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Plan A Festive Halloween Dinner

Halloween is tomorrow! Can you believe it?! Kate here, and this is truly one of my favorite holidays of the year, precisely because it is so low-key. And fun! In fact, this year I’m planning a relaxing Halloween dinner with my hubby, and I’m here to say that even if you’re staying in and handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, you can still make this holiday a festive one. And if you’re taking your kiddos trick-or-treating, you can enjoy a family dinner before the candy eating begins. Here are some delicious ideas for an unforgettable Halloween feast at home…

Halloween Decorations

The featured photos in today’s post say it all: Halloween can be chic and stylish. And kid-friendly! You’ll notice the decorations and edibles that follow are far from over the top. I’m smitten with these fall table ideas from Design Love Fest. Gather flowers and berries in a collection of vases for a floral twist on your typical Halloween decor.

Fall table ideas from Design Love Fest
Fall table ideas from Design Love Fest

Make sure your Halloween table includes at least one pumpkin. Looking for something a little bit different? Check out this DIY painted pumpkin I created especially for Decoist:

DIY geo painted pumpkin
DIY geo painted pumpkin

When I came across this Ghost on a Stick DIY from Oh Happy Day, I knew I’d found a Halloween favor to sing about. Display these cuties as decor, and then wave them around to commemorate a delightful evening. Balloons and cheesecloth are the supplies of choice.

Ghost on a stick from Oh Happy Day
Ghost on a stick from Oh Happy Day

Halloween Food and Drink Ideas

Don’t forget the cocktails! Instead of trying to find a way to concoct a neon orange and black drink, try this delicious Poison Berry Smash, made from blackberries, gin, thyme and a few other key ingredients. So unique! Check out the full recipe at Camille Styles.

Poison Berry Smash by Camille Styles
Poison Berry Smash by Camille Styles

One of my all-time favorite Halloween food ideas is a classic cheese plate. Include an assortment of cheeses, as well as crackers, nuts, fruit and a bit of chocolate–it IS Halloween, after all! Here’s a cheese plate I whipped up for a Halloween party featured at my blog Mirror80:

A cheese plate is the perfect Halloween snack
A cheese plate is the perfect Halloween snack

What to serve for dinner? How about something hearty and comforting?! You can’t go wrong when butternut squash is involved. This easy-to-follow butternut squash soup recipe comes from Food Network:

Butternut squash soup
Butternut squash soup

If children will grace your Halloween table, they’ll love this butternut squash pasta recipe from A Beautiful Mess. Better eat a good dinner before all of that candy munching begins!

Butternut squash pasta from A Beautiful Mess
Butternut squash pasta from A Beautiful Mess

A Sweet Finish

Time for dessert! Instead of passing your guests a bowl of grocery store candy, try something a bit more foodie. Like these Hard Candy Caramel Apples from A Subtle Revelry. Plus, they’re beautiful enough to display as dinner party decor!

Candy caramel apples from A Subtle Revelry
Candy caramel apples from A Subtle Revelry

The kids will love these Monster Cocktail Stirrers from A Beautiful Mess! Grown-ups can enjoy them in their drinks of choice, and the kiddos can eat them as dessert kabobs. Simply spear gummy candies in a monster-ific formation, and you’re set.

Monster cocktail stirrers from A Beautiful Mess
Monster cocktail stirrers from A Beautiful Mess

Kids and adults alike will also enjoy commemorating Halloween night with pumpkin ice cream. Just a taste for the kiddos, since they’ll be getting plenty of sugar from their trick-or-treating stash. But grown-ups can indulge in several scoops. Purchase the ice cream for an easy dessert idea, or if you’re feeling adventurous, an easy-to-follow recipe can be found at A Subtle Revelry:

Pumpkin pie ice cream
Pumpkin pie ice cream

Wishing you a safe, Happy Halloween!

Kate Simmons

Kate Simmons is a freelance writer and design blogger with a love of all things decor. She spent her childhood writing stories and working on interior design-themed DIY projects. Kate’s published writing reflects her special interest in how design has changed through the decades. Her blog Mirror80 ( http://mirror80.com/) explores the fashion and [...]

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