Halloween is all about candy and costumes. In my young adult mind, dressing up takes a back seat to all of the delicious halloween treats. Halloween is the time to indulge and try amazing seasonal goodies, and what better place to celebrate the 31st than Chicago? From spooky ghost cookies to crazy freak shakes, Chicago has an endless variety of tasty treats to snack on while you’re treat-or-tricking or hopping from party to party.
Big Fat Cookie
Locations: multiple locations or order online
There’s a good reason why this company’s name is Big Fat Cookie. Every cookie weighs a whopping 6 oz and is stuffed with a whole host of goodies that range from crunchy nuts to aromatic cinnamon, even colorful sprinkles and gooey marshmallows. For the month of October, Big Fat Cookie is selling a Halloween Town Cookie Pack that contains a red velvet s’more, triple chocolate with orange filled Oreo, scary evil eye, and halloween town that’s filled with classic halloween candy.
Chicago Diner
Locations: 3411 N Halsted St. and 2333 N Milwaukee Ave
Halloween can be a bit sad when you can’t celebrate it with fun-sized candy bars because they contain dairy. Chicago Diner has creamy cheesecake that’s sure to make even a lactose intolerant’s day better. Their seasonal Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake isn’t just vegan, it’s also gluten free. This cheesecake has a chocolate cookie crust and vegan cream cheese filling, then it’s finished off with smooth chocolate ganache and a dollop of whipped topping.
Floriole Cafe & Bakery
Location: 1220 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Ever since I was a kid, my mom always told me that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. What better way to start off the day than with a freshly baked Pumpkin Danish from Floriole Cafe & Bakery? Made with flaky pastry dough then topped off with cream cheese frosting and pumpkin seeds, this danish will surely put you in a festive mood.
Hi-Vibe Superfood Juicery
Location: 160 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
If you’re interested in something a little healthier but still want to experience the seasonal flavors, try a tasty Pumpkin Epic Smoothie Bowl from Hi-Vibe. This limited edition breakfast bowl is packed with fall flavors. The base is made from a pumpkin blend, giving this smoothie bowl an amazing orange color. It is then topped off with crunchy Hi-Vibe granola, roasted pumpkin seeds, coconut shreds, bee pollen, pumpkin spice, and creamy cashew butter.
Imperial Laminan
Location: 6 W Hubbard, Chicago, IL 60654
Who said that you can’t celebrate Halloween with savory treats? You can’t get any more festive than with Imperial Laminan’s savory Pumpkin Puffs. These pumpkin shaped dim sum puffs are stuffed with roast duck and butternut squash, making them a great delicious and adorable snack.
Parlor Pizza
Location: 108 N Green St. and 1824 W Division St.
If you’re looking for the instagram-worthy Halloween dessert, you have to make your way over to Parlor Pizza. Yes, their pizzas are delicious but their Tacolatos are the talk of the town. Their seasonal Tacolato is called the Basic Witch, and the name fits this ginormous dessert perfectly. The Basic Witch has pumpkin spice gelato that’s decorated with whipped cream, caramel, crushed Health Bars, candy cone, and Garret’s Chicago mix popcorn, all held together in a vanilla white chocolate shell.
Public House Chicago
Location: 400 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
If you thought Parlor Pizza’s Tacolato looked divine, take a stroll over to Public House to try one of their freak shakes. This restaurant is famous for their crazy milkshakes and, for this month only, they have a new creation: The Monster Mash Cake Shake. And, oh boy, is it a monster.
The shake itself contains pumpkin beer. Then it’s decorated with green frosting that’s used to hold colorful sprinkles and sweet candies to the glass. As if the ginormous shake wasn’t enough, it’s topped off with a whole slice of cake and a pair of green candy eyes. It’s like two desserts in one, but I’m not planning on sharing.
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Location: 50 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611
Sprinkles is the place to go whenever you’re craving a cupcake. Midnight and you want a chocolate marshmallow cupcake? No problem. Just stop by their ATM. Throughout this month, Sprinkles is selling Vanilla Milk Chocolate, Black and White, Red Velvet and Pumpkin cupcakes all topped with adorable Sprinkles ghosts and BOO sugar decorations. So if you need a break from trick-or-treating, stop by the local ATM.
Stan’s Donuts
Location: multiple locations
As the name suggests, Stan’s Donuts is famous for its delicious donuts. During the month of October, they are selling a special donut for pumpkin-spice lovers called the Pumpkin Pie “Le Stan” Croissant Donuts. Sounds fancy, no?
Made with flaky dough, this donut has a creamy pumpkin pie filling. Then the whole donut is coated in granulated sugar and drizzled with a sweet icing because if you’re going to indulge, you might as well go all the way.
XO Marshmallow
Location: 6977 N Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60626
XO Marshmallow is the place to go for marshmallow lovers. They have a huge variety of unique flavors from cookies & cream to apple turnover and blackberry brown butter to bourbon flavored marshmallows. All of their products are made my hand so you know they’re fresh. A couple of days ago, XO Marshmallow rolled out their newest product – Boo Thang Marshmallow Ghosts. And I don’t know about you, but I think they are just too cute to eat.
If you’re in Chicago on Halloween or any time during the morning of October, try out one, or all, of these seasonal treats. From savory pumpkin puffs to fancy croissant donuts, there are an endless variety of delicious goodies that will put you in the Halloween spirit.
The only question now is what costume to wear.