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Halloween party food that scales

Three tiers — before, during, after — built so you can cook most of it the day before and still have a table that looks like effort.

The one rule: every dish must survive an hour on a table. If it needs to be hot and crisp at the same moment, it is not party food.

Before

Snacks, out at 7

Pumpkin hummus + toasted pita

A 400 g tin of pumpkin, one tin of chickpeas, lemon, tahini. Blitz, thin with water, serve warm.

Devilled eggs with olive spiders

Halve, pipe, then press six slivers of black olive into each yolk for legs.

Cheese "fingers"

A block of cheddar cut into finger lengths, almond slivers for nails. Label the nuts.

Popcorn bar

Plain popcorn in a big bowl, three toppings in jars: paprika, sugar-cinnamon, grated parmesan.

During

Mains that hold for an hour

Chilli + cornbread

The one dish that survives a party: make it the day before, reheat in the pot, keep it on the lowest heat.

Slider tray

Twelve small buns, pulled pork or mushrooms, pickles on the side. Assemble cold so they do not go soggy.

Mac and cheese

Bake in one tray, cut into squares. Squares serve faster than scoops and do not need cutlery.

Baked potato bar

Wrap potatoes in foil, keep them in a low oven, put butter, cheese, chives and chilli on the table.

After

Sweets and a punch

Candy apples

Small apples, wooden sticks, melted caramel. Dry on parchment — never on a plate.

Graveyard brownies

One tray, cut into rectangles, crushed chocolate biscuits on top, gummy worms half-buried.

Smoke punch

Apple cider, ginger ale, orange slices, dry ice in a separate bowl behind the punch bowl. Never in the glass.

A plain option

A bowl of clementines. Someone always wants one, and it costs nothing.

How much for 10, 20 or 40?

Per guest10 guests20 guests40 guests
Snack bites per guest654
Main portions per guest111
Sweets per guest32.52
Litres of punch3610
Ice (kg)246

Numbers assume a 7–11 pm party with drinks. For an all-evening event, add 30%. Sweet quantities overlap with the candy bowl on the candy page — do not double-count.

💡 Curated from real listings · Prices & photos sourced from our spreadsheet partner ·

Serving kit and props on the spreadsheet →

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for 20 guests?

Roughly 5 snack bites, one main portion and 2–3 sweets per person, plus 6 litres of punch. People eat less than they say they will, but they eat more slowly — the table should never look empty.

What can I make ahead?

Chilli, mac and cheese, brownies and the punch base all improve overnight. Assemble sliders and devilled eggs on the day; both go soft if they sit.

How do I handle allergies?

Keep nuts in a labelled jar rather than in a dish, put the ingredient list next to each tray, and make one nut-free and one dairy-free option that is obviously separate. Ask guests when they RSVP, not at the door.

Still deciding? Browse current listings on the spreadsheet →

Last updated: · Independent & unofficial