If you’ve ever thought, why do we only get Halloween once a year? — first of all, I’ve been wondering that since I fell in love with Halloween as a kid in the 80s. Second of all, welcome to Summerween, your new favorite unofficial holiday.
If you’re a seasoned (pun intended) Halloween lover, you probably already know what Summerween is, but if you’re new here, think of Summerween as spooky season, but make it sunny. Picture carved watermelons instead of pumpkins, popsicles instead of caramel apples, and all the Halloween energy you love — just with better weather.
Like any good holiday, the food is the best thing about Summerween. You get to take the freshest summer ingredients — ripe watermelon, fresh fruit, ice cream (a core food group and essential summer ingredient), and lots of grilled goodies — and give them a little Halloween twist.
The results will bewitch both your IRL friends and your Instagram friends.
Whether you’re hosting a full backyard bash or a low-key Summerween movie night, here are 12 Summerween recipes and food ideas to get you started.
Pro Tip: Grab the Printable Summerween Party Planning Checklist on Etsy to keep everything organized from start to BOO.
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🎃 Summerween Snacks
Serve these bites at your Summerween party!
1. Watermelon Jack-o-Lantern (AKA Jack-o-melon)
The OG of the Summerween party: the Watermelon Jack o’lantern. Carve a jack-o-lantern face into a ripe watermelon exactly like you would a pumpkin — hollow it out, fill it back up with melon balls and summer fruit, and you’ve got an instant centerpiece. You can do the same thing with a pineapple if you want to go tropical.
PRO TIP: Look for a watermelon with a flatish bottom, rather than one that is oblong.
Watch this video on how to make a Jack-o-Melon
2. Ghostly Fruit Kabobs & Summerween Fruit Tray
Thread banana chunks (with tiny chocolate chip eyes), melon balls, and dark grapes onto skewers and you’ve got the cutest, easiest Summerween snack. These take maybe ten minutes to assemble, they require zero cooking, and they disappear fast. Set them up in a tall glass so the ghosts are peeking out.
PRO TIP: Use these edible candy eyes on your fruit (or cupcakes… see below!)
Try this Summerween fruit skewer recipe
3. Graveyard Guacamole & Nachos
Layer blue corn tortilla chips with black beans, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream in a shallow dish. Cut tombstone shapes from extra tortilla chips and stand them up in the dip. Add sliced olives on top for that graveyard dirt moment. This Summerween snack always gets a reaction — and it gets eaten fast, so make a big batch.
Summerween Party Food: Mains & Sides
Fire up the grill. These are the crowd-pleasers that anchor the whole spread.
4. Jack-o-Lantern Cheeseburgers
Jack-o-lantern cheeseburgers are almost too good to eat — almost. Use a small paring knife to cut jack-o-lantern faces into slices of cheddar cheese, then melt them right onto your burgers on the grill. The results are spooky, cheesy, and guaranteed to stop everyone in their tracks. Serve on brioche buns and let the chaos unfold.
PRO TIP: You can also use this method to make Summerween veggie burgers by swapping hamburger for your favorite veggie pattie.
5. Mummy Dogs
Wrap hot dogs in strips of crescent roll dough, leave a little gap near the top for the face, and bake until golden. Dot on mustard or ketchup eyes and you’re done. These are easy to make in big batches, they travel well to the backyard, and literally everyone loves them. A classic Summerween party food.
6. Halloween Pasta Salad
Cold pasta salad is a summer party staple — and this one gets a Summerween upgrade. Go with Halloween shaped pasta, black olives, bell peppers, mozzarella shaped ghost faces, and a zesty Italian dressing. Bonus: This easy Summerween recipe can be made the day before!
PRO TIP: You can also use your favorite pasta salad recipe and just use this orange and black pasta for a spooky variation.
🍦 Summerween Desserts & Sweet Treats
Having a few Summerween desserts at the party are a must!
7. Candy Corn Popsicles
Layer pineapple juice, orange juice, and white coconut milk in popsicle molds to get that iconic candy corn color situation. The trick is to freeze each layer before adding the next (patience, patience), but the payoff is stunning — and these can be made days ahead and stashed in the freezer until party time.
