18 Spooky Halloween Appetizers for a Party

18 Spooky Halloween Appetizers for a Party

18 Spooky Halloween Appetizers for a Party

Hosting a Halloween party and looking for finger foods that will give everyone a fright (the good kind)? Try these 18 spooky snacks that are all super scary and totally delicious! Most are made from things you already have-well the ingredients ;). Grab a cauldron of napkins and let’s get a little wicked.

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1) Spooky Spider Deviled Eggs

a platter of deviled eggs each topped with a black-olive spider, dusted with paprika in a wide horizontal shot, on a dark slate board with cobweb-style napkins, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Traditional deviled eggs are made a little more interesting with a creepy black olive spider right on top!

a platter of deviled eggs each topped with a black-olive spider, dusted with paprika in a wide horizontal shot, on a dark slate board with cobweb-style napkins, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Spooky Spider Deviled Eggs

Mustard-y creamy deviled eggs that are topped with olive spiders which look gloriously gross.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 6 large eggs
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 6 black olives halved and sliced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • paprika for dusting

Method
 

  1. Place eggs in a pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, then cover and remove from heat for 12 minutes.
  2. Transfer eggs to an ice bath, peel, then slice in half lengthwise and pop the yolks into a bowl.
  3. Mash yolks with mayonnaise, Dijon, vinegar, salt, and pepper until smooth, then spoon or pipe back into the whites.
  4. Set one olive half on each egg for the spider body and arrange thin olive slices around it as legs.
  5. Dust lightly with paprika and chill until ready to serve.

Notes

Pipe the filling with a zip-top bag for a tidier look.

2) Pumpkin Cheeseball

a cheddar cheeseball shaped and grooved like an orange pumpkin with a green stem, surrounded by crackers in a wide horizontal shot, on a wooden board scattered with mini gourds, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

A cheddar cheese ball that is shaped like a tiny pumpkin with a little stem.

a cheddar cheeseball shaped and grooved like an orange pumpkin with a green stem, surrounded by crackers in a wide horizontal shot, on a wooden board scattered with mini gourds, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Pumpkin Cheeseball

This cheeseball is shaped like a pumpkin and rolled in paprika to give it that classic pumpkin orange glow!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar shredded
  • 2 tbsp chopped chives
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 1 bell pepper stem or pretzel rod

Method
 

  1. Beat cream cheese until smooth, then mix in cheddar, chives, and garlic powder.
  2. Scrape onto plastic wrap and form into a ball, then chill 1 hour to firm up.
  3. Roll the chilled ball in paprika until evenly orange.
  4. Use a knife to press vertical grooves down the sides so it looks like a pumpkin.
  5. Press a bell pepper stem or pretzel rod into the top and serve with crackers.

Notes

Add a splash of hot sauce to the mix if your crowd likes heat.

3) Ghostly Pizza Bites

a tray of mini English muffin pizzas each topped with a melty mozzarella ghost and olive eyes in a wide horizontal shot, on a black baking tray over a checkered cloth, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Mini pizzas with mini mozzarella ghost and a sea of sauce.

a tray of mini English muffin pizzas each topped with a melty mozzarella ghost and olive eyes in a wide horizontal shot, on a black baking tray over a checkered cloth, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Ghostly Pizza Bites

Small English muffin pizzas with cheese and ghost olives for eyes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 6 English muffins split
  • 1 cup pizza sauce
  • 6 mozzarella slices
  • 12 black olive slices

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet.
  2. Spread each muffin half with pizza sauce.
  3. Cut ghost shapes from the mozzarella slices using a small knife or cookie cutter and place one on each muffin.
  4. Add two olive slices to each ghost for eyes.
  5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese melts and the edges crisp, then cool slightly before serving.

4) Mummy Jalapeño Poppers

a tray of jalapeno poppers wrapped in golden dough strips like mummies with mustard-dot eyes in a wide horizontal shot, on parchment over a rustic metal sheet pan, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Jalapeños with cheese wrapped in crescent dough.

a tray of jalapeno poppers wrapped in golden dough strips like mummies with mustard-dot eyes in a wide horizontal shot, on parchment over a rustic metal sheet pan, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Mummy Jalapeño Poppers

Mustard eyes peeking out from flaky dough strips with spicy poppers.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8 jalapeños halved and seeded
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup cheddar shredded
  • 1 tube crescent dough
  • yellow mustard for eyes

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet.
  2. Mix cream cheese and cheddar, then fill each jalapeño half.
  3. Roll out crescent dough and slice into thin strips, then wrap strips around each popper like mummy bandages, leaving a gap for the face.
  4. Bake 16 to 18 minutes until golden.
  5. Dot two small mustard eyes in each gap once cooled slightly.

