October is fading, and Halloween is near. On October 31st, the night comes alive with costumes, treats, and the shared thrill of spooky festivities. In the United States and Canada, streets fill with masked revelers asking for candy, while friends and families gather for themed celebrations at home. Many households seize the moment to craft a Halloween menu that fits the mood and the occasion.
To inspire your own celebration, here is a Halloween menu filled with delicious, eerie, and visually striking recipes that are sure to wow guests.
appetizers
For this recipe you will need the following items:
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As a filling, we can use sausage or cheese.
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puff pastry
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mayonnaise
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black olives
detailing:
While the oven heats to 180ºC, fillings dictate slight variations. If using cheese, cut it into long cubes; with sausage, little prep is needed. Roll puff pastry into thin strips about one to two centimeters wide. Place the stuffing, then bake for about 8–10 minutes until golden. Finish with a few dots of mayonnaise and tiny olive pieces to resemble eyes. This appetizer pairs well with tomato sauce, cheese sauce, or yogurt for dipping.
contents for this recipe:
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Salty snack bars that resemble pretzel sticks
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Cheese options such as mozzarella sticks or soft cheeses
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Fresh chives
detailing:
Rinse and pat dry the chives. If using cheese sticks, cut into three parts and craft the broom bristles with a sharp knife. Slice cheese and assemble by inserting the sticks into the base and tying a chive around the end, trimming the excess. A playful, edible broom creates a charming contrast on the appetizer plate.
main courses
Filling this dish can vary with guests’ tastes. In this version, a tuna and egg filling is suggested, along with the necessary ingredients:
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400 grams canned tuna
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Onion
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one green bell pepper
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red bell pepper
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three eggs
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a bowl of fried tomato sauce
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oil, salt and spices
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Dough options include two sheets of empanada or puff pastry, whether homemade or store-bought.
detailing:
Prepare the empanada filling by sautéing vegetables after cubing them, and cooking two eggs by boiling. Sauté peppers in oil, then add onion until it becomes almost translucent. Combine with tuna, chopped eggs, and tomato sauce; season to taste. Roll out the dough, brush with a little oil so it won’t stick, and lay the filling on a tray. Cut a Halloween face from the dough for the top layer, cover, then bake. When done, glaze with the remaining egg for a juicy, golden finish.
A platter for eight is suggested, with these ingredients:
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8 eggs
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125 grams tuna in oil
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Ketchup
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Mayonnaise
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8–10 black olives
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Salt
detailing:
Boil eggs for about 10 minutes. Mix grated tuna with tomato sauce and two tablespoons of mayonnaise to form the stuffing. Peel the eggs, separate yolk and white, mash the yolk into the filling, and fill the whites. Finish by dotting with mayonnaise and arranging olives to create spider shapes on each egg. This creates a fun, Halloween-themed bite with a spooky look.
desserts
Two variations of fruit accents are shown, but there are many options. The following components are common to this section:
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Bananas prepared in halves
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Tangerines, one per guest in this setup
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Chocolate chips or a bar of dark or milk chocolate
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Celery for stems
detailing:
Peel and halve the bananas. For tangerines, peel and crown with a celery piece to resemble pumpkin stems. Melt chocolate to draw festive faces. This can be done in a microwave in short bursts or melted gently in a pot. Use a toothpick or a piping bag to shape the faces. The result is a playful dessert that caps the menu with a sweet, spooky touch.
The ingredients for this treat include:
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Puffed rice, about 50 grams
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A bar of white chocolate
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Chips or a bar of dark or milk chocolate
detailing:
Melt the white chocolate in short intervals, mixing between heats. Stir the melted chocolate into the puffed rice and spread evenly on a sheet of parchment. Refrigerate until firm, then cut into rectangles. To add eerie details, melt dark or milk chocolate and pipe or draw small RIP marks or other silhouettes onto the hardened pieces for a finishing touch.