17 Halloween Recipes Celebrating Gourds, Ghouls, Candy, and Fall Spices

Host a gathering or treat your family to candy with these orange, spooky, and autumnal recipes for the occasion.

Updated on September 28, 2023

Sugar Cookie and Marshmallow Fluff Ghosts — Photo: Abby Hocking / Food & Wine

If you're hosting a Halloween party, your menu should be just as scary (in a good way, of course) as the decorations. Think cocktails with eyeballs, chocolate mice, and marshmallow fluff ghosts. It's a holiday when you can really get creative in the kitchen — but, if you'd prefer more subtle nods to Halloween, we've got you covered with festive drinks, edible gourd vessels, and fun vehicles for pumpkin spice. Your guests will be impressed either way.

01 of 17

Squash Fondue

Acorn Squash Fondue — Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Melty, gooey, cheese fondue served in an edible squash vessel will impress your guests however you're celebrating.

02 of 17

Café de Olla Alegría

Cafe de Olla Allegria — Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

This take on alegría, a traditional Mexican candy made from puffed amaranth seeds, features the flavors of café de olla, a Mexican style of coffee brewed with cinnamon and orange peel and sweetened with piloncillo, a raw brown sugar with rich molasses flavor. Fuel up with this protein for trick or treating.

03 of 17

Pumpkin Praline Bars

Praline Pumpkin Bars — Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

A can of Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin Puree is the key to giving chef Ouita Michel's bars their dense, cake-like texture, whether to snack on throughout Halloween week or to serve with a party spread.

04 of 17

Pumpkin Spice Shrub Spritz

PUMPKIN SPICE SHRUB SPRITZ — Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Liberty Fennell

You can make Evie Negri-Albert's pumpkin spice shrub (which can be enjoyed without alcohol) using pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Add it to a glass of ice with some Prosecco and soda water for the perfect Halloween spritz.

05 of 17

Greens-and-Cheese-Stuffed Cinderella Pumpkin

Greens-and-Cheese Stuffed Cinderella Pumpkin — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Inspired by Cassie Piuma's squash spanakopita at her restaurant, Sarma, in Somerville, Massachusetts, this stuffed pumpkin is filled with a nutty, creamy blend of Gruyère and feta cheeses; sweet, anise-scented fennel; and hearty green lacinato kale for a stunning vegetarian main dish fit for any Halloween celebration. After roasting and before stuffing, scrape the inside of the pumpkin to loosen about 3 cups of the sweet, tender flesh to yield a flavorful base for the kale filling. Use a gentle hand when scraping to leave the pumpkin walls intact.

06 of 17

Pumpkin Spice Conchas

Pumpkin Spice Conchas — Pumpkin Spice Conchas.
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

In chef Ellen Ramos’ festive recipe, a light and fluffy traditional Mexican concha is blanketed with a crunchy, pumpkin-spiced, seashell-shaped sugar crust.

07 of 17

Kumquat-Riesling Gummies

Kumquat Riesling Gummies — Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Make your own orange candy with natural coloring from bright orange kumquats and a puckery, sweet-and-sour flavor. To play up the tartness, F&W food editor Paige Grandjean adds a burst of sour flavor and a craveable quality from a citric acid coating. (These have to stand for a day so plan ahead!)

08 of 17

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe — Oriana Koren

Crowd-pleasing gnocchi can be made ahead to add an orange comfort food at dinner or a party.

09 of 17

Sweet Potato Honey Beer Pie

Sweet Potato Honey Beer Pie — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Dark beer, honey, and spices including turmeric, ginger, and cardamom give pastry cook Nik Sharma's pie rich, complex flavors. This is a refreshingly new dessert for any fall gathering.

10 of 17

Whole Roasted Pumpkin with Green Beans and Red Curry Rice

Whole Roasted Pumpkin with Green Beans and Red Curry Rice — Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer

Rice is cooked to a risotto-like texture inside the pumpkin with red curry paste and coconut milk. Bring the whole pumpkin to the table on a rimmed baking sheet or platter, and spoon the saucy rice, studded with spoonfuls of tender pumpkin, into shallow bowls.

11 of 17

Mini Spiced Pumpkins

Mini Spiced Pumpkins — © David Malosh

These spice cakes look like tiny pumpkins when they're covered with orange glaze and topped with a piece of dark licorice, twisted to look like a stem.

12 of 17

Sugar Cookie and Marshmallow Fluff Ghosts

Sugar Cookie and Marshmallow Fluff Ghosts — Abby Hocking / Food & Wine

These adorable white chocolate ghosts from Food & Wine's Paige McCurdy-Flynn are a take on a Danish marshmallow cookie known as a flødeboller. You will need four rimmed baking sheets to make these.

13 of 17

Spiced Candy Corn Crispies

Spiced Candy Corn Crispies — © David Malosh

These charming sweet-and-savory rice cereal treats are spicy enough to serve with drinks and sweet enough to satisfy a candy craving.

14 of 17

Dark and Stormy Death Punch

Dark and Stormy Death Punch — © David Malosh

This is Grace Parisi's take on the Dark and Stormy, a classic rum and ginger beer drink. Floating in the punch bowl are round ice cubes made with lychee syrup and lychees stuffed with brandied cherries, which have an uncanny resemblance to eyeballs.

15 of 17

Halloween Whoopie Pies

Halloween Whoopie Pies — © David Malosh

Tender chocolate cake with a luscious creamy filling is great in any form, especially a crowd-pleasing whoopie pie. These little cakes are dressed in their Halloween finest with orange sashes made by rolling the creamy edges in bright orange nonpareils.

16 of 17

Chocolate Mice

Chocolate Mice. Photo © David Malosh — © David Malosh

These icky-cute mice feature three kinds of chocolate: semisweet in the creamy, cakey center and white and bittersweet in the crisp chocolate shell.

17 of 17

Soft Apple-Cider Caramels

Soft Apple-Cider Caramels — © John Kernick

These chewy treats are like caramel apples in candy form, combining the tangy-sweet flavor of cider with buttery caramel. To create your own spin on them, use a flavored apple cider or add different spices, like ground ginger or black pepper.

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