Samhain is around the corner…kitchen witches rejoice! ‘Tis the season of the pumpkin. Of aromatic spices. Of hot cider and apple pie. We connect with our ancestors and celebrate the end of the harvest on All Hallows Eve. And what’s one of the best ways to celebrate? Food, of course. In this post, we share our favorite Samhain recipes including breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and desserts! You’ll find both traditional foods and modern suggestions below.

Samhain Recipes: Bountiful Breakfasts

I don’t know about you, but I like celebrating Samhain all day long. Starting with sunrise. This year, in the Northern Hemisphere, Samhain Eve begins on a Sunday. So if you have Sunday off, consider making one or more of these Samhain recipes for breakfast! Don’t forget your enchanted cup of coffee or seasonal hot tea.

1. Butternut Squash Hash with Fried Eggs

Next to apples and pumpkin, squash is the third in the holy trinity of Fall ingredients (at least in my witchy opinion). And butternut squash is just so soft and delicious to eat. For any meal. Celebrate the harvest season upon waking and have some butternut squash hash, eggs and bacon. The photo provided is from Paleo Running Mama and here’s her Paleo and Whole30 recipe for butternut squash hash. Not just tasty and seasonal, but it can also be a healthy Samhain recipe to start your sabbat.

2. Autumn Cinnamon Apple Pancakes Recipe for Samhain Morn

Treat yourself this Samhain with apple pancakes in the morning. My kids go completely nuts for pancakes. And honestly, what screams witchy comfort food louder than pancakes with cinnamon, spices and apples? Apples are indeed a seasonal fruit, and with good reason, as they also represent the underworld, the harvest, the goddess, and all four elements. Cut an apple horizontally and you’ll find the 5-pointed star inside! Try this cinnamon apple pancake recipe.

3. Irish Boxty *Traditional Irish Samhain Recipe*

If you’d like a list of Samhain foods with more traditional recipes, click here (this list from 2020 includes barnbrack and colcannon). Another traditional Irish recipe for Samhain is called boxty – essentially they are Irish potato cakes. A hearty addition to any breakfast or brunch. And, being made of potatoes, makes one’s Irish ancestors happy if given as an offering on All Hallows.

Delicious Lunch Samhain Recipes

Whether you want to indulge in something wickedly decadent OR stay healthy, we’ve got you covered with these two Samhain recipes for lunch. Both are in alignment with the Fall season and the Samhain sabbat.

4. Beer Cheese Soup

I’m a bit of a cheesehead. And I don’t mean I’m from Wisconsin. I mean, I’m a cheese addict. Who doesn’t love cheese on literally everything? Cheese overall screams the Samhain season to me, particularly cheddar and gruyere. So when I heard there was something called beer cheese soup, I made it and then wanted to bathe in it for my traditional Samhain bath ritual (kidding…sort of). Here’s my favorite recipe for Samhain lunch: beer cheese soup.

5. Autumn Apple Salad for Samhain

If you’re trying to stay health conscious and keep the pounds off before Yule, salads for lunch are truly the way to go. Adding apples to any salad truly gives it Samhain vibes. But if you really want to know what exactly to put into your Autumn Apple Salad, here it goes. Keep in mind – I’m not providing measurements. If you’ve made salads before, it’s pretty simple. It just takes some eye-ing it and don’t over-do it on the salad dressing!

Ingredients:

• Spinach
• Dried cranberries
• Sliced honeycrisp (or a combination of fuji and granny smith) apples
• Feta cheese
• Chopped salted pecans
• Bacon (cooked and chopped)
• Vinaigrette: if you can find apple cider vinaigrette even better! (3-4 tbsp)

Instructions:

1. Toss spinach, cranberries, apple slices, pecans, and bacon in a large salad bowl.
2. Sprinkle feta cheese on top.
3. Gently pour vinaigrette dressing onto the salad. Toss to distribute dressing and cheese evenly.

Hearty Samhain Dinner Recipes

Every year I tell my family I’m going to dress up for Halloween/Samhain. And every year I struggle. Why? Because I’m typically too busy making dinner for everyone, eating, then cleaning up and getting my kids ready to go trick-or-treating. SO I need to remember to make SIMPLE Samhain meals from now on. Here’s a few you could try.

