Pumpkin or Halloween Cookbooks to Spook Up Your Celebrations

The Best 50 Pumpkin Recipes: Best 50, Nitty Gritty Cookbooks (2006) by Marcia Kriner

You may remember how much I love the Nitty Gritty cookbook series. This 4.5 x 5.9 x 0.3-inch, 78-page cookbook follows the same format. No images but simple instructions in cups and generally basic recipes will meet all your pumpkin flavor needs — and beyond.

Chapters include: All I know are the following: Pumpkin Base; Snacks, Brads, and Breakfasts; Pies and Desserts.

How about a homemade Pumpkin Apple Pie? Maybe a Pumpkin Nut Bread will fit your occasion better. Or try the Pumpkin Gingerbread Pie or the Pumpkin-Pecan Pie. I always find great recipes in the other books within this series. I see no reason why this one won’t become a new favorite, too.

Betty Crocker Halloween Cookbook (2012) by Betty Crocker

It’s an 8 x 0.52 x 8-inch cookbook devoted to Halloween treats. You know Betty Crocker cookbooks go heavy on the pre-made, pre-packaged stuff — and this one isn’t any different. Full-color pics accompany each recipe in the 207-page cookbook.

Chapters inside “Betty Crocker Halloween Cookbook” include:

• Planning a Fright Fest
• Ghoulish Giftable Goodies
• Bewitching Bites and Drinks
• Mystifying Main Dishes
• Spooky Cupcakes and Cakes
• Frightful Cookies and Other Treats

Candy Corn Bark is on my list (my youngest LOVES candy corn), Spiderweb Deviled Eggs are something I’ve never seen before, and Honey-Pumpkin Dessert Squares look great.

The majority of recipes do appear to use items from the Crocker family of products (except for those I mentioned), but you’ll still find a few homemade things here and there. At least you’ll get a few new ideas out of it.

Cooking with Pumpkins and Squash (2008) by Brian Glover

Beautiful and fancy, this 96-page, 7.75 x 0.75 x 7.75-inch cookbook is packed with mouthwatering photos. If you think pumpkin and squash are boring, this cookbook will change your mind.

These are company-worthy recipes. Look for the version that matches the cover image on the right (it features a pie) if you want to use cups. Otherwise you’ll deal in grams.

Chapters inside the “Cooking with Pumpkins and Squash” cookbook include:

• Introduction
• Light Bites
• Soups and Salads
• Rice, Pasta, and Grains
• Main Courses
• Sweet Things and Preserves
• Mail Order and Websites

Spiced Squash and Feta Filo Pastries; Courgette, Lemon, and Poppyseed Cake with Lemon Butter Icing; Courgette and Ricotta Loaf; and Pasta with Courgette, Mint, Lemon and Cream make my “nice” list.

For the Love of Pumpkins (a Cookbook) (2014) by Marilyn Alice Tuckman

Quick! Flip to page xvii and tell me masks weren’t terrifying. This is a carefully-created cookbook. Each recipe includes an image and a little summary text (you know I love that). It’s a 224-page, 8.75 x 1 x 11.25-inch cookbook with recipes to suit any taste.

Chapters inside “For the Love of Pumpkins” include:

• Pumpkin Lore and Legend
• Ingredient Notes
• Cooking Methods
• Preparation Basics
• Soups
• Side Dishes
• Light Meal Entrees and Snacks
• Cookies and Bars
• Desserts and Pies
• Cakes and Cupcakes
• Muffins and Loaves
• Odds and Ends

Cook up Pumpkin-Tarragon Soup, Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Fresh Pear, or Pumpkin Herb Bread Pudding. The Skinny Pumpkin Banana Smoothie looks refreshing.

I’m a huge fan of cardamom, so the Cardamom Cookies with Pumpkin Frosting are screaming my name (and loud).

The Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies and the Pumpkin Delight Oatmeal Cookies look incredibly soft. This is a unique cookbook and one I’m ready to break out any season. I can always use a new pumpkin muffin recipe.

