13 Charcuterie Board Ideas with a Spooky October Twist

This post may contain affiliate links, which helps keep this content free. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Spider Web Brie

A large wheel of Brie is perfect for Halloween-themed decorating. Drizzle balsamic glaze or dark chocolate syrup in a spider web pattern on top, and place a plastic or sugar spider on top for a final creepy touch.

Recipe: To create the spider web, start by placing one 8-ounce wheel of Brie on your board. Use a toothpick to draw a spiral shape from the center, then drizzle 2 tablespoons of balsamic glaze or dark chocolate syrup over the Brie. Use a plastic spider or a chocolate spider decoration on top. Let the Brie sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving with crackers or fresh fruit.

Mummy Meat Rolls

Wrap slices of deli meats such as ham or turkey around a mozzarella stick to resemble mummies. Use thin cheese strips to create the “bandages” and add tiny black olive pieces for eyes.

Recipe: Start with 12 slices of deli meat, like ham or turkey. Wrap each slice around a mozzarella stick and secure with a toothpick. Cut cheese into thin strips and wrap around the meat rolls to resemble bandages. Place a black olive at the top for each mummy’s eye. Serve with a small bowl of mustard or ranch dressing for dipping.

Poison Apple Popcorn

Add a spooky twist to your popcorn by coloring it red to resemble poison apples. Top with candy sprinkles for a festive and eerie snack.

Recipe: Pop 4 cups of plain popcorn and place in a large bowl. In a separate pan, melt ½ cup of butter, then mix in 2 tablespoons of red food coloring and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Drizzle the mixture over the popcorn and toss to coat evenly. For extra flair, sprinkle with Halloween-themed candy sprinkles.

Blood-Red Beet Dip

A vibrant and eerie dip made from roasted beets gives a deep red hue, perfect for your Halloween theme. The earthy flavor of the beets pairs well with crackers or vegetable sticks for a healthy yet spooky option.

Recipe: To make the beet dip, start by roasting 2 medium beets at 400°F (200°C) for about 45 minutes, until tender. Let them cool, then peel and chop them into pieces. Blend the beets with ¼ cup of Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 clove of garlic, and the juice of half a lemon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve in a bowl with carrot sticks, cucumber slices, or pita chips for dipping.

Creepy-Crawly Gummy Worms

Add gummy worms to your charcuterie board to give it a creepy, crawly touch. Scatter them amongst cheeses and meats or place them on top of crackers for an interactive and fun snack.

Recipe: Simply scatter 1-2 bags of gummy worms across your board. You can arrange them to “crawl” over crackers, cheese slices, and fruits to make it look like they’re coming to life. For added fun, place them in between cheeses or around some spooky olives and grapes.

Zombie Fingers Breadsticks

Shape breadsticks into the form of zombie fingers, complete with almond “nails” to give them a spooky, gruesome look. These savory snacks will add a delightful crunch to your charcuterie board.

Recipe: Use 1 package of pizza dough or breadstick dough. Roll the dough into finger-like shapes, then place an almond sliver at the end of each one to act as the “nail.” Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes until golden and crispy. Serve with marinara or garlic butter for dipping.

Black Olive Spider Dip

Create a black olive “spider” sitting atop a creamy dip for a spooky, edible decoration. This dip is easy to prepare and adds a fun twist to your Halloween spread.

Recipe: Start with 2 cups of your favorite dip base, such as guacamole or hummus. Spread it evenly on a flat plate. Create a spider shape by placing 6 black olives in a circular pattern for the body, and use small pieces of olive for the legs. Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or veggie sticks for dipping.

Dracula’s Red Velvet Cake

Serve a rich red velvet cake decorated with edible blood splatters. The vibrant red color is perfect for Halloween, and the cake’s sweet flavor contrasts well with savory items on your board.

Recipe: Bake your red velvet cake using a box mix or homemade recipe (2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ cups sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, 1 cup buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon vanilla, and 1 ounce of red food coloring). Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes. Once the cake cools, drizzle with strawberry or raspberry syrup to create a “blood” effect. Slice and serve.

Ghosts Linzer Cookies

These delicious Linzer cookies are shaped like ghosts and filled with raspberry jam. The ghostly appearance adds a spooky element to a classic treat.

Recipe: To make these cookies, start with 1 cup of all-purpose flour, ½ cup of almond flour, 1/3 cup of powdered sugar, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 stick of cold unsalted butter. Blend the ingredients to form a dough and chill for 30 minutes. Roll out the dough and use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut the shapes. Fill with raspberry jam and sandwich the cookies together. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes until golden.

Stuffed Eggs with Spiders

Transform regular deviled eggs into a Halloween treat by adding spider-shaped olives on top. These creepy eggs are sure to delight your guests.

Recipe: Start with 6 boiled eggs, peeled and halved. Mix the yolks with 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture back into the egg whites and place a black olive on top of each egg. Slice one olive in half to create spider legs, and place them next to the whole olive. Chill before serving.

Creepy Chocolate Cake with Eyes and Spiders

A rich chocolate cake decorated with candy eyes and plastic spiders gives off a creepy Halloween vibe. The dark cake pairs wonderfully with the spooky decorations on top.

Recipe: Make your favorite chocolate cake recipe or use a boxed mix. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes. Once cooled, frost the cake with dark chocolate icing and decorate with candy eyeballs and plastic spiders. You can also drizzle red syrup for an extra “bloody” touch.

Sandwich with Skull Cheese

Cut slices of cheese into skull shapes to create Halloween-themed sandwiches. This simple addition turns a regular sandwich into a spooky snack.

Recipe: Use your favorite sandwich bread and fillings like turkey, cheese, and lettuce. Cut slices of cheese (cheddar or Swiss) into skull shapes using a skull-shaped cookie cutter. Assemble the sandwich and add additional spooky garnishes, like black olives or pickles, for extra flair.

Chocolate Cobweb Brownies with Candy Spiders

Brownies are always a hit, but adding a chocolate cobweb and candy spiders makes them perfect for Halloween.

Recipe: Start by baking your favorite brownies at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes. Once cooled, melt ¼ cup of white chocolate and drizzle it over the brownies in a cobweb pattern. Add small candy spiders on top for the finishing touch. Serve once the cobweb has set.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.