When the scents and tastes of Halloween loom on the horizon, the Bob’s Red Mill team gets very excited! Traditional Halloween food includes everything from caramel apples to pumpkin pies and offers endless variations for creativity in the kitchen.
If you're looking to craft some tasty Halloween recipes and start the fun and lasting traditions with your family and friends, look no further. We've compiled a guide of ultimate Halloween classics to get you started.
Whether you’re in the mood for Muffin Tin Pumpkin Pies or a handful of candy corn, there’s something in this list for the Halloween enthusiast in us all. Bring a pumpkin spice beverage and let’s dive in!
Candy & Caramel Apples
Nothing is as nostalgic as candy and caramel apples on Halloween. These traditional Halloween foods are the perfect mix of sweet and tart and are fun to make year after year. Just a Taste has a simple and vibrantly red recipe for Candy Apples that’s both crunchy and delicious. Recipe creator Kelly takes red or green apples, inserts lollipop sticks and dips them in a coating of sugar, light corn syrup and water. After you’ve created your candy mixture, add a bit of red food coloring (it’s Halloween, after all) and carefully dip your apples one by one. After the apples have all been coated, allow them to cool until your candy-coat hardens and enjoy.
These are a great treat to bring to school or an upcoming Halloween party. You can also opt for the slightly easier-to-eat Caramel Apple, like this one from The Spruce Eats. This recipe is fast and easy to whip up with kids. It calls for just soft caramels, ripe red apples, water and wooden skewers.
Making caramel apples is a great activity for a Halloween party, as you can offer a variety of toppings like sprinkles and nuts and let guests decorate for themselves to take home as Halloween treats or Halloween snacks!
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is a traditional food in Halloween festivities far and wide. Once autumn hits, nothing cures the Halloween sweet tooth quite like a slice of homemade pumpkin pie. Our recipe for Pumpkin Pie calls for Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pie Crust Mix. Once filled with ingredients like pumpkin puree, evaporated milk and eggs, the pie takes on a creamy and delectable texture. Spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice round out the flavors and give that quintessential fall feel.
If you love pumpkin pie as much as we do, try a twist on a classic with this recipe for Muffin Tin Pumpkin Pie with Oatmeal Caramel Crumble. The recipe comes to Bob’s Red Mill from Rachel of Eazy Peazy Mealz and is a cute, small and delicious addition to add to your list of traditional Halloween foods. A crust, pumpkin pie filling and crumble combine for a treat that is both decadent and creative. Top it all with a garnish of whipped cream and caramel sauce, perhaps a scoop of ice cream, and relish in the flavors of Halloween.
Apple Bread
With apple season in full swing during the months of September and October, apple bread is a widely popular and traditional Halloween food. Our Gluten Free Fall Harvest Apple Bread is the perfect way to use up a bounty of fresh apples. This bread is soft and fluffy, with chunks of crisp and sweet apples alongside brown sugar and cinnamon. It’s bursting with the flavors of autumn and is one of our all-time favorite recipes. Plus, it’s super easy to make! Simply mix all ingredients together, then layer with apples and the sugar mixture.
As the blog notes, the more rustic the bread looks before baking, the better it will be when it bakes. This particular recipe yields three mini loaves or one large loaf, and you can customize the size based on what you’re baking for. Make a big loaf or two for a party, or make a triple batch of the mini loaves and hand them out to your neighbors. However you choose to enjoy this apple loaf, we’re certain you’ll love the aromas as they waft through the kitchen and halls of the house.
For something slightly more creative, try this recipe for Honey Cheddar Apple Bread. The combination of apples and cheddar is a winning one, indeed, and the Organic Clover Blossom Honey from GloryBee helps the sweet and savory flavors truly shine. This special fall treat can be enjoyed with coffee and tea or thrown into your kiddo’s lunch bag on Halloween. Use Granny Smith, Fuji or Braeburn apples to ensure the sweetest taste and texture.
Caramel Corn
Caramel Corn is one of the easiest traditional Halloween foods to make and to snack on! This recipe from Two Sisters Crafting omits the corn syrup and calls for just popped popcorn, salt, butter, light brown sugar, vanilla and baking soda. This particular Halloween snack yields 10 cups, which makes it perfect to bring along to Halloween gatherings. To put a twist on tradition and really celebrate the holiday, try making multiple popcorn recipes.
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Popcorn comes to life with our Yellow Popcorn, coconut oil, Chocolate Protein Powder Nutritional Booster, salt and peanut butter powder. The addition of coconut oil and the boost of the protein powder make this easy snacker guilt-free and delicious. Our Super Snacking Popcorn is another option that’s equally as tasty. It’s a mixture of popcorn, nuts and seeds that are slightly sweetened with maple syrup. This is a great option for a Halloween party, as the nuts and seeds offer some protein on an otherwise candy-filled evening!
Candy Corn
Traditional food on Halloween would not be the same without candy corn! If you've never made homemade candy corn, you're in for a colorful surprise. When fall hits, this classic orange, yellow and white treat makes its way to homes and Halloween candy bags everywhere. Making these Halloween treats homemade means that you know exactly what's going into the recipe without any extra added junk.
In this Candy Corn recipe from Hoosier Homemade, Liz creates a mixture of powdered sugar, butter and more to craft her beautiful candies. Once you mix, combine and divide, the real fun comes in! Kids will love helping to roll the candy corn mixture into ropes before pinching, flattening and cutting. These make for a great Halloween gift in a simple bag tied with a piece of raffia or Halloween ribbon. If you love the taste of candy corn, there are a bounty of candy corn recipe options to explore. These Healthy Candy Corn Bars from Living Sweet Moments are made with Jell-O and yogurt as their base. They’re super easy to prepare and are made in layers, which offers the fun quintessential candy corn colors of orange, yellow and white.
Pumpkin Bread
The aroma of pumpkin bread wafting through the kitchen certainly signals the start of the autumn season. Adding this bread to your list of traditional Halloween food is both a nutritious and delicious Halloween food idea.
Our recipe for Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread with Flaxseeds and Pepitas offers a tasty twist on this classic holiday bread. With Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour and other wholesome ingredients, this beautiful bread is a true winner. Cinnamon and nutmeg round out the fall flavors, and the topping of Organic Chia Seed, Brown Flaxseeds and Pumpkin Seeds add a nice texture.
If your sweet tooth is calling, you can also try this recipe for Dark Chocolate-Pumpkin Holiday Cake. It combines the flavors of pumpkin with chocolate chunks, which we just can’t get enough of! Add some pistachios and a hint of pumpkin pie spice, and you’re in for a delicious holiday bread. This recipe makes about 12 servings and can be stored in an airtight container for a few days. If you’re bringing it to a gathering, make a double batch, or better yet, triple it! These breads are delightful when paired with a warm and comforting pumpkin spice latte.
Traditional Halloween foods are so fun to make! Coming up with a list of new Halloween recipes to try will keep each holiday unique and special in its own way.
As the years progress, you’ll find yourself returning to a few classics you just can’t get enough of. Whether that’s pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread or caramel apples, we hope this guide has inspired you to turn on some spooky music and get baking.
Have any favorite Halloween traditions or Halloween party appetizers of your own? Feel free to share them with our readers in the comments below.
From all of us at Bob’s Red Mill, wishing you a happy, healthy and safe Halloween holiday ahead! May it be spook-tacular!