Gooseberry Patch Our Favorite Pumpkin Recipes (2019) by Gooseberry Patch

Fans of the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks will love this pumpkin cookbook. With nothing but pumpkin recipes (scratch-made and convenience foods), it’s a spiral-bound cookbook with the usual Gooseberry style. At 128 pages, the 4.43 x 0.9 x 6.1-inch will keep you plenty entertained—give you all kinds of ways to use your canned pumpkin.

Chapters include: No chapters.

Pumpkin Oat Scotchies, Grandma Ila’s Pumpkin Cookies, Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, and Make-Ahead Pumpkin Pie French Toast hit the right notes. There are no images but illustrations throughout, as is typical with the Gooseberry Patch Series.

The Great Big Pumpkin Cookbook: A Quick and Easy Guide to Making Pancakes, Soups, Breads, Pastas, Cakes, Cookies, and More (2020) by Maggie Michalczyk

This is a 144-page, 7.5 x 0.7 x 9-inch cookbook with an emphasis on healthy swaps. Recipes include healthy alternatives. Find paleo-friendly, vegetarian, and gluten- and dairy-free options to help you use your almond flour or coconut flour throughout The Great Big Pumpkin Cookbook.

Chapters inside “The Great Pumpkin Cookbook” include:

• Basics
• Breakfast
• Breads, Bites, and Bars
• Cookies
• Dips and Pastas
• Soups and Chilis
• Pumpkin Pies and Cakes
• Pumpkin Seeds
• For Your Furry Friend

All the classic pumpkin recipes are here: Pumpkin Roll, Mini Pumpkin Bundt Cakes (gluten and dairy-free), Pumpkin Ginger Bisque, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie. Bonus: there’s even a recipe for Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats.

The Great Pumpkin Cookbook (1984) by Libby’s

It’s a pumpkin extravaganza. From puddings to salads to souffles and soups (and all the things in between), this cookbook is surprisingly fun. All of the recipes in this 128-page cookbook were developed and tested by Home Economists in Libby’s Home Economics and Consumer Services Department.

Chapters inside Libby’s pumpkin cookbook include:

• Libby’s Famous Pumpkin Pie and Pie Toppers … Bettering the Best
• Appetizers/Soups … Bright Beginnings
• Breads/Rolls/Breakfast … Fresh and Fantastic
• Main Dish/Side Dish … First Call for Dinner
• Cakes/Desserts … Make with Ease, Serve with Pleasure
• Cookies/Candies/Snacks …. Grand Little Pleasures
• Pies and Tarts … As Fabulous as They Are Famous
• Ice Cream and Such … Marvelous Make-Aheads
• Holidays … And Celebration Specials
• Questions and Answers

Choose the Frost-on-the-Pumpkin Shake, Cinnamon Swirl Yeast Bread, or Pumpkin-Go-Round Coffee Cake. Try the Streusel Swirl Coffee Cake to perk up your morning or Southern Delight Cheesecake for an after-dinner delight.

Halloween Cookbook (1977) by Susan Gold Purdy

This 1977 cookbook offers adorable Halloween-themed illustrations throughout. No, you won’t find images — but this is a really cute 96-page book.

You know Susan Gold Purdy for all kinds of amazing cookbooks. Remember her cake cookbook? Yep, same lady!

Chapters inside Purdy’s “Halloween Cookbook” include:

• Before You Begin: Measurements, Basic Skills, General Equipment List
• Halloween Decorations to Make and Eat
• Brunch and Lunch
• Various Vegetables
• Main Dish Meats
• Treats and Sweets

Crunchy Granola Cereal, Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread and Muffins, Witch’s Cauldron Cider Soup, and Orange Chicken. Yes, this is a cookbook that keeps to a fall and orange-colored theme. At 96 pages, it’s short and sweet (and absolutely adorable).

