Spooky decorations, themed food and creative costumes on a crisp, fall night — it’s no wonder that Halloween is one of our favourite holidays. Whether you’re young or old, getting your friends together for fun, games and good food is sure to get you into the spirit. We’ve rounded up some fun ideas to create the ultimate Halloween party guide.
Sweet Treats
Mud Monsters: Make Mud Monsters for your chocolate-loving guests. These cookie monsters are fun to decorate with your kids before the festivities begin or can be a fun and tasty party activity!
Almond Finger Cookies: A party wouldn’t be nearly as festive without Almond Finger Cookies, truly a Halloween classic. We love using these as an accent surrounding other dishes — like a pumpkin punch bowl.
Caramel Witches Apples: Caramel apples are a fall favourite. For this recipe, you will need six good snacking apples, six wooden sticks and approximately two cups of caramels. Remove the stems from the apples and press the wooden stick into the place where the stem once was. Melt the caramel on your stovetop or microwave and roll the apples in the melted caramel. Next, place them on parchment paper to set. After they’ve set, let your creativity run wild with spooky decorations on the apples!
Pro Tips: Refrigerate apples before dipping to help the warm caramel set. If the caramel is too runny, place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to cool. Turn apples while dipping to get an even coat. And get as creative as you like with additional toppings — try crushed nuts or chocolate shavings. For an even spookier element, use white icing or melted marshmallow to create a cobweb design.
Salty Snacks
Pumpkin Snack Mix: Here’s a fun idea — find a pumpkin big enough to accomodate a serving bowl, hollow it out and place your bowl inside the pumpkin. Fill your bowl with your Pumpkin Snack Mix!
Charcuterie: You can elevate any gathering with a charcuterie board. Watch Chef Dale MacKay explain how to create a charcuterie board.
Zombie Eye Meatballs: Meatballs make great party food. Plus, you can turn Chef Dale MacKay’s meatball recipe into a Halloween-themed appetizer with a few easy steps.
You will also need bocconcini and pitted black olives. Slice the bocconcini into rounds — don’t worry about being too exact; they are zombie eyes, after all. Then, slice the olives into rounds. Add the bocconcini circles to the top of the meatballs, pressing in slightly. Put the olive “pupil” into the centre of the cheese and fill the olive pupil with a red sauce of your choice (ketchup works in a pinch). Voila! You now have Zombie Eye Meatballs.
Drinks
Apple Cider Orchard Punch: Apple Cider Orchard Punch is a crowd pleaser. The mix of ginger beer and apples is perfect for fall nights. You can follow the same pumpkin bowl method that we suggested for the Pumpkin Snack Mix!
A Bloody Caesar Bar: A caesar bar for the adults with spooky garnishes can get everyone into the Halloween party mood! Try recipes such as our Kickin’ Pickled Caesar or Celebratory Caesar, and let your guests decorate them themselves. Provide Halloween-themed garnishes such as “eyeballs” or “skeletal fingers.”
Eyeballs can be made with pickled pearl onions and a sliced green olive held together with a toothpick. Skeletal fingers can be roasted or pickled white asparagus.