Our Best Halloween Ideas

Scroll For More Photos

1 / 32

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

2 / 32

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

3 / 32

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

4 / 32

Orange Sherbert Cups With Berries

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

get the recipe

5 / 32

Ghostly Pumpkin Pudding

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

get the recipe

Food stylist: Anne Disrude
Prop stylist: Marina Malchin

6 / 32

Pumpkin Pie Parfaits

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

get the recipe

Photo: Karl Juengel ©

7 / 32

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.

8 / 32

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

9 / 32

Maple-Cinnamon Spider Web

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

get the recipe

10 / 32

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

11 / 32

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

12 / 32

Alton's Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

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

learn more

Food stylist: Anne Disrude
Prop Stylist: Alistair Turnbull

13 / 32

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

14 / 32

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

15 / 32

Candy Corn Cordials

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

get the recipe

16 / 32

Sandra's Halloween Tablescape

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

learn more

17 / 32

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

18 / 32

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

19 / 32

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

20 / 32

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.

21 / 32

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

22 / 32

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

23 / 32

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.

24 / 32

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.

25 / 32

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.

26 / 32

Scary Good Halloween Snacks

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

27 / 32

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

28 / 32

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