Arizona patio season is coming back, and so are the snowbirds. The first cooler evenings make dinner outside sound good again—and a pot of soup finally earns its place on the menu.
I’m planning a Halloween dinner with friends: smoky split pea soup, an apple cider cocktail, pumpkin bundt cake and cookies with a little attitude. No costume required. We’re keeping the mischief on the table.
Halloween Dinner Menu
A warm bowl, something crunchy, and a sweet finish. A little prep ahead leaves more time to sit down with your friends.
Cream Cheese & Pepper Jelly with crackers
Swamp Soup with crusty bread
Bourbon & Broomsticks : An Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail with a mock-tail option
Pumpkin Bundt Cake with cream cheese icing
Spooky Cookies —it just wouldn’t be Halloween without them.
Cream Cheese & Pepper Jelly Appetizer
Set a block of cream cheese on a small plate, spoon pepper jelly over the top, and serve with crackers. Choose mild or hot jelly to suit your crowd.
That’s the whole production. Save your ambition for the cookie decorating.
Halloween Split Pea Soup
Split pea soup practically names itself for Halloween. We’re calling it Swamp Soup, but underneath the name is a familiar combination of green split peas, vegetables, and smoked ham hocks.
The recipe uses store-bought smoked ham hocks, so there’s no smoker required. Serve it with crusty bread for dipping or buttery croutons for a little crunch.
Halloween Sugar Cookies
I’m using Sally’s Baking Addiction sugar cookie recipe and giving it a Halloween wardrobe: big witches’ hats and spiderwebs.
Pumpkin orange, green, and a little purple tie the cookies into the decorations. Set them out for dessert or send a few home with your guests.
Two generations of mischief. Mom gets full credit.
Bourbon & Broomsticks Cocktail
Apple cider and bourbon bring a little fall to the glass. We’re calling it Bourbon & Broomsticks—a fitting pour for this Halloween dinner. An alcohol-free version is included in the recipe, so everyone has something good to sip.
Get the Bourbon & Broomsticks Recipe →
Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Pumpkin, cinnamon, and cream cheese icing give this cake its place on the Halloween menu. The Bundt pan does the decorating for you. Serve with coffee after dinner—and save a slice for tomorrow.
Get the Pumpkin Bundt Cake Recipe →
Spooky Halloween Tablescape & Decorations
Cream dishes, black napkins, and woven chargers make the base. Witch’s hats and green accents add the mischief. Use what you have, then pick up a few colorful additions. Most of my Halloween decorations have been with me for decades. A new set of napkins or a few bright plates gives the old gang a fresh look.
Cream dishes: A simple backdrop for green soup and colorful cookies.
Black napkins: A loose fold is plenty.
Witch’s hats: Easy to store, big on impact.
Battery candles: Bring a warm glow to the table.
Hanging ghosts: Let a few haunt the olive tree.
Green accents: Placemats make a big statement.
Keep the decorations low and leave room for bowls, bread, and drinks. Nobody should have to negotiate with a pumpkin to reach the butter.
Shop the Halloween Decorations
A few finds similar to my longtime favorites—including those Halloween plates
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One More Thing
My favorite Halloween decorating tip? Don’t make it perfect. Use what you have, add a little mischief, and invite your friends. If Martha stops by, hand her a Bourbon & Broomsticks cocktail.
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A Halloween dinner on the patio with smoky split pea soup, Bourbon & Broomsticks cocktails, pumpkin Bundt cake, and spooky sugar cookies. Use decorations you already own, add a little color, and invite your friends.