The 11 Grossest Halloween Recipes You Can Actually Eat
Trick or treat? This year, we’re craving Halloween treats that will play tricks on our holiday party guests and restaurant companions. With increased competition to wow Instagram followers and attract new fans, restaurant owners, bloggers, and more are stepping up the spook level of their Halloween creations.
From an ice cream parlor that garnishes their scoops with crickets (yes, real bugs) to a cupcakes that look just like bloody zombie brains, these gross Halloween recipes are sure to make your October ghoulishly fun.
How many would you—and can you—try before the costumed revelers arrive?
Burger King Nightmare King Sandwich
Photo courtesy of Burger King
For years, global fast food chain Burger King has released over-the-top Halloween offerings to commemorate the holiday. (This year, their seasonal menu also includes a jet-black "Scary Black Cherry" Frozen Fanta). 2018's most shocking prank was announced on October 17, when Burger King reportedly performed a 100-participant, 10-day sleep study. Those who ate the Nightmare King sandwich—made with a green bun, a 1/4-pound burger, crispy chicken fillet, bacon, cheese, mayo, and onions—before bed were 3 1/2 times more likely to experience nightmares.
The sandwich is real (and available October 22 until supplies last), the study results? Up to your interpretation!
Salt & Straw Matcha Ice Cream with Crickets and Mealworms
Photo courtesy of Salt & Straw
West coast scoop shop company Salt & Straw is known for their unique flavor options, including avocado-Oaxacan chocolate fudge and black olive brittle-goat cheese. Their latest sundae cranks up the fear factor: Rather than chopped nuts and hot fudge, their Creepy Crawly Critters matcha ice cream is garnished with dark chocolate-covered crickets and coconut toffee-brittle mealworms.
If you're not quite ready to bug out, Salt & Straw has another gross Halloween recipe on its just-launched seasonal menu. Dracula’s Blood Pudding is a warmly-spiced ice cream with real pig’s blood mixed into the base.
Jello Worms
For this brilliant Halloween hack, fill plastic straws with red or purple gelatin, chill until firm, then run them under tap water to release the wiggly, jiggly "worms." For that just-crawled-through-dirt look, coat your pile of of worms in chocolate cookie crumbs.
Zombie Brain Cupcakes
The cerebrum-inspired frosting is pretty gross. The red jam "blood" topping is even more ghoulish. And the oozy green filling takes this Halloween cupcake recipe to new disgusting (yet delicious) heights.
Bloody Good Cheesecake
Whodunnit? This creepy Halloween cake looks like a legit crime scene, complete with drippy red gel frosting and a big knife (that can multitask to slice and serve). The cheesecake itself is red velvet, with cocoa powder and red food coloring in the batter.
Bleeding Red Velvet Truffles
For a slightly less realistic (and more kid-appropriate) bloody scene, these holiday truffles are decorated with squiggles of "blood" and cookie "knives." Save time by purchasing the edible kitchen utensils already made?
Buy it: Wilton Halloween Knife Icing Decorations ($6.30)
Applebee's Dollar Zombie Drink
Photo courtesy of Applebee's
For the month of October, Applebee's locations around the U.S. are offering this gummy brain-crowned rum cocktail for $1 each. The Dollar Zombie looks scarier than it tastes: The sweet tropical drink is flavored with pineapple, passion fruit, cherry, and lime.
Spider Halloween Deviled Eggs
We can almost imagine little spiders crawling out of these webbed eggs. (They look a bit like eyeballs—eek!—when you flip 'em over, too.) You'll still want to fight over the last bite, though, as the guacamole-inspired deviled egg filling make these a scrumptious savory Halloween snack.
Stuffed Intestines
To bring add this shockingly life-like gut-busting snack to your Halloween spread, start with two sheets of frozen puff pastry "intestines," then stuff them with one of these filling options:
Snake the "organs" back and forth across a baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and bake to gory perfection.
Crunchy Cheese-Stuffed Date Roaches
Don't brush these "bugs" outside. They're actually just cream cheese- and pecan-stuffed dates. It's all about the presentation here--pile the bites cut-side up on a platter and add a few realistic plastic cockroaches to the party for a truly "ahh!"-mazing Halloween appetizer.
Bloody Finger Hot Dogs
"Finger food" earns a different definition with these Halloween hot dogs. A clever scoring strategy gives them joints and nails, just like real digits, while schmears of ketchup at the base (and splattered about) simulate a just-severed scene.