Halloween Delights: A Collection of Halloween Recipes Cookbook Delights Holiday Series Book 10 (2008) by Karen Jean Matsko Hood

This cookbook opens with a spot to include the to, from, date, and special message. That’s a fantastic idea! It makes it a little easier to figure out what to write in a cookbook gift.

This 324-page, 6 x 0.81 x 9-inch book doesn’t have images, but IS a huge collection of recipes. It’s an enjoyable read.

Chapters include:

• Introduction
• Halloween Information
  • Halloween Botanical Classification
  • Halloween Cultivation and Gardening
  • Halloween Facts
  • Halloween Folklore
  • Halloween History
  • Halloween Nutrition and Health
  • Halloween Poetry
  • Halloween Symbols
• Recipe Sections
  • Appetizers, Dips, and Snacks
  • Beverages; Breads and Rolls
  • Breakfasts
  • Cakes
  • Candies and Other Treats
  • Cookies
  • Desserts
  • Dressings, Sauces, and Condiments
  • Jams, Jellies, and Syrups
  • Main Dishes
  • Pies
  • Preserving
  • Salads
  • Side Dishes
• Songs
• Wines and Spirits
• Festival Information
• Measurement Charts

Flip through this massive cookbook for all manner of savory and sweet Halloween-themed recipes. Serve Vampire’s Kiss, a vodka, gin, vermouth, and tequila drink.

Try Broccoli Boo Salad, Black Halloween Fondue, Flaming Fall Compote, or Swirled Pumpkin and Caramel Cheesecake. I’m also interested in making the Graveyard Pumpkin Mousse.

Harvest of Pumpkins and Squash (2007) by Lou Seibert Pappas

Go squash or go home with this 96-page, 7.25 x 0.56 x 8.25-inch slim title. At just 40 recipes, you might wonder if this is a pumpkin cookbook you need.

Do you feel like serving something a little fancier? Then yes, this cookbook is made with you in mind.

Chapters inside “A Harvest of Pumpkins and Squash” include:

• Introduction
• The Heritage of Squash
• Buying, Storing, and Cooking Squash
• Types of Squash
• Breads and Breakfast
• Soups, Salads, and Sides
• Entrees
• Desserts

Pumpkin-Orange Waffles with Hazelnut-Maple Syrup Butter, Caramel-Glazed Pumpkin-Date Bars, Five-Spice Pumpkin-Ginger Cake, Pineapple-Pumpkin Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, and Pumpkin Flan with Caramel Whipped Cream and Ice Cream Balls float my boat.

I realize I shared a bevy of dessert recipe titles there, but wow, they sound great.

Hocus Pocus: The Official Cookbook (2023) by Elena Craig and S.T. Bende

If you love Hocus Pocus (and who doesn’t?), you’ll love this 160-page, 8 x 0.7 x 10-inch cookbook filled with themed recipes relating to the movie.

Each recipe includes a summary, so yes, you can read and cook from this book. Cute illustrations, nice images — this is one fun cookbook of more than 50 recipes.

Chapters in the official “Hocus Pocus” cookbook include:

• Appetizers and Sides
• Main Dishes
• Desserts
• Drinks

Yes, you’ll find “I Put a Spell on You” Brew, Mary’s Magic Elixir, “Amok, Amok, Amok” Guacamole and Homemade Chips, and “No Witches Here” Pumpkin Butter.

Holiday Pumpkins (1998) by Georgeanne Brennan

Images accompany most recipes in this 111-page, 8.5 x 0.25 x 9-inch book. With more than 30 recipes devoted to pumpkins, you’ll have all kinds of new ways

Chapters include:

• Introduction
• Soups, Stews, and Salads
• Tabletop Pumpkin
• Grills and Savories
• Outdoor Pumpkins
• Pumpkin Desserts
• Pumpkins for Kids
• Breads, Muffins, and Cookies

Pumpkin Ginger Soup Topped with Creme Fraiche and Condiments, Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup, Scalloped Pumpkin and Potatoes, Pumpkin Bars with Lemon Glaze, and Pumpkin and Pecan Pancakes would banish the autumn gloom.

