Treat friends and family to a fun Halloween celebration that’s a cinch to throw together.
Halloween isn’t just for the kids! Serve a spread of easy, yet delicious, party foods mingled with simply spooky decorations for a Halloween party that’s fun for guests of all ages. These Halloween party decorations are festive and easy to pull off.
Start the party
Party guests tend to linger around the food table, so make yours as engaging as possible. A simple runner made from orange-and-white striped fabric trimmed with rickrack grounds the goodies displayed on black, white, green and orange dishes and serving pieces. Fill your table with spooky, themed appetizers, and don’t forget to add a few pumpkins or other seasonal decorations.
Spooky food labels
Amuse your guests by clearly marking party food with these labels that look like they were pulled from the fire. Clever (or scary!) names help make it feel even more festive. You’ll need:
- Shadow-box scrapbook paper
- Rub-on and die-cut letters
- Craft glue
- Black drinking straws
- Transparent tape
Directions:
- Tear the desired shape from the shadow-box paper.
- Use a combination of rub-on and die-cut letters to spell the words you want.
- Adhere the rub-on letters following the manufacturer’s instructions and using crafts glue to apply the die-cut letters to the shadow-box paper.
- Cut a 3-inch long piece of drinking straw.
- Cut a 1-1/2-inch-long slit in end of the piece.
- Slide the sign into the slit and secure at the back with the tape.
Mummy Dogs
Fill hungry tummies with Mummy Dogs, a smile-inducing finger food. Refrigerated breadstick dough makes this crowd-pleaser a cinch to make. For eyes, press capers into the dough before baking.
Ingredients:
- 1 11-ounce package refrigerated breadsticks (12 breadsticks)
- 12 jumbo frankfurters
- Ketchup and mustard
- Capers
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Unwrap breadsticks. Stretch each breadstick to 12 inches. Wrap dough around frankfurters, letting the frankfurters show slightly through the dough. Press in capers for eyes. Bake in preheated oven for about 12 minutes or until bread is golden brown. Serve with ketchup and mustard. Makes 12 snacks.
Spiderweb Soup
Give boring tomato soup a ghoulish makeover in a snap—and you don’t even have to be a gourmet chef! This tangled web is a bit of sour cream woven with a toothpick. See the next two slides for more information.
Super-Easy S’mores
Serve a Halloween dessert that pleases both kids and adults—ooey, gooey delicious s’mores. With this speedy version, you can have “some more” in no time flat.
Ingredients:
- 8 chocolate or regular graham cracker squares
- 3 tablespoons chocolate-hazelnut spread
- 3 tablespoons marshmallow creme
Directions:
Place graham cracker squares on a work surface; spread 4 squares with chocolate-hazelnut spread. Spread remaining graham cracker squares with marshmallow creme. Place graham crackers, marshmallow-sides down, on top of chocolate-hazelnut spread. Place on a microwave-safe plate.
Microwave, uncovered, on 100% power (high) for 30 seconds. Serve at once. Makes 4 s’mores.
Out on a limb
Cute little treat bags will help keep young guests from getting spooked by the sight of bats and ghosts hanging from tree branches. Bags of sweets and snacks are always a hit. For a change of pace, include some non-edible loot, such as small toys or Halloween-themed flashlights (available at party stores) to use on trick-or-treating adventures.
