Inspire Spooky Recipes for Halloween

I'll be honest: Halloween isn't my favorite holiday. I was never a fan of spooky, horror stories and movies. I don't visit haunted houses,. In my opinion, October 31 is an ordinary day. However, I decided to step out of my comfort zone for this blog and make "spooky" recipes you can bring to Halloween costume parties.

These five recipes are simple and very creative. You'll certainly impress your friends and family on Halloween. You might even inspire someone else to try the recipes, as well.

1. Jack-o-Lantern Cheeseburgers
 

Jack-o-Lantern cheeseburgers.

This might just be one of the easiest Halloween recipes you'll find on this list. Mostly everyone loves cheeseburgers, but cutting out Jack-o-Lanterns in the cheese is a creative twist on a classic party dish. Does it get any more fun than this? 

The recipe is simple: Shape 2 1/2 pounds of lean ground beef into patties. Grill, broil, or pan-fry until the meat is no longer pink. Then, cut eyes and a mouth into 10 slices of American cheese. They should resemble Jack-o-Lanterns. Place the cheese on the burgers and cook until the cheese is slightly melted, but it shouldn't lose its shape. Serve on hamburger buns.

Of course, you can always add more gourmet toppings and flavors to the traditional cheeseburger. You can add onions, tomatoes, bacon, horseradish, etc. It's up to you and what you want to serve at your Halloween gathering. Enjoy!

2. Spooky Spider Deviled Eggs

Spider deviled eggs.

Every party needs a good appetizer or snack for guests to munch on while they talk with friends. These spider deviled eggs are too cute not to share. They're a creative twist on the traditional deviled eggs, and they're very easy to prepare. Hopefully, your guests will be able to notice that they're not actually real spiders!

For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• 6 hard-boiled eggs, halved
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 tsp. pickle juice 
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• Whole black olives

To begin, tap on the hard-boiled eggs and peel away the shells. Cut the eggs in half lengthwise. Spoon out the yolks and mash. Stir in the Dijon mustard, pickle juice, sugar, salt, and pepper. Spoon out a portion of the mashed egg yolk onto the deviled egg. Cut a whole olive in half lengthwise and put it on the egg yolk to resemble the spider's body. 

Thinly slice the other half of the olive for the spider's legs. Put four "legs" on each side of the "body." Enjoy! 

3. Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers

Jack-o-Lantern stuffed bell peppers.

As you can tell, Jack-o-Lanterns are the trend for Halloween this season. You can turn basically any food into a Jack-o-Lantern. As I shared in my Fall 2019 food blog, stuffed bell peppers have become a popular meal choice in recent years. The dish is praised for having a healthy new twist on traditional bell peppers. Packed with rich ingredients, these simple-to-make, satisfying bell peppers will provide the best comfort food this Halloween season. Sink your teeth into warm, crunchy bell peppers and delicious, warm rice.

The recipe is very easy: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut off (and reserve) the top of each bell pepper (I used orange bell peppers to resemble pumpkins). Remove and discard the cores and seeds. It's much quicker and less messy than when you're carving a pumpkin!

Begin cooking the rice according to the instructions on the box. Use a sharp paring knife and carve a Jack-o-Lantern face into each pepper. Place the peppers upright in a large baking dish. Fill the peppers with the cooked rice and bake in the oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the peppers are tender. Enjoy!

4. Witch Hat Calzones

Witch hat calzones.

These Witch Hat Calzones are a delicious appetizer or side dish for your Halloween menu. The cheese calzones are perfect to serve at Halloween parties, or just to have for fun at home for dinner! Your guests will love them. You'll also love them because they're easy to make, very festive, and a creative twist on a traditional dish.

You will need the following ingredients:

• 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese, grated
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 2 packages crescent rolls (8 oz. per package) 
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 Tbsp. water
• Pizza sauce, served warm 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Mix together the softened cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese in a medium-sized bowl until combined well. 

Unroll the crescent rolls into separate triangles. Place half of the triangles on the prepared baking dish. Set the other half to the side. Slightly beat the egg in a small bowl and mix in the water. Brush on the egg around the edges of each crescent roll. 

Spoon out 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture onto the center of each crescent roll. Press down to flatten and spread over the crescent roll. Take the other half of the crescent rolls and place each one on top of the crescent roll with the cheese mixture. Gently press together at the edges to make sure the cheese mixture stays inside the crescent rolls while baking. 

Fold up the bottom of the crescent rolls so it looks like the brim of a witch's hat. Shape the tip of the "hat" so it looks more like a witch's hat. Brush the calzones with a little of the egg. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the calzones are golden brown. Serve with warm pizza sauce. Enjoy! 

5. Candy Corn Fruit Parfait

Candy corn parfait.

I have never been a fan of candy corn. It doesn't really have a taste for me. But when I found this recipe for a candy corn parfait, I was eager to try it. It looks like candy corn, but it's filled with healthy fruits and sweet Cool Whip. This could be the perfect dessert for your Halloween party. 

The recipe is simple: Take a clear glass and layer pineapple (cut into chunks) on the bottom of the glass. Add mandarin orange slices on top of the pineapples. Top with Cool Whip. Finally, add candy corn to top off the parfait. Your guests will find this dessert to be very creative! 

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There are several ways you can be creative this Halloween. Whether you're planning to serve these recipes at a party or just at home by yourself, you can have fun on the spooky holiday in the kitchen. Try these recipes and you might just inspire someone else to also be creative. 

Feel free to follow me on Instagram (@kjlsdiary) to stay up-to-date on my cooking recipes. Free feel to share your own recipes with me. I love finding new ideas and attempting them (yes, "attempting") in the kitchen. 

Happy Halloween! 

-KJL-