James McNair’s Squash Cookbook (1989) by James McNair

I’ve raved about James McNair before when I wrote about pudding cookbooks. This 96-page, 8.75 x 0.25 x -inch squash-themed cookbook is a winner. With just 35 recipes, it’s not a big cookbook. But it does have a fine assortment of pumpkin things. Images abound.

Chapters inside “James McNair’s Squash Cookbook” include:

• A Diverse Family
• Summer Squash
• Winter Squash

Gather ingredients for Winter Squash Risotto, Sauteed Pumpkin with Green Pumpkin Seed Sauce, Golden Yeast Rolls (made with pumpkin) and look absolutely gorgeous), and Mexican Pumpkin Turnovers are but a small assortment of recipes I quite like the sound of.

The Nightmare Before Dinner: Recipes to Die For: The Beetle House Cookbook (2018) by Zach Neil

I appreciate cleverness in any form. This 164-page, 8.63 x 0.75 x 9.88-in cookbook is Clever City. It’s absolutely gorgeous too.

Beetle House is a real-life destination in New York and Los Angeles where people dine on foods inspired by Tim Burton in scary style.

“Every day is Halloween,” as they say. Measurements are in cups and grams, and vegan swaps are sometimes included.

Chapters include:

• Introduction:
  • This is Halloween
  • Beetle House Must-Haves
• Chapter 1: Sauces and Dips for the Recently Deceased
• Chapter 2: Nightmares Before Dinner
• Chapter 3: Herbs, Plants, and Cauldrons
• Chapter 4: Platos de Los Muertos
• Chapter 5: Tricks and Treats
• Chapter 6: Poisons, Potions, and Elixirs
• Chapter 7: Put the FUN Back in Funeral

Tempt your guests with the Red Velvet Midnight Espresso Cake with Stained-Glass Candy Shards or Willy’s Mango Panna Cotta. Make Silence of the Lamb Chops or Evil Dead Shrimp.

I make the Love It Sauce. How funny! We call it Alfredo sauce, but it’s not a true Alfredo.

Guittard Chocolate Cookbook: Decadent Recipes from San Francisco’s Premium Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Company (2015) by Amy Guittard

The main idea of this 224-page, 6 x 0.48 x 8.98-inch book is how to grow 95 types of pumpkins. However, it does include a chapter with pumpkin recipes, such as pumpkin pie, muffins, pumpkin beer, and canning.

Chapters include:

• Introducing the Versatile Pumpkin
• The Great American Pumpkin
• Fruit of Many Faces
• The Pumpkin Patch
• The Big One
• Pumpkin Pests
• Pumpkin Arts and Crafts
• Pumpkin Eater

Although it isn’t a cookbook, it is more of a gardening book relating to everything pumpkin, it can help you make sense of an overabundance of fresh pumpkin.

Pumpkin, Butternut, and Squash: 30 Sweet and Savory Recipes (2007) by Elsa Petersen-Schepelern

Do you love your squashes? This 30-recipe, 7.75 x 0.25 x 7.75-inch cookbook is 64 pages of butternut squash, pumpkin, acorn squash, pattypan squash, and zucchini.

Yes, this cookbook uses cups and includes an image with every recipe.

Chapters in the “Pumpkin, Butternut, and Squash” cookbook include:

• Introduction
• Snacks and Salads
• Soups
• Vegetable Dishes
• Rice and Pasta
• Entrees
• Sweet Things

Roasted Pumpkin Salad, Butternut and Zucchini Pulao (a Persian dish), Zucchini and Pattypan Salad with Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing (because you know you need new recipes for all that zucchini!), and Pumpkin Seed Granola look great.

Pumpkin Curd Tartlets are an interesting twist on a classic. This cookbook is more interesting than you may think if you made an assumption based on the pages and number of recipes. However, these are keepers.

