Kids shouldn’t be the only ones who get to have fun on Halloween! You may be hosting a full-blown costume party or a casual flow of friends from the neighborhood stopping by during trick-or-treating. Either way, the main ingredients for a great Halloween party involve good food and even better wine. For those of you that want to indulge in the seasonal bounty of candy, feel free to raid your child’s candy stash while referencing our ultimate guide to Halloween candy and wine pairings. 

Once you’ve had your fill of Halloween candy, it’s time to celebrate with a more adult version of Halloween. Here are some of our go-to dishes for a stress-free but delicious spread. And of course, don’t forget to stock up on Casillero del Diablo wines for all of your thirsty guests!

Fall-Themed Charcuterie Board

If you’re looking for a no-fuss way to feed your guests, charcuterie boards are a great way to go. If you’re not sure how to set up a charcuterie board, go check out our post on creating charcuterie boards. In short, charcuterie boards can be a simple arrangement of meats and cheeses shared around the table, or they can be dressed up elegantly for a special occasion. 

For Halloween, you can make your charcuterie board fall-themed. Here are some ideas for the cooler weather:

• Smoked meats like smoked sausage or slices of a hickory ham.
• Nutty cheeses like sharp Asiago, sweet Gouda, or even a soft cheese covered in pecans.
• Seasonal dips. This could be savory, such as a butternut squash purée, or it could be sweet like a pumpkin cheesecake dip for pretzels or fruit.
• Apple and cheese pairings like a sweet Honeycrisp paired with Brie or a sour Granny Smith paired with Gorgonzola.

For decorations, you can even incorporate small pumpkins or leaves on your board. Or, if you’re going more with the Halloween theme, choose something spooky.

Appetizers

Along with your charcuterie board, you can offer quick, simple, yet delicious appetizers for your guests. These appetizers are easy to prepare and convenient for your guests to eat while visiting with friends. 

• Bacon-wrapped scallops. Wrap fresh scallops with hickory-smoked bacon and sear them until the scallops are golden brown, and the bacon is just starting to get crispy. With a spicy mayo sauce, this combination is all things fall and all things delicious.
• Bruschetta. There are few things better than fresh tomato bruschetta over toasted bread. The only ingredients you need are high-quality tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil. Perfectly paired with a glass of wine!
• Hummus with pita bread. This classic duo is a party favorite, and it’s so simple to prepare! Just pick up fresh hummus and a bag of pita bread at your local grocery store. If you’re feeling really fancy, you can try your hand at making homemade hummus!

Desserts

You can’t have a Halloween party without sweets. Well, you can, but what’s the fun in that? Here are some dessert ideas that will satisfy your guests’ sweet tooths. 

• Pumpkin bars. Pumpkin is the quintessential flavor of fall so it’s only natural that you include pumpkin bars at your get-together. These bars are sweet and creamy while providing that fall spice we all crave every now and then.
• Snickerdoodles. If you’re already over the pumpkin craze, snickerdoodles are a satisfying replacement. Soft yet crunchy snickerdoodles are the perfect companions to a cold night spent with warm company. Bake these cookies right before your guests arrive, and your house will smell incredible!
• Your kids’ candy. Let’s be honest - sometimes you throw a party and have the best intentions of making everything homemade. But life gets in the way and you’re left scrambling the day before the get-together. It happens, and you can kill two birds with one stone by using your kids’ excess candy. Your guests get the sweets they’re craving while your kids go back to eating fruit. 

Happy Halloween!

No matter what you decide to make or to eat, we wish you a happy Halloween and a happy get-together!