6. Easy One Tray Roasted Chicken and Fall Veggies

Tasty’s recipe for one tray roasted chicken thighs and vegetables is EASY and perfect as a Samhain recipe. If you’re a mom who can’t find the time to do everything on Halloween, this meal might be the right one for you. You can even prep it all ahead and stick it in the fridge until you’re ready to cook it. I do one thing differently from the recipe – I add minced garlic under the skin of the chicken thighs. Replace the fingerling potatoes with chopped sweet potatoes, if you want to go a bit more Autumn-looking. See my actual version in the photo below:

7. Pomegranate – Soy Glazed Fish Filets

How is pomegranate glazed fish a Samhain recipe for supper? Pomegranate is a traditional Samhain food, as it represents Persephone and her journey to the Underworld every Autumn season. The choice of filet is up to you, but I’ve made this recipe with everything from grouper to snapper to salmon. If you can get it fresh, this is best. And be sure you buy natural pomegranate juice. In addition, I roast green beans or brussel sprouts with this meal and it is always a hit. If you’re a devotee of Hecate, this is a goddess-pleasing-offering as well! If you’re looking for more Samhain dinner ideas click here.

Drinks for All Hallows Eve

8. Hot Apple Cider *A Traditional American Samhain Drink*

When the Wheel of the Year turns, and Fall comes back around, I get excited about all of the fun drinks! Sure you can drink apple cider in the Summer, if you really wanted to, but apples are technically a sacred Samhain food and go well with the entire season. I grew up in Maryland and I recall neighbors and loved ones making hot apple cider every Autumn. The aroma of this beverage alone is enough to make you want to make it every year. Here’s a hot apple cider recipe from AllRecipes that looks pretty close to traditional. Sure, you can hollow out a few apples and use those as cups, but that sounds like too much work to me! LOL.

9. Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Ingredients in Pumpkin Spice Coffee:

• Cinnamon:  brings success and money
• Ginger: associated with fire and amplifies magic
• Nutmeg: for luck
• Cloves: brings good luck and prosperity
• Allspice: increases determination
• Coffee: to speed up the results

Combine the spices above and stir in a clockwise-direction 3, 7, 9, or 13 times. Think of your intention while doing this – visualize whatever area of life you seek to improve. Sprinkle the pumpkin spice over your coffee. Then sip and enjoy.

Samhain Desserts (Hold the Candy, Please?)

While most of us won’t have much time for dessert, perhaps making these treats ahead of time is a great substitution for candy. Save it for the day after Samhain – November 1st (which is technically still considered Samhain). And give a slice to the ancestors.

10. Apple Pie

As mentioned before, apples are sacred on Samhain and indicative of the whole Autumn season. Apple pie is traditional in the U.S. throughout Fall. My grandmother used to make apple pie from scratch and was even a professional at adding lattice on top. Then throw some vanilla ice cream on top for a real treat. Try this perfect apple pie recipe by Pillsbury.

11. Black Chocolate Cake

Black chocolate cake isn’t traditional, but it definitely reminds me of Samhain. Pitch black as night and rich-tasting, if you prefer cake maybe this recipe is your ultimate Halloween dessert. This cake also serves as a gracious offering to underworld deities like Hecate, Hel, Hades and to one’s ancestors.

12. Allorah’s Magically Delicious S’mores Bites

No, they’re not lucky charms…the cereal. But you’ll be lucky if you ever get to eat these little treats. Our resident writer and kitchen witch Allorah Rayne recently shared with us her recipe for Samhain S’mores Bites. These are great for snacking or for dessert to compliment your Samhain feast. They are a bit time consuming to make (overall) but SO worth the effort and the kids will love them. Plus, they just remind me of a cozy, Autumn campfire. Here’s the recipe.

More for Samhain:

• Dumb Supper: How to Host a Sacred Ancestral Dinner for Samhain
• Samhain Foods: 10 Meals Your Family and Ancestors Will Love
• 10 Samhain Traditions for the Pagan Family