Pumpkin Companion: Traditional Country Life Recipe Series (1996) by Elizabeth Brabb with Bruce T. Paddock

Get your pumpkin-loving mitts on Elizabeth Brabb’s cookbook for delicious recipes. The Pumpkin Companion is an 8.12 x 0.19 x 8.1-inch, 96-page of anything and everything pumpkin.

Chapters inside “Pumpkin Companion” include:

• Pumpkin Facts
• Cooking Tips
• Breakfast, Muffins, and Breads
• Appetizers
• Soups
• Entrees, Side Dishes, and Salads
• Preserves and Pickles
• Cookies, Cakes, and Pies
• Custards and Ice Cream
• Treats

Pumpkin French Toast, Savory Pumpkin Puffs, Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Cinnamon, and Pumpkin Bread Pudding caught my eye — and I’m barely halfway through the book.

Dessert delights include Pumpkin Custard, Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream, and Pumpkin Cookies.

The Pumpkin Cookbook (1996) by Nicola Hill

Discover over 40 pumpkin-centered recipes in this lovely 64-page, 8 x 0.5 x 8-inch cookbook. If you’ve wanted to incorporate more pumpkin into your diet in a form other than cookies, cakes, and scones recipes — this is how to do it.

Chapters in “The Pumpkin Cookbook” include:

• Soups, Salads and Side Dishes
• Main Dishes
• Dessert and Baking.

Bacon makes everything better, so no wonder it found its way into this Pumpkin and Bacon Soup. Navy Beans with Pumpkin and Corn, Pumpkin-Filled Ravioli, Braised Pork with Pumpkin, and Chilled Pumpkin Pie are but a nice addition to your harvest table. I’m a ginormous fan of what I’m seeing in this cookbook. I know you’ll love it too.

Pumpkin! Cookbook (2015) by Publications International, Ltd.

It’s another of the small binder-style cookbooks Taste of Home (TOH) occasionally publishes. Every recipe is easy to read and includes an image. Some recipes begin with packaged stuff in this Taste of Home pumpkin cookbook. I skip right over them and get into the good stuff (of which there is plenty) in this 128-page, 7.25 x 1 x 9.25-inch cookbook.

Chapters in the “Pumpkin Cookbook” include:

• Breakfast and Brunch
• Savory Pumpkin, Pies and Tarts
• Cakes and Cupcakes
• Delicious Desserts
• Cookies and Bars

Pumpkin-Ginger Scones are going on my “make now” list. I’ll probably add the Pumpkin Waffles with Pumpkin Marmalade, Pumpkin Pancakes with Apple Cider Syrup, and Cinnamon-Sugared Pumpkin-Pecan Muffins to that same list.

That’s only the first few pages. This wouldn’t be Little Indiana Bakes if I didn’t throw a cookie in there. How’s Macadamia Nut White Chip Pumpkin Cookies? We love pumpkin — all year.

The Pumpkin Cookbook: 139 Recipes Celebrating the Versatility of Pumpkin and Other Winter Squash (2017) by DeeDee Stovel

Flip open this attractive 7.05 x 0.65 x 8.95-inch, 247-page cookbook for all things winter squash. Plenty of pics will keep you engaged and engrossed in this book by DeeDee Stovel.

Chapters in “The Pumpkin Cookbook” include:

• Versatile Pumpkin
• Starts, Snacks, and Beverages
• Soups and Salads
• Side Dishes
• Main Courses; Breads
• Pies; Cookies
• Cakes
• Desserts and Delicacies

This cookbook sometimes uses pumpkin in unexpected places, such as Black Bean Dip or Meatloaf with Pumpkin Glaze. Check out Peachy Pumpkin Crisp, White Chocolate Pumpkin Fudge, Gingerbread with Pumpkin-Ginger Ice Cream, and Caramel Sauce — or Spice Cake with Pumpkin Mascarpone Icing.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for Sweets, Treats, and Other Autumnal Delights (2014) by Stephanie Pedersen

It’s a 96-page, 6.25 x 0.75 x 6.25-inch cookbook emphasizing healthy choices, but I wouldn’t have guessed that looking at the recipes. Images aren’t with every recipe, but the clear font makes up for it.

