Paige Knight - 14 / Oct / 2024

How to Celebrate Halloween This Fall

Learn the best ways to make the most of Halloween celebrations this fall, from setting up Halloween decorations to an at-home Halloween cookie challenge.

Ever wondered about the first Halloween? Halloween originated over 2,000 years ago with the celebration of Samhain, a Celtic New Year’s Day. Recognized on November 1st, this holiday eventually transformed into All Hallows’ Day, a day meant to honor the saints who made it to heaven. It was thought that, on the eve of November 1st, the veil between the living and the dead became thinner. This night, dubbed All Hallows’ Eve, was traditionally observed with costumes, bonfires, and parades.

Thousands of years later, Halloween is still celebrated around the world. One of the largest celebrations of the year, Halloween spending is expected to reach $11.6 billion dollars in 2024. At Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill, we believe in celebrating Halloween all month long, so let’s talk about some of our favorite ways to embrace the spooky spirit this fall.

#1 Fill Your Home with Halloween Decorations

As the leaves start to change and the air gets a bit cooler, my favorite way to get into the Halloween spirit (or into the fall spirit in general) is to put up my favorite Halloween decorations. Some of our favorite ideas include:

Create a spooky tablescape: This fall, stock up on spooky, fall-themed tableware and serveware. Set the Halloween mood and make every meal spooky.
Light things up with Halloween lanterns:Lanterns are another great way to light up your home and welcome in the Halloween season.
Sprinkle in some Halloween accents: Accents like glitter spiders, Jack O’ Lantern Spriitiles, and creepy crawly serving confetti are perfect for spreading Halloween joy far and wide.

A pumpkin-themed table runner sits on a wooden table with a fall candle, autumnal flowers, and a plate of nuts on top of it.

^{Table runners are a great way to add a subtle accent to your Halloween tablescape.}

#2 Bake Some Halloween Treats

As the seasons start to change, my first priority is to stock up on pillsbury Halloween sugar cookies. Instead, this year I’m creating my own Halloween cookie challenge at home by trying out different Halloween treats. Here are some of the Halloween cookie recipes I’ll be making this fall:

Spider Cookies

These spider cookies are the perfect creepy crawly Halloween treat to kick off your fall.

Ingredients

Instructions

1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature preferred
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
Edible white sugar pearls

Prepare your wet ingredients
- In a large bowl, cream together your butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
Prepare your dry ingredients
- In a medium bowl, add your all-purpose flour, salt, and cocoa powder.
Mix your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients
- Gradually whisk your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Divide and roll out your dough
- Divide your dough in half.
- Roll out both of your portions on a lightly floured cutting board to about ¼” thickness.
- Use a 1.5” biscuit cutter to cut half of your dough into circular pieces.
- Cut the other half of your dough into thin, roughly 2” long strips.
Assemble your spiders
- Line a baking sheet (or two, if needed) with parchment paper.
- Place your circular pieces about 3-4 inches apart on your baking sheet, then attach 8 of your “spider legs” to each of your circles.
- Add two edible white pearls where the spiders’ eyes would be.
Bake your cookies
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Bake your cookies for 8-10 minutes.
Cool your cookies
- Once baked, allow your cookies to cool on your baking sheet before transferring them carefully to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve and enjoy!

Halloween cat, ghost, and witch sugar cookies sit on a parchment paper lined baking sheet on a wooden countertop scattered with flour, a cookie cutter, a wooden spoon, and a white dish cloth.

^{Cookie cutters}^{can make your at-home Halloween cookie challenge that much easier and more creative.}

Matcha Witch Cookies

Matcha is an incredibly versatile ingredient with tons of health benefits, and who doesn’t love a little Wizard of Oz representation? These matcha cookies are topped with adorable Hershey’s kiss witch hats that perfectly encapsulate the Halloween spirit.

