Aside from costumes and decorations, an assortment of Halloween party food will impress your Halloween party guests and make your event a huge success. Making your own treats, particularly traditional ones, is a lot of fun and can be very fulfilling when you see the pleasure your homemade creations bring to your friends and family.
As part of your Halloween Party Checklist, plan out your food and beverage menu and all of the ingredients you will need. Home cooked food should be made as close to the time of the party as possible, so that it will be fresh. Party guests tend to get hungry, so be sure to have plenty of food and drink available. Always remember that appearance and presentation is just as important as the actual food being served.
Not sure what to serve? Don’t stress! With all the candy and sweets that will be eaten that day, gourmet food will not be the highest priority. So, think of your menu as part of the Halloween decorations. You can check out our Halloween recipes for some gruesomely great Halloween party food ideas and here are some additional suggestions to help you get started.
Beverages
In addition to water and sodas, you may also want to have:
- Apple Cider
- Halloween Punch
- Hot Chocolate (topped with whipped cream or mini-marshmallows)
- Hot Spiced Tea
- Beer & Wine
Tasty Treats
A Halloween party is just not a party without some sweet treats to eat. Below are some staples of a well stocked Halloween banquet table.
- Cake and/or Cupcakes (bake pops are a good option here)
- Pumpkin Pie (topped with whipped cream)
- Halloween Cookies (decorated)
- Carmel or Candy Covered Apples
- Halloween Candy (store bought or homemade)
- Spooky Shaped Jell-O Molds
- Carmel Corn or Rice Crispy Treats
Finger Food
Your guests will probably get hungry for more than candy and other sweet treats throughout the party, so a selection of food snacks like Chips and Dip, Mini Sandwiches, Fingers in a Blanket, Sliced Pizza, Cheese and Crackers, Deviled Eggs, etc. should be available for them to eat. Provide lots of cocktail picks, napkins and at least one set of serving tongs for picking up food.
Full Course Meals
If you are actually hosting a sit-down Halloween dinner party, you will want to serve fancy hors d’oeuvres, soup and/or salad, the main course entree and a dessert. Try to avoid food that is really messy to eat. Also, consider printing some spooky place cards to sit on the table.
Not sure how much Halloween party food or drink to have on hand for your hungry guests? Here are some guidelines for how much food to prepare. (Note: portion sizes are for ONE non-dieting ADULT.)
- Appetizers: 3 pieces (for a cocktail party, allow 8 pieces per hour)
- Meats: 1/2 to 3/4 lb.
- Vegetables/Sides: 1/2 cup
- Salads, Tossed: 1 cup (side), 1.5-2 cups (main dish)
- Desserts: 2 portions
- Beverages: 12 oz of wine, 24 oz of beer, or 24 oz of non-alcoholic beverages
And here are some useful Rules of Thumb to keep in mind:
Keep It Simple – Elaborate menus don’t necessarily make a better party. Halloween party food can be simple and scary!
Think Seasonally – Fruits and vegetables that are in season cost less and taste better.
Special Needs – Keep in mind any guests that might have special dietary needs. For example, if your guest list includes people with food allergies or who are vegetarians/vegans, they will appreciate appropriate meal choices that make them feel included.
Lastly, don’t forget to get sturdy paper plates, paper or plastic cups, napkins and utensils! Purchase enough so that you have about three of each on hand for each guest.
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