It’s been a tradition over the few years to throw a Halloween party for my kids and all of their friends. Naturally, guests must come wearing their best costume and ready for a frightfully good time. I love decorating for the Halloween party, but I truly have the most fun in the kitchen, preparing the tastiest Halloween party appetizers! If you ask me, nothing brings people together quite like food does. Please your party guests and make a few of these incredible Halloween party appetizers.
Fresh Cooked Pumpkin Soup
Serve this Halloween party appetizer in a pumpkin bowl for added seasonal appeal.
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
One 4-pound sugar pie pumpkin
1 large yellow onion, chopped
4 large or 6 medium garlic cloves, pressed or minced
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon cloves
Tiny dash of cayenne pepper (optional, if you like spice)
Freshly ground black pepper
4 cups (32 ounces) vegetable broth
½ cup full-fat coconut milk or heavy cream
2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
¼ cup pepitas (green pumpkin seeds)
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with tinfoil or parchment paper. Halve the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Next, cut the halves of your pumpkin in half again (creating quarters) and brush each quarter with olive oil. Place the pumpkins (cut side down) on a baking sheet and roast for 35 minutes. Heat the remaining olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, and salt to the pot. Cooking until onion is translucent. When pumpkins are done, peel the skin off of the halves and discard the skin. Add the pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, and a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper to the pot. Break up the pumpkin with a stirring spoon and then mix in the broth. Bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes. While simmering, roast the green pumpkin seeds until they are fragrant and golden. When the soup is done cooking pour in the coconut milk and maple syrup. Remove the soup from heat and blend with an immersion blender until completely smooth. Serve the soup in another pumpkin!
Jack-O-Lantern Bell Pepper Cups
It’s important to have healthy Halloween party appetizers available, too!
Ingredients:
-Red and Yellow Bell Peppers
-Mixed Green Lettuce
-Cubed pears (for a garnish!)
Directions: Cut the tops off of your red and yellow bell peppers, removing and throwing away the seeds. Once gutted, use a carving knife to etch tiny jack-o-lantern faces into your bell pepper. Next, stuff your bell peppers full of mixed green lettuce and top with small cubed pears. Don’t forget to set out the salad dressing just in case any of your guests should fancy it!
Scary Spiders
You’ll please anyone with this classic Halloween party appetizer! Don’t forget to set out sauces for dipping!
Ingredients:
-Hot Dogs
-Uncooked Spaghetti Noodles
-Marinara Sauce (for dipping!)
Directions: Slice hot dogs into four one inch pieces, sticking four pieces of uncooked spaghetti through the hot dog. Place hot dogs and noodles into a pot of boiling water and cook for 8 minutes. Drain pasta and then serve with warmed marinara sauce.
Spoooky SpudsI
I made these a few Octobers ago one night for dinner, and my kids have begged me to make them for their parties ever since! Mashed potatoes are always appropriate, especially as a Halloween party appetizer! With a pastry bag and a few peas, just about anything is possible!
Ingredients:
-2 pounds russet potatoes (peeled and sliced)
-2 tablespoons butter
-1 cup milk
-salt and pepper
-peas (for the eyes!)
-Pastry bag (to create the ghoulish shapes!)
Directions: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil on your stove, adding to potatoes. Boil until potatoes are tender yet firm. Approximately 15 minutes. Drain the water. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan heat the butter and milk under low heat until the butter is fully melted. Using a hand mixer or immersion blender, mix the butter/milk mixture slowly into the cooked potatoes. Slowly blend until potatoes are creamy and add salt and pepper to taste. Scoop your mashed potatoes into your pastry bag, and great small “ghosts.” Once shaped, use small peas for the eyes!
Do you have any other Halloween party appetizers to add to this list of ideas? Leave a comment below!