Ingredients

Instructions

1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature preferred
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ¼ cups (270g) all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons matcha powder
½ cup chocolate frosting
Hershey’s kisses

Prepare your wet ingredients
- In a large bowl, cream together your butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth in texture.
- Add your egg and vanilla, whisking until well combined.
Prepare your dry ingredients
- In a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, salt, and matcha powder.
Add your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients
- Gradually whisk your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Chill your dough
- Use a cookie scoop to form your dough into small balls and add them to a bowl.
- Cover your bowl and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
Bake your matcha cookies
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place your chilled dough balls about 2” apart, flattening slightly with the palm of your hand.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges begin to turn golden.
Cool and decorate
- Let your matcha cookies cool on your baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, add a small dollop of chocolate frosting to the middle of each cookie.
- Using the chocolate frosting, adhere a Hershey’s kiss atop each cookie.
Serve and enjoy!

#3 Make Spooky Snacks and Cocktails

Trying out innovative recipes always gets me in the holiday spirit. Take a crack at these spooky snacks and cocktails that can be served at a Halloween celebration or during a simple night in with loved ones.

Mummy Hot Dogs

Simple but effective, this mummy hot dog recipe only requires two ingredients. Serve these at your next Halloween celebration to wow your guests and get the creepy vibes going.

Ingredients

Instructions

1 package of hot dogs or sausages
1 roll of crescent dough

Sear your hot dogs/sausages
- Place a medium skillet on the stove on medium heat.
- Lay out your hot dogs or sausages in a single layer.
- Sear on all sides until blistering.
Prepare your dough
- While your hot dogs or sausages cool, unroll your crescent dough onto a cutting board.
- Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut your dough into ½” thick strips.
Wrap your hot dogs/sausages
- Wrap each hot dog in a strip of crescent dough.
Bake your mummy hot dogs
- Preheat your oven according to crescent dough package instructions.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay out your wrapped dogs 1” apart and bake according to crescent dough package instructions, until the dough is golden brown.
Serve and enjoy!

a small, red dish filled with freshly popped popcorn sits beside a bag of Amish Country popcorn kernels on a granite countertop.

^{Pop some homemade popcorn to take any Halloween celebration over the top.}

Spider Web Popcorn

Who doesn’t love having creepy crawly spiders in their snacks? Spider web popcorn gives you the perfect mixture of salty and sweet to tantalize your taste buds while setting the mood for a scary movie night.

Ingredients

Instructions

½ cup of popcorn kernels
2 tablespoons of high-heat oil
1 tablespoon salt
6 oz white chocolate chips
Black edible sugar pearls

Cook your popcorn
- Heat your oil in a Dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat.
- Add your popcorn with your salt and cover.
- Cook, shaking your Dutch oven continuously, until all of your popcorn kernels have popped.
Melt your chocolate
- In a small saucepan over low heat, add your white chocolate chips.
- Cook, stirring continuously, until your chips have all melted.
Decorate your popcorn
- Spread your popcorn out in a baking dish.
- Drizzle your melted chocolate in a web pattern over your chocolate.
- Place a few edible black pearls on the “web” to create spiders.
Serve and enjoy!

Witch’s Brew Fruit Punch

Brew your very own potion with this simple fruit punch cocktail. Perfect for a Halloween celebration or a simple night in with the girls, make this to get in the festive Halloween mood. Otherwise, check out One Part Co. for other innovative cocktail ideas.

Ingredients	Instructions
2 cups vodka ½ liter blue curaçao 1 liter cranberry juice ½ liter lemon juice Ice	Mix your pitcher Fill a large pitcher with ice. Add your vodka, blue curaçao, cranberry juice, and lemon juice to your pitcher. Stir well to combine. Serve and enjoy!

Step Up Your Halloween Celebrations With Blackstone’s

Whether you’re looking for a hostess gift or gear for the ultimate Halloween celebration, Blackstone’s has you covered. Stop by our Beacon Hill location to chat with our staff and browse our kitchenware, home decor, gifts, and Halloween products. Otherwise, shop online on the Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill website. Most importantly, don’t forget to tag @Blackstonesboston in all of your Halloween celebrations this season!