65 Halloween Snacks for Adults That’ll Get Anyone in the Spirit

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

This NYC icon just got an autumnal makeover—and boy, does it suit her. "Be sure to use plain canned pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen writes. "The latter contains added sugar and spices, and you’ll be adding your own."

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: no bake, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
• Serves: 1

Nope, I'll never be over jarcuterie, the single-serve charcuterie "boards" that took over Pinterest in 2020. Here, Gillen trades meat and cheese for fun-size candy bars, yogurt-covered pretzels, lollipops and gummies. "Place studier ingredients on the bottom to hold any skewered items securely," she writes. "Soft ingredients can go on top, and thin, soft items (like sour candy belts) can be affixed to bamboo skewers for height."

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6 to 8

"I ever-so-slightly upgraded the decadent Halloween snack so it’s just the right amount of classy and kitschy," Gillen writes, "but if you still want to use store-bought pudding mix, I won’t tell." Gummy worms would be a great addition to these, too.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Aka the easiest way to get a taste of summer in the off-season. "This recipe relies on graham cracker crumbs as the main dry ingredient," Gillen explains. "The result is somewhere between a regular graham cracker and one of those chewy oatmeal sandwich cookies you used to eat in grade school." Top the marshmallows with your favorite fun-sized candies for a Halloween-inspired finish.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6 to 8

Buttery, paper-thin potatoes that are impossibly crisp? Yes, please. "A mandoline will give you uniform thin slices, essential for even cooking," Gillen suggests. "A sharp chef’s knife will work in a pinch, but you’ll want to set aside some time for slicing to make sure your slices are as consistent as possible." A side of aioli or fancy ketchup will keep the dippers at your table happy.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 1 to 2

There's so much garlic in this movie snack that you won't have to worry about vampires crashing your Halloween party, promise. "Instead of tossing the popcorn in melted butter and sprinkling the seasonings on top (aka a recipe for naked kernels and a desert of dust at the bottom of the bowl)," writes PureWow food editor Taryn Pire, "I mash all the ingredients into a paste before melting it. That way, every drop of butter is infused with garlicky, cheesy goodness."

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegan, dairy free
• Serves: 2

Sweet, salty and rich with umami (thanks, white miso paste), this vegan caramel dip made with canned coconut cream blows the jarred kind way out of the water. "If you’re not on a plant-based diet, you can totally use heavy cream instead of coconut cream," Pire assures. "Some strict vegans also may avoid regular white sugar, so feel free to use organic or coconut sugar instead."

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

C'mon, it's Halloween. You've got to lean into the fun at least a little bit, and this snack is a crowd-pleaser for the young and young at heart. Canned Crescent roll dough makes these hot dogs virtually effortless to assemble. Dunk them in ketchup, honey mustard or ranch dressing.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 10

Whether you hand them out to trick-or-treaters or nosh on them while ignoring the doorbell, these timeless Halloween snacks are sure to do to the trick. Stud them with everything from M&M's to candy corn.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

This crowd-pleaser will be on all your guests' Instagram stories in a flash. Salty snacks (like Cheez-Its and cheese balls), sweets (like Oreo spiders and gummies) and more wholesome appetizers (like cheese and guacamole) unite for one epic starter that requires no cooking at all.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 1 to 2

Cheese and crackers, but make it fashion. "Start with a cold pan to help the strips cook evenly and slowly render out their fat for a crispier final product," Pire suggests. "You can also pseudo-candy the bacon by whisking a bit of maple syrup and brown sugar together in a small bowl and drizzling or brushing it over the strips while they cook."

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 10

Bring the fall festival home this year with these sweet treats that only take four ingredients and 50 minutes to prepare. Skip the sticks and slice the apples instead for easy serving.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Another way to win your guests over in a heartbeat? Serve them homemade mulled cider, which can easily be made on the stove or in your Crockpot. Spike it with rum or whiskey for an easy fall cocktail.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 16

I'd go ham with the cinnamon streusel on top if I were you. It is the best part, after all. (Or is it the tangy cream cheese swirl? You'll have to decide for yourself.)

