Tips, TRICKS + TREATS for Halloween Parties

When making dinner for your own family, or adding just a few extra guests, it’s pretty easy to calculate how much you’ll need. However, it can be trickier to determine when the guest list grows. These are the guidelines that I use:

HOW MUCH TO SERVE:

Appetizers + Snacks: Plan to serve 3-5 appetizers per person. If you only have 5-10 people coming, plan to serve 1-2 different appetizer dishes. Add another appetizer dish for every 5-8 people in attendance.

Sides: I always plan to have two sides, for any number of guests less than 10. For every 5-8 more guests, I’ll add another type of side dish.

  • Salad: 1-2 cups (2 ½ -5 oz) per person 
  • Pasta Salad: ½-1 cup (4-6 oz) pasta salad per guest 
  • Potato Dishes: 6 oz per person 
  • Veggies: 4 oz per person 
  • Rolls: 1.5 per person

Beverages: A serving is typically 6-8 oz. Plan for guests to have 2 servings in the first hour, and only 1 serving for every hour after. 

Desserts: If serving only one type of dessert, most people will have 1-2 servings. When you provide several dessert options, the serving sizes tend to be a little smaller. In this case, plan for guests to have 2-3 total servings.

Halloween RECIPES

For more Appetizers, check out

OCTOBER Recipe Tips + PARTY TABLES

Produce + Ingredients. Choosing produce that is in season will not only ensure the most fresh dish, but is easier on the pocket book too.

Here are some of our favorite fall produce items: 

  • Fruit: apple, figs, grape, key limes, kiwifruit, pear, raspberry
  • Veggie: arugula, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, garlic, green beans, parsnips, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, zucchini

For your Tables: Fill it with delicious recipes, but don’t forget to fill it with all the spooky, festive decor like jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, pumpkins, spiders and more.

Don’t forget the fun Charcuterie Board to match the holiday: Not only should you include seasonal fruits and veggies, but add the crackers, cheese, dip, candies, popcorn and more that will take any party table to the next level!

Halloween Treats TipS

If you don’t have time to make one of these specific treats, here is one of my secrets: CANDY EYES (Kids love them!)

Add candy eyes to just about anything you have on hand and it magically turns into a spooky Halloween dessert (cookies, cakes, punch bowls and more).

Other things you can add include:

  • orange, brown and yellow M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces
  • Halloween themed sprinkles
  • Plastic Halloween toys like eyeballs or spiders (be sure they are big enough that they aren’t accidentally eaten) 
  • Switch out brown chocolate chips to Halloween colored chips.
  • Use purple, orange, bright green frostings or food coloring.

Why we love Halloween cookies? Not only do they store really well, but you can prepare them in advance and whip them out just in time for your Halloween party! Also, many are freezable both in dough form and baked form.

Top 10 Halloween Recipes

Halloween Collections


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