Halloween Party Recipes We've Tried and Loved
Picture it. Mulled cider in the snifters. Devilled eggs making the rounds. A pan of brownie cheesecake waiting in the wings with a sharp knife. The lights go low, someone wears a cape with total conviction, and by dessert everyone else has followed suit.
A grown-up Halloween is a dinner party with a dark streak: a long table dressed in black, tapers burning at every height, and guests who arrive in character. Or at least in velvet. Below you'll find our Halloween party menu, four recipes that each borrow a little something from the Provisions pantry, plus our house rules for setting a gothic table.
Not hosting? The same menu makes a cozy night in. Put the cider on the stove, a scary movie on the screen and the brownie cheesecake on the coffee table.
The Halloween Menu at a Glance
Four recipes, each with a little something from our pantry.
Nº 1 · Something Wicked This Way Mulls
Mulled apple cider with Maple Brown Sugar Craft Syrup · Serves 4
Nº 2 · Devil's in the Details
Devilled eggs with Red Pepper Jelly · Makes 12 halves
Nº 3 · Sweet, Savoury & a Hint of Mystery
Popcorn with French Onion Jam · Serves 4
Nº 4 · Killer Brownie Cheesecake
Brownie cheesecake bars with Classic Cranberry Sauce · Makes 16
Timing tips: the host's game plan
Bake the brownie cheesecake first, since it needs at least 2 hours in the fridge. Boil and chill the eggs next, then fill them shortly before guests arrive. Start the cider an hour ahead to fill your home with smells of autumn spice, and pop the popcorn last, right before the lights go down.
Nº 1Something Wicked This Way MullsMulled Apple Cider with Maple Syrup
Apple, clove, cinnamon and orange, mulled low and slow and finished with our Maple Brown Sugar Craft Syrup. Add a splash of whisky and things get properly spirited. Leave it out and it's a warm, alcohol-free Halloween drink everyone can share.
You'll need
- 1 L apple juice
- 1 apple, sliced
- 10 cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- Peel of 1 orange, pith removed
- 3 oz Provisions Maple Brown Sugar Craft Syrup
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- Whisky (optional)
Method
- Bring the apple juice, apple slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks and orange peel to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes.
- Stir in the Maple Brown Sugar Craft Syrup.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon on a plate. Dip each glass rim in a little syrup, then into the cinnamon sugar.
- Ladle into the glasses. Whisky at your discretion.
Nº 2Devil's in the DetailsDevilled Eggs with Red Pepper Jelly
The details in question: a spoonful of our Red Pepper Jelly, a little sesame, and flaky salt to finish. A little sweet, a little heat, and gone before anyone confesses.
You'll need
- 6 eggs
- 1 tbsp mayo
- 1 tbsp Provisions Red Pepper Jelly
- ½ tsp toasted sesame oil
- Cracked black pepper
- Paprika
- Flaky salt
Method
- Hard-boil the eggs, then chill for 30 minutes.
- Halve lengthwise and scoop the yolks into a bowl.
- Mash the yolks with the mayo, red pepper jelly, sesame oil and a few grinds of pepper until smooth.
- Spoon back into the whites and finish with a dusting of paprika and flaky salt. Summon your guests.
Nº 3Sweet, Savoury & a Hint of MysteryFrench Onion Jam Popcorn
Yellow Gold popcorn, tossed in butter melted with our French Onion Jam. Best enjoyed in the dark, right around the scary part. The mystery is the jam. Keep it between us.
You'll need
- ½ cup Provisions Yellow Gold Popcorn kernels
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tbsp Provisions French Onion Jam
- ½ tsp each paprika, garlic powder and salt
Method
- Pop the kernels and tip them into a large bowl.
- Melt the butter with the French Onion Jam, stirring to combine.
- Pour over the popcorn and toss to coat.
- Mix the paprika, garlic powder and salt, then sprinkle over. Dim the lights.
Nº 4Killer Brownie CheesecakeBrownie Cheesecake Bars with Cranberry Sauce
Fudgy brownie, a cheesecake swirl, and a generous slash of our Classic Cranberry Sauce. Sweet, tart, and best served with a sharp knife and a good alibi. It needs at least 2 hours in the fridge, so it's the one to make first.
Brownie
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- ¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa
- ½ cup flour
- ½ tsp salt
Cheesecake
- 250 g cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp vanilla
The evidence
- Provisions Classic Cranberry Sauce, to serve
Method
- Heat oven to 350°F and line the pan with parchment, leaving an overhang.
- Whisk the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Fold in the cocoa, flour and salt until just combined.
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then whisk in the egg and vanilla.
- Spread most of the brownie batter in the pan and pour the cheesecake over it. Dot with the remaining batter, then drag a knife through to swirl. Get into character.
- Bake 32–35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
- Cool, chill at least 2 hours, then lift out and slice. Finish with cranberry sauce, applied dramatically.
The Halloween Host's House Rules
The trick (there's always a trick) is to commit. Set the table like a gothic novel, serve food that looks wicked and tastes wonderful, and let the evening get gloriously theatrical.
Nº 1 Go dark on the table. Black linens, deep plum napkins, and every candlestick in the house. A candelabra earns bonus points.
Nº 2 Dress the drinks. A cinnamon sugar rim, a cinnamon stick, a curl of orange peel. Garnish is half the costume.
Nº 3 Make costumes a house rule. Gently. A cape, a veil or a single dramatic glove all qualify.
Nº 4 Plate with drama. A swirl of cranberry, a dusting of paprika, a bowl of popcorn passed in the dark. Full theatre, full confidence.
Nº 5 Keep a bowl by the door. The little ghosts get their treats. The grown-ups keep the good stuff at the table.
Grown-Up Halloween Party FAQ
How do you throw a Halloween party for adults?
Treat it as a dinner party with a flair for the dramatic. Dress the table in black, light every candle you own, invite guests to come in costume and serve a short menu that looks a little wicked.
What food should I serve at an adult Halloween dinner party?
Keep it to four pieces including a themed beverage. Our menu is mulled maple apple cider, red pepper jelly devilled eggs, French onion jam popcorn and brownie cheesecake bars with cranberry sauce.
What can I make ahead for a Halloween dinner party?
The brownie cheesecake needs at least 2 hours in the fridge, so bake it first. The eggs can be boiled and chilled ahead, then filled before guests arrive. The cider takes 15 minutes, and the popcorn is best made last.
Is there a non-alcoholic Halloween drink on this menu?
Yes. The mulled cider is alcohol-free unless you add whisky, so it works for every guest.
Where are Provisions products made?
Provisions Food Company makes its jams, jellies, syrups and popcorn in small batches in Niagara, Ontario. Find everything on this menu in our pantry online.
Light the Candles
Here's to the grown-ups who still love to dress up.
Light the candles. Pull up a chair. And mind the cobwebs.
Shop the menu
Maple Brown Sugar Craft Syrup Red Pepper Jelly Yellow Gold Popcorn French Onion Jam Classic Cranberry Sauce
Heading to someone else's table? Our Boxed Gift Sets are made for hostess gifts and thank-yous.
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