Tabs loved Halloween, as you know. We would get RSVPs to his annual Halloween party six months out, and I kept all of his Halloween treat and beverage recipes, like the following…

Shrimp Catnip Cocktails

Catnip Jello Parfait

Gravy Shooters

Rosie upping her modeling game

While Rosie’s really found her lane as a cat scientist, she’s definitely learned a thing or two about a thing or two, which includes kitty modeling.

I guess that should come as no surprise, considering the company she now heads.

As an academic, that girl sure can study. She watched thousands of hours of footage featuring Tabs at the height of his runway career, picking up pointers and the nuances of kitty supermodeling.

One of Rosie’s PhDs is in biomechanics, which is probably why her muscle control is out of this world. Basically, when you understand the science behind the poses, you can really “next level it.” Or rather, that’s what she tells me when she slow blinks.

As a pet assistant, I normally have to work on Halloween, but I told Rosie I would leave the house/office if she wanted to throw a small get-together this year.

I’ve yet to get an answer.

She goes back and forth. She isn’t the social butterfly Tabs was, but I think she wants to spread her wings… We’ll see.

To be safe, I’m stocking up on fresh catnip anyway. You never know when your cat will pull a last-minute diva move and say, “Meow!” (translation: Let’s throw a party!)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Drool-worthy Halloween desserts that you’ll want to make again and again.

When it comes to baked goods and desserts, I feel like Halloween is the most creative holiday for sweet treats. With plenty of spooky googly eye treats, marshmallows made to look like ghosts, and Frankenstein rice krispies to be devoured. So, if you’re one to celebrate a holiday with a little dessert (or maybe even a cocktail), be sure to bookmark this post – featuring 27 of the most delicious Halloween desserts. 

Halloween Desserts

Whether you’re baking with your kids or mixing up something fun for a grown-up gathering, Halloween desserts are really just an excuse to make something over the top, a little weird, and a lot of fun. Here are 27 sweets to celebrate Halloween…

Halloween Cookies

1. Does it get any better than these chocolate monster Halloween cookies from Sugar Salt Magic? Just the right amount of cute and creepy.

2. I can’t even tell you how much I love these Halloween finger cookies from Emilio Recipes. The painted ‘nails’ really take it to the next level.

3. Simple ghost sugar cookies from Amelia Styles? Yes please! They’d be perfect for a Halloween bake sale.

4. Anything with brown butter instantly has me interested. So when I came across these brown butter pumpkin ghost cookies, from Bake Drizzle Dust, I immediately bookmarked them to make.

5. If a more spooky vibe is your thing, check out these black cocoa skeleton cookies from Barley and Sage. Obviously, they’re still quite cute, but with a little bit of spooky.

6. I’m unsure whether this next Halloween dessert should be in the cookie category or the cake category…because it’s a monster themed cookie cake. Either way, it looks amazing. And speaking of cake…

Halloween Cake

7. This beeswax-infused parsnip cake, from The Wondersmith, is shaped like melting candles and looks incredible! I just keep looking at it – so cool.

8. And on the simpler side of things, if you like pumpkin spice, you’ll want to check out recipes for fall cupcakes.

Halloween Candy

9. Homemade chocolate candy cups with marshmallows is like a delicious hot cocoa in a one-bite dessert. Yum!

10. How adorable are these monster lollipops from Kara Creates? So so cute!

11. Have leftover Halloween candy after the 31st? Throw it all into halloween bark and add some pretzels for a salty and sweet treat.

12. A teeny tiny version of pumpkin pie – these pumpkin pie candy cups are seriously so tasty, especially this time of year. They’re easy to make too!

Halloween Cocktails

I know Halloween cocktails don’t exactly qualify as a dessert. But you might be sipping on a spooky (spiked) drink after a meal, so why not share a few cocktails to keep the mood going.

13. No need for cocktails to celebrate Halloween, but if you are someone who wants to take it up a notch, these easy Halloween drinks for adults are a good place to start. You could do a mocktail version too, if you don’t want the alcohol.

