Halloween Hors d'oeuvres Recipes

halloween recipe cheese fondue If you’d like to serve some special Halloween hors d’oeuvres at your party, but have a limited budget (or culinary skills), here are some simple, yet creative ideas:

PUMPKIN SOUP: Saute a 1/4 cup of diced onions and garlic in coconut oil. Add 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 3/4 cup vegetable broth, and a pinch of cinnamon. Heat and then add two tablespoons of coconut milk just before serving. Sprinkle mild cheddar cheese and/or croutons on top.

CHEESE FONDUE: I buy a $12 Emmi (gourmet Swiss cheese) kit from the grocery store (look in the specialty refrigerated cheese section). You can make your own but it is more expensive and requires some specialty ingredients (garlic, sherry, white wine, lemon juice, etc). What I like about fondue is that it is tasty and filling and a good way to bring people together at a party. Plus, it is fun and affordable. And the possibilities are endless! You can serve a variety of bread and/or veggies, such as Granny Smith apples, celery, broccoli, and baby carrots.

HALLOWEEN VEGGIES: Serve your favorite store bought or homemade dip (I recommend Spinach Dip or Guacamole) in a hollowed-out pumpkin (with or without its lid) alongside your favorite Halloween-colored veggies.

GOBLIN DEVILED EGGS: Boil a dozen eggs. Make the deviled mixture as usual and then add green food dye. Scoop green mixture into the hollows of the eggs and add a black olive slice for each egg and drizzle red food dye on the white part of the egg so as to resemble bloodshot eyes.

TIP: Make fun signs and labels to identify your food, such as “Goblin Deviled Eggs” and “Monster Meatballs” and “Witches’ Potion” for dip or soup, etc. Decorate your buffet table with a Halloween tablecloth, spider webs over the chandelier and a big spider dangling down from it and a bat or ghost in it or on top of it, creepy candelabras, edible marshmallow ghosts (use large marshmallows, toothpicks and food dye) or fall leaves with acorns, and a great centerpiece. If you’re planning on having a theme party, use related decorations for your buffet table. A fun idea is to seat a witch or skeleton or monster in a chair at the table. Play creepy Halloween music in the background and make sure the lights are bright enough to see the food, but not too bright. I suggest lanterns and battery-operated candles. Use the dimmer switch on your chandelier if you have one.

CHILI: This is a hearty dish and perfect for fall! You can make it or buy it, vegetarian or with meat (or serve both to accommodate all guests). You can stick with classic chili or serve white bean and chicken chili. Add a toppings station (shredded cheese, diced onions, scallions, sour cream, fritos, etc.) and add spiders, bats, and other decorations to the sides of bowls and spider webbing on the table to make it scary fun! Or you can do create a taco, pasta, or hot dogs station instead of chili if you’re having a kids party.