Halloween Party Appetizers

While decorations and props are important at a Halloween party, the food is probably what guests will care about the most. Serve some tasty appetizers at your next Halloween party.

Creative Halloween Party Appetizers

When throwing a Halloween party, be sure to include a variety of food choices for your guests. Of course, Halloween is about scary costumes and spooky decorations, but yummy treats are a big part of the celebration as well. Depending on the type of party you are throwing, appetizers can be the start of a delicious meal or you can throw a party and just serve a variety of appetizers to please your guests. Be as creative as you like with your choices. There are endless possibilities when it comes to appetizers. From simple to complex, the following recipes are sure to be a hit at your Halloween bash.

Spider Layered Dip

Try this twist on the classic 7-layer dip:

Ingredients:

1 can refried beans
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 can diced jalapeños
1 cup salsa
1 cup sour cream
1 cup guacamole
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
2 green onions, sliced
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup chopped fresh tomato

Be creative and make a spider web design with sour cream as the top layer of your dip. Add a plastic spider on top as a garnish. Serve with tortilla tips and fresh vegetables.

Stuffed Olives

Want to serve up a treat that resembles eyeballs? Try this fun recipe for stuffed olives.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cream cheese (use your favorite flavor)
1 can colossal black olives, drained
2 tablespoons of Italian dressing
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Stuff each olive with cream cheese. Arrange olives on a decorative platter then drizzle dressing over the top. Finish with a sprinkle of parsley over each olive.

Savory Popcorn

This tasty treat is sure to be enjoyed by guests of all ages.

Ingredients:

1/2 stick of melted butter
12 cups of fresh popped popcorn
1 envelope of Italian or ranch dressing mix

In a large bowl, drizzle melted butter over the popcorn. Next, sprinkle the popcorn with the dressing and toss until all kernels are coated. Serve in a Halloween-themed bowl.

Caramel Apple Dip

Ingredients:

1 8-ounce package of softened cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed firmly
1/2 teaspoon of good vanilla extract

First, using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese in a small bowl on medium speed until you get a creamy consistency. Next, slowly add in the brown sugar and vanilla. Beat all ingredients together until they are well blended. Place mixture in a decorative serving bowl and serve with apple wedges. Tip: To keep apples from browning, lightly toss them in lemon juice.

Brains on Crackers

Combine cooked shrimp with a little mayonnaise. Drop a rounded mound onto a saltine cracker and top with cocktail sauce.

Bloodshot Eyes

Stuff 24 cherry tomatoes with a mixture of 4 ounces of deviled ham spread and 3 ounces of cream cheese. Top each tomato with a slice of a pimiento-stuffed Spanish olive.

Ten Very Simple Ideas

There are many simple Halloween party appetizers that do not require much time or effort. For those not wanting to spend time in the kitchen, try one or more of the following ideas:

Halloween-themed cracker toppings such as ketchup-topped liver pate or halves of hard boiled eggs
Toasted pumpkin seeds served in a decorative dish
Frozen meatballs in buffalo wing sauce, heated in your slow cooker
Refried bean dip served with blue and yellow corn tortilla chips
Guacamole served with chips and vegetables
Packaged sour cream and onion dip tinted with orange food coloring served with carrot sticks
Orange sweet potato chips
Ice cream sundae bar with ghoulish toppings (strawberry sauce, chocolate syrup, candy corn, etc.)
Store-bought pumpkin cheesecake or pumpkin pie, cut into squares
Store-bought chocolate brownies cut into bite size pieces

Special Spooky Touches

Serve your food in a creative way to add a special touch to the table. For serving dips, hollow out a small pumpkin and serve from it. Plastic spiders make the perfect garnish. Remember: presentation can turn a simple appetizer into something spectacular.