Trick or treats? 5 frighteningly good Halloween recipes 

Ah, October, it’s that time of the year when we realise Christmas is just around the corner! But more importantly, one all-important occasion is happening soon before – Halloween!

With the spooky season upon us, it’s time to start pumpkin picking and send out invites for your Halloween bash. When it comes to party planning, you’ll need tasty treats and creepy cocktail recipes to serve to your guests, but to keep them original and knock everyone’s socks off, you’ll want to try some new ones.

We’ve done our research to find and make the best food and drink recipes for the ghosts and ghouls attending your spooky soirée. For recipes bursting with tang and creativity, read on. 

Naturally, you’ll want your Halloween goodies to taste scrumptious and look the part. And we’re here to make it happen. 

Here’s a list of spooky treats you can hand your guests and have a little fun with:

• 100g of popcorn kernels
• 2 tbsp of vegetable or coconut oil

• 25g of salted butter
• 2 tbsp of water
• 1 tbsp of red food colouring
• 125g of Caster sugar
•  2 tbsp of cinnamon powder

1.      Heat your oil in a large saucepan on medium-high heat.

2.      Place a few kernels into the pot and wait for them to pop; once they have this, you’re ready to pour in the rest of your kernels in an even layer.

3.      Cover the pan and remove it from the heat for 30 seconds before placing it back on the heat.

4.      Wait for the popcorn to start popping; once your pops have slowed to one every several seconds, your popcorn is ready.

5.      Alternatively, if you have a popcorn maker, you can cook your popcorn in there

6.      Once your popcorn has cooled, split it into two halves and serve!

1.      Mix sugar, cinnamon, water, butter, and food colouring and bring to a boil.

2.      Pour over one-half of your popcorn and lay it on a baking tray to cool.

1.      Mix garlic powder, chilli powder, water, butter, and food colouring.

2.      Bring it to a boil.

3.      Pour over the other half of your popcorn and lay it on a baking tray to cool.

4.      Mix your popcorn in a bowl together and enjoy!

• 6 red apples
• 300g of Caster sugar
• 75ml of water
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp of golden syrup
• Red food colouring             
• 6 lollipop sticks

1.      Line a large chopping board with parchment paper, pull out the stalks of your apples and push your lollipop sticks into the stalk end of the apple.

2.      Add the sugar, lemon juice and water into a pan and bring to a simmer, cooking until the sugar is fully dissolved.

3.      Swirl the pan to move around the sugar - but it’s important not to stir.

4.      Add the Golden Syrup and let the mixture bubble until it reaches 150C on a sugar thermometer. When the temperature is reached, pour in the food colouring.

5.      Quickly dip each apple into the toffee, trying to coat as much of the apple as possible. Allow any excess caramel to drip into the pan before putting on the baking parchment to cool and harden.  

• 150g of green cooking chocolate
• 100g butter
• 100g puffed rice
• 4 tbsp of Golden Syrup
• Chocolate eggs

1.      Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl along with the syrup and butter, and melt over a pan of simmering water, stirring until smooth.

2.      Once smooth, take off the heat and pour in the puffed rice, stirring in until completely covered in the chocolate.

3.      Divide the mixture into 12 fairy cake cases, and top with the chocolate eggs. Then, leave to set.

If the monsters attending your party love a good savoury snack, here are a few delicious delights you can make (and tuck into!)…

• Vegetable oil, for the baking tray
• 8 beef meatballs (or plant-based alternatives)
• 8 small, seeded rolls, sliced in half
• 1 Little Gem lettuce
• 2 slices of Cheddar cheese
• ¼ small cucumber (about 4cm long)
• 16 cornichons
• 16 pimento-stuffed green olives
• Ketchup

1.      Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a baking tray with foil and drizzle with a little oil. Arrange the meatballs over the tray, spaced apart, and squash them into flat patties using the palm of your hand. Turn the patties over and rub in the oil, then bake for 15 mins.

2.      Meanwhile, top the base of each roll with a small lettuce leaf. Halve the cheese slices lengthways in a zig-zag to make ‘teeth’, then cut in half again crosswise so you have eight rows. Cut the cucumber into thin slices on the diagonal to make tongues. Push a cocktail stick into each of the cornichons, lengthways, to make the horns and halfway through the olives to create the effect of eyeballs on stalks.

3.      Add a burger patty to each of the lettuce-lined buns, followed by a cucumber tongue, cheese teeth and drizzle of ketchup, then sandwich with the tops of the buns. Stick the olive eyes and cornichon horns into the tops of the buns!

• 3–4-inch coffin cookie cutters
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 premade pizza dough
• 100g passata
• 110g shredded mozzarella
• ½ teaspoon of oregano
• ¼ dried basil

1.      Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.

2.      In a small bowl, melt butter and set aside.

3.      On a floured surface, roll out pizza dough with a floured rolling pin to 1 ½ cm thick.

4.      Cut 14-16 coffins out of dough. Place 7-8 coffins on a non-stick baking sheet.

5.      Add 1 teaspoon of passata/tomato base sauce to each.

6.      Add 1 teaspoon of shredded mozzarella cheese to each.

7.      Close topped coffin cut-outs with unused ones and pinch sides down with a fork.

8.      Brush the top of each coffin with butter and dried seasonings.

9.      Place in oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden on top.

10.   Leave to cool slightly and serve with sauces of your choice.

Now, for all you ghosts and ghouls who want spooky drinks to guzzle down this Halloween, we have the perfect cocktail for you!

• 2 ounces of Midori
• 1 ounce of lime vodka
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Lemonade (to top)

1.      Fill a tumbler with a glass with ice, and pour in the Midori, lime vodka, lemon juice and then top with lemonade.

2.      Garnish with sour, Halloween gummy sweets and slurp up!

Aside from cooking up a storm and serving drinks that’ll get everyone giddy, you might be wondering how to set up your party. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered there, too! 

Here are some frighteningly good Halloween party ideas to set your party off: 

Get your drinks trolleys out this October to set off the party vibes, and remember to get creative with them. 

Drape your trolley with fake cobwebs, bunting and cotton wool and place alcohol bottles with dark branding (such as Hendricks) or trending beverages like Dead Man’s Finger’s Spiced Rum to really set the mood. 

Now the drinks are sorted, it’s time to buy or dig out your old cocktail set to show your guests what a Halloween party really looks like!

Drip temporary fake blood down the sides of the shaker to add a ghoul-like effect to boost the Halloween theme!

If you or those you love own blenders and juicers, now is the time to use them. For guests who aren’t drinking alcohol, buy some blood oranges, dark berries, red grapes – anything rich in colour – and blend them. You’ll be left with blood-like drinks that look like guts!

Whether you’re inviting friends or family over to celebrate Halloween party, VonHaus are here to steer you in the right direction. If you like what you see, head to our blog for other tasty recipes, cocktail ideas, DIY tips, and more!