Notes

Wear gloves while seeding the jalapeños to save your hands.

5) Witch's Broomstick Snacks

a platter of string-cheese brooms with pretzel handles tied with green chives in a wide horizontal shot, on a white plate over a dark linen napkin, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

String Cheese Brooms with Chive Bristles.

a platter of string-cheese brooms with pretzel handles tied with green chives in a wide horizontal shot, on a white plate over a dark linen napkin, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Witch's Broomstick Snacks

These pretzel handle brooms disappear off of the platter in a hurry.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 5 string cheese sticks halved
  • 10 pretzel sticks
  • 10 fresh chives

Method
 

  1. Cut each string cheese stick in half.
  2. Make several lengthwise cuts in the bottom of each piece to create broom bristles.
  3. Push a pretzel stick into the uncut top to form the handle.
  4. Tie a chive around each broom just above the bristles to cinch it.
  5. Arrange on a platter and serve right away so the cheese stays fresh.

Notes

Microwave the chives 5 seconds to make them flexible for tying.

6) Graveyard Taco Dip

a shallow dish of layered taco dip with cracker tombstones standing up and olive accents in a wide horizontal shot, on a gray platter beside tortilla chips, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Layered taco dip with cracker tombstones coming out of the top.

a shallow dish of layered taco dip with cracker tombstones standing up and olive accents in a wide horizontal shot, on a gray platter beside tortilla chips, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Graveyard Taco Dip

Spookify your layered taco dip recipe with this cool and creamy graveyard dip!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup cheddar shredded
  • 8 rectangular crackers
  • black olives sliced

Method
 

  1. Beat cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning, then spread in a shallow dish.
  2. Spoon salsa over the top and sprinkle with cheddar.
  3. Write RIP on the crackers with a dab of cream cheese or icing to make tombstones.
  4. Stand the cracker tombstones upright in the dip.
  5. Scatter sliced olives around like dirt and chill until serving.

7) Creepy Crawly Pretzel Bites

a platter of round soft pretzel bites with thin pretzel-stick legs like spiders beside cheese dip in a wide horizontal shot, on a wooden board over a fall-colored cloth, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Scuttling soft pretzel bites with pretzel stick legs.

a platter of round soft pretzel bites with thin pretzel-stick legs like spiders beside cheese dip in a wide horizontal shot, on a wooden board over a fall-colored cloth, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Creepy Crawly Pretzel Bites

Salty warm pretzel spiders with cheese dip.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb pizza dough
  • 8 cups water
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 16 thin pretzel sticks
  • coarse salt to taste

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet.
  2. Roll dough into balls, then poke pretzel sticks into each as legs.
  3. Bring water and baking soda to a boil and dunk each ball for 20 seconds, then transfer to the sheet.
  4. Sprinkle with coarse salt and bake 10 to 12 minutes until deep golden.
  5. Cool a few minutes and serve with warm cheese dip.

Notes

Brush with melted butter right out of the oven for extra shine.

8) Bloody Beet Hummus

a bowl of vivid blood-red beet hummus swirled and drizzled with oil beside pita wedges in a wide horizontal shot, on a dark stone plate with scattered veggie sticks, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Bright red beet hummus that has a deliciously sinister look.

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a bowl of vivid blood-red beet hummus swirled and drizzled with oil beside pita wedges in a wide horizontal shot, on a dark stone plate with scattered veggie sticks, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Bloody Beet Hummus

Hummus made with beets and garlic.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 roasted beet peeled
  • 1 can chickpeas drained
  • 3 tbsp tahini
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • salt to taste

Method
 

  1. Add beet, chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic to a food processor.
  2. Blend until smooth, drizzling in olive oil as it runs.
  3. Season with salt and blend again to combine.
  4. Scrape into a bowl and swirl the top dramatically.
  5. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil and serve with pita and veggies.

Notes

Use pre-cooked vacuum-packed beets to skip roasting.

9) Monster Eyeball Meatballs

saucy meatballs in red marinara each topped with a mozzarella ball and olive slice like eyeballs in a wide horizontal shot, in a black cast-iron skillet on a wooden table, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Meatballs with sliced mozzarella for eyeballs.

saucy meatballs in red marinara each topped with a mozzarella ball and olive slice like eyeballs in a wide horizontal shot, in a black cast-iron skillet on a wooden table, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Monster Eyeball Meatballs

Meatballs are covered in a delicious marinara sauce, and creepy olives and cheese are added to make eyeballs.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  • 2 cups marinara
  • 8 small mozzarella balls
  • 8 black olive slices

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet.
  2. Mix beef, breadcrumbs, egg, and parmesan, then roll into meatballs.
  3. Bake 18 to 20 minutes until cooked through.
  4. Warm marinara in a pan and add the meatballs to coat.
  5. Top each meatball with a mozzarella ball and an olive slice to make an eyeball, then serve warm.