Chapters inside “The Pumpkin Pie Spice Cookbook” include:

• Cocktails and Beverages
• Appetizers
• Sweets
• Breakfast
• Soup, Stew, and Chili
• Main Dishes
• Veggie Sides
• Condiments
• Pumpkin Pie Spice Blends

This book is worth the pumpkin pie spice blends alone. Choose from basic homemade pumpkin pie spice to Scandinavian to Jamaican, Spicy, or Mexican for an assortment of different homemade pumpkin pie spice flavors. I love chai tea.

This cookbook offers Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte (YUM!). Pumpkin Spice Coffee Drink, Gingerbread Cupcakes, Spicy Apple Cheesecake, Spicy Waffles, and Morning Spice Muffins look good to me.

The Pumpkin and Squash Cookbook (1998) by Rosemary Moon

Chapter pages include a list of all the recipes in that section. This is a 128-page cookbook on the fancier side. Although it isn’t packed with images, the images are wonderful. These are restaurant-quality dishes. It uses grams, not cups.

Chapters inside “The Pumpkin & Squash Cookbook” include:

• Soups, Starters, and Relishes
• Salads
• Fish Dishes
• Meat and Poultry Dishes
• Main Course
• Vegetable Dishes
• Desserts and Baking

Choose Pumpkin, Bacon, and Tomato Skewers or Curried Lamb and Pumpkin Koftas. Maybe you’ll make Brussels and Squash with Tomato Spaghetti or Fisherman’s Pumpkin Pie? It’s a nice start.

How about the Date and Pumpkin Cake topped with whipped cream and grated chocolate or the Pumpkin and Lemon Roulade for a showstopping finish? Fancy, isn’t it?

Pumpkins and Squash (2005) by Kathleen Desmond Stang

I’m always a fan when a cookbook lists the recipes and page numbers right in the Table of Contents. Get out of your boring pumpkin baking rut and into this 80-page cookbook highlighting the fancier side of pumpkins (and squashes).

Images pair with most recipes (and are wonderful). The 1998 version (Zucchini, Pumpkins, and Squash features illustrations, not images, but recipes appear to be the same).

Chapters inside “Pumpkin and Squash” include:

• About Pumpkins and Squash
• Breads and Breakfast
• Soups, Starters, and Purées
• Entrees and Side Dishes
• Desserts

Soups on if you serve Corn Chowder in Mini Pumpkin Shells. Kick things off with Pumpkin with Browned Butter, Sage, and Asiago or get to the main course with Pomegranate Chicken with Pumpkin and Sage or Roasted Herb Chicken with Autumn Vegetables.

Dessert could feature the Old-Fashioned Sugar-Pumpkin Spice Cake or Pumpkin Eggnog Bombe with Caramelized Pecans.

Guittard Chocolate Cookbook: Decadent Recipes from San Francisco’s Premium Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Company (2015) by Amy Guittard

Canadian chefs submitted recipes for the “Flavours Series” of cookbooks. Each recipe includes the name and location of the restaurant (and usually the chef, too) in this 96-page, 8.25 x 0.5 x 9-inch book.

These recipes were tested and adjusted for use by the home cook. They typically include serving suggestions or helpful tip. The recipe instructions include cups and milliliters. Images are not always recipe-specific.

Chapters inside “Pumpkin & Squash” include:

• Introduction
• Breakfast
• First Course
• Entrees
• Sides
• Desserts

I like how the chapters list the contents (even if it doesn’t include the page number after each recipe). Okay, this cookbook has a WOW sort of assortment. Ready?

Sticky Toffee Pumpkin Pudding, Maple Roasted Pumpkin and Pear Soup, Pork Tenderloin with Chili-rubbed Pumpkin Seed Crust, and Grilled Shrimp and Scallops on Pumpkin Purée.

This is a solid cookbook for restaurant-quality pumpkin-themed foods at home.

