I needed to make something special for someone. Before long, I started experimenting with all kinds of variations on these truffles (including a Chips Ahoy version that Buzzfeed featured), and in 2013, I couldn’t resist making these little ghosts.
2. Pepperjack Cheese & Black Bean Dip
When it comes to cutesy, themed snacks, I’m much more prone to baking than cooking, so my recipes tend to veer on the sweet side. But, every once in a while, I challenge myself to get cheesy in the most literal sense. Like carving a Jack O’Lantern’s face on a slice on cheese, then melting it atop a spicy black bean dip.
3. Pumpkin-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls
A Halloween breakfast that’s ready in 20 minutes? An after-school carbo-loading session before the fam heads out to go trick-or-treating? This dessert checks off both boxes, and it makes use of store-bought cinnamon rolls marvelously. All you need is a little floss and basic knot-tying skills.
4. A ‘Hocus Pocus’-Inspired Spell Book Cake
In my world, cake can totally be a snack. And this one’s too good not to share here. It’s easier than you think. Promise.
5. Peanut Butter-Banana Beasties
This is the very first Halloween recipe I ever made for Collegiate Cook, and to this day, it’s one of my favorite posts I’ve ever done. Sure, the photos aren’t styled (I just shoved them on a paper plate and snapped away using my point-and-shoot camera), and the photo quality is borderline awful (this was before I wrangled Nate into snapping pics). But I always liked the idea. And it’s a relatively healthy treat!
I used Jif Reduced Fat Peanut Butter, because it has a thicker, less runny consistency that coats (and hardens) better than traditional PB.
6. Jack O’ Lantern Marshmallow Milk
A riff on the marshmallow creme ghost trend, this recipe calls for a little orange food coloring to create the jack o’ lantern base. If you’re not into chocolate milk (who are you?!), you could opt for strawberry milk or iced coffee instead.
7. Strawberry Pancake Monsters
Frozen mini pancakes are the ultimate shortcut for a 10-minute breakfast that’ll make everyone smile. I mean, how can you not when you see these ridiculous little faces?! You can also set up the individual components and let people create their own monsters.
8. Swamp Thing Brownies
Fudgy, minty and ultra decadent, these kooky brownies don’t disappoint. If you’re not into mint, you could use green candy melts and classic Oreos instead.
9. Oreo Truffle Monsters
If Oreo ghosts feel a bit too complicated, simplify things—or create a healthy mix of spooky treats—with some bats and monsters, too. This is another great option for a Make-Your-Own-Monster bar at a Halloween party. Simply make the truffles in advance and have a fondue pot of melted chocolate at the ready, along with toppings, for people to create their own creatures.
10. Jack Skellington-Inspired Hot Cocoa Bombs
Remember hot cocoa bombs?! Well, they can still be a thing, particularly when they’ve got these epic skull faces on them. You could do a classic skeleton’s grin, using an edible marker, or go for a Nightmare Before Christmas theme with a more Jack Skellington-esque face.
11. Jekyll & Hyde “Brookies”
Initially, I thought I’d make little brownie cauldrons with green cookie dough inside and a pretzel stick poking out like a spoon, then call the treats “Witch’s Brew-kies.” Get it? Like a bubbling cauldron + cookies? Yeaaaah. It failed horribly, in that they looked NOTHING like witch’s cauldrons. But the cookie dough turned an awesome shade of green, and I realized I didn’t have to be so literal—these treats were awesome on their own, even if that 2010 photo is…terrifying.
12. Apple Ciderinis
Based on a classic mimosa, this two-ingredient cocktail couldn’t be easier to make—and it’s practically a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Editor’s Note: This post originally ran on Oct. 5, 2015. It’s been updated to include new recipes from over the years and ensure the links are all working & accurate.
