Last Minute Halloween Ideas

Maybe you received a last minute invite to a Halloween potluck, or maybe *someone* forgot to tell you that you needed to bring a treat to a party. Or, maybe you just procrastinated (hey, we don't judge!). Whatever the reason, we've got some great last minute Halloween recipes to share that won't require Martha Stewart-like decorating skills, or a major investment in special baking pans, or a trip around the city looking for illusive ingredients (have you tried to find black food coloring the day before Halloween?).

Before we jump to the official recipes, here are some easy and adaptable ideas to try:

Fake it, don't make it: Buy plain pre-made cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc and dress them up with your own decorating ideas. Sandwich chocolate cookies together with some frosting and make legs out of licorice for some easy spider cookies. Draw eyeballs out of the appropriate sweet or savory ingredient on seemingly normal foods (meatballs with mustard eyeballs anyone?)

Put it in a pumpkin: If the store still has small pumpkins available you can clean them out and use them as serving dishes. They work great to serve dips, soups, etc. Here's a trick - find a plastic tupperware-like container that will fit in the opening and set it inside. You can then use them to hold candy or other "dry" goods.

Dye it: Turn normal food into something gross and creepy with the help of some food coloring. You can color everything from soups to martinis with a few drops of green food coloring. For grosser treats, try combining various colors (at your own risk).

A tasty Halloween snack mix made with pretzels, candy corn, raisins, chocolate chips, M&Ms, and peanuts.

Rice krispie bars with a hint of green food coloring make for some easy, kid-friendly treats

An fun and tasty Halloween recipe! Refrigerated dough is wrapped around hot dogs to look like mummy bandages.

A delicious meatloaf baked inside a pumpkin! Use our recipe or your favorite.

Vegetables CAN be fun! A simple untraditional arrangement converts a platter of vegetables from a 'should eat' to a fun eat when they look like a witch! And you can dip them in her mouth. This recipe can be adjusted for any size platter or gathering.

Take one fudge stripe cookie and glue a Hershey's chocolate kiss on top. Instant Halloween treat!

These Spider Guacamole Eggs make a hauntingly good appetizer for Halloween.

Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix is loaded with sweet and spicy coated cereal, pretzels, yogurt raisins, and candy corn. It’s perfect for a party or game day snacking!

Give your friends and family a good laugh and an even better treat with this Frightfully Delicious Pumpkin Guacamole!

Your children will be shocked and excited to see that there’s a monster in their lunch box. How cool! Make these sandwiches for a spooky Halloween party, too!

These mayo-less avocado deviled eggs are all dressed up for Halloween, but are fantastic snacks or appetizers any old time.

What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a big round Jack-o-Lantern dessert pizza! Light sugar cookie creates a crust covered with a tangy topping and sweet, juicy citrus segments. It's quick to make and can be decorated in your chosen pattern.

These fun and tasty Halloween appetizers are made with hard-boiled eggs, cream cheese, pimiento-stuffed olives, and ketchup or food coloring (for the bloodshot look).

Sneak some veggies into your Halloween shenanigans with this Spooky Halloween Monster Mash Soup!

A festive Halloween quesadilla appetizer! The filling is made with pumpkin, black beans, chipotle chili powder, maple syrup and queso fresco.

These quesadilla wedges are meant to look like the popular candy corn candies by using mozzarella, cheddar, and American cheese.

Use sugar cones to create witch hats! (hint: you can fill them with whatever ingredients you have on hand)

A tasty Halloween spinach dip made with cream cheese, sour cream, and salsa. Served with breadstick bones

Turn pancakes into funcakes! The possibilities are endless (and incredibly easy)

String cheese and and green olives turn into gnarly fingers!

A delicious Halloween treat that's light and easy to make. If you need an idea for a healthier Halloween dessert at your next party – look no further!

Celery sticks are formed into festive broom shapes and filled with your favorite dip or spread.

Make a recipe of Rice Krispies treats with the addition of apple pie spice to create a classic Fall favorite treat. Then allow your children to let their creativity shine as they make their monster using their favorite cookie cutter option and decorating with frosting and candies.

Use homemade bread dough (or refrigerated bread sticks - we won't tell) plus some almonds to make these creepy treats

Carve bell peppers like pumpkins and fill with this dip, or your favorite dip

Roll frozen bread dough (thawed, of course) out and cut with Halloween cookie cutters. Bake and POOF - Halloween breadsticks!

Dip mini pretzels in white chocolate and decorate with mini chocolate chips to make boo-tiful ghosts