POPSUGAR UK

26 Halloween Appetiser and Finger Foods Almost Too Clever to Eat

28/09/2023 - 11:47 AM

When you think about Halloween [1] food, sweets might be the only thing that comes to mind. And while seasonal sugary favourites like pumpkin spice lattes [2] are everywhere this time of year, thankfully, many foodies know there's so much more that can be special about a Halloween [3] spread, especially when it comes to the appetiser table.

Giving the best flavours of fall a Halloween spin can not only make them look better (think: witch fingers), but it can also make them taste better (creamy pumpkin parmesan dip, anyone?). Awaken your inner child this Halloween and create a festive display of Halloween appetisers for your party, potluck, or school celebration contribution. A clever and creative Halloween appetiser will bring your holiday feast to the next level, trust. And the best part is you can indulge in the flavours of the season all while incorporating a fun Halloween flair into your favorite dishes!

Whether you want to serve creepy olive eyeballs or unoffensive little cups of rich pumpkin chili or you want to go all out with a Deathly Hallows-inspired cheese board, these Halloween appetizer ideas will enchant taste buds all night long. Take a peek at the best Halloween appetiser recipes ahead, and get ready to wow wizards and witches alike.

Spider Cheese Balls

Cream cheese, fresh herbs, and goat cheese come together to make this festive Halloween [4] appetiser in no time. These spider cheese balls [5] are the perfect mix of crunchy (pretzels!) and creamy (cheese!), and they'll definitely have you coming back for more.

Creamy Pumpkin Parmesan Dip

This enticing creamy pumpkin parmesan dip [6] is delicious, festive, and easy, too, with only seven ingredients. Serve it chilled or at room temperature in a pumpkin-shaped dish for best results.

Witch Guacamole Dip

If you don't want to mess around with new flavours but want something that looks Halloween-y, try this spin on guacamole. To make this witch guacamole dip [7], just serve premade or homemade guac with strategically placed purple tortilla chips and veggie sticks. The only downside to this Halloween [8] appetiser is that your work of art will slowly disappear as people munch.

Deviled-Egg Eyeballs

Take devilled eggs to the next level when you make this Halloween-themed appetiser. All you need to make these devilled-egg eyeballs [9] are green olives, spices, eggs, and your favourite condiments to mix in. Feel free to make them look as bloodshot (using paprika) as you want!

Witch Fingers

When we said "Halloween [10] finger food," is this what you were expecting? These coconut flour and strawberry jam witch finger cookies [11] — both Paleo and vegan — aren't too sweet, so you can serve them as an appetiser or party snack without ruining anyone's appetite for what's to come.

Sourdough Pumpkin Loaf

Inspired by TikTok user Cottage Loaves, this sourdough pumpkin bread [12] will wow everyone at your table. You use strategic string placement and scoring — plus a cinnamon-stick stem — to get the perfect pumpkin shape, but it has a classic sourdough flavour. Meaning you can pair this Halloween [13] appetiser with your choice of spreads or toppings.

Mummy Hot Dogs

Already missing summer barbecues? Fear not, because Halloween [14] is the perfect time to make these mummy hot dogs [15]. With only three ingredients (crescent rolls, hot dogs, and mustard), this creative and cutesy Halloween appetiser will be a fan favourite of adults and kids alike.

Deathly Hallows Cheese Board

Get the best of both Halloween [16] and Harry Potter [17] when you make this spellbinding Deathly Hallows cheese board [18]. Complete with bloody pomegranate baked brie, fig and gorgonzola cheese witch's hats, cheddar cracker caramel apples, peanut butter and cheddar spiders, and more, this mouthwatering board will entice every witch and wizard in the land.

Less of a Potter fan and more of a "Hocus Pocus [19]" girlie? Try one of these "Hocus Pocus" charcuterie boards [20] instead.

Chicken (Bat) Wings

If you're looking for a truly ghastly Halloween [21] appetiser, look no further. These shocking chicken "bat" wings [22] may seem too creepy to eat at first glance, but once you try a bite, you won't be able to stay away. They get their flavour from a savoury, sweet-and-sour marinade and their colour from a few drops of black gel food colouring.

Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potato Fries With Spicy Aioli

Most of the fall produce focus is on squash, but that's not the only festive orange veggie you should have on your menu. In-season sweet potatoes make a perfect Halloween [23] appetiser, thanks to their orange hue. Use this recipe for garlic parmesan sweet potato fries with spicy aioli [24] to get them perfectly crunchy.

