There are many delicious sweet treats that can be perfectly adapted to the Halloween festivities, from creepy cookies to petrifying pies. But there are also plenty of savoury recipes that are just as fitting. This means that if you don’t have a sweet tooth – or just fancy something a bit more grown-up – you’re still spoiled for choice.
So, whether you’re planning a Halloween party for adults or you want to knock up some kid-friendly treats, we’ve got you covered! Here are 10 Halloween baking ideas.
1. Pumpkin pie
While it’s hugely popular in the US, pumpkin pie has never really caught on in the same way in the UK. Though, it’s difficult to see why. If you’re looking for a sophisticated Halloween dessert, then the not-overly-sweet pumpkin pie is ideal.
Interestingly, fresh pumpkins aren’t generally used for pumpkin pie – and for good reason! Though they’re good for carving, fresh pumpkins can be stringy and watery, so you’re better off buying a tin of pumpkin purée, which will save you time too.
Seasonal, colourful, and packed with the sweet, fragrant spices we associate with autumn, pumpkin pie is the perfect centrepiece for Halloween celebrations.
To make pumpkin pie, check out the recipe in our article; 9 delicious and versatile pumpkin recipes.
2. Meringue bones
One of the fun things about Halloween food preparation is trying to disguise delicious sweet treats as something scary and repulsive – and if you’re looking to do that, look no further than these meringue bones.
These creepy treats are simple to make: just whip sugar and egg whites until they form stiff peaks and pipe the mixture into bone shapes, before baking on a low heat.
Once baked, these meringue bones should be dry and crisp on the outside with a hint of gooey chewiness inside. They’re great for decorating tables, cakes, or just handing out as a spooky snack. For maximum impact, serve with a big bowl of ‘blood dip’ – which is really just strawberries and raspberries blended with jam!
To make meringue bones and blood dip, try this recipe from Asda.
3. Fiendish sausage fingers
If you’re looking for a kid-friendly Halloween snack that’s not packed with sugar, these fiendish sausage fingers should tick the box! These pastry fingers look suitably scary and are really easy to make. Plus, biting into the flaky golden finger to discover a tasty sausage-filled centre will be a fun surprise!
To make these fingers in double-quick time, you can use pre-made pastry: just unroll, cut into rectangles, pop a chipolata sausage in the centre (or use veggie ones), tuck the pastry around the sausage, and use a knife to score finger lines.
To make the fingers look even creepier, use half a black olive or a blanched almond to make a fingernail – and when baked, serve with ketchup ‘blood’!
To make these fiendish sausage fingers, try this recipe from Tesco.
4. Pumpkin banana bread
If you don’t fancy pumpkin pie, why not try making pumpkin banana bread?
Banana bread saw something of a resurgence during the pandemic (we even have our own recipe!), and this autumnal version makes an indulgent treat for Halloween celebrations. When spread with butter (or a dollop of cream) and enjoyed with tea or coffee, it makes a tasty breakfast too!
Sweet, ripe bananas complement the earthy flavour of pumpkin, to create a loaf that’s naturally sweet and deliciously moist. Pumpkin spice mix makes it taste even more festive! You can easily adapt this recipe to your taste preferences too. If you’d like it to be sweeter, add more mashed banana, while if you prefer the earthier taste of pumpkin, add more pumpkin purée.
To make pumpkin banana bread, try this recipe from The Kitchn.
5. Halloween cupcakes
Cupcakes are just as appealing to adults as children, so whatever type of Halloween celebration you’re planning, making some creepy cupcakes is a wise choice.
The beauty of Halloween cupcakes is that they’re simple to make and there are endless ways to decorate them. And if you’re pushed for time you can buy cupcakes and jazz them up at home!
For example, why not make Tesco’s ghoulish green monster cupcakes, which hide a gory strawberry surprise inside? Or, if you like working with fondant, you might like to try GoodtoKnow’s witch hat cupcakes, vampire cupcakes, or gruesome eyeball cupcakes. If you’re a chocolate lover, these elegant spider web chocolate fudge muffins from BBC Good Food are also ideal – as are these spider cupcakes from Damn Delicious.
For more fun and easy Halloween cupcake ideas, check out this article from Country Living.
