Welcome to The Storied Recipe Podcast, a podcast about food, culture, and love.
I've curated this list of 24 Old-Fashioned Halloween Treats in conjunction with Episode 06 Halloween - 3 Perspectives while you find the perfect vintage treats for your Halloween party.
Halloween isn't all about candy. In fact, according to one popular theory, during Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival celebrating the end of Harvest, people would leave out food to appease the souls that were traveling through that night. That ritual gradually shifted into dressing as the spirits themselves and knocking on doors for food and drink, a practice that centuries later would become trick-or-treating — though now, the offerings come in the form of fun-sized candy bars.
My podcast guests shared three unique perspectives on their Halloween traditions and treats, so I've put together a list of vintage Halloween treats that are both savory and sweet and perfect for a Halloween party.
How To Use This List
- I set out to find the most traditional Halloween recipes, but many of them simply aren’t preserved online in an easy-to-follow way. To make up for that, I’ve gathered vintage and old-fashioned recipes that still reflect the charm and flavor of those earlier traditions.
- Each recipe is formatted as the title of the recipe, followed by a "|" symbol and then the blog or person who it is from.
- I've split this list into the following categories: Fruit, Popcorn, Pies, Cookies, Breads, Savory Nibbles, Candy (Not Store-Bought), Doughnuts, Cakes, and Other.
Fruit
Fall is the season of apples, so I thought it was fitting for this category to comprise of mostly vintage recipes of this autumnal fruit. From apple dumplings to poached pears, this category makes the most of the fall's natural bounty.
Apple Dumplings: Pastry-Wrapped Apples with Caramel Sauce | The Storied Recipe
Enjoy homemade apple dumplings with caramel sauce — tender baked apples wrapped in buttery pastry and topped with rich caramel.
Easy Homemade Candy Apples | Just a Taste
Add color and crunch to your holiday table with an easy recipe for candy apples.
Traditional Fried Apple Pies | Feast and Farm
Bring out a big basket of crispy, sweet fried apple pies and people lose their minds stuffing them in their shirt pockets or purses. They are that good.
Old Fashioned Caramel Apples | Simply Good
The first Saturday in October was reserved for picking apples at the Farnsworth apple orchards. I would gather up my little ones and we would drive across town to pick as many apples as we
Spiced Poached Pears (Without Wine) | Through The Fibro Fog
These spiced poached pears are fragrant from spices, but made without alcohol and apple juice instead. Vegan and gluten-free dessert recipe.
Jack-O-Lantern Oranges | Eating on a Dime
These Jack O Lantern Oranges are super fun for a Halloween snack or a healthy Halloween treat for parties. With only 4 ingredients, these Halloween Fruit cups are easy and tasty.
Popcorn
In this category, you will find a couple of nostalgic Halloween treats that have stood the test of time. Crunchy, sticky, and sweet, these treats are a blast from the past.
Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls | My Country Table
These Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls are buttery and molded together with a sweet simple syrup. A reminder of Halloweens back in the day!
Halloween Popcorn Mix | Our Best Bites
Halloween Popcorn Mix with almond bark, salted peanuts, reeses pieces, and candy corn! So easy and so good!
Pie
Thanksgiving isn't the only time to eat pie! These old-fashioned pies are a great Halloween treat that will bring warmth to chilly October nights.
Classic Shoo Fly Pie | Pastry Chef Online
Wondering what to do with that leftover jar of molasses in your cupboard. Wonder no more! You are going to love this old-fashioned classic!
Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe | My Forking Life
Southern sweet potato pie is the perfect fall and Thanksgiving dessert to make and share with family and friends. Easy to make and so tasty!
Old Fashioned Chess Pie Recipe | I Heart Recipes
Looking for a classic Southern pie recipe? This old-fashioned chess pie is a creamy custard pie made with simple ingredients. A traditional Southern staple!
Cookies
When I think of the flavors of autumn, my mind immediately goes to pumpkin and warm spices. There is a reason that these flavors have lasted for so long and are at the heart of Halloween baking. These cookie recipes are soft and chewy with the perfect amount of spices and make the perfect party treat.
Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies | Family Around the Table
Sharing another one of my Mom's yummy recipes. Get your glass of milk because this one is for old fashioned soft pumpkin cookies.
Old-Fashioned Molasses Cookies | Once Upon a Chef
Soft and chewy with a crackled sugar crust, these molasses cookies are loved by kids and adults alike.
Breads
I thought it was fitting to add in a traditional Irish bread recipe that is commonly made and eaten around Halloween. Barmbrack, or Bairín Breac, means speckled bread because it is made with a scattering of dried fruits, though not as much as Christmas fruit cake, but is just as festive.
Traditional Irish Barmbrack | Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking
Halloween in Ireland is steeped in tradition and lore — but one of the best parts of it has its roots in history: the fruitcake-like Barmbrack recipe!
