Beyond the Black Hamburger Bun: 7 Ways to Spookify Your Food This Halloween
Unless you've been living under a pumpkin, you've probably heard about the major fast food chain that's offering a special black hamburger bun for Halloween (and about the bun's...um...spooky side effects). Reactions around the web were mixed: "I'd try it!" to "No way!" Whichever stance you took on the black bun, we've found a few more creepy takes on your favorite foods for you to consider this season. Would you dare serve these sinister-looking snacks at your next Halloween bash? Get the recipes below.
Goat Cheese Fingers
Yikes! Using goat cheese, roasted red peppers and almonds, you can create these surprisingly realistic "fingers." Serve them with an assortment of crackers and flatbread.
Make This: Spooky Goat Cheese Fingers
Cheesy Eyeballs
Halloween Party Appetizer: Cheesy Eyeballs
This fun-to-make appetizer will have your Halloween party guests doing a double take. A few simple ingredients make this savory snack a scary-easy addition to your party table.
©Sam Henderson
Sam Henderson
All it takes is a few olives and red gel food color to transform unassuming mini cheese rounds into eerie-looking eyeballs that will have your Halloween party guests doing double takes. Despite their unnerving appearance, they're a healthy snack option when paired with fresh veggies and whole wheat crackers.
Make This: Cheesy Eyeballs
Potato Beetles
If they don't crawl off the platter first, your Halloween party guests will love these tasty fingerling potato beetles. Use cream cheese to create the eyes and stripes, and wild rice for creepy-crawly legs.
Make This: Potato Beetles
Hairy Eyeballs
Beryl Cohen
Corn silk lends a "hairy" appearance to these fried polenta poppers. Garnish them with marinara sauce for a bloodshot eyeball effect.
Make This: Hairy Eyeballs
Black Candy Apples
Melissa Caughey
We've all enjoyed a classic red candy apple during the fall months, but would you try these lethal-looking alternatives? Complete the "poison apple" look by using branches from your garden in lieu of lollipop or popsicle sticks. (Maple, birch and fruit tree branches are all safe to use.)
Make This: Black Candy Apples
Bloody Brain Shooters
Photo by Steve Murello
Channel your inner mad scientist and mix up this bloody brain shooter. When you combine acidic lime juice with Irish cream, the cream curdles and creates brain-like strands in the shot. Weird, huh? Add a splash of grenadine for a bloody finishing touch.
Make This: Bloody Brain Shooter
Healthy Black Hamburger Buns
Finally, if you wanted to try the infamous black hamburger bun but were deterred by the unpleasant side effects, try making your own. This healthy recipe uses takesumi (or bamboo charcoal) for coloring, which is popular in Japan as a food additive and detoxifying supplement.
Make This: Healthy Black Hamburger Buns
40 Sweet & Salty Halloween Snack Recipes
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Easy Appetizer: Cheesy Eyeballs
Who knew creamy mini cheeses, olives and a little food coloring could look so creepy yet taste so yummy?! Fill up your party guests with these savory little mouthfuls for a fun take on standard cheese and crackers. Get the recipe.
Candy Corn Brownies
Concentric rings of colored sugar give dense, chocolatey brownies a candy corn makeover for Halloween — our free printable template makes the tricolor effect a snap. Get the recipe and download our template.
Healthy 'Scream' Cheese Sandwiches
Bring kids down off their Halloween sugar high with one of these savory sandwiches. Filled with a tasty cream cheese, cucumber and dill spread, these vegetarian nibbles are sure to be a hit with even the pickiest of palettes. Get the recipe.
©Sam Henderson
Rice Cereal Monsters
These treats definitely won't suck the fun out of your Halloween soiree. With vampire teeth they can keep, your guests will fall in love with these tasty beasties at first bite. Get the recipe.
Yummy Mummy Empanadas
Wrap up fun for your Halloween party guests with these pepperoni pizza-style empanadas. Filled with hearty ingredients, they're a kid-pleasing snack for school lunches too. Get the recipe.
©Sam Henderson
Jack-O'-Lantern Marshmallow Cookies
Fluffy homemade marshmallows (don't worry, they're easier to make than you think) plus crisp chocolate wafers equal irresistible crunchy-meets-gooey goodies Halloween guests won't be able to resist.
Haystack Mummies
Salty, sweet, crunchy and creamy — these white chocolate-wrapped mouthfuls are sure to be everyone's favorite treat. Get the recipe.
Furry Snowball Monsters
Halloween party guests will love these tasty nibbles that combine the favorite flavors of chocolate and marshmallow with a colorful coconut topping. Get the recipe.
Mini Candy Corn Layer Cakes
Fall's favorite candy gets reinterpreted as a colorful mini cake that's just the right size to satisfy even a monstrous Halloween sweet tooth. Get the recipe.
Photo By: Rennai Hoefer
Sweet-and-Salty Snack Mix
Pretzels and white chocolate-covered popcorn combine with M&M's for a crunchable snack your Halloween guests won't be able to get enough of. Add our free printable labels to cut-down brown paper lunch bags then fill with this addictive mix for a budget-friendly (and crowd-pleasing!) party favor.
Mummy Cupcakes
Surprise your favorite ghouls and ghosties with this sweet Halloween treat that's fun to make and even more fun to eat. They're easy enough to whip up that the kids can even help with the mixing, baking and decorating. Get the recipe.
Photo By: Rennai Hoefer
Chocolate-Dipped Pumpkin Madeleines
These fall-flavored pumpkin cookies are the just-right treat to serve at a Halloween party, Thanksgiving dinner or any fall get-together. They're also the not-too-sweet complement to a cup of tea and party of one. Get the recipe.
Sweet and Salty Popcorn Mix
Combining the best of both worlds, this sweet-meets-salty snack is just too good to pass up. Mix up big batches for Halloween get-togethers, school functions or to pass out to your favorite trick-or-treaters. Get the recipe.
Photo By: Rennai Hoefer
Mummy Hot Dogs
Wrap hot dogs in flaky, ready-made dough to create a Halloween party snack kids will love helping to make before gobbling them up. Get the recipe.
Frankens'more Treat Pops
Looking for a fun party favor to hand out to your favorite trick-or-treaters? Well, look no further: Dip marshmallow-filled graham crackers into green-tinted white chocolate and milk chocolate to create these Frankenstein-themed twists on the campfire favorite. Get the recipe.
"Poisoned" Candy Apples
Don't worry, these apples aren't really deadly — but they certainly look it. To make them, you'll need: apples, twigs that have been washed and trimmed, granulated sugar, light corn syrup, water, cinnamon-flavored oil, red food coloring, black food coloring and a candy thermometer. Thoroughly wash each apple, remove the stem and insert a twig (you may need to sharpen the end first). Next, stir sugar, corn syrup and water together in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Boil until the syrup reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in flavored oil and food coloring. To coat the apple, dip completely in the syrup and swirl it. Hold the apple above the saucepan so the excess coating can drain off. Place candied apple onto a baking sheet that's been greased or lined to allow it to cool.
Beer Cheese Dip
A few savory options are always a good idea at a Halloween party. This tangy and spicy cheese dip gets its kick from horseradish sauce. Serve with pretzels or on toasted crostinis to keep the party's adults happily munching.
Edible Candy Topiaries
Cover inexpensive foam topiary forms with fondant and candy to create a sweet Halloween decoration or centerpiece that kids will love helping to craft. Learn how to make your own.
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