Our Best Halloween Ideas

Eat, drink and be scary with our recipes and decorating ideas from Food Network chefs for the spookiest day of the year.

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Photo By: Karl Juengel ©Hearst Communications Inc., 2009

©Hearst Communications Inc., 2009

Candy Corn Parfait

This grown-up parfait draws inspiration from candy corn's colorful layers: Use yellow lemon curd, sliced oranges and fresh-whipped cream.

Get the Recipe: Candy Corn Parfait

Corn-on-the-Cob Cake

Turn a store-bought jelly-roll cake into realistic corn cob. Shape the cake, spread with icing and then bedazzle with candy corn "kernels." Green fondant serves as the corn husk.

Get the Recipe: Corn on the Cob Cake

Ghost Cupcakes

These cupcakes have chocolatey bodies and fluffy white icing that tastes as good as it looks. Add food coloring to make the candy eyes pop!

Get the Recipe: Ghouly Cupcakes

Orange Sherbert Cups With Berries

Use orange halves to serve this fresh Halloween-hued dessert, then top with fresh blackberries.

Get the Recipe: Orange Sherbet Cups With Blackberries

Ghostly Pumpkin Pudding

Top homemade pumpkin pudding with a dollop of meringue and, for fun, some candy eyes.

Get the Recipe: Ghostly Pumpkin Pudding

Pumpkin Pie Parfaits

Transform canned pumpkin into an easy layered dessert. Alternate crushed gingersnaps, bourbon-spiked pumpkin filling and whipped cream.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin-Pie Parfaits

Perfect Caramel Apples

Don't let fall go by without biting into a crisp, sweet caramel apple. Keep it simple with a layer of homemade caramel, or dip yours in one of our favorite crunchy toppings.

Caramel-Pear Mice

These cute caramels are a fun take on classic caramel apples. Cut fresh pears into wedges, then coat with homemade caramel and add a candy "face."

Get the Recipe: Caramel Pear Mice

Maple-Cinnamon Spider Web

Garnish cinnamon-spiced fritter "webs" with gummy spiders for a scary-good dessert.

Get the Recipe: Maple Cinnamon Spider Web Fritters

Spiced Caramel Roulade With Ginger Cream

Roll a sweet potato-spice cake around ginger-flecked whipped cream. Use powdered sugar and stencils to create a Halloween pattern on top.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Caramel Roulade with Ginger Cream

Mexican Pumpkin Punch

Celebrate pumpkin in drink form! Mix pumpkin puree into the punch, then garnish with pineapple chunks, pecans and a splash of rum, if desired.

Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Pumpkin Punch

Alton's Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

After you carve your jack-o-lantern, don't throw away the seeds — roast them!

Watch the Video: Toasting Pumpkin Seeds with Alton

Claire's Dark and Spooky

"Classic cocktails are so trendy right now. One of my favorites is this twist on a Dark and Stormy, perfect for Halloween." — Claire Robinson, for Food Network Magazine

Get the Recipe: Claire Robinson's Dark and Spooky

Vampire Blood Tomato Soup With Muenster Sammies

Kick up the creepy factor by serving tomato soup in test-tube "shooters." Pair with monster-shaped Muenster cheese sandwiches.

Get the Recipe: Vampire Blood Tomato Soup with Muenster Sammies

Candy Corn Cordials

Infuse vodka with sweet candy corn, then mix with orange liqueur and lemon juice.

Get the Recipe: Candy Corn Cordials

Sandra's Halloween Tablescape

Turn pumpkins and Halloween candy into a decked-out tablescape — Sandra shows you how.

Watch the Video: Sandra's Semi-Homemade Halloween

Sandra's Monster Cupcakes

Transform store-bought cupcakes into spooky Halloween monsters, with a green food coloring base, gummy ring and chocolate candy eyes and cashew horns.

Get the Recipe: Monster Cupcakes

Spiky Candy Corn Cupcakes

Give your Halloween cupcakes an edge with Sandra's simple decorating tip: stud the top with candy corn to create a spiky, fun silhouette.

Get the Recipe: Spiky Candy Corn Cupcakes

Vampire Bite Mocktail

For the non-drinkers in your crowd, whip up Sandra's blood-red mocktail made with cranberry juice and grenadine. Rim glasses with red candy gel for sweet, creepy drips.

Get the Recipe: Vampire Bite Mocktail

Sandra's Black Cloud Cocktail

A triple dose of orange flavor, from orange soda, juice and liqueur, gives Sandra's cocktail Halloween flair. Float black vodka on top, then garnish with a rolled licorice wheel.

Jack O'Lantern Cupcakes

Top your favorite cupcakes with black and orange fondant to create a sweet take on a jack o'lantern.

Get the Recipe: Jack-O-Lantern Cupcakes

Pumpkin Waffles With Trail Mix Topping

Greet Halloween with a treat, not a trick — Claire's homemade pumpkin waffles are the perfect way to start the spookiest day of the year.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Waffles With Trail-Mix Topping

Star Pumpkin Carving

How do Ted Allen, Melissa D'Arabian, Sandra Lee, Ellie Krieger and more dress up their pumpkins for Halloween? Food Network Magazine gave them a pumpkin and they got creative — the results are so cool, it's scary.

Good Eats-Inspired Costumes

Alton's Brown's Good Eats episodes features some of the craziest food costumes on TV. Food Network Magazine put the show's costume designer to work creating 5 cool kids' costumes, all inspired by food.

Slashing Pumpkins at Charm City Cakes

Duff and the Ace of Cakes crew know how to get creative in the kitchen — see how they carve Halloween pumpkins.

Scary Good Halloween Snacks

Dress up your Halloween spread with 9 luxe ideas for black-and-orange treats.

Screaming Hot Peanuts

Spice up your Halloween party with these fiery roasted nuts coated in a mixture of cayenne and ancho chili powders.

Get the Recipe: Screaming Hot Peanuts

Deviled Chicken Lollipops

Coat these devilishly delicious chicken drumettes with honey mustard sauce, spices and crisp sourdough breadcrumbs, then serve with hot sauce for dipping.

Get the Recipe: Deviled Chicken Lollipops

Duff's Cool, Creepy Recipes

From creepy cakes to trick foods, get Duff's fun ideas for a spooky, spunky celebration.

Watch the Video: Duff's Halloween Tricks and Treats

Sweet-and-Spicy Pepitas Popcorn Balls

Roast and hull the seeds from your jack o' lantern and use them to make these grown-up popcorn balls.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Pepitas Popcorn Balls

Sandra Lee's Halloween

Join Sandra's outrageous Halloween party, complete with over-the-top costumes and simple party recipes