6. Halloween cheesecake
There are few people who aren’t tempted by cheesecake – and just like cupcakes, the joy of making a Halloween cheesecake is that there are so many ways you can get creative with decorating.
It’s also easy to adapt for your dietary requirements, whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, or just trying to cut down on sugar.
For an impressive (and not to mention chilling!) cheesecake, why not make this bloody knife cheesecake from Maverick Baking or this spiderweb cheesecake from The Guardian? Or, for a more kid-friendly recipe, why not make Good Housekeeping’s Oreo tombstone cake that’s filled with fresh strawberry coulis?
For more creative Halloween cheesecake ideas, check out this collection of recipes from Delish.
7. Pumpkin spice snickerdoodles
If you love cookies, it’s safe to say you’ll love snickerdoodles – and if you’ve never tried one, you’re in for a treat!
Snickerdoodles are American cookies that are coated in cinnamon sugar. They’re deliciously gooey on the inside while being wonderfully crisp on the outside. While not traditionally baked at Halloween, adding some pumpkin spice will give these cookies a delicious autumnal twist.
Having a plate of Yotam Ottolenghi’s pumpkin spice snickerdoodles at your Halloween celebrations will delight just about anyone. These cookies are flavoured with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger, and will keep in a jar for a week. They can also be baked from frozen – so they can be made in advance to offer to impromptu Halloween guests!
8. Savoury Halloween pies
For another savoury snack that’ll please adults and children alike, why not make some Halloween pies?
One of the best things about Halloween pies is that recipes can be adapted to your schedule. You can make the pastry from scratch or if you’d like to save time, you can use shop-bought pastry. And if you’re really busy, you can always buy pre-made pies and decorate them yourself.
It’s also easy to make both meat and veggie versions of these pies. If you’d like to make a meat pie, you can use sausage meat, stuffing mix, and chilli jam to create a delicious savoury centre. Or, to make a vegetarian version, just use veggie sausages or mince.
Then, to make your pies look suitably spooky, use a knife to cut out scary faces in the pastry before baking. It’s that simple!
To make meat-based Halloween pies, try this recipe from Tesco, and to make vegetarian Halloween pies, try this recipe from Quorn.
9. Haunted house cake
If you’re looking for a cake to impress your guests and you want to have fun decorating it, then why not make a haunted house cake?
Much simpler to make than a gingerbread house, most haunted house cakes can be made just with a square bake tin – using a card template to trim your cake into a wonky house shape.
Once you’ve got your house base, it’s onto the fun part – decorating it! You can use chocolate buttercream for the house exterior, and jaffa cakes to create the roof. For the doors and windows, just roll out coloured icing and use a piping bag to ice creative details, like window panes or ghostly faces. Colourful sweets make perfect paths and garden decorations!
To make a haunted house cake, try this recipe from Sainsbury’s.
10. Stuffed mini pumpkins
Pumpkins take centre stage in many Halloween menus – but if you’re looking for a grown-up, savoury dish that most people won’t have tried before, why not make stuffed pumpkins?
While stuffed vegetables are pretty common, stuffed pumpkins are more unusual. Mini pumpkins are ideal for stuffing, as the flavoursome flesh quickly softens when baked in the oven.
You can stuff your pumpkins with whatever you like, but this recipe uses onion, mushrooms, and chard, which are in season at this time of year. This one from Domestic Gothess is tasty too – it’s made with cranberries, pecans, and a blend of basmati and pecan rice.
These stuffed pumpkins take only 20-25 minutes to prepare, and make a tasty vegetarian starter or main for a Halloween dinner party.
Final thoughts…
Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, Halloween is the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen. There’s an abundance of delicious seasonal produce around (pumpkins are just one of many vegetables that come into their own at this time of year!). Plus, it’s a unique opportunity to embrace your childish side and get excited about ghosts and ghouls.
From creepy cupcakes to spooky sausage rolls (not to mention all the obligatory pumpkin creations!), we hope these recipes have inspired you. Whether you’re looking for some kid-friendly treats or sophisticated desserts, there’s a Halloween recipe for everyone!
For further Halloween inspiration, you might like to check out our articles; 11 spooky adventure ideas for Halloween and beyond and 10 modern horror films to watch this Halloween.
Are you tempted by any of these Halloween recipes? Or do you have any of your own favourite Halloween recipes you’d like to share with our readers? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.