The Best Halloween Dish From Every State

Salty pretzels pair nicely with the sweet fruit in this refreshing layered salad. It’s a family favorite that is a slam-dunk at potlucks. —Peggy Boyd, Northport, Alabama

We make a lot of French dips and always have leftover roast beef. Here's how I put it to good use. For these pies, use any vegetables you like. They're extra awesome drenched in cheese sauce. —Jennie Weber, Palmer, Alaska

Our Halloween party is so big, I hold it in the street. This sandwich shaped like a snake is tasty and a scary good centerpiece. —Suzanne Clark, Phoenix, Arizona

These bite-size potato appetizers combine the tang of sour cream, the sharpness of pepper jack and the distinct flavor of cilantro to make a delectable snack that's easy to prepare. —Sona Massey, Stephens, Arkansas

My Godson and I made this cake after fun day at the science museum. We've made it several times now, and we get a kick out of experimenting with the frosting colors. —Faith Cromwell, San Francisco, California

Thrill partygoers with these bone-chilling deviled eggs. The mayonnaise-filled bites are one of my favorite apps, so I had fun creating a Halloween version. —Nick Iverson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Look out! This crazy cupcake only has eyes for you. Don't worry though, he's delicious!
—Karen Tack, Riverside, Connecticut

I bring cake pops to my church group when we have movie nights. This year for Halloween, I used my go-to recipe to make these not-so-scary spiders. —Nicole Rae Paoli, Newark, Delaware

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and entertaining is one of my favorite things to do. My entire family loves these cute apps, especially my kids, which makes the recipe extra-special. —Rachel Ruiz, Hurlburt Fld, Florida

My family loves this spiral pasta in a tasty pumpkin sauce. Make it for Halloween and call it Creepy-Crawly Noodles! —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

This quiche satisfies a seasonal craving I get for all things pumpkin. Fresh mushrooms add flavor, and I try different types like baby portobello and cremini mushrooms. —Rachel Garcia, Colorado Springs, Colorado

I love this chai-inspired twist on basic spiced cider punch. It’s so easy to make, and everyone seems pleasantly surprised by the apricot and peach nectars..—Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho

Topped with creepy peepers, this tasty taco salad is packed with beef, cheese, tomato and satisfying southwestern flavor to make everyone in your freaky family happy. —Jolene Young, Union, Illinois

It doesn’t take magic to transform these crescent rolls into charming witch hats—just a few minutes and a couple of ingredients. They’re so good, you’ll want to make a double batch. —Mara Fletcher, Batesville, Indiana

Dressing up an old favorite for the occasion, I made hearty Spooky Joes, served open-faced so everyone could see slices of cheese cut into Halloween shapes topping the beef. The sandwiches were accompanied by orange cheese curls and jack-o-lantern Jell-O jigglers.

This slithering sub makes a fun and tasty centerpiece. Add your own zany, creative touches and feel free to mix and match the meat and cheeses to suit your family's tastes. You also can add breadsticks to make "legs" if you want the sub to look like a centipede. —Linda Overman, Wichita, Kansas

I have been “cooking” since I was 3 years old. Now I cook for my two teenage sons and bake decorated cakes for family and friends. I came up with this for an online contest. It was a hoot! —Tammy Baker, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Everything's better with cheese, right? This cheesy two-potato mash is no exception. If you cube the cheese, you’ll discover delicious pockets of melted cheese throughout the dish. —Shelby Goddard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

My 6-year-old son and I conjured up this recipe to use up the last of the apples we picked from the local apple orchard. Serve it with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine

With its hearty ingredients and quick prep time, this warm apple crisp makes a smart dessert for any fall night. It reminds me of the recipe my grandmother would serve after our big family seafood dinners. It's absolutely wonderful topped with ice cream. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Kids will squeal with delight at the sight of these eyeball treats. But the peanut butter flavor is the best part! —Shannon Blatchley, Ludlow, Massachusetts

This is a cute and tasty version of a caramel apple. It's perfect for a Halloween party. —Sally Sibthorpe, Shelby Township, Michigan

This gorgeous dessert starts with a boxed cake mix. Then it’s an easy and magical trick to make the bat silhouette with cocoa. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota

During cool-weather season, my husband and I take this soul-warming drink outside by the fire pit. Our house smells amazing while the cider is simmering! —Lisa Bynum, Brandon, Mississippi

I'm absolutely petrified of real spiders. But I can make an exception for these cute ones made from chocolate. They make perfect Halloween treats. —Ali Ebright, Kansas City, Missouri

These flaky mummy sandwiches are instant party hits! The accompanying mustard dip adds just the right kick.