Notes

Halve a grape tomato as an alternate eyeball if you're out of mozzarella.

10) Pumpkin Patch Brownie Bites

a platter of fudgy mini brownie bites topped with cookie-crumb dirt and tiny candy pumpkins in a wide horizontal shot, on a slate board with autumn leaves scattered around, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Brownie bites with a pumpkin candy on a cookie crumb patch!

a platter of fudgy mini brownie bites topped with cookie-crumb dirt and tiny candy pumpkins in a wide horizontal shot, on a slate board with autumn leaves scattered around, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Pumpkin Patch Brownie Bites

Little rich brownies all dressed up as a mini pumpkin patch.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box brownie mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 16 candy pumpkins
  • 1/4 cup chocolate cookie crumbs

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a mini muffin tin.
  2. Whisk brownie mix with eggs, oil, and water until smooth.
  3. Fill each cup two-thirds full and bake 18 to 20 minutes.
  4. Cool completely, then sprinkle cookie crumbs on top for dirt.
  5. Press a candy pumpkin into each and serve.

Notes

Let them cool fully or the candy pumpkins will slide off.

11) Wicked Witch Guacamole

guacamole spread into a witch's face on a platter with a tortilla-triangle hat and veggie features in a wide horizontal shot, on a green platter surrounded by tortilla chips, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Guacamole molded into a witch's face with a tortilla hat.

guacamole spread into a witch's face on a platter with a tortilla-triangle hat and veggie features in a wide horizontal shot, on a green platter surrounded by tortilla chips, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Wicked Witch Guacamole

Guac arranged in a smiley witch face for the snack table.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 ripe avocados
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1 roma tomato diced
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • salt to taste
  • 1 large tortilla for hat

Method
 

  1. Mash avocados in a bowl with lime juice and salt.
  2. Stir in red onion, tomato, and cilantro.
  3. Spread the guacamole into a round face shape on a large platter.
  4. Cut a triangle hat from the tortilla and place it above the face.
  5. Add olive or pepper pieces for eyes and a crooked nose, then serve with chips.

Notes

Press plastic wrap onto the surface if making ahead to keep it green.

12) Haunted Forest Crudité Platter

a crudite platter arranged like a spooky forest with upright broccoli trees and a cucumber path in a wide horizontal shot, on a large dark board with a bowl of dip in the center, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

A veggie platter shaped like a spooky night time forest.

a crudite platter arranged like a spooky forest with upright broccoli trees and a cucumber path in a wide horizontal shot, on a large dark board with a bowl of dip in the center, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Haunted Forest Crudité Platter

A veggie spread arranged to look like scary trees and bushes.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bunch broccoli cut into trees
  • 2 cups baby carrots
  • 1 cucumber sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup ranch dip
  • 1 cup black olives

Method
 

  1. Stand tall broccoli florets upright to look like dark forest trees.
  2. Arrange cucumber slices as a winding path between them.
  3. Pile carrots and cherry tomatoes as colorful underbrush.
  4. Tuck olives around for a creepy-crawly touch.
  5. Set a bowl of ranch in the center and serve chilled.

13) Bewitched Cheese and Crackers

a cheese board with cheddar triangle witch hats, crackers, grapes, and pretzel brooms in a wide horizontal shot, on a marble board over a dark cloth, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

A cheeseboard featuring witch hat cheese wedges and broomstick crackers.

a cheese board with cheddar triangle witch hats, crackers, grapes, and pretzel brooms in a wide horizontal shot, on a marble board over a dark cloth, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Bewitched Cheese and Crackers

A simple cheese and cracker board with a couple of fun witchy touches.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz cheddar block cut into triangles
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 1 box crackers
  • 1 cup grapes
  • 10 pretzel sticks

Method
 

  1. Cut the cheddar into triangle witch hats and arrange on a board.
  2. Add a small dab of cream cheese as a hat band on each triangle.
  3. Lay out crackers and tuck pretzel sticks alongside as little brooms.
  4. Fill gaps with clusters of grapes.
  5. Serve at room temperature so the cheese softens.

Notes

Pull the cheese out 20 minutes early for the best flavor.