Purely Pumpkin: More Than 100 Seasonal Recipes to Share, Savor, and Warm Your Kitchen (2016) by Allison Day

It’s plant-centered but not obnoxious about it. While it’s not typically my cup of tea, these recipes do sound good enough to dig in a little more and share this one with you (so that says plenty).

Gorgeous images are a bonus in the 280-page, 7 x 0.89 x 10-inch book.

Chapters inside “Purely Pumpkin” include:

• Introduction
• Heirloom Pumpkin Guide
• Nutrition Facts
• Beverages
• Breakfast and Brunch
• Soups
• Snacks, Salads and Sides
• Mains
• Desserts
• Extras

Try the Match Pumpkin Spice Latte and Orange Flower Water or Wild Rice and Oat Flourless Pumpkin Pancakes. Maybe the Pumpkin Pie Granola with Pecans or the No-Knead Pumpkin Breakfast Braids are the recipes for you.

Reader’s Digest Tricks and Treats Ultimate Halloween Book: Costumes, Decorations, Foods, Toys, Gifts, and Fashions (1998) by Deborah Harding

You may know the little Reader’s Digest magazine (I missed the bus in elementary school reading the latest “Drama in Real Life.”

This is not a book for someone who wants only recipes and a more traditional cookbook. The 143-page, 8.25 x 0.75 x 10.75-inch book is short on recipes but big on everything else.

Chapters inside the “Reader’s Digest Tricks and Treats” book include:

• Signs of the Season
• Costumes for Kids
• Pumpkins Etc.
• Festive Fashions
• Fun Foods
• Toys and Gifts
• For the Home
• General Directions

There are only six recipes in this book, BUT if you want a whole lot of Halloween fun, it’s a worthy addition. Brown Bread Pumpkins, Jack O’ Lantern Pancakes, Mini Pumpkin Sandwiches, and Halloween Cookies will get you in the Halloween spirit.

Spooky Food: 80 Fun Halloween Recipes for Ghosts, Ghouls, Vampires, Jack-o-Lanterns, Witches, Zombies, and More (2021) by Cayla Gallagher

Check out 80 recipes (sweet and savory) to up your Halloween festivities. The summary text above each recipe tells you what you are in for in this 224-page, 7.5 x 1 x 7.5-inch Halloween-filled book.

Chapters inside “Spooky Food” include:

• Cakes and Cupcakes
• Other Baked Goods and Sweet Treats
• Creepy Candy
• Drinks
• Savory

Pumpkin Latte Breakfast Skulls or Glow-in-the-Dark Witch’s Brew? Yes, the Cauldron Cupcakes with Gooey Centers are adorable (and homemade).

Squash (1994) by Regina Schrambling

Do you know the Country Garden cookbook series? If not, I touch on the series at the link. TLDR? It’s a pretty bundle of cookbooks.

Each cookbook in the series focuses on one thing. This one is all about squash. Lovely images accompany most recipes in the 9 x 0.75 x 9.5-inch, 96-page book.

Chapters inside “Squash” include:

• Introduction
• Glossary
• Openers
• Accompaniments
• Main Courses
• Sweets

Caramelized Pumpkin and Onion Soup with Smoked Turkey (yeah, that’s definitely not something you see every day), Turkey and Calabaza Pot Pies with Parmesan Crust (can sub with pumpkin or other winter squash), Pumpkin and Shitake Ravioli with Sage Butter, and Pumpkin and Chutney Kolaches are all absolutely beautiful.

Add in Super Spicy Indian Pumpkin Pudding in there, too, for harvest season fun.

Taste of Home Halloween Mini Binder: 100+ Freaky Fun Recipes & Crafts for Ghouls of All Ages (2018) by Taste of Home

It’s 208 pages of Halloween fun in this 6.25 x 1 x 8-inch mini binder. If you haven’t held this format before, I like it. The book will stay open on your counter (win!). Recipes lean towards the basics, but it’s TOH, so that’s often the case.