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

I want justice for this age-old Halloween candy that's painfully underrated. Here, layers of yellow and orange cake batter topped with buttercream frosting make these vanilla cupcakes resemble their namesake.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

OK, so I said no cheesy recipes...but I'll never pass on melted mozzarella. Plus, how can you resist that cute little tomato face? Save a ton of time by starting with store-bought pizza dough.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 30

Could these spiced brown sugar cookies be any cuter? I think not. Even better, they're brushed with cinnamon-laced salted butter before being assembled. Excuse me for drooling.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

Slice this make-ahead behemoth open at the table and let the compliments roll in. The Halloween candy inside will really impress your friends and family (but mostly the kids) at the party.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Want to see a bunch of children—or grown-ups—turn into monsters? Put a bowl of these down on the kids' table. They taste like they're fresh from the farm (and they'll disappear in 30 seconds flat).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

These oh-so-Instagrammable brownies are a sure win with both kids and adults alike. Go wild with the chocolate bark toppings, like M&M's, spooky sprinkles and candy eyes.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 12

These adorable treats—made with white chocolate, Biscoff cookie butter and pumpkin pie spice—are bite-size, so go ahead and have a whole bowl (or two). I won’t judge.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

The perfect balance of sweet and sour, these carnival delicacies are classics for a reason. Drizzle them with white chocolate for extra flair (and a spider web-like design).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, Paleo-friendly, make ahead, gluten free, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 16

Coconut flour cookies stuffed with homemade jelly? And they’re vegan (if you sub agave for honey)? That’s some strange magic, if you ask me.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, make ahead, vegan, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12 to 14

This plant-based gem is a delicious way to get the party started. Finish the hummus with whole chickpeas, flaky salt, fresh herbs and pumpkin pie spice.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 6

Cuter (and more impressive) than any typical apple pie recipe. Use a baking apple that will hold its shape and texture in the oven, like Honeycrisps or Granny Smiths.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 24

Consider it the best of ginger snaps, cheesecake and pumpkin pie, all in one bite. (They practically melt in your mouth to boot.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 10

Let’s face it: Not all Halloween snacks are created equal, and the iconic combo of peanut butter and chocolate trumps them all. So, consider this the ultimate trick-or-treat candy.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

Move over, pumpkin spice: There’s a new breakfast favorite to scarf down every morning this fall. Plop it on the Halloween snack table and let your guests serve themselves.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8 to 10

Our new favorite dessert, courtesy of Coterie member Heidi Larsen. Not only are there a ton of ladyfingers layered in there, but the dessert is also crowned with ginger snap cookies and infused with pumpkin liqueur.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4 to 6

Anyone who says fall soup isn't a Halloween snack hasn't tried this one. All you have to do is fill a hulled-out pumpkin with stock and seasonings, then roast it to perfection. To make it an app, skip the whole roasted pumpkin and serve the soup in shooters.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

Only have 30 minutes before your guests arrive? Challenge accepted. Use coconut oil instead of butter and non-dairy milk to keep these decadent scones plant-based.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

The filling only requires six ingredients, but if you want to use store-bought, feel free. The cinnamon roll pie crust is what really sets this beauty apart anyway.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8 to 10

This dip has it all, from cheddar cheese to toasted pecans to crispy bacon. Better yet, it'll only take you five minutes to prepare, and you can make it ahead.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, gluten free
• Serves: 4 to 6

Because ice cream season is never over in my heart, no matter the weather. Not only is this Halloween snack naturally gluten-free, but the color of the ice cream is just right for spooky season.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 12

It’s not fall until you have at least two (or three) of these, either with mulled apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte. The homemade cider caramel would taste great on vanilla ice cream too, BTW.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

A subtle (and non-spooky) nod to eyeball candies. Nutty tahini takes over for traditional peanut butter here for an earthy twist that all your guests will find scary delicious.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
• Serves: 6

Pumpkin pie haters, beware. You're about to be converted by this pumpkin cream-meringue hybrid that's finished with a generous dose of caramel sauce. Save time by using store-bought meringue cookies; I won't tell.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, one pot, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

A hearty bowl of this nutrient-packed root vegetable soup will keep you warm through December. Serve them in shot glasses with hunks of bread or croutons for an easy-yet-elegant appetizer.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4 to 6

Use the leftover caramel sauce (which is made with hard cider) as a dip for apples, drizzle it over ice cream or just eat it by the spoonful. To reheat, pop it on the stove or in the microwave until it's thin enough for dipping.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, Paleo-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 12

A fall take on the standard peanut butter cup, these pumpkin purée-filled candies come together with just five ingredients. Finish them with flaky salt for a tasty contrast.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

Thanks to almond milk and non-dairy butter, these babies are totally vegan. Serve the biscuits with soup, slather them in butter or use them to crown a green salad.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe
• Serves: 2

Your favorite seasonal spud makes for a wonderful Halloween snack. Seasoned with cold-weather spices like fennel, coriander and cumin, these are far from your average fries (and that's not counting the aioli).

