It is the spooky time of the year again. At any time, a trick-or-treater can knock on the door; you can catch the pumpkin smells, and do not forget to be careful against the monster appearing on any corner because it is Halloween!
Halloween first started as a Memorial held for the deceased and is believed to be created in Ireland. The holiday was called “All Hallow’s Eve,” which turned into Halloween later. It is now celebrated in the USA with children treat-or-tricking on the streets with various funny costumes, families and friends gathering up, playing games, and eating traditional Halloween foods.
Traditional Halloween Foods For a Joyful Day
When it comes to celebrating Halloween in the dining room, countries have different traditional Halloween foods, and you can also make classics such as pumpkin pie, the symbol of the day, or try new tastes from around the world.
1. Pumpkin Pie
Certainly, we have pumpkin pie in the first place on our traditional Halloween food list. Because the pumpkin is the main figure of Halloween, and pumpkin pie is a staple of Halloween celebrations across the world, in addition to thanksgiving. Consisting of a crusty pie and luscious pumpkin filling, you can make this appetizing traditional Halloween food at home easily. To make the creamy filling, all you need is pumpkin puree, eggs, and evaporated milk. Don’t forget the spices that will add the fall touch to the pie, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. And you can top your slices with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream and enjoy the flavors.
2. Pumpkin Bread
The pumpkin bread smells are the pointer of the fall season and a reminder that Halloween is near-or here. Pumpkin bread is another healthy and tasty option on our traditional Halloween food list. These spicy, crispy-crusted loaves with fluffy inside will complete the Halloween dinner.
3. Caramel Apples
Caramel apples have taken their place among traditional Halloween foods long ago. Not just kids but adults enjoy this Halloween treat too. The basic caramel dip consists of sugar, water, and corn syrup. You can dip the apples in different coatings, use nuts, chocolate, or sprinkles as toppings and offer your guests colorful caramel apples.
4. Apple Bread
Halloween time is also the season of apples, so we can not pass using them in our traditional Halloween food. Apple bread is a delicious way to use apples and a staple sweet our elders used to make as well. This fluffy, crusty, and spicy delicacy will surely be one of the favorites of Halloween treats. Mix the dough ingredients and top with the brown sugar-coated apple slices. After baking, you will have savory-smelling warm loaves.
5. Caramel Corn
This easy-to-make traditional Halloween food is one of the favorite treats of the day. Caramel has a huge place in Halloween treats. To make this simple but sweet snack, you only need popcorn, sugar (optionally brown), butter, corn syrup, vanilla, and baking soda.
6. Candy Corn
Candy corn has been indispensable for Halloween treats since old times. Did you know you can make your own candy corn instead of buying it? And it is not hard as you think, yet the only ingredients needed are corn syrup, powdered sugar, vanilla, butter, and food coloring. This three-colored candy is fun to make and eat; children will enjoy the process. Make the dough-like candy, color them with food coloring, and let the children roll and cut them.
7. Soul Cakes
Soul cakes are another traditional Halloween food that is made to respect the deceased ancestral spirits. Emerging from Christian celebrations, people used to offer soul cakes to the spirits of saints instead of wine and food. Soul cakes are spiced cakes resembling biscuits, and in old times people used to distribute them to the poor in return for praying for the deceased. In later years, the habit turned into dressing up to honor the ancestral spirits and performing songs door-to-door in return for money or food. The ritual of wearing costumes and going door-to-door treat or tricking is believed to be coming from this tradition.
8. Devil’s Food Cupcakes
Devil’s food cupcakes are another sweet coming from old times. It does not have much difference from a regular cupcake, but what makes it eerie is the orange frosting and its name. The cake got its name in the 70s when the cocoa powder was used in cake dough first time. Dark or heavily spiced food started to be called “deviled” back then, and so did the chocolate cake.
From Around the World
Since Halloween is not only celebrated in the US, other countries also have various traditional Halloween food. Here are the sweet treats of different countries:
1. Barmbrack, Ireland
Barmbrack is the traditional Halloween food of Ireland which is a fruity bread. Even if it is related to Halloween, you can find it in bakeries throughout the country any time of the year. The main feature of this raisin-loaded bread is the surprise objects hidden inside. Various things can be hidden inside the dough before baking, from a silver coin to a fabric piece, all with different meanings, such as a golden ring that will bring a marriage to one that gets. After the loaf is baked, it is sliced to have an object in each slice. Some have good meanings, and some don’t so choose your piece carefully.
2. Pan Dei Morti, Italy
All soul’s day- the Italian version of Halloween- is celebrated by baking and eating pan dei morti, meaning beans of the dead due to their bean-like shape. These oval-shaped, chewy little biscuits are made of almond, pine nut, cinnamon, and lemon zest and will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.
3. Guagua de Pan, Ecuador
Guagua de pan are the sweet rolls that’s name means bread babies, which is exactly how it looks; the rolls are shaped like baby dolls. It is believed to represent recently deceased people and is eaten during the day of the dead in South America. These bread rolls are made with wheat and stuffed with sweet jelly.
4. Bonfire Toffee, United Kingdom
Bonfire toffee is the most popular Halloween food in the Uk. This sticky sweet treat contains melted black treacle, butter, and sugar. It is also consumed on Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th and Halloween. They are easy to make, but you shouldn’t forget to break them into little bite-size pieces to prevent them from sticking to your and your guest’s teeth.
5. Pan de Muerto, Mexico
Pan de Muerto is the traditional Halloween food of the Mexican ‘Day of the Dead.’ It is a sweet bread with a piece of bone-shaped dough on top, and its name means bread of the dead, so it is usually eaten close to a loved one’s grave to commemorate their life. Day of the Dead is a celebration for remembrance of the dead that Mexicans observe not with sadness but with the belief that their loved dead ones celebrate it with them. The bread dough is generally flavored with water from the orange flower, aniseed, and other spices.
6. Pães-de-Deus, Portugal
Pães-de-Deus is a kind of soul cake that is the traditional Halloween food of Portugal. In Portugal, they have the same tradition of walking door-to-door and asking for something to fill your bag-for children- and soul cakes are usually made to offer to the children and the poor. It is a basic biscuit dough topped with a topping made of eggs and dry coconut, additionally including lemon zest and rum.
7. Huesos de Santo, Spain
Huesos de Santo, meaning Saint’s bones, are soft marzipan tubes shaped like bones filled with fruit and nuts such as coconut, kiwi, chestnut, strawberry, etc. This traditional Halloween food is dipped in syrup to maximize the relish.
8. Qingtuan, China
Halloween is actually not observed in China; they do not dress up or go trick or treating. Instead, China has its own day of the dead- the Qingming. As well as other countries’ days of the dead, the Chinese celebrate this day in remembrance of the death of their loved ones. In Qingming, families visit their loved one’s graves and clean them to express their respect. And qingtuan is what they eat during the day: the green dumplings made of glutinous rice and filled with black or red bean paste.
To Sum Up
Halloween developed from the Celtic festivals observed as a parrying night for ghosts. After the invention of All Martyrs by the Catholic church, celebrations began to influence each other, and finally, all hallows eve evolved.
Most countries celebrate this joyful day, and most have their own day of the dead-like holidays in which they consume traditional foods. From fresh soft loaves of bread to various candies and sweets, there is various traditional Halloween food from around the world that you may not hear of before. In addition to pumpkin pie, offer your family, friends, and trick-or-treating children different traditional Halloween food from around the world.
