Don your witch’s hat and set out the pumpkins. Who says Halloween is just for the youngsters? Hosting a spooky soirée or costumed dinner party lets adults have their own festivities while passing out candy to trick-or-treaters. And even if you keep the evening low-key with just the family, the Local Palate Marketplace offers the treats and a few (entertaining) tricks to curate a delicious occasion.
Food is the first order of business. While candy dominates the Halloween snack spread (not that we mind), a little planning ahead balances the saccharine abundance with savory items and homemade sustenance.
No need to go all out with fancy hors d’oeuvres—set out easy-to-eat party snacks that people can enjoy while mingling. We like to keep the aesthetic festive with bright orange-colored treats, such as the Southern favorite, cheese straws. For an addictively crunchy and spicy kick, try seasoned saltines or pimento cheese-flavored kettle chips.
Speaking of pimento cheese, the pumpkin-colored Southern staple reserves a regular spot within every party-snack spread. Making it from scratch takes no time, especially with the help of a zesty seasoning blend. But no pressure to Martha-Stewart it up—pre-made ones work just as well, and in gourmet flavors like black truffle, they feel quite party-worthy.
With salty Halloween snacks taken care of, you can work on satisfying everyone’s sweet tooth. Let the candy bars and gummies distract the kids, and save the good stuff for the adults. Indulge in gourmet peanut butter cups and chocolate-covered honey clusters. For a more authentic dessert, we like these caramel-oozing brownies and rocky road bars.
If you insist on making a dessert from scratch, though, a beautifully layered pumpkin cake, flecked with crunchy toffee bits, doubles as both a show-stopping centerpiece and tasty treat.
Adult treats go beyond just food. Plan a fun party punch or pre-batch a cocktail to pour guests. Let seasonal flavors steer the beverage options, and riff on apple, pumpkin, and baking spices. Find a use for the jar of apple butter sitting in your pantry with this apple pie-inspired cocktail. The orange-black color scheme and name of the No Tricks Here make this rum-forward espresso martini feel particularly festive.
And if we’re planning Halloween cocktails on the name alone, we have to acknowledge that the Bloody Mary is an obvious choice.
This just touches on the Local Palate Marketplace’s gourmet goodies and Southern-made desserts to sweeten your Halloween. From cocktail mixers to confections, you have the supplies to elevate the basic necessities when it comes to entertaining and hosting. All that’s left to figure out is the costume.