Old Fashioned Pumpkin Bread | Love From the Oven
A delicious good old fashioned pumpkin bread recipe from the new cookbook, Cooking With Pumpkin: Recipes That Go Beyond The Pie, by Averie Sunshine.
Savory Nibbles
Savory snacks were once just as important to Halloween celebrations as candy and cakes. These nibbles will balance out the evening’s sweets and give partygoers something satisfying to munch on while enjoying the festivities.
Pumpkin Seed Recipe with Perfect Seasoning | Jessica Gavin
Try this delicious pumpkin seed recipe for a crunchy and healthy snack. Perfectly roasted for the best flavor and texture.
Mummy Hot Dogs Recipe | Homemade Interest
Kids love the classics and these Mummy dogs are the perfect Halloween dinner! Easy hot dogs wrapped in strips of crescent rolls and baked.
Candy (Not Store-Bought)
These confections would be a little hard (and frowned upon) to give out during trick-or-treating, but they make the best sweet treat for Halloween. Haystacks could be made even more festive with the addition of googly eyes.
Old Fashioned Chocolate Fudge | An Italian in My Kitchen
Old Fashioned Chocolate Fudge, this is the best, creamiest chocolate fudge, made the old fashioned way! And only 6 ingredients.
Easy Homemade Peanut Brittle | Tastes Better from Scratch
My Grandma's old-fashioned Peanut Brittle recipe is so easy to make on the stovetop with just six simple ingredients and roasted peanuts.
Easy Vintage Haystacks Candy Recipe | Lana's Cooking
You’ll need just four ingredients and 10 minutes to make this simple, no-bake Haystacks Candy recipe with crunchy chow mein noodles, butterscotch, and peanut butter.
Donuts
I don't consider donuts (or "doughnuts" this is the older, original spelling) to be strictly a breakfast treat. In fact, donuts are too sweet for me that early in the morning, and these old fashioned donut recipes would be a perfect addition to any Halloween party spread.
Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnuts | Our Best Bites
These melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin spice cake doughnuts are dipped in a warm pumpkin spice glaze for the perfect Halloween treat!
No-Fry Doughnuts, 1976 (A Vintage Halloween Recipe) | Mid-Century Menu
Happy Halloween! This year, your extra-special treat from me is the reposting of these no-knead, no-fry doughnuts...They aren’t dense and cakey either. These are incredibly light and soft.
Cake
One of the most iconic vintage Halloween treats is the Betty Crocker Jack-O'-Lantern cake, though it is now a bit frightening to look at. The recipe below is a cuter version that won't scare any kids away.
Jack-O’-Lantern Halloween Cake | The Scranline
A delightfully fun to make chocolate Jack-O’-Lantern Halloween Cake that is perfect for the spooky holiday Halloween season!
Other
I didn't know where to add this recipes, but I think rice krispies treats are some of the most well recognized vintage treats and they deserve a place on this list. This recipe shapes and dyes them into fun candy corn shapes, but you can always just make a pan of originals and your guests will be just as happy.
Candy Corn Rice Krispies Treats | Dessert for Two
Candy corn Rice Krispies treats are so fun to make with kids! This recipe is made in a 9" cake pan and makes 8 to 10 Rice Krispies treats.
Listen to the Halloween Episode Now
PrintRecipe
Old-Fashioned Halloween Treats That Aren’t Candy
Description
Discover 24 vintage Halloween treats that go beyond candy and bring a festive, nostalgic touch to your Halloween celebration.
Ingredients
Pick from this list of 24 old fashioned Halloween treats to have at your next Halloween party!
Instructions
Fruit
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Apple Dumplings from Melissa Moslow, guest of The Storied Recipe
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Candied Apples from Just a Taste
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Apple Handpies from Feast and Farm
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Caramel Apples from Simply Good
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Poached Pears from Through the Fibro Fog
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Orange Jack-o-Lantern Fruit Cups from Eating on a Dime
Popcorn
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Popcorn Balls from My Country Table
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Spiced Popcorn Snack Mix from Our Best Bites
Pie
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Shoo Fly Pie from Pastry Chef Online
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Sweet Potato Pie from My Forking Life
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Chess Pie from I Heart Recipes
Cookies
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Pumpkin Cookies from Family Around the Table
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Molasses Cookies from Once Upon a Chef
Bread
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Irish Barmbrack from Gemma's Bigger Bolder Baking
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Pumpkin Bread from Love From the Oven
Savory Nibbles
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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds from Jessica Gavin
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Mummies in a Blanket from Homemade Interest
Candy (Not Store-bought)
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Fudge from An Italian in My Kitchen
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Peanut Brittle from Tastes Better from Scratch
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Haystacks from Lana's Cooking
Donuts
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Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnuts from Our Best Bites
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Old Fashioned Donuts from Mid Century Menu
Cake
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Jack-o-lantern Cake from The Scranline
Other
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Candy Corn Rice Krispies from Dessert for Two
Would love to hear from you!