Relish the end of fall with these Samhain recipes. 

Hayley Sugg
Updated: October 26, 2017
Curly Courland Photografy/Getty Images

The growing season may be ending, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a delicious Samhain gathering. 

So what exactly is Samhain? 



What are some traditional Samhain foods?



Soul Cakes

Photo: Jessica Colyer

One of the most commonly served foods for Samhain are soul cakes.  Although their origins in history are a bit hazy, everything from appeasing evil spirits to feeding beggars, it has become a dish that is closely associated with the fall celebration. Just as the origin stories vary greatly, so do the recipes for soul cakes. They come in all shapes and sizes, and the texture can be anything from biscuit-like to cakes. Most recipes seem to include a type of dried fruit, such as currants or golden raisins, and a dash of nutmeg and saffron. We love making our fluffy crumpets recipe with a few raisins sprinkled onto the batter just before baking. These make for a great starting place to customize as you choose.

Mulled Wine

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower


Watch: How to Make Mulled Wine



Photo: Oxmoor House

Yet another baked good associated with Samhain, barmbrack is a recipe with Celtic roots. Traditionally this yeast bread is sweet and studded with dried fruits like raisins and fresh citrus zest. In the same vein as a King Cake, barmbrack can be baked with trinkets inside (make sure they’re thoroughly washed and wrapped parchment paper) to act as a form of fortune telling. Every item has its own meaning and can include things like rings (marriage), a coin (wealth), a piece of cloth (hard times), and more. You can easily mix and match the trinkets you include to have personal meanings or predictions.  You can create a more modern loaf, inspired by barmbrack, by baking up some fruit-filled Irish soda bread


Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

A traditional Irish food, a variation on colcannon was likely eaten during Samhain celebrations due to potatoes being in season. Colcannon is made with a base of creamy mashed potatoes, with cooked greens (typically cabbage, but spinach or kale are also great options) and onions mixed in. This type of stick-to-your-ribs dish, much like our Spinach and Garlic Mashed Potatoes, is perfect for a cold evening around the bonfire.