14. Have you ever tried red wine hot chocolate? It’s quite the treat!

15. An apple cider cocktail that is as pretty to look at it as it is delicious. Perfect for fall and all the holidays surrounding this time of year.

16. Candy corn Halloween shots from Sugar and Charm scream Halloween party to me. I mean, they’re in little beakers! Love.

More Halloween Baked Goods + Treats

17. I can imagine kids squealing with joy over these Halloween pop tarts from Constellation Inspiration. Adorable!

18. Love this batch of mini marshmallow ghosts from Braised and Deglazed. Great on their own or as cake toppers.

19. Blueberry hand pies with a message? I don’t see why not!

20. Queen of macarons, Ashley from Sugar and Cloth, shared the cutest marshmallow ghost macarons.

21. The faces on these rice krispie treats from Made It Ate It Loved It are bringing a huge smile to my face. So cute.

22. Sometimes you just have to go with a classic – like a pumpkin muffin on a cold morning.

23. Homemade poptart smores taste like a childhood campfire, in the best way.

24. These easy pumpkin cinnamon rolls are a fun fall twist on classic cinnamon rolls.

25. When you’re craving something pumpkin flavored, but are tired of the standard options, make this pumpkin pie ice cream.

26. The cutest little double chocolate brownie truffles from Mint + Mallow Kitchen.

27. Something about these simple chocolate monster Halloween cookies from The Merrythought really hit the spot after a long day. The strawberry wafers are my fave, so maybe I’ll try this with those.

And that’s it for sweet treat suggestions for this Halloween season. What are your favorite Halloween desserts? Any special traditions you bake this time of year?

October is Here – Spooky Season is Upon Us! 

Halloween is one of my very favorite holidays. I get excited early every single year. It’s just such a fun, stress-free holiday. We all get to dress up, be someone new for a day, and embrace a little magic and mischief. I love that!

This year, I finally created something I’ve dreamed of sharing for a while — a Halloween-themed dinner party. And it was such a blast! We had the best night not only styling and bringing this party to life, but also enjoying it together. With a few close friends (and help from an amazing team), I got to turn my vision into a simple, cozy, spooktacular Halloween gathering.

I took so much of your feedback from our summer entertaining story in Palm Beach and tried to create a mix of approachable ideas + beautiful details to this fall party. I’m so excited to finally share this Halloween chili dinner with you!

And while I can’t say I love it more than Christmas, I really do love this spooky, month that is October.

For the menu, I knew instantly I wanted to serve chili. Growing up, we always spent Halloween trick-or-treating, then ended up back at my Nonnie and Grandpa’s house for one of two dinners: carry-out pizza and salad or Nonnie’s homemade chili with beer bread. And, of course, a mountain of candy after. I loved both meals, but chili felt like the perfect nostalgic, cozy centerpiece for this party.

This menu is simple, delicious, and can be almost entirely made ahead of time — exactly what you want for entertaining.

When it comes to hosting, I always say: keep it simple — but make it beautiful and delicious. Especially as the holiday season ramps up. The easier your menu is, the more you’ll enjoy the night.

My tips

• Cook what you love and feel confident serving.

• Don’t be afraid to delegate!

• Do as much as you can ahead of time so you can actually enjoy your guests.

And most importantly — have fun with it! That’s what Halloween (and fall entertaining in general) is all about. 

The Menu:

I wanted a menu that could be made completely ahead of time, something easy, cozy, and delicious. Chili felt perfect. It’s the kind of dish you can have simmering away on the stove (or in the crockpot) while guests arrive — totally hands-off, yet so comforting.

Because it’s a Halloween party, I gave the chili a fun twist by finishing it in the oven and serving it inside a big, spooky-looking pumpkin (Whole Foods always has great options). It was surprisingly easy — and everyone was obsessed with it!

If you don’t have time to carve out a pumpkin, no big deal. Just grab a gorgeous Staub Pumpkin Cocotte and call it a day. For serving, I love using the Staub Mini Pumpkin Cocottes — they’re the perfect little single-serving size and instantly make the table feel extra fun and festive.