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

Tackle this recipe whenever homemade pie crust feels like a tall order. There's no fancy crimping required. Instead, this dessert is topped with easy brown sugar-cinnamon oat streusel.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 12

Whether you have these for breakfast, dessert or as an appetizer, they'll only take you 45 minutes to prepare. Finish them with sanding sugar, whipped cream or nothing at all.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 10

They only *look* like treats from a fancy bakery that you could never pull off on your own. The secret is starting with store-bought puff pastry (and your guests will be none the wiser).

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 14

Store-bought pie crust and cranberry sauce make these hors d'oeuvres a total cinch, while Brie makes them just fancy enough. Did I mention they're only six ingredients and 15 minutes away?

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 24

In a word, irresistible. And they've got a foolproof ratio of pie to whipped cream to boot. Start with store-bought canned cinnamon roll dough to save time.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

Since the cheese is tangy and salty, sweet apples like Braeburns or Galas balance this Halloween snack best. Go the extra mile by finishing them with a drizzle of honey and micro purple basil.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4

This mature spin on your favorite fall dessert is sure to kick the party off right. It stars a coconut-based caramel sauce that's sweetened with Medjool dates.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 9

Pumpkin purée-spiked dough meets buttery, spiced pecan filling. The three-ingredient icing is technically optional...but I can't imagine why you'd skip it.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 16

Brunch is served. The pies are coated in cinnamon glaze, in case the spiced pumpkin filling isn't enticing enough for you. Oh, and they pair beautifully with a venti PSL (with extra whip, of course).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes (plus rising time)
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 12

Light as air, fragrant and undeniably autumnal—any questions? A few leftover slices would make for a scary delicious riff on French toast...just sayin'.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 4

No matter the occasion, a heaping bowl of fresh guacamole never fails. Go the festive route by serving it in a hollowed-out pumpkin and garnishing with toasted pumpkin seeds.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, high protein, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

If your menu consists mostly of Halloween snacks, add these filling handhelds to the list so your guests (*cough* the kids) don't fill up on candy before dinner. Serve them with mayoketchup, honey mustard or even whipped cream cheese.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 5

When in doubt, let cheddar and Parm lead the way. Whip up a few batches prior to your Halloween party so you have one less thing to think about the day of.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

I don't care how old you are—no one can resist the allure of a tray of French fries, especially when you have your choice of crinkle-cut, curly, sweet potato and tots. The recipe calls for frozen spuds, so it's extremely low-lift.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 30 truffles

Heavy cream, cocoa powder and quality chocolate unite to create these poppable treats. Be sure to use chocolate discs or a bar instead of chocolate chips, which are designed to keep their shape when heated.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10 to 12

Looks like a fiesta to me. Come for the Spanish cheeses, cured meats, nuts and olives. Stay for the heirloom pan con tomate and patatas bravas with saffron aioli.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours
• Why I Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

This visually fancy dessert is mind-blowingly painless to whip up, and it's just the finale for your elegant-ish Halloween party. You only need five ingredients and a freezer to pull it off.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 16

It may look fancier than your average chocolate chip cookie, but these shortbread cookies are a breeze to make. (Seriously—you won't even need a stand mixer.)

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

There's no nightcap classier or cozier than hot buttered rum, especially when it's made with a bold mix of warm seasonal spices. Make boozeless hot cocoa for the kids so they don't get too jealous.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 1

Get the party started with this sophisticated sipper. Sweetened condensed milk curbs the bourbon's bite with ease, while egg white is the key to the cocktail's frothy top.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 12

Nothing is more impressive than making your own ice cream cake...and let's be real: Everyone loves Kit Kats. Not only is this no-bake snack make ahead-friendly, but it's only three ingredients away.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

This will absolutely steal the show at any and all spooky brunches this fall. Feel free to use gin or tequila in place of vodka if those are more your speed.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

It's the perfect finger food, whether you're tearing up to "The Monster Mash" or taking a break from bobbing for apples. Make the caramelized onions and roast squash ahead for easy assembly right before serving.