3 Spooky Halloween Recipes to Make at Home

The Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Discover how to make the perfect pumpkin pie to entertain guests or enjoy as an after-dinner treat this year, and do you know what the best part is? You can reuse and recycle the filling from your pumpkin carving from the previous evening of Halloween fun.

This recipe is bursting with autumnal flavours, filled with a super spiced golden pumpkin on a shortcrust pastry. Try serving with a dollop of fresh cream to add to the sweetness of the dish – and why not even a grated orange zest on the top?

Ingredients:

For the pastry:

• 200g plain flour

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 125g butter
• 2 tbsp icing sugar

For the filling:

• 180g caster sugar
• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp mixed spice
• 3 eggs
• 450g diced pumpkin, cooked and sieved
• 200ml double cream

For the topping:

• 200ml double cream

• 1 orange, zested

Method:

1. Heat the oven to gas 7, 220°C, fan 200°C.
2. To make the pastry, mix together the flour and the cinnamon if using. Rub in the butter and stir in the icing sugar. Add enough water (about 7 tsp) to mix to a stiff dough.
3. Roll out the pastry until it is large enough to line a 23cm x 23cm x 5cm deep pie dish. Pinch the edge of the pastry. Roll out any trimmings and use a small cutter to stamp out leaf shapes. Attach to the rim of the pastry using a little water. Chill for 15 minutes.
4. Line the pastry with foil and fill with baking beans. Bake blind for 8 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and return to the oven for 2-3 minutes.
5. Reduce the oven temperature to gas 3, 150°C, fan 130°C.
6. To make the filling, put the pumpkin and all other filling ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour into the pastry case and bake in the oven for about 1 hour until the filling is set. Remove and leave to cool.
7. To serve, whisk the cream until thick. Spoon onto the pie and scatter over the orange zest. Viola!

Petrifying Stuffed Peppers

One for us veggie lovers – a terrible twist on a classic dinner with our petrifying stuffed peppers! Plate up a scrumptious serving this Halloween with this popping pepper filled with gooey mozzarella and veggie rice, or an alternative flavour if preferred.

An easier, less messy, but just as tasty alternative to pumpkin carving, try it out by carving your own frightening faces into the side of these peppers for some spooky fun.

Ingredients:

• 3 orange peppers
• 3 green peppers
• 2 x 250g packs golden vegetable rice
• 250g mozzarella, grated
• 30g pack parsley
• 30g pack basil

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Cut the tops off the peppers, leaving the stalks on, and scoop out the seeds.
2. With a sharp knife, carve 3 triangles into the orange peppers for the eyes and nose, and squares for teeth – or whichever scary image you would like to treat yourself to.
3. Put the (vegetable) rice in a large bowl with the mozzarella, parsley, and basil. Mix, then spoon into the peppers. Replace the tops and brush with oil. Arrange on a greased tray and bake for 25-30 mins, until tender.
4. Remove from the oven and serve warm. And there we have it, some petrifying stuffed peppers.

Boo-nilla Ghost Milkshakes

Now for a sweet treat… why not try our Boo-nilla Ghost Milkshakes? These cheap and cheerful – with a hint of comfort – milkshakes are the perfect devilish delight to enjoy when you want to indulge in something sweet after dinner.

So leave those sweets for the trick-or-treaters, please! Our Boo-nilla milkshakes will be sure to hit the spot, so get the ice cream out and shake away.

Ingredients:

Milkshake:

• 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream
• 1 pint of milk (whichever type you prefer)
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Topping:

• 1 cup of whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons of icing sugar
• Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract

Method:

1. In a blender, combine the ice cream, milk, and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth.
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
3. Divide the milkshake between the glasses. Cut the corner of a large piping bag (sandwich bag if a piping bag is unavailable) and pipe a swirl on top. Serve immediately.

With something to suit everyone this Halloween, we like to think these recipes will give you something to scream about with your mates. Why not pair these tasty treats with one of our Halloween movie recommendations to get the most out of this spooky season?

Tag us on our socials in your frightening feasts and let us know what you think of our recipes, oh, and have a happy Halloween!