For drinks, I kept things simple but festive. I turned my Sanderson Sisters Smash into a big-batch punch — one version with alcohol and one without. I added a few “bitten” apples and giant ice cubes to the punch bowl for a spooky touch. We also served wine, pumpkin beer, and seltzers to keep everyone happy.

For the appetizer, I made the Deathly Hallows Cheese Board, complete with a witch-hat cheese ball, spider crackers, and a few playful vampire teeth. The best part? You can make the hat, crackers, and vampire teeth a day or two ahead, then just assemble the board a few hours before the party.

And dessert… well, I couldn’t choose just one! I made a handful of my Halloween favorites. Hocus Pocus Spellbook Brownie, Spooky Halloween Pretzels and BOO! Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars. You could also add broom stick cookies for a cute, whimsical touch.

If you want to keep things easy, have guests bring a dessert, or just pick one or two recipes to make yourself. And of course — don’t forget the candy. It’s Halloween, after all!

 

A Witchy Chili Menu

Frightful Punch + Cheeseboard

Smoky Sanderson Sisters Black Magic Punch

Deathly Hallows Cheese Board

A Bloody Good Salad

Harvest Brie and Cheddar Apple Kale Salad

Jack-O-Lantern Chili

Crockpot Spicy Queso Beef Chili
with 5 Ingredient Beer Bread

The Spookiest Dessert Table

Hocus Pocus Spellbook Brownies

Spooky Halloween Pretzels

BOO! Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

The Theme:

Hocus Pocus: A Witchy Dinner Party

Honestly, I was always a witch growing up, so this theme came to mind immediately. Plus, I love Hocus Pocus! It felt so natural to build a dinner party around — especially since I already knew “witch” recipes I wanted to use.

For the Cocktail Table

I wanted the table to be cute and spooky. I set out tall candles, a dramatic punch bowl, dark florals (mostly red dahlias), some fun candies, and simple black and purple cocktail napkins.

Don’t skip the candles! They instantly set a moody, magical vibe. If you’re using tall tapers, just a few make an impact. If you go with low candles, you can use lots — or mix the two for depth and texture.

For the Dinner Table

We found some amazing plates at Williams Sonoma and layered a black tablecloth with a purple one for texture and movement — it created the perfect spooky backdrop. Here’s another cute option.

For the centerpiece, I used the chili-filled pumpkin (or the cocotte) and a big seasonal salad. If you don’t have time to carve out a pumpkin, simply use this beautiful Staub pumpkin cocotte. You can also suse the mini cocettes to serve the chili in then scattered candles and dark florals (again, mostly red dahlias) down the table. I kept everything simple and functional — always leave room for serving and eating!

For Serving up the Spooky Desserts: 

Nothing fancy needed here. I just brought the sweets out after dinner and let everyone help themselves. Simple, easy, and so much fun!

And then the night wrapped up with everyone heading home — of course with extra dessert in hand. The perfect spooky night with friends.

Next up… Thanksgiving!

A huge thank you to our incredible team that helped us create such a fun night and captured amazing content for me to share!

Everyone made this magical evening come to life!

Photography by Johnny Miller

Props by Sarah Smart

Creative Producer/Styling by Jess Damuck

Wardrobe by Caitlin Harvey

Makeup by Sierra Matthews

Hair by Hailey Logan

my look

If you’re looking to add some fun and spooky charm to your Halloween decor, you won’t want to miss out on Mr. Boo! This quirky, creative project brings a playful yet eerie vibe to your home, making it the perfect addition to your Halloween festivities. Whether you’re decorating inside or outside, Mr. Boo will definitely grab the attention of anyone who steps foot into your haunted space.

With simple materials and an easy step-by-step guide, you can create your very own spooky decoration to bring some fun Halloween magic to life. This DIY project is not only perfect for all ages but also offers a great opportunity to get crafty and make something unique for your Halloween party or home.

Ready to meet Mr. Boo and start crafting your own spooky friend? href=”https://pinkfortitude.com/mr-boo/” target=”_new” rel=”noopener” data-start=”869″ data-end=”939″>Check out the full tutorial here! and bring some Halloween fun to your home today!

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