Mummy, Spider, and Bat Plate

Looking for a lot of Halloween [25] appetizer ideas in one place? This mummy, spider, and bat plate [26] does all the planning for you. It features jalapeño-popper mummies with mango sweet-and-sour sauce, spider pizzas, pumpkin devilled eggs, and more. What else could you want?!

Jack Skellington Ricotta Tarts

Black olives are the genius decoration tool you'll need to create these Jack Skellington ricotta olive tarts [27]. They are cute enough to win over kids but have a sophisticated flavour mix that'll make adults happy they aren't eating yet another handful of chips.

Pumpkin Cheese Ball

During spooky season, the limit of pumpkin-shaped foods does not exist. This pumpkin cheese ball [28] makes a perfect Halloween [29] appetiser. It gets its flavour from cream cheese, pistachios, dried cranberries, and white cheddar cheese but its colour from crushed Cheez-Its. Snag the stem off a bell pepper as the finishing touch.

Baked Cheese Mummies

More cheese, please! These bite-size baked cheese mummies [30] will fill your plate with all the cheese you could ever dream of. Made with puff pastry and mini Babybel cheese, these will be a hit. Add little edible eyeballs to make them complete.

Jack-o'-Lantern Spinach-Stuffed Pastries

If you want to make a cute and savoury Halloween [31] appetiser, these jack-o'-lantern spinach-stuffed pastries [32] are for you! Filled with creamy spinach and sharp cheddar cheese, they are super easy to make and can be frozen ahead of time.

Mushroom Eyeballs

If you love 'shrooms, then these mushroom eyeballs [33] will be your new favourite Halloween [34] treat. Made with only five ingredients, these are easy to whip up even if you weren't planning to host or cook for company.

Spooky 7-Layer Taco Dip

If seven-layer dip is your go-to party app, you only need a few small changes to make it wonderfully Halloween-themed. Leave guac as the top layer, and use sour cream to decorate with a spiderweb design — or anything else spooky that strikes your fancy. Get a full how-to in this recipe for spooky seven-layer taco dip [35].

Goblin Grins

Finding a fun way to serve veggies at a party can be tricky, as can convincing your kids they're worth choosing over more salty, greasy snacks. These creative snap-pea goblin grins [36] are the perfect solution and come together in minutes with just a few ingredients.

Fall Harvest Cheese Board

You can never go wrong with a charcuterie board, especially when it's themed! This delightful fall harvest cheese board [37] includes everything from fig jam and fall fruits to a mouthwatering selection of charcuterie. Pair it with your favourite crackers and bread, and get ready to eat up!

Halloween Caramel Corn

Warning: if you put out a bowl of this Halloween caramel corn [38], everyone will come running! Candy corn and mini marshmallows work together to bring this popcorn recipe to a place it has never been before. Yum is right.

Halloween Fruit Skewers

Bright, colourful, and sweet, these Halloween fruit skewers [39] are the perfect holiday appetiser or snack. Nibble on fresh fruit and seasonal candy, all while enjoying the cute presentation.

Bloody Rats Meatloaf

This Halloween [40] appetiser idea is, admittedly, not for the faint of heart — though no one will say meatloaf is boring again after they see this decked-out display. To make your bloody rats meatloaf [41] presentation worthy of witches, add two peas in the front of the meat to serve as the eyes and a stringy onion in the back to be the tail.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

There's nothing better than noshing on crispy, crunchy, and flavourful roasted pumpkin seeds [42]. These satisfying seeds are high in both protein and fibre, and they contain healthy nutrients such as manganese, iron, and zinc. Bake them until they're golden brown, and enjoy them all season long.

Pumpkin Chilli

There's nothing better than warm chilli on a cold day, especially when it's pumpkin-flavoured chilli. To turn this seasonal dish into a Halloween [43] app, serve with chips so it becomes a hearty dip instead of a main course. With ground turkey, chicken maple sausage, veggies, beans, and pumpkin puree, this pumpkin chilli [44] will go fast.

Halloween Popcorn Mix

Who said popcorn had to be for dessert? This tasty snack is perfect to nibble on at any hour of the day or to put out as a finger food at a party. Fill this colourful Halloween popcorn mix [45] with your favourite Halloween [46] sweets to really make it a treat.

Caramel Pumpkin Whip Dip

Need a super-easy Halloween [47] appetiser idea? This tasty caramel pumpkin whip dip [48] is calling your name. It takes only minutes to make (really!) and will be eaten up even faster. Dip crackers, bread, sugar snap peas, apple wedges, and more into it for best results.


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https://www.popsugar.co.uk/food/halloween-appetizers-47881292