It’s coming up to that time of year again – shops and supermarkets will soon be filled with pumpkins, creepy costumes and devilish delights to celebrate Halloween on 31 October.
No Halloween celebration is complete without some delicious homemade treats, and now is the time to start planning. So whether you’re hosting a festive get-together for friends, a fun Halloween party for kids or simply looking to bake something delicious for trick-or-treat, we’ve got you covered. Using gorgeous autumnal ingredients like squash, pumpkin and apples, these Halloween cake ideas are great for celebrating the abundance of amazing seasonal produce available at this time of the year.
From pumpkin pies to lightly spiced cupcakes and gooey cookies, we’ve put together our favourite Halloween cake recipes so you can make the most of the spooky season. If you’re looking for more creative and fun ideas, check out Buddy’s spooky snack ideas that kids will love making this Halloween!
Chewy, super easy to make and frighteningly fabulous, these gooey chocolate cookies are a real winner. You can get ahead and make the cookie dough, then freeze it, ready to bake another day. Take these devilish cookies to another level by drizzling some melted chocolate over them while they cool. Enjoy!
Whip up some of these muffins for trick-or-treat and the kids will be eating more veg without even realising – winner! Sprinkle some clementine zest on top for a citrus kick, or for the adults try a few dried lavender or rose petals.
This seasonal pie recipe is Jamie’s twist on the American classic, swapping pumpkin for butternut squash. Topped with beautifully toasted squash seeds (waste not, want not!), it makes the perfect centrepiece for your Halloween celebration. Serve with cream or ice cream, and dig in!
Those with gluten allergies, don’t fear: Jamie has created a gluten-free version. This dessert is a real showstopper and is well worth the effort in the kitchen. With a warming mix of cinnamon and nutmeg, and topped with a beautiful lattice pastry, this pie makes for an impressive Halloween dessert.
You just can’t beat a good homemade biscuit. Crunchy, chewy and gooey all in one bite, these chocolate treats are a real crowd-pleaser and super-easy to make. Don’t forget to get the kids involved – they’ll love cutting out the cookie dough and assembling it over the chocolate.
Toffee and chocolate make for a winning combo in Jamie’s twist on a traditional sticky toffee pudding recipe – perfect for spooky get-togethers. These easy cupcakes pack a brilliant flavour punch, with dried fruits like apricots, dates and sultanas adding to the beautiful fudgy taste and texture. A guaranteed hit with kids and adults alike.
Get into the seasonal spirit with this beautifully spiced loaf, made with pumpkin purée and chocolate. To make pumpkin purée, simply mash or blend cooked pumpkin until smooth – a great way to use up any leftover pumpkin. Topped with ginger icing and filled withbeautiful autumnal spices, this makes an ideal Halloween sweet treat.
This beautifully smooth salted caramel fudge sprinkled with a pinch of sea salt uses just four ingredients and is so simple to make. It requires a little precision, so dig out your sugar thermometer for this one, but the results are rich, bite-sized pieces of total joy. It’s a recipe you’ll come back to again and again. Perfect for popping in trick-or-treat bags.
If you’re looking to whip up some easy sweet treats for your Halloween party, these delicious apple and almond cupcakes spiced with cardamom will do the trick. A proper celebration of seasonal fruit, these cupcakes take just 30 minutes to make and are guaranteed to impress both kids and adults.
Looking for more Halloween food ideas? Check out our collection of recipes for more inspiration or take a look at our handy guide to carving a pumpkin.