Chapters in this TOH “Halloween” cookbook include:

• Pumpkin Carving Guide
• Creepy Bites and Sips
• Halloween Suppers
• Trick-or-Treat Sweets
• Fall Slow Cooker Classics
• Five-Star Pumpkin Favorites
• Bonus: Day of the Dead

Recipe titles include Reese’s Chocolate Snack Cake, Martian Marshmallows, Spiced Carrots and Butternut Squash, Chai Tea (yes, again), and Jalapeno Popper and Sausage Dip. There are alcoholic beverages in here, too.

Taste of Home Pumpkin Mini Binder: 101 Delicious Dishes that Celebrate Fall’s Favorite Flavor (2018) by Taste of Home

Here is one more TOH mini binder packed with all things featuring big pumpkin flavor. There’s a blend of homemade and packaged stuff — this is TOH. Enjoy 208 pages in the 6.25 x 1.1 x 8-inch book that follows the same format as other TOH books and mini binders.

Chapters in this “TOH Pumpkin” cookbook include:

• The Spice of Life
• Breakfast and Brunch
• Breads and Muffins
• Snacks, Dips, and Sips
• Soups, Sides, and Main Dishes
• Pies, Cakes, and Cheesecakes
• Pumpkin Sweets

Eggnog Pumpkin Pie, Marshmallow Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin-Pecan Spice Cake, Pumpkin Gnocchi in Sage Butter, and Spiced Pumpkin Coffee Shakes intrigue me. Get your fall baking on (though, really, you’ll find yourself turning to some of these recipes all year long).

The Wicked Baker: Cakes and Treats to Die For (2020) by Helena Garcia

You met Helena on the Great British Bake Off 2019. Now, check out her 128-page, 6.75 x 0.8 x 8.6-inch cookbook. Choose from cups or grams. Enjoy every gorgeous image.

Chapters found in “The Wicked Baker” include:

• Cakes and Cupcakes
• Pies and Pastries
• Breads and Enriched Doughs
• Cookies and Candies
• Drinks and Desserts

The Vampire Tears Candle Cake is a red velvet cake like you’ve never seen. You know what? You can say that about most of the items in this cookbook. They just look GOOD. Poison Candy Apple Cake, the Witch is in the Princess Cake!, Eye Love You Truffles … it’s all incredible.

Witches’ Brew and Other Horrifying Party Foods by Ali Vega

This title lives up to its promise. The treats inside are a little bit gross-out. In other words, this is the 32-page, 8.2 x 0.3 x 10.1-inch cookbook you want if you have or know a younger kid who wants to throw a Halloween party. Images accompany each recipe.

Chapters include:

• No chapters. The recipes are all listed in the beginning.

Will you make Monster Boogers or the Black Widow Cheeseball? Shrunken-Head Punch or Earwax on a Stick? It’s a doable cookbook and a mere 32 pages long (and that includes the one-page index).

Guittard Chocolate Cookbook: Decadent Recipes from San Francisco’s Premium Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Company (2015) by Amy Guittard

For the real witches among us (though, as we learned in “Hocus Pocus,” “There’s a little witch in every woman,” right?), you’ll find this 120-page, 6.8 x 0.7 x 8.45-inch cookbook enchanting.

No, it’s not a Halloween, Halloween cookbook. Measurements are in cups and grams. This book shares witchy advice, info about unique or old holidays, and lovely images.

Chapters inside “The Witch’s Cookbook” include:

• Introduction: A Magical Hearth and Home
• Sun Salutations: Breakfast and Brunch
• Dish Bliss: Lunch and Dinner
• Enchanting Small Bites: Appetizers and Sides
• Spellbinding Sweets: Desserts
• Conclusion: Cauldron of Nourishment

If you’re looking for a beautiful book to prop up in your Halloween witchy kitchen, this is the one. Cheesecake Spell Jars, Venus Valentine Offering, Spooky Samhain Treats are a few recipes tucked inside. As you can see, it’s an all-season book for witches.