This yummy mix is so munchable, a bowl of it never lasts long. Feel free to use candy corn instead of the candy pumpkins—or a mix of both—if desired. —Shirley Engstrom, Genoa, Nebraska

Transform this pizza-flavored pasta sauce into something spooky by adding some black food coloring to the pasta water.—Robert Smith, Las Vegas, Nevada

A party favorite of ours is gingersnaps and pumpkin dip. I combined those flavors for a wonderful cross between gingerbread bar cookies and cheesecake. —Kathleen Rhodebeck, Penacook, New Hampshire

My family loves nachos so much that I sometimes serve them for lunch. To get in the Halloween spirit, I used a pumpkin cookie cutter to cut out chips from pita bread. You can change the cutter shape to match any theme.—Kim Van Dunk, Caldwell, New Jersey

There's no last-minute rush before the party when you slowly simmer this punch. It has all the tantalizing flavors of fall. —Alpha Wilson, Roswell, New Mexico

My friendly ghost pizza won’t scare folks away from your dinner table. My family loves Halloween, so we like creating fun new recipes like this one. Fill it with whatever pizza toppings you like best.—Francine Boecher, Queensbury, New York

Chocolate pudding mix is the convenient start to this clever cocoa mix. Kids of all ages get a kick out of the marshmallow ghost floating on top. —Ruby Gibson, Newton, North Carolina

These beef tips remind me of a childhood favorite. I cook them with mushrooms and serve over brown rice, noodles or mashed potatoes. Here's one of the best Instant Pot recipes for a quick and easy dinner. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota

All eyes will definitely be on these adorable cookies when they're set on any buffet table. I created them for my son's kindergarten class for Halloween. —Sherry Lee, Columbus, Ohio

Hosting a Halloween party? Use a cookie cutter to easily cut these homemade chocolate brownies into pumpkin shapes, then give them personality with orange, black and green frosting. Our grandchildren think these are great. —Flo Burtnett, Gage, Oklahoma

This easy and convenient meal is easily changed to fit any family's picky eaters. You can even sneak in protein, dairy and veggies and the kids will never know this is relatively good for them. I try to keep a batch in the fridge for a quick and hearty lunch. —Carey Hunt, Portland, Oregon

I remember making this velvety soup with my mom. Butternut squash gives it warm color, and garlic wards off any unfriendly spirits. Try using whipping cream for an extra smooth texture. —Steven Eder, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Delicious figs combined with maple, walnuts and creamy mascarpone make a decadent treat that's easy to enjoy at a backyard cookout. These unique hand pies always disappear quickly. —Renee Murby, Johnston, Rhode Island

With a little planning, it’s easy to whip up a batch of hummus for unexpected guests, a potluck or an after-school snack. I always bake up extra unpeeled sweet potatoes so I can quickly mash the pulp for this unexpected dip. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina

Pumpkin-shaped cookie cutters form these festive finger snacks. My grandkids love them! —Frances Poste, Wall, South Dakota

These little spiral cookies taste just like French toast. They're not too sweet, and they're pretty enough for a Christmas cookie plate. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Guests will help themselves to seconds of this savory dip that features shrimp, feta cheese and Greek seasoning. The orange color is fun for Halloween, too. —Gina Wilson, Austin, Texas

I came up with these cookies as a treat for my kids’ class parties. Not only do they look cute, but they are also delicious.—Starrlette Howard, Ogden, Utah

Folks in New Hampshire apparently appreciate maple syrup almost as much as we do in Vermont. When my husband and I took a road trip through New Hampshire, we discovered this pie at a number of diners and restaurants. We loved it so much we created our own version. —Laurie Herr, Westford, Vermont

Don't be surprised if all the monsters come out of hiding when you assemble these fun and easy treats. My kids and I made them for their classroom Halloween party one year. Their classmates loved them, and it's now a tradition to make them every year. —Dina Crowell, Fredericksburg, Virginia

You'll hear shrieks of delight when these not-so-spooky pumpkin custards appear for dessert. These ghosts will be gobbled up in no time! —Suzanne Strocsher, Bothell, Washington

I've been making these Halloween cookies for about 40 years—first for my children and now my grandchildren and all their friends, too. I make about 20 trays a year to give away to trick-or-treaters. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia

I saw these cute cakes at a local grocery store and decided to make my own version at home. They’re a hit at any fall gathering. —Jennifer Dorff, Waukesha, Wisconsin

Spruce up store-bought cookies for the holiday. These are a real hit with "goblins" of all ages. —Denise Smith, Lusk, Wyoming