14) Goblin Goulash Sliders

a tray of saucy beef sliders with bright green slaw spilling out of soft buns in a wide horizontal shot, on a wooden board over a fall-toned napkin, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Beef sliders with greenish slaw peeking out.

a tray of saucy beef sliders with bright green slaw spilling out of soft buns in a wide horizontal shot, on a wooden board over a fall-toned napkin, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Goblin Goulash Sliders

Savory beef sliders with a goblin-green crunch are fun and maybe a little messy!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 12 slider buns
  • 2 cups shredded cabbage
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 drops green food coloring

Method
 

  1. Brown the beef in a skillet, then stir in tomato sauce and Worcestershire and simmer 10 minutes.
  2. Toss cabbage with mayonnaise and green food coloring to make goblin slaw.
  3. Slice the slider buns.
  4. Spoon the saucy beef onto the bottom buns and top with green slaw.
  5. Cap with the top buns and serve warm.

15) Vampire Bat Wings

a platter of dark glossy baked chicken wings glazed and garnished with garlic in a wide horizontal shot, on a black plate over a moody dark surface, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Sticky dark chicken wings with a hint of garlic.

a platter of dark glossy baked chicken wings glazed and garnished with garlic in a wide horizontal shot, on a black plate over a moody dark surface, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Vampire Bat Wings

Garlic and glossy wings baked to perfection will delight the most discerning vampires!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs chicken wings
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet.
  2. Whisk soy sauce, balsamic, honey, garlic, and oil, then toss the wings to coat.
  3. Spread wings on the sheet and bake 40 to 45 minutes, flipping halfway.
  4. Brush with any remaining glaze in the last 10 minutes for a dark sheen.
  5. Let rest 5 minutes, then pile onto a platter.

Notes

Broil 2 minutes at the end for extra-crispy, extra-dark skin.

16) Cauldron Halloween Fondue

a black cauldron of melted bubbling cheese fondue surrounded by bread cubes and veggies in a wide horizontal shot, on a dark wooden table lit by candlelight, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Melted cheese fondue served from a black cauldron.

a black cauldron of melted bubbling cheese fondue surrounded by bread cubes and veggies in a wide horizontal shot, on a dark wooden table lit by candlelight, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Cauldron Halloween Fondue

A spooky spread with all the dippers for warm, gooey cheese fondue.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups gruyere shredded
  • 1 cup white cheddar shredded
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 loaf crusty bread cubed

Method
 

  1. Rub a pot with the cut garlic clove, then add wine and heat gently.
  2. Toss the cheeses with cornstarch.
  3. Add cheese a handful at a time, stirring until smooth and melted.
  4. Pour into a warmed cauldron or fondue pot to keep it bubbling.
  5. Serve with bread cubes, apple slices, and veggies for dipping.

Notes

Keep it on the lowest heat so the cheese stays silky.

17) Graveyard Stuffed Peppers

a tray of stuffed mini sweet peppers topped with cracker tombstones and melted cheese in a wide horizontal shot, on parchment over a metal sheet pan, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Mini sweet peppers filled and topped with tombstone crackers.

a tray of stuffed mini sweet peppers topped with cracker tombstones and melted cheese in a wide horizontal shot, on parchment over a metal sheet pan, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Graveyard Stuffed Peppers

Mini graveyards made from stuffed cheesy mini peppers.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 12 mini sweet peppers halved
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 2 tbsp chopped chives
  • 12 rectangular crackers

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet.
  2. Mix cream cheese, mozzarella, and chives.
  3. Fill each pepper half and arrange on the sheet.
  4. Bake 15 to 18 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned.
  5. Tuck a cracker tombstone behind each pepper and serve warm.

18) Skeleton Bones Breadsticks

a platter of golden bone-shaped breadsticks dusted with parmesan beside a bowl of marinara in a wide horizontal shot, on a rustic wooden board over a dark cloth, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Cheesy breadsticks that are molded into the shape of little spooky bones.

a platter of golden bone-shaped breadsticks dusted with parmesan beside a bowl of marinara in a wide horizontal shot, on a rustic wooden board over a dark cloth, natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Skeleton Bones Breadsticks

Dunking your breadsticks that are bone shaped and golden brown with some garlic.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 29 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb pizza dough
  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  • 1 cup marinara for dipping

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet.
  2. Roll dough into ropes and pinch the ends to look like bone knobs.
  3. Place on the sheet and brush with melted butter.
  4. Sprinkle with garlic powder and parmesan and bake 12 to 14 minutes until golden.
  5. Serve warm with marinara for dipping.

Notes

Twist two thin ropes together for a more dramatic bone shape.