Halloween party food 2025: The best spooky chocolate treats and why we love them

Embrace indulgence and innovation this Halloween season with Hotel Chocolat, where we turn cacao into a memorable feast for all ghosts and ghouls…

The nights are growing colder, the air is holding an undeniable chill, and our master cacao creators have been working hard behind the scenes in preparation for the most terrifyingly exciting event of the season. It could only be Halloween, of course.

Halloween is the perfect excuse to give in to your darker side, embrace your cravings, and let your tantalising taste buds take the lead.

With our new and updated selection of delicious Halloween treats ready and waiting to be explored, it’s the perfect time to let you in on what’s featured in our cacao grimoire for this year.

The new and updated Halloween chocolate range from Hotel Chocolat

Are you looking for a Halloween gift? Whether it’s a thank you for a party host or a little something for the friend who just adores the holiday, our Halloween gift ideas range from fun and festive to spooky and sinister.

The Nice Slice – Halloween Edition

Finished with orange drizzle and white chocolate spooky shapes, The Nice Slice – Halloween Edition takes the nostalgic fridge cake and dresses it up as the ultimate Halloween party centre piece.

Each slice reveals hazelnut, almond, 50% milk chocolate praline, puffed rice, and caramel eclat with a sprinkling of sea salt. Slice, serve, and watch the spirits of your celebration gather around for a taste…

Wingston The Bat – Dark Chocolates

Meet Wingston The Bat. He’s dark, he’s daring, but he’s also oh-so delectable. He’s been keeping 16 70% Dark Halloween Chocolates hidden beneath his wings… but, lucky for you, he’s finally ready to share.

Each dark chocolate is individually wrapped, delivering the smoothest and richest of bites made from high-quality cacao. Perfect for bold-flavour-loving adults, sophisticated trick-or-treaters, or as elegant party favours.

Cryptopher The Vampire

Don’t be fooled by the sharp fangs of dear old Cryptopher. He’s more charming than chilling. Inside his mysterious box of delights lies 16 Caramel Milk Chocolates, lovingly cast into the spooky shapes of bats, headstones, ghosts, feline companions, and more.

Share the contents of Cryptopher The Vampire with guests or hand out to any lingering wanderers who dare venture into the night, and watch as they revel in the rich, buttery flavour of each morsel.

Carvin The Pumpkin

What would Halloween be without a chocolate pumpkin to steal the show? Meet Carvin The Pumpkin. Break open his exterior (carefully, of course! He can also be used as a decorational centrepiece), and you’ll be met with 16 creamy milk chocolates, cast into spooky moulds.

Individually wrapped, Carvin’s contents have been curated to bring a smile to even the scariest of faces on Hallow’s Eve. Just look at that cheeky toothless grin — he wouldn’t say boo to a ghost even if he tried!

The Yumpkin

The Yumpkin is Carvin’s cacao-ified pumpkin sidekick. If you’re not up for pumpkin carving, what about a spot of chocolate pumpkin munching instead? The Yumpkin is made from our smooth, high-cacao 40% milk chocolate, tempered for a hauntingly good snap and shine.

That’s not all for our Halloween chocolate range, but you’ll have to venture into our collection for yourself to see the other cacao spooks and delights we have in store. If you dare, that is.

Not feeling brave enough just yet? How about a little Halloween history to curb your curiosity…

Why do we eat sweets on Halloween?

From Halloween chocolate to toffee apples, there are so many tempting treats to enjoy in October. But what’s the reason behind eating sweet treats at Halloween? Well, it’s because Halloween’s roots are steeped in tradition, food, and flavour.

One theory is that the Halloween tradition originated with the Celts. Around 2,000 years ago, they celebrated Samhain (pronounced “sow-inn”). This festival marked the end of the harvest season. Many believed that, at Samhain, the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. As part of the festivities, people baked special cakes and offered them to their Gods.

