There’s no better way to get in the Halloween spirit than with delicious snacks that’ll put you in a festive mood! With Halloween and Halloweekend fast approaching, we’ve put together the best selections of Halloween snacks, whether you’d like to make something delicious at home or swing by the store to pick up candy essentials.
Recipes to Try
Non-Alcoholic Halloween Punch
Try out this blood-red “dragon’s punch” that is sure to put you in the spooky spirit! This drink only takes five minutes to make and will supply enough punch for over 20 servings. All you need is one 46-oz. can of red punch, one 46-oz. can of apple juice, one 48-oz. bottle of cranberry juice and one two-liter bottle of ginger ale. Mix everything into a large bowl, add ice, and it’s ready to be served at any Halloween celebration!
Hot Dog Mummies
For a savory snack, test out these hot dog mummies. They’re super easy to make and allow for some creativity! For this recipe, you’ll need one tube of crescent roll dough, eight hot dogs, one slice of white cheese, and ketchup or mustard. First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, cut the crescent roll dough into eight strips. Use these strips to wrap and crisscross around the hot dogs to imitate a mummy’s bandaging. Then, pop them into the oven on a lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Punch 16 circles out of your slice of cheese to make mummy eyes, and attach them to the hot dogs with your condiments. Don’t forget to use ketchup or mustard for the pupils!
Vampire Cupcakes
Red velvet cupcakes are enough to get you in the Halloween spirit, but the added gore factor (raspberry jam!) takes this recipe to the next level. For the cupcakes and cream cheese frosting, you can either make them with your favorite homemade recipe or buy a box mix and icing. As for the vampirical surprise inside, microwave together a 3-oz. semisweet chocolate bar and one teaspoon of coconut oil for about a minute and 15 seconds, or until the mixture is smooth. Then, use a small knife to cut out a plug from the middle of the baked cupcakes, leaving room at the bottom and the sides. Brush the melted chocolate in the holes and let the cupcakes sit in the freezer for 15 minutes. While you’re waiting, mix together one cup of raspberry jam, one drop of red food coloring and one tablespoon of water. Put one tablespoon of this mixture into each cupcake, and then ice your cupcakes! For extra eerie decoration, drizzle the rest of the jam mixture on the cupcakes to resemble blood.
Ghost S’mores Dip
Make this cozy treat a little spookier by adding some Halloween flair! All you need for this delicious dip are 10 ghost-shaped marshmallow Peeps, two cups of semisweet chocolate chips, and graham crackers. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the oven’s ready, pour the chocolate chips into an 8- or 9-inch skillet. Bake them for three to four minutes, or until they’ve softened. Then, place the 10 Peeps in a circle on top of the chocolate. Bake again for another two to three minutes. Take out the skillet, and your dip is ready to serve! Dip the graham crackers or any other tasty substitute into the marshmallow-chocolate mixture and share this ghostly good treat with other sweets enthusiasts!
Candies to Buy
Candy Corn
During the Halloween season, you can never go wrong with enjoying this iconic white, orange and yellow treat! Candy corn is a staple of the fall season and is usually made with sugar, corn syrup, honey and other ingredients. You’ll have no problem finding candy corn during your Halloween shopping, as bags of the stuff are on shelves everywhere.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Another Halloween staple appropriately associated with the color orange is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! This treat is the best options for lovers of both chocolate and peanut butter. Make sure to stock up on all the Reese’s Pumpkins, Ghosts, Bats and other seasonal shapes before Halloween is over!
Kit Kats
No matter which way you eat them, Kit Kats are a great snack, especially for the Halloween season. For lovers of chocolate and wafers, Kit Kats are great for snacking, sharing and giving out to trick-or-treaters. Like any other snack, make sure to stock up on these in bulk so that you have enough to last you through Halloween!
Written By Chloe Langerman ’25, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and Esteban Quiñones ’24, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
This list is for reference purposes only and is not deemed an endorsement by Syracuse University.