Putting together a howlin’ good Halloween party for you and your gal-pals doesn’t have to send shivers down your spine. We’ve compiled a few of our favorite easy Halloween party ideas—including spooky-good inspiration for food, drinks, decorations and more. Each idea in our “Besties and Broomsticks” pop-up party can be added to the party in minutes—so try one (or all!) to make your Halloween party the spookiest on the block.
Halloween Food Ideas
One of the easiest ways to get food on the table for your gal pals is to create a supernatural spread by adding a touch of Halloween magic to store-bought foods. We loved the idea to dress up plain pretzel rods with shoestring licorice, jellybeans and candy coating for a witchy appeal. Get the recipes:
Another quick idea is to add a frightful touch to the standard cheese board. (Start with this simple checklist!) “Stab” the brie with a cheese knife surround it with raspberry jelly or carve cheddar slices into a simple headstone shape for a haunted graveyard feel.
All tricks aside, Halloween should be sweet! Upgrade a dozen store-bought cupcakes by sprinkling festive Halloween sprinkles (we love these multicolored nonpareils) and top with a few fun-sized candy bars for a decadent touch.
Go over-the-top by grabbing a bundt cake from the bakery aisle and top is with green, purple, black and orange frosting. To do this, separate a tub of frosting into four small bowls. Add a drop or two of food coloring in each, and stir until your ideal color appears. Microwave each bowl for a few seconds. When the icing is thin enough to drizzle, splatter each color over the top of the bundt cake.
For more substantial finger foods and main dishes, there’s no need to hunt for frog legs or eye of newt, here are our go-to Halloween party recipes.
Witches' Fingers
Witch's Caviar
Bewitched Chili
Witches' Brooms
Bewitching Stuffed Potatoes
Crescent Roll Witch Hats
Witch-in-the-Moonlight Cheesecake
Witches' Brew
Crabby Sand-Witch!
Magic Wands
Bones & Blood
Cauldron Dip
Supernatural Spaghetti
Eyeball Cookies
Anti-Vampire Potion (Butternut Squash & Garlic Soup)
Frightening Fingers
Halloween Party Drinks
It’s time to fill your cauldron! Stir up a batch of Witch’s Brew in a large punch bowl to share. Wondering how we got the green coloring? There’s no food dye here! Our punch gets its emerald hue from kiwifruit and mint. To finish off the look, drop in a few decorative ice cubes. (This witch hat-shaped ice cube tray works like a charm).
No time to play bartender? We get it. Add some Halloween spirit to a bottle of wine there peel-and-stick glittery labels. Each sticker has a hilarious quote like “eat drink and be scary” and “my broomstick runs on wine”. We also recommend picking up this bottle of Bewitched Chardonnay that has notes of baked apple, pear and vanilla.
Check out more Halloween drinks that are sure to raise your hair:
Ghostly Hot Cocoa
Ghoulish Citrus Punch
Witches' Brew
Caramel Apple Float
Mad Scientist Punch
Vampire Killer Martini
Apricot-Apple Cider
Wormy Orange Punch
Pumpkin Pie Shots
Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Cider
Pumpkin Pie Martinis
Halloween Punch
Mulled Merlot
Pumpkin Milk Shakes
Hot Spiced Cherry Cider
Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
Orange Witches' Brew Punch
Boo Beverage
Spiced Ambrosia Punch
Sweet Pineapple Cider
Apple Cider Smash
Spiced Pumpkin Coffee Shakes
Candy Apple Martini
Spiced Hot Apple Cider
Pumpkin-Spiced Hot Chocolate
Halloween Decorations
When it comes to Halloween party decorations, most people reach for faux spider webs and Jack-O-Lanterns. Wow your guests with creative ideas that go beyond the classics. For our pop-up party, we set the scene by scattering a dark table runner with black plastic spiders, confetti and a cute Halloween print that can pop easily into any picture frame. (Get the look from 2SmittenKittens’s Etsy shop.)
Pro tip: Dim the lights to create an eerie atmosphere. Light candles to entice your guests to what might become a spooky seance. You can make your home feel even more like a haunted house with spooky DIY candle holders. Check out our step-by-step guide or watch the video below.
Want to take it up another notch? Try these quick and easy DIY Halloween decorations that come together in less than 30 minutes.
Halloween Party Music
Cast a dancing spell on your fellow witches with some terrifying tunes. This ready-made playlist has everything; classics like Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and Annie Lennox’s version of “I Put a Spell on You”, Halloween favorites like “Thriller” and “Ghostbusters” and haunting hits that will get you dancing, like Rhianna’s “Disturbia” and AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.” All you have to do is press play!
Halloween Goodie Bags
What’s a Halloween party without some treats? End the night with a sweet touch by giving out adorable, themed goodie bags. Fill paper bags with candies and small keepsakes like nail polish and chapstick. Secure each gift with a pin-back button that matches their Halloween spirit (these vintage witch pins from Shakespeare’s Sisters are a perfect choice).
Keep the bags in a basket—or a plastic cauldron—near the front door so guests can grab one on the way home. You can even put together a few extra goodie bags to give out to moms who are stuck on trick-or-treat duty this Halloween! If you’re not sure what to put in the bags, here are our favorite scary stuffers;
Goodie Bags
Put away the spare pillowcase and jack-o-lantern shaped bucket, these decorative favor bags are a chic way to carry goodies and bring the Halloween spirit. Purchase here. Want to throw a stress-free Halloween party this year? Check out our go-to guide for a Besties and Broomstick party that comes together with a flick of a wand.
Nail Polish
Tempt your friends to go over to the dark side this Halloween with some pitch-black nail polish. With full coverage and excellent durability, your friends will want to use this polish long after Halloween is over. Purchase here.
Good Witch/Bad Witch Pins
Are your friends more like Glinda the Good or the Wicked Witch of the West? Let them decide with their choice of one of these bewitching 1.25" pins! You can even have the pins pull a double-duty by using them to secure the tops of the goodie bags closed. Purchase here.
Magic Mood Rings
See exactly how your friends are feeling with these pretty mood rings. With a large stone, adjustable band and tear-away guide, these rings are the perfect way for your guests to get more in tune with their Halloween spirit. Purchase here.
Hair-Raising Hair Ties
When the "Monster Mash" starts playing your guests will be grateful for something to tie their hair up with (even if it's just a wing!). These adorable Halloween hair ties come in sets of 3, tied around a festive card and are sold in multiples of 5, so there will be plenty to go around. Purchase here.
Temporary Tats
Add some spook to your guests' skin with these foil temporary tattoos. The best part is, these tattoos glow in the dark, so when night falls, they give off a ghostly glow! Purchase here.
Witch's Brew Confetti
Double, double toil and trouble is just a shake away with this witch head, cauldron, broomstick and star confetti pack. Sprinkle a dash into each goodie bag for a sparkly surprise. Purchase here.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Taste of Home editors, who aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We welcome your feedback. Have something you think we should know about? Contact us, here.Make this bewitching party all your own by whipping up a few more Halloween recipes or tricking out the outside of your house with these DIY porch decorations.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Taste of Home editors, who aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We welcome your feedback. Have something you think we should know about? Contact us, here.