The Best Book Inspired Brews and Treats to Serve at Your Halloween Party

It’s spooky season! Which means it’s time to carve some pumpkins, stock up on candy, and throw the best dang fall party possible. On these occasions, there’s nothing we love more than book-inspired Halloween party food. We’ve compiled some of our favorite recipes so that you, too, can be the talk of an autumnal get-together. Whether you’re in need of a refreshing brew or an entire entree, we’ve got you covered. Light your literary candle of choice, and get cooking.

Pumpkin Juice

Butterbeer is a great Harry Potter brew to enjoy during the summer, but this pumpkin juice recipe promises to be a go-to for fall. And while the beverage is usually served iced at Hogwarts and throughout the rest of the Wizarding World, the recipe we found claims that you can try it hot, too – perfect for those chilly autumn nights!

Robber Steak

What could be more suitable as a Halloween party food than a delicacy inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula? Before Jonathan Harker arrives at the castle of Count Dracula, he takes the time to detail some of the food he eats on his journey. Robber steak was one meal that caught our eye, as his journal entry all but details the recipe for us: “bits of bacon, onion, and beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks, and roasted over the fire, in simple style of the London cat’s meat!” This would be the perfect option for a grill out on a slightly warmer fall day. Just be sure to take out your plastic fangs before digging in!

Dothraki Horse Heart

Hear us out—we don’t mean an actual stallion heart like the one Daenerys Targaryen has to eat in >A Game of Thrones. That might be a little too gruesome, even for Halloween. Luckily, we found a recipe that promises to make this grisly snack a real treat. All you need is a heart-shaped mold, jello, corn syrup, and red food coloring! And if you’re really going for spectacle, you can add some edible fake blood to the dessert. 

Witches’ Brew

Did you know that the beloved 1993 film “Hocus Pocus” was followed up by a YA sequel novel to celebrate its 25th anniversary? We did! And that’s what led to this excellently spooky recipe> making the list. The character of Winnie brews her deadly drink in the movie to steal the souls of children, but this version will settle for stealing your guests’ breath. To really up the ante, we suggest serving the concoction in a cauldron punch bowl

Lembas Bread

Dressing up as an elf for Halloween? What pointy-eared costume could be complete without a tasty side dish to offer up to hungry guests? Enter Lembas bread, a hearty elvish food from The Lord of the Rings. The biscuit-like food is supposed to be delicious and filling – perfect for trekking across Middle Earth on an epic quest. This particular recipe calls for vanilla extract, which adds that perfect hint of sweetness to make this snack otherworldly.

Roasted Porg

If we had to guess, we’d say there must be mention of a roasted porg somewhere in the expanded Star Wars universe novels and comics. For those hosting a more formal, sit-down gathering this fall, this juicy chicken lookalike could be the perfect centerpiece. And if you can’t, in fact, find one of those little feathered aliens, a regular whole chicken will do just fine. 

Sleepy Hollow Slapjacks

The headless horseman is a haunting figure that many probably know from the Disney adaptation. But we first met Ichabod Crane and his personal small-town boogie man in Washington Irving’s atmospheric short story. Bring The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to life with a pile of buckwheat pancakes, as light and fluffy as if they were made by “the delicate little dimpled hand of Katrina Van Tassel” herself. Because who says you can’t serve breakfast for dinner or a sweet stack of pancakes at a Halloween party?

Scooby Snacks

Didn’t you always wish you could savor those little brown squares that Scooby and Shaggy seemed to love so much? Now you can! Go back to the cheesy show and spin-off novels of your childhood with a cookie version of the illustrious Scooby Snacks. This version of the treat is the perfect combination of chewy and crunchy, with plenty of flavor packed in. Who knows? Maybe the power of these little snacks will prove to be exactly what your guests need to solve a mystery – or just win a tense game of Clue. 

What’s Your Halloween Party Food of Choice?

The house is decorated. The most fragrant fall candles are lit. Guests will be arriving soon. So tell us – what’s on the table? We want to hear about your favorite fall recipes and party foods, so let us know how you do Halloween in the comments below. Happy fall, y’all!


Written by Roxie Lubanovic

Co-founder of Frostbeard Studio, creator of bookish candles, and avid reader.