Another theory is that Halloween evolved from a Pagan festival called Pomona. This was a celebration of the goddess of fruit and trees. During Pomona, people would exchange fruits and nuts as gifts.

Whatever the origin, exchanging edible goods has become an intrinsic part of Halloween celebrations as we know them today. This is particularly the case when it comes to one of our favourite All Hallows Eve activities: trick or treating.

Trick or treating

This popular Halloween pastime has rather sad beginnings. It’s thought to have originated in medieval England on All Souls Day (the 2nd of November), when poor people would beg for food. Eventually, children took over the custom, and it became a joyful activity. During this time, it was popular for children to sing prayers in exchange for “soul cakes”, which were sugary buns with crosses on the top.

Over time, this tradition transformed into begging for sweets at Halloween and gradually became the fun-filled holiday we know today.

At Hotel Chocolat, we honour these old-time customs with an innovative and modern twist. Each year, we craft the best Halloween chocolate to suit little monsters and grown-up ghouls alike.

What are traditional Halloween foods?

When it comes to Halloween treats, we’ve come a long way from exchanging fruit and nuts at the end of the harvest season. And Halloween is a great opportunity to get creative with your sweet tooth.

If you’d like to hark back to tradition, however, here are some classic Halloween treats that have stood the test of time.

Candy corn

Originally called “chicken feed,” candy corn was invented in the 1880s by George Renninger for the Wunderlee Candy Company. The now-iconic tri-coloured candy was originally made by hand, with each piece dipped in liquid sugar and then left to dry.

Today, candy corn still uses some of the same manufacturing methods and remains a popular treat around Halloween. So next time you’re munching on a few pieces of candy corn, remember its rich history!

Toffee apples

If you’re looking for a delicious Halloween treat with a hint of nutrition, why not try a toffee apple? These decadent delights pair crisp, refreshing apples with a casing of crunchy, sticky toffee.

Toffee apples originated in England and quickly became a popular Halloween treat in the United States in 1908 when William Kolb produced his first batch of candied apples.

While Kolb was experimenting in his sweet shop with red cinnamon for Christmas treat ideas, he dipped some apples into the mixture and put them in the windows for display.

Today, you can find toffee apples at most supermarkets. But, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try making your own at home. Embellish them with sprinkles, nuts, or even sugary creepy crawlies.

Pumpkin pie

Although it’s more popular in the United States than in the UK, pumpkin pie is a quintessential autumn dish. Brimming with juicy, naturally sweet pumpkin, it’s the perfect way to use up the insides of your ‘Jack O’ Lanterns’.

Pumpkins are native to North America, where this dish originated back in the 18th century. The first mention of the pie dates back to a 1796 cookbook by Amelia Simmons – and today’s recipes aren’t too far from it.

Amelia Simmons’ pumpkin pie involved mixing stewed and strained pumpkin with eggs, sugar, and cream to create a type of custard which was then baked into a pie crust. She also included fragrant spices such as ginger, nutmeg, and allspice – all of which make excellent additions to the pumpkin pies we know and love today. This dessert also pairs beautifully with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

If you don’t have time to bake a pie from scratch or simply fancy a cacao-rich alternative, why not warm up with a mug of our delicious Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate?

Chocolate, of course!

It’s no secret that chocolate is one of the most popular Halloween treats. From individually-packaged mini bites in scary shapes to glorious melted flavoured chocolate for dipping fruit and marshmallows in, chocolate is a surefire winner at Halloween. 

Re-imagining Halloween chocolate traditions, one bite at a time

At Hotel Chocolat, our focus on more cacao, less sugar ensures that our nibbles are ideal for little ones and grown-ups alike.

So if you’d rather stay away from the excessive sweetness of toffee apples and candy corn, our chocolate is the perfect alternative. Each bite is filled with flavour, suspense, creativity, and only the finest cacao we can get our claws on.

Shop our Halloween chocolate collection today, and make this Halloween the most daring and delicious yet.