PRO TIP: Use a classic popsicle mold for candy corn popsicles. That way, the focus really is on the orange, yellow and white color scheme, rather than a spooky shape. Don’t have time to make candy corn popsicles? Use a Halloween popsicle mold with your favorite flavored juice for a one-and-done treat.
8. Witch Hat Ice Cream Cones
My favorite summerween dessert! Melt dark chocolate, dip sugar cones into it, roll them in black or orange sprinkles, and let them harden. Then serve them upside-down over a scoop of ice cream — the cone is the hat, the scoop is the hat itself. Fast, adorable, zero baking required. Set up a DIY station and let guests build their own hats.
You can make these super simple like the image above, or go a little wild with the recipe from A Pumpkin & A Princess, and the image below.
9. Spooky Halloween Cupcakes
Cupcakes are the perfect Summerween treat — handheld, easy to customize, and absolutely made for photos. Go with classic vanilla or chocolate and let the decorating do the work: ghost frosting swirls, candy spiderwebs, or fondant jack-o-lantern toppers. If you want a built-in party activity, set up a decorating station and let guests go wild.
PRO TIP: Summerween cupcake toppers only add to the party vibes! Pastel gradient cupcake liners or pink ghost liners make things extra summery. If you’re a traditional Halloween girlie, use these instead.
Summerween Drinks
Every great Summerween party needs drinks to match. These are the crowd-pleasers — spooky-looking, summer-tasting, and perfect for a party.
10. Witch’s Brew Punch
Combine citrus juice, ginger ale, and pineapple juice in a large punch bowl — it turns a naturally spooky shade of green and fizzes like something out of a cauldron. Add a few scoops of lime sherbet for a frothy effect, and freeze green grapes in round ice molds for creepy little “eyeball” ice cubes. This is the Summerween drink you want going all afternoon.
11. Vampire Lemonade
Make a big batch of classic lemonade and swirl in strawberry puree or grenadine for that “I just bit someone” red drip effect. Serve over ice in clear cups so the color really shows, and garnish with a strawberry “fang” on the rim. Totally non-alcoholic, completely refreshing, and great for parties where you’ve got kids and adults mingling.
12. Spooky Halloween Milkshakes
There are so many renditions of Halloween milkshakes you can use at your Summerween party. For ghost milkshakes, blend cookies-and-cream milkshakes, pour into a glass with ghost eyes drawn on (use an erasable glass marker for this). Frankenstein milkshakes are also super easy. These are dessert and a drink in one, which is honestly the most efficient thing about them. Perfect for a Summerween Ice Scream Social theme — or really any excuse to make milkshakes.
Summerween Milkshake recipes and inspo
🎃 Pro Tip: Want to make sure your Summerween party goes off without a hitch? Grab the Printable Summerween Party Planning Checklist on Etsy — it covers invitations, food, decorations, and day-of prep so nothing gets left behind.
FAQ: Summerween Food
What food do you serve at a Summerween party?
Summerween food is all about taking the best of summer and giving it a spooky twist. Think watermelon jack-o-lanterns, grilled burgers with cheddar jack-o-lantern faces, frozen popsicles in Halloween shapes, and festive punch. The sweet spot is something grilled, something fruity, something sweet, and a crowd-friendly Summerween drink.
What are easy Summerween snacks?
The easiest Summerween snacks are the ones that just need a little Halloween styling — ghostly fruit kabobs with banana chunks and chocolate chip eyes, a watermelon jack-o-lantern filled with fruit salad, or graveyard guacamole with tortilla tombstones. All of these take under 20 minutes and require zero cooking, which leaves more time for the actual party.
What desserts are good for Summerween?
Candy corn popsicles, witch hat ice cream cones, caramel apple slices, and Halloween cupcakes are always a hit. The best ones are handheld (nobody wants to manage a fork at a backyard party), visually fun for photos, and can be made ahead so you’re not in the kitchen all day.
More Summerween Inspiration
Ready to keep planning? Here’s more from the blog: