As Government Shutdown Continues, Food Pantries Face Major Strain

Thursday marks the 27th day the federal government has been in a state of partial shutdown, as President Trump continues to demand that Democrats approve nearly $6 billion in funding for a border wall.

Tens of thousands of federal workers have been showing up for their duties without pay, or have been told not to show up for work at all, in what has become the longest partial shutdown of the government in US history. As the president orders tens of thousands more government workers back to work without paychecks (including more than half of IRS employees), many federal employees directly impacted by the shutdown are now in dire financial straits. The lack of pay has put some federal workers in the same position as millions of other Americans who are food insecure, creating more strain on already thin resources.

Food insecurity — being in a position where a person can’t afford or otherwise access adequate, nutritious food on a day-to-day basis — is a persistent problem in the United States. According to US Department of Agriculture figures, around 15 million families (or 12 percent of the US population) dealt with food insecurity in 2017. Last year, Fast Company noted that the number of people facing food insecurity in the US in 2017 was still greater than before the “great recession,” and rarely in recent years has the percentage of food-insecure people decreased by a statically significant amount.

Weeks into the partial shutdown, reports from states around the country indicate that food banks are having a difficult time keeping up with the demand for food now that growing numbers of federal workers, in addition to low-income community members, are turning to food banks to help feed their families.

In Massachusetts, according to the Boston Herald, food banks and activists are calling on Governor Charlie Baker to create an emergency plan in the event that the shutdown outlasts the resources of food banks in the state. In Florida, a local nonprofit organization called Feeding Tampa Bay says it is treating the possibility of a further prolonged shutdown “like a hurricane,” and considering a number of options to service Florida food banks that must provide for more people than usual. The Tampa Bay Times reports that Feeding Tampa Bay and the United Way have been providing “pop-up food banks” at airports for TSA and Customs and Border Protection agents, and Federal Aviation Administration employees.

Compounding and complicating the increased demand on food banks are the limits on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, which is also sometimes still referred to as food stamps). Presently, the USDA is still funding SNAP through February, and SNAP recipients started receiving their February funds as early as Wednesday. State officials across the country, however, are cautioning SNAP recipients that though the funds for February are being distributed now, in mid-January, families will need to budget carefully to ensure those funds will last through the end of next month.

Meanwhile, federal employees who are currently not being paid and need help affording food, and may qualify for SNAP, can’t even apply because of the shutdown. The federal workers who process SNAP applications are not working, and therefore nobody can apply for SNAP benefits, including federal workers themselves.

And though the USDA is distributing next month’s SNAP benefits early, there is currently no SNAP funding plan for the following months, POLITICO reports. Because SNAP funds might be unavailable for an unknown amount of time after the end of February, food banks are anticipating yet more need from local communities.

The Trump administration has already been chipping away at SNAP, including by making it difficult or impossible for undocumented immigrants to apply for SNAP, and empowering states to deny SNAP benefits to people who do not meet certain unemployment criteria. Millions of low-income Americans, many of them women with kids, depend on SNAP to have adequate food for themselves and/or their families.

What do you think? Tell us on Twitter @BritandCo.

(Photos by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

I didn't watch Stranger Thingswhen it first premiered because I convinced myself I wouldn't like it. I have never been more wrong. The story — which revolves around a small town in Indiana, a group of outcasts, popular kids, and parents brought together by tragedy, and a monstrous alternate dimension — launched into the cultural zeitgeist in November of 2016. Television (and streaming services) have never been the same.

The characters within the show (Millie Bobby Brown's powerful Eleven, Joe Keery's goofy-yet-sincere Steve, David Harbour's protective Jim) are so complex and engaging that it makes Stranger Things one of the best TV shows of the 2010s and 2020s. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and after the cultural moment that was Stranger Things 4 (FYI, I'm still listening to Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill"), the hit series is coming to a close.

Netflix

In February 2022, brothers, writers, and creators Matt and Ross announced both the date of season four, and that season five would be the last installment. "Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things," they say in the statement. "We hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends, of a broken police chief and a ferocious mom, of a small town called Hawkins and an alternate dimension known only as the Upside Down."

Here's everything we know about Stranger Things 5.

Is there a Stranger Things 5 trailer?

Netflix

We don't have a trailer for Stranger Things 5 yet, but fans are convinced we're getting one on November 6 for one special reason: it's Stranger Things Day. @StrangerNews11 went viral on X for saying the trailer was dropping on that date, and fans were more than happy to accept the rumor.

"Let's freaking gooooooo!!!!!!" one user responded, while lots of other accounts posed gifs of excited, screaming people. November 6 is Stranger Things Day because that's the day Will first went missing in the Upside Down, and releasing the trailer for the final season would be the perfect way to pay homage to the series!

Is Stranger Things 5 going to be sad?

Netflix

Stranger Things 5 is definitely going to be bittersweet. I'm hoping we see our favorite nerds defeat Vecna once and for all, but it's going to be sad to reach the end of this journey! But the cast doesn't even know how sad it'll be — considering Winona Ryder revealed they haven't done their read through for the finale yet. (Although both Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour claim they know at least part of the end).

"It's already starting to be heartbreaking, you know?" Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, tells ET at the world premiere of Inside Out 2. "I mean it's the end of a really long journey. Longer for some of my castmates, even, than for me. So it's really sentimental."

"But as a late addition cast member, I feel like it's my job to be here to facilitate their feelings and just be grateful and excited to have been a part of it all," she continues. "We shoot for a long time, so it's kind of reinvigorating [to bring] the joy and finding it everyday and making it new. It's a really fun thing to do."

Will Max be in Stranger Things 5?

Netflix

Yes, Max (and Sadie Sink) will be in Stranger Things season 5! In a new interview with Variety, Sink reveals the Stranger Things cast has been living in the same neighborhood so they can all hang out before the series wraps. The end of Stranger Things 4 featured Max in a coma after narrowly escaping Vecna, and fans are crossing all their fingers and toes we'll see Max in action again.

“[The Duffers] love having me run,” she teases. “That’s all I’ll say.”

This is totally bringing me back to the iconic Stranger Things 4 momentwhere Max battled Vecna in his mind palace — running back to Lucas, Steve, and Dustin while Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" played in the background. And considering Max is STILL in a coma, I'm wondering if we'll get another standoff between the two characters (either IRL, in the Upside Down, or in Vecna's mind palace). The jury's still out on whether we'll hear Bush's song again, but never say never!

“She’s going to play a part in the season,” Matt Duffer promises. While they won't reveal how just yet, Duffer says they “did film a scene the other day with her that was just absolutely heartbreaking." Yikes!!

What happens in Stranger Things 5?

Netflix

We're waiting for an official synopsis for Stranger Things 5, but thanks to a new video from Millie Bobby Brown, I'm wondering if all of those time jump rumors are true. In the Stranger Things 4 finale, Eleven is rocking a shaved head, but in Millie's new video, she has a longer ponytail that would take at least a year or two to grow out.

While Millie could definitely wear a wig for the final season (like she does in season 4), the fact that she's in costume with her signature bloody nose leads me to believe her hair is how we'll see it onscreen. Plus, her gray quarter zip and navy bandana are definitely giving late '80s, early '90s. I would love to see the show move into 1989, and I can't wait to see if we truly do get a time jump!

Netflix

In an interview with Happy Sad Confused's Josh Horowitz, David Harbour says that the Duffers always outdo themselves. “I’m excited to go back. I’m excited to wrap it up in a bold, amazing way," he continues. "I’m excited to really swing with this character, because you know they’re going to pay off these OG characters: Eleven, Hopper, Joyce, Will, Mike; they’re going to pay them off in big ways because they’ve lived with you for the past eight years.”

Even though David keeps his lips sealed when it comes to plot details, he does promise that the series' end is "very, very moving."

Other members of the ST team have also offered a glimpse at what we can expect. “Will really takes center stage again in [Stranger Things 5],” Ross Duffer tells Variety. The first season, which kicked off with Will (Noah Schnapp) being abducted, will wrap up where it started. Especially since the first Stranger Things 5 leakseems to show the season will take place during the holidays. Just like season one!

After years of speculation from fans, Noah confirmed that Will is gay in July of 2022 — a decision that impacted his own life as he publicly came out on TikTok in January 2023.

Netflix

"I think the way I act in Season 5, honestly, might be a little different," Noah says in the same Variety interview. "I will be fully aware of who I am. Knowing all of that about myself and being able to invest that in my character, I’m honestly just excited.”

“This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together," Ross continues. "Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality — it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.”

When is Stranger Things 5 coming out?

Steve Dietl/Netflix

Production was supposed to begin summer 2023, but because of the writers' strike (and the subsequent SAG-AFTRA actors' strike), Stranger Things 5was delayed until September 2023, when @strangerwriters tweeted, "we're back." And on March 9, Millie Bobby Brown told The Jonathan Ross Show that the cast has nine months of filming left.

The final season is in production now, and based on the timeline for Stranger Things 3 (which began filming in April of 2018 and released in July of 2019), we can expect Stranger Things 5 to hit Netflix late spring or early summer 2025.

Who's going to be in Stranger Things 5?

Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix

Thanks to a recent behind-the-scenes photo from Netflix, we know for sure that Stranger Things season 5 will bring back all our favorites. The photo confirms we'll see Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Noah Schnapp as Will, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin, Natalia Dyer as Nancy, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan, Sadie Sink as Max, Maya Hawke as Robin, Joe Keery as Steve, David Harbour as Jim Hopper, and Winona Ryder as Joyce. Plus more returning stars like Amybeth McNulty and Priah Ferguson!

Even though Joseph Quinn's Eddie met a tragic fate at the end of Stranger Things 4, he recently hinted we could be seeing the beloved character again. During the April 2024 Facts Convention in Belgium, when a fan asks whether he'll return for the final season, Joseph takes his time to respond (and looks somewhat nervous, might I add). "I do know [whether Eddie's in season 5]," the Fantastic Four actor finally says. "But I'm not telling you."

We've seen deceased characters return as hallucinations before, so I wouldn't be surprised if Stranger Things season 5 features all the characters we've been missing — especially if Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven defeats Vecna and turns the Upside Down into a place of beauty instead of a place of horror.

Will Millie be in season 5?

Netflix

Yes, Millie Bobby Brown is in Stranger Things 5! She sat down with MTV's Josh Horowitz ahead of her new movie Damsel to talk about the end of the series, and confirmed the vibe is "the exact same" as it's always been.

"I wish I could be like, 'Everybody's crying everyday.' But everybody's having fun!" she says in the interview. "I know closer to the end, we're gonna think about the end, but right now it's nice and it's really fun to be back together again...[We may be] a few months toward the end but we know it's a long road ahead. So right now we're living in bliss."

Who isn't returning to Stranger Things 5?

Netflix

Eduardo Franco, who played Jonathan's friend Argyle in Stranger Things 4, said in an interview with Steve Varley that he wouldn't be returning for the final season of the show. “It’s nice to hear that there’s some sort of, you know, concern or something, you know what I mean?” Eduardo says. “But I never got a phone call, so I think that’s it.”

And while Eddie Munson (played by Joseph Quinn) became one of the series' most popular characters, his death in the finale feels pretty permanent. "I really don’t know,” Joseph told British GQ in 2022. “[Eddie] seems pretty f—king dead to me...By no means am I ruling it out. That’s a decision for the grown-ups to make. But Stranger Things was doing fine without Eddie. I think they’ll be fine next season without him, too.”

Who is the new character in Stranger Things 5?

Netflix

Linda Hamilton (The Terminator, Children of the Corn) is joining the Stranger Things 5. We don't know what kind of role she'll be playing, but we do know she loves Stranger Things as much as we do. “I don’t know how to be a fangirl and an actress at the same time,” she said in a video announcement at Netflix's Tudum event. “I’m gonna work on that.”

Is there a Stranger Things spinoff coming?

Netflix

"There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things," the Duffers say in their statement announcing the end of the series. "New mysteries, new adventures new unexpected heroes."

In addition to the Stranger Things: The First Shadowstage play in London, we're also getting a live-action spinoff via Netflix. No one knows what the spinoff is about — except for Finn Wolfhard, who happened to guess it!

Is Millie Bobby Brown done with Stranger Things?

Netflix

Millie Bobby Brown is returning as Eleven, but she said in an interview with Women’s Wear Daily that she's looking forward to the next chapter of life. Now 20, she started the series when she was 11 years old. “It’s been such a huge factor in part of my life, but it’s like graduating high school, it’s like senior year,” she says. “You’re ready to go and blossom and flourish and you’re grateful for the time you’ve had, but it’s time to create your own message and live your own life.”

Other members of the cast have also expressed their thoughts on the show's end.

“It’s interesting to constantly just be reminded how much people have resonated with it," Gaten Matarrazzo said onTheTonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "It’s something that’s so important to all of us and has just been essential to the growth that I’ve had over all of my teenage years into my 20s. It’s the defining aspect of the past 10 years of my life.”

Even if Finn Wolfhard, isn't quite ready for the show to end, he knows it's time. "If Stranger Things went on any longer than five, I would say it would be ridiculous,” Wolfhard told Uproxx. “I think the Duffer brothers figured out, I would imagine, a perfect ending in five. We didn’t even know if we’d do two. So we’re happy that people still are around and want to watch it.”

Your First Look At Stranger Things 5 Fan Favorite Dustin Henderson

Ross Duffer/Instagram

After sharing images of Joe Keery and Maya Hawke as Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley, co-creator Ross Duffer shared a picture of Gaten Matarazzo's Dustin in full Hellfire Club gear. Gaten's doing the signature move of fan favorite character Eddie Munson (who died at the end of Stranger Things 4), and a new leaked photo from set connects Dustin and Eddie in another way, too.

The image shows Dustin at Eddie's grave, which has been vandalized with spray paint. The only word we can clearly make out is "Burn," but considering Eddie led the Hellfire club, it's safe to assume the spray paint reads "Burn in Hell" — especially after the Satanic Panic plotline in ST4 turned all of Hawkins against Eddie. If Dustin is the new leader of the club, and the town still hates it, I'm going to need him to watch his back. STAY SAFE DUSTIN.

I will forever and always be a Steve stan, but let us know who you're most excited to see in Stranger Things 5, in the comments and on Facebook. And check out our TikTok for more fun celeb and pop culture content — like seeing Millie Bobby Brown at a Brooklyn Nets game!

This post has been updated.

Reliving your dating history with your best friends and a glass of wine is, if you ask me, the definition of the ultimate girls' night. Trading dating horror stories usually ends with me laughing so hard I can't breathe. But in Stephanie Hsu's new romantic comedyLaid, going through her list of exes is anything but funny for one simple reason: they're all dying, and she needs to figure out why. Here's everything you need to know about the new show before it hits Peacock this December!

  • In Laid, Stephanie Hsu's Ruby learns all of her exes are dying.
  • She teams up with BFF AJ to get to the bottom of the mystery.
  • All eight episodes of the series will hit Peacock this December.

What is Laid about?

Laid Plot

"Would you wanna know if you were gonna die?" Stephanie Hsu asks at the beginning of the Laid trailer. When Ruby (Stephanie) finds out her exes are all dying in strange ways, she has to go back through her relationship timelines in order to embrace the future. According to the official Peacock site, this crazy rom-com answers the age-old question of "Is there something wrong with me?" with “Yes. There is. The problem is definitely you.”

“When we started to develop Laid, we were intrigued by the idea of bringing back the old-school, traditional romantic comedy (swelling music! kisses in the rain! Anne Hathaway or someone who is also appealing!), but because we were living in such a dark time (pandemic! industry strikes!), we felt it needed to have some kind of twist,” co-showrunners & executive producers Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna said in a joint statement. “Sure, it could be optimistic and heartwarming and make you believe in love again, but it should probably also have suspense, death, and blood."

I'm obsessed with the title of this show because of its double meaning, too. Not only does "laid" connect to all of Ruby's sexual encounters but it's also a nod to the fact her exes are being laid to rest. So clever!

Where can I watch Laid with Stephanie Hsu?

James Dittiger/Peacock

Laid Release Date

You can watch all eight 30-minute episodes of Laid on Peacock starting Thursday, December 19.

Who's in the show?

James Dittiger/Peacock

Laid Cast

The cast of Laid includes Stephanie Hsu, Zosia Mamet, Michael Angarano, Tommy Martinez, Andre Hyland, Olivia Holt, David Denman, Finneas O’Connell, Chloe Fineman, Ettore “Big E” Ewen, and John Early.

Where is Laid filmed?

James Dittiger/Peacock

According to theFilm & Television Industry Alliance's Production List, Laid was filmed in British Columbia, Canada.

What would you do if all your exes started meeting untimely ends?

Jack-o'-lanterns are great for Halloween decorations, but the humble pumpkin certainly has a lot to offer once the holiday's over. In the U.S. alone, 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins are thrown away after Halloween every year. Once trashed, wasted pumpkins end up occupying a lot of space in landfills and producing harmful amounts of the greenhouse gas, methane.

Because of this, it's important to consider making some more sustainable moves after spooky season ends. Turns out, many varieties of pumpkins you'll find in stores this fall are actually bred for carving, and aren't safe for consumption – each pumpkin will often be marked if they're inedible. Try looking out for pumpkins that *can* be eaten so you can make the most out of the pumpkin guts: Cherokee Bush, Casper, Cinderella, and Fairy Tale pumpkins are all great choices.

Consider composting your pumpkins after Halloween, too. If you don't do at-home compost, there are likely to be community compost pick-ups or drop-offs near you.

The most sustainable (and delicious) way to use leftover pumpkin is to make some recipes with it! We've gone far beyond pumpkin pie and roasting pumpkin seeds (although we'll happily do that, too) to bring you some creative ways to make use of the insides of yourjack-o'-lanterns after their flames have burned out. We're scooping out over a dozen creative ways to use the whole thing, guts and all.

Recipes To Make With Pumpkin Guts

Brit + Co

Spiced Pumpkin Cider

Swap out the pumpkin puree with your own pumpkin goodness to make this luscious Halloween drink.

Brit + Co

Pumpkin Rolls

These luscious pumpkin rolls make for the ultimate cozy weekend breakfast! To make use of your pumpkin leftovers, swap the canned pumpkin puree for your own homemade version.

Brit + Co

Pumpkin Pasta

Get us a spoon! Nothing says comfort food like mac and cheese, but this pasta takes things up a notch. Fall is no better time than fall to nosh on homey eats that carry *all* the fall flavors.

Brit + Co

Pumpkin Curry

Make this pumpkin-packed curry however spicy you'd like it for a *totally* warming bite when it's chilly out!

Brit + Co

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These paleo-friendly baked bites scream fall, especially when you decorate them in jack-o'-lantern fashion.

Brit + Co

Pumpkin Juice

Whip up your very own pumpkin puree to dress up this seasonal drink!

Brit + Co

Chocolate Pumpkin Banana Bread

Freshly-baked banana bread is made for the fall season, so why not doctor things up with some pumpkin? Leverage your leftovers for a sweet little treat!

The Pioneer Woman

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Grab your pumpkin and get to work, because the good stuff is on the inside. Slice, scoop and de-seed your way to homemade pumpkin puree that'll knock *any* canned pumpkin product out of the patch.

Oh She Glows

The Perfect Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Once you've spilled the guts, work on gathering all of those pumpkin seeds. Not only do pumpkin seeds have nutritive value, they're excellent for munching on their own.

Taste & Tell

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

So, yeah… pumpkin, cinnamon and maple cream cheese all infused into a warm, sticky bun. We'll take two, please.

A Beautiful Mess

Overnight Pumpkin Butter

Once you've had the sweet and spicy taste of warm pumpkin butter hit your taste buds, you'll never look at a pumpkin the same way again. Grab a pumpkin and get digging, because these guts make something quite grand.

Modern Farmer

Hard Squash Hummus

Creamy chickpeas and raw pumpkin (instead of squash) combine for a flavorful spin on the classic dip. Reap the rewards of the pumpkin and score some 'oohs' and 'ahhs' by roasting the seeds for a crunchy garnish.

Ambitious Kitchen

Honey Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins

If you're a pumpkin lover, get on this recipe! They're perfect for dunking into chilis and stews, or if you like your cornbread on the sweet side, add a drizzle of melted butter and warm honey. (via Ambitious Kitchen)

Pizzazzerie

Pumpkin Bisque

Learn how to use a pumpkin as a serving vessel and flavor enhancer for superb dishes like this crisp fall bisque.

Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling

Martha knows a thing or two about pumpkin… like how excellent it is when you bake it into pillowy cookies sandwiched around sweetened cream cheese.

Skinnytaste

Pumpkin Ice Cream

It's October, and that means pumpkin-flavored everything hits supermarket shelves. If you live in a warmer area, you can forget the fuzzy sweaters and hot apple cider. Get your fall fix with this creamy sherbet that's perfectly spiced, made with milk, pumpkin puree, and spices.

She Wears Many Hats

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

You're drooling, right? This pumpkin dessert just might make it into your regular rotation.

Purely Twins

Pumpkin Pie Fudge Truffles

For the love of pumpkin and chocolate! These bite-sized truffles are basically magic in the mouth. Bibbity-bobbity-boo, do spread the love for a treat, and share this recipe with your friends.

The Girl On Bloor

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccinos

Starbucks is life, but if you want to save some money this week, whip up this delicious pumpkin spice Frappuccino recipe at home! Mash up your leftover pumpkin guts to make a puree that'll serve as the base for this fall drink.

The First Mess

Black Bean Dip with Roasted Squash, Garlic, Pumpkin Seeds and Chipotles

Your nachos are waiting for you to dip them into this delectable black bean dip with roasted squash, garlic, pumpkin seeds and chipotle peppers.

Half Baked Harvest

6-Ingredient Spiced Pumpkin Butter

Step up your pumpkin butter game with this recipe. It's a perfect alternative if you want to have a spiced buttery spread to top your breakfast toast or croissant.

The First Mess

Vegan Pumpkin Smoothie with Ginger and Cardamom

This vegan pumpkin smoothie with ginger and cardamom is the fall drink you didn't know you needed to make.

Barley & Sage

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

Let your pumpkin's guts help you create the creamy puree that gives this stuffed shell recipe a burst of fall flavor.

Salt & Lavender

Pumpkin and Cauliflower Soup with Ginger

This pumpkin and cauliflower soup with ginger is great comfort meal on the cold, rainy fall days. (via Salt & Lavender)

Fancy Peasant

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Let your kids help you scoop out out the guts of your pumpkins so you can bake this sweet treat. They'll love eating this yummy twist on a traditional dessert.

Rachel Mansfield

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Crumb Cheesecake

Bake this gluten-free pumpkin crumb cheesecake for Thanksgiving, and watch as it slowly becomes your family's favorite dessert.

Takes Two Eggs

Dog Birthday Cake

It's time to celebrate your fur baby's birthday with this delicious cake. It's filled with yummy and safe ingredients like pumpkin, peanut butter and apple sauce!

Recipes For Your Dog, Made With Leftover Pumpkin

White on Rice Couple

Pumpkin Dog Treats

Ifyour dog is as sweet as pumpkin pie, why not give him a bone that's packed with the flavor and nutrients of pumpkin?

DIY Self-Care With Pumpkin Guts

Brit + Co

Pumpkin-Honey Baking Soda Scrub

Welcome the fall season and brighten your skin without the aid of sunshine with this pumpkin body scrub. Rich in vitamins A and C and various enzymes, raw pumpkin is the secret ingredient to radiant skin.

Freutcake

Pumpkin Sugar Body Scrub

Want to try something magical on your skin? DIY thisbody scrub packed with natural enzymes that fight free radicals, slough away dead skin, and leave you feeling rejuvenated. Get to the kitchen and begin mixing nutrient rich, raw pumpkin with coarse sugar or salt, a bit of honey and sweet almond oil for a body scrub that packs a punch.

If you love pumpkin as much as we do, subscribe to our newsletter for the latest from Brit + Co!

This post has been updated.

If there's one day a year that you can guarantee your drinks to be gaudy and over-the-top, it's October 31, because there's nothing like a Halloween cocktail. They run the gamut from chic spiderweb martinis to seriously gross-looking (but tasty) fake-blood-infused tonics. Whether you're having a sophisticated and spooky Halloween dinner party or you're going crazy with a big Halloween bash, these cocktails are *exactly* what you need to keep your beverages on-theme.

When you're not entertaining yourself with fall baking or trying on your Halloween costume, play mixologist and try out one of these ghoulish drinks! Put on a classic horror film (or your go-to comfort TV show), and scroll your way through the goriest, spookiest, and most delicious cocktail recipes we have. Happy boo-zing!

@thespritzeffect

Speak Now Spritz

Very few combos scream "Halloween" like purple and glitter. This Halloween cocktail is totally magical, and it's so pretty, it's basically party decor! (via @thespritzeffectfor Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Vampire's Kiss Cocktail

This is one Halloween cocktail that tastes good *and* looks good. Add it to all your spooky get-togethers to totally freak out your guests. Bonus points if you're dressing up as a vampire for Halloween! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Cranberry Is The New Black Halloween Cocktail

Did you know that black vodka exists? Well, thankfully, it does, and it goes effortlessly into this sparkling cranberry drink. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Black & Orange Rum Punch

It's a Halloween party, so there has to be some orange and black on the menu. This delicious rum punch is a welcome change from all of those pumpkin drinks out there. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Blood Bones Halloween Cocktail

This campy cocktail is something your guests will be talking about all night. Prep your Jello bones ahead of time using some molds, and there's no need for any other garnish. Unless, of course, you want blood bags for the drinks. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Ghostly Halloween Cocktail

Turn your cocktail a ghoulish hue by mixing red and green food coloring together with Chambord. Dry ice added before serving makes the drink smoke like a spooky potion. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Apple Cide-Car

This spin on the classic Sidecar cocktail is like the grown up (and tastier) version of bobbing for apples. You can serve this Halloween cocktail hot or cold, depending on your preference. (via Brit + Co)

A Couple Cooks

Zombie Cocktail

This delicious drink uses rum for a fruity, tropical finish that will remind you of summer – even on Hallow's Eve. (via A Couple Cooks)

Half Baked Harvest

Apple Butter Old Fashioned

Put your fall stock of apple butter to good use in this Old Fashioned recipe. The tart-sweet apple flavor mellows out bourbon's fiery bite for smooth sipping all night long. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Chattavore

Prosecco Punch with Cranberry + Orange

Tangy cranberry and sweet orange set this Prosecco punch apart, giving it a festive harvest flair. Change up the cranberry and orange ratio until you find a mix that you like the best. (via Chattavore)

Sprinkles & Sprouts

Eyeball Martinis

Make your guests squirm with this ingenious Halloween hack. Stuff some Spanish olives into cocktail onions, and they look just like eyeballs – ready to grace your glass with gross. (via Sprinkles & Sprouts)

Madelynne Boykin of @BitesandBevsMedia

YoCo Vodka’s Monster Halloween Cocktail

To make this spooky sip, add 1 ½ oz YoCo Vodka, ¾ oz Lemon Juice, 1 oz Black Raspberry Liqueur, ½ oz Simple Syrup, and ½ tsp Activated Charcoal to a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with regular ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a glass, add 1 pea-sized Dry Ice Chip on top, and watch your "monster" come alive! (via YoCo Vodka)

Half Baked Harvest

Death Eater Negroni

This moody take on the Negroni is the drink your Harry Potter-themed party craves. (via Half Baked Harvest)

The Seasoned Mom

Hallowine Sangria

Here's a sweet sangria to add to your spooktacular holiday list! It's made with Cabernet Sauvignon, sugar, orange juice, orange liqueur, and club soda. Easy! (via The Seasoned Mom)

Culinary Hill

Spooky Punch

This tasty fruit punch gets a spooky upgrade when you swap the fruit garnishes for faux spiders. Serve in small glasses or go big with fancy goblets that would make Dracula proud. (via Culinary Hill)

Boulder Locavore

Glow-in-the-Dark Infected Brain Cocktail

If you're into the blood and gore of The Walking Dead or 28 Days Later, this bright concoction may be right up your alley. While it's not quite as eerie as a brain hemorrhage shot (eek!), this whole drink glows in the dark thanks to the tonic water, so serve it when the lights go out. (via Boulder Locavore)

Mi Campo Tequila

Pulparindo

Natali Villarruel, National Tequila Ambassador for Mi Campo crafted this stellar cocktail inspired by Halloween candy. “This drink is a throwback to my childhood growing up in Mexico and the Pulparindo candy we’d get on Halloween," she said. To make it, shake 1.5 oz Mi Campo Reposado, .5 oz Ancho Reyes Liqueur, and .5 oz lime juice with ice before straining into a glass. Top it with some Jarritos Tamarindo, and get ready to gulp! (via Mi Campo Tequila)

Half Baked Harvest

Haunted Orchard Cocktail

A mysterious rustling noise in the orchard... a mist creeping in between the trees... it sounds like after your apple picking adventure, you could use a drink! (via Half Baked Harvest)

The Cookie Rookie

Magic Cotton Candy Martini

Impress your friends with an alcoholic magic trick by playing magician mixologist at your party. Pour shaken grape juice and vanilla vodka over cotton candy, and watch it dissolve into a delicious syrup to sweeten your Halloween cocktail. (via The Cookie Rookie)

Elvie's

Toil & Trouble

Craving a Hallowen cocktail that's a bit more elevated? This recipe from Elvie's in Jackson, Mississippi infuses edible glitter into your holiday elixir. To make it, combine 1.5 oz black sesame-infused scotch, 0.5 oz Cathead Hoodoo Chicory liqueur,0.5 oz Cocchi sweet vermouth, and 2 dashes blood orange bitters with some edible glitter! (via Elvie's)

How Sweet Eats

Pomegranate Cider Mimosas with a Salted Caramel Rim

Start your Halloween celebration early by serving up these pomegranate cider mimosas. Of course, it wouldn't be trick-or-treating season without adding some candy to the mix with the salted caramel rim. (via How Sweet Eats)

Grand Marnier

Beetle Juice

This Halloween cocktail boasts a haunting blood red color, perfect for spooking your friends with. To make it, shake 1.5 oz Espolon Blanco tequila, 0.75 oz Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, 0.75 oz orange juice, 0.5 oz lime juice, and 0.5 oz beet syrup over ice. Strain the mix into an iced glass and garnish with an orange slice! (via Grand Marnier)

Clonakiilty Distillery

Clonakilty Witches Brew Cocktail

This drink pays homage to Ireland's myths and legends through the essence of Samhain, which is, essentially, the ancient Celtic version of Halloween! To make it, mix together 1.75 oz Clonakilty Port Cask Whiskey, .5 oz orange juice, a splash of ginger ale, and garnish it all with an orange slice. (via Clonakiilty Distillery)

Sprinkles & Sprouts

Witches Brew Cocktail

Use regular or black vodka to make this eerie cocktail. The recipe *also* includes a special hack for rimming the glasses with colorful sugar. It's scary good! (via Sprinkles & Sprouts)

Boulder Locavore

The Grave Digger Halloween Cocktail

This creepy cocktail mixes bourbon, hard cider, and ginger ale for a drink that will make even the scariest of demons disappear. (via Boulder Locavore)

The Girl On Bloor

Sour Frankenstein Halloween Cocktails

What makes these cocktails *so* delightfully sour? Homemade margarita mix, shaken with freshly squeezed limes. Oh, and that's not real blood on the rim — just a little corn syrup and red food coloring. (via The Girl On Bloor)

Best Friends for Frosting

The Quick Demise Halloween Cocktail

You wouldn't think that a drink with such a poisonous name would be good for you. With ingredients like carrot, lime, and orange juices, this cocktail is more likely to extend your life... rather than end it. (via Best Friends for Frosting)

A Beautiful Mess

Spider Bite Cocktail

Give the *illusion* of a spider's web, without having to deal with the real thing (or having to clean up a party prop!). This Halloween cocktail is bright and colorful, which is perfect for anyone who's not a huge fan of darker decor this time of year. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Half Baked Harvest

Vampire's Drip Cocktail

If vampires had access to these boozy milkshake-inspired cocktails, maybe they wouldn't be thirsting for blood all the time. Yum! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Ilegal Mezcal

Ilegal Mezcal Margarita de Granada

This spookily strong Halloween drink is powered by mezcal. To make it, add 2 oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven, 1 oz agave syrup, and 0.5 oz pomegranate juice to a shaker, shaking well until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice, garnish with pomegranate seeds and a lime wheel, and you're set to sip! (via Illegal Mezcal)

Boulder Locavore

Slow Cooker Vampire Punch

It's always a nice gesture to make a special drink for guests who don't consume alcohol. Simmer this mocktail punch in the slow cooker so they can help themselves whenever they get thirsty — it'll also make your house smell deliciously like cinnamon. (via Boulder Locavore)

Best Friends for Frosting

White Widow Halloween Cocktail

Sure, a black widow sounds scarier, but this white widow will knock you out with one swing (or swig, ha!). Garnish the top with a black gel icing web that will catch all of your Halloweentime prey. (via Best Friends for Frosting)

Pizzazzerie

Witch's Brew Cocktail Recipe

You certainly wouldn't catch any self-respecting witch with a single beer. She would most definitely be drinking a fabulous purple cocktail, complete with a glitter spider garnish. (via Pizzazzerie)

Growing Up Gabel

Pumpkin Beer-mosas

Pumpkin juice (like they drink in Harry Potter) is mixed with pumpkin beer for a brunch drink that's truly autumnal. (via Growing Up Gabel)

Kitchen Treaty

Candy Corn-Infused Vodka

Didn't think the all-time best Halloween candy (we know it's an unpopular opinion, but still, the right one) could get any better? This infused vodka will make you think again. (via Kitchen Treaty)

Diplomatico Rum

Diplomatico Rum Blood Moon Negroni

To craft this delicious Halloween negroni, stir 1 part Diplomatico Mantuano with 1 part sweet vermouth and 1 part of a bitter Italian aperitif over ice to chill. Strain into a rocks glass with a big block of ice, then garnish with grapefruit peel! (via Diplomatico Rum)

Crowded Kitchen

Poison Apple Cocktail

These spookily sour cocktails emulate everything you love about a margarita and make it Halloween-friendly. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Clean Cuisine

Pumpkin Margaritas

The season's favorite ingredient gets blended into a frozen sip that'll leave you with the spooks all Halloween long. (via Clean Cuisine)

A Spicy Perspective

Smoke & Mirrors Halloween Cocktail

Love a Halloween cocktail, but aren't a huge fan of spooky drink accessories? This sip is equal parts sweet and smokey, and features one of our favorite ingredients: orange blossom water. (via A Spicy Perspective)

The Edgy Veg

Halloween Punch with a Severed Hand

You can create an icy 'severed hand' using a glove for this big ol' bowl of spooks. (via The Edgy Veg)

Follow us on Pinterest for more wickedly delicious Halloween cocktail recipes, and check out these Halloween Drink Recipes For Any Age!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Additional reporting by Paige Johnson and Meredith Holser.

This post has been updated.

Halloween can be a whole lot of spooky fun for everyone. From creating the perfect DIY Halloween costume to updating your gallery wallto indulging in boo-zy Halloween cocktails all season long, it can be a very busy time of year, too. Here's a kitchen time-saver: no-bake Halloween treats! Tackle all your Halloween plans with these easy Halloween treats that are frightfully simple to make and fun for kids and adults alike – no oven necessary!

Brit + Co

Creepy Petit Fours

Nothing says 'Halloween' quite like a smattering of bite-sized blood. Shards of sugar make a super creepy cake topper for these tiny bites. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Blood and Bones Cocktail

What could be creepier than bone-inspiredjello shots? Let them float in a blood-red cocktail. Cheers! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Pumpkin S'moreos

Here's a crazy idea: combine summer's favorite treat with milk's favorite cookie and Halloween's favorite flavor. Yum, yum, yum. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

No-Bake Mummy Sponge Cake

Get ready to unleash your inner artist and freehand a mummy design with this delicious no-bake sponge cake recipe. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Frankengoblin Jello Shots

Oreos. Jello. Are you sensing a theme here? These cookie shooters will scare your socks off! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Homemade Candy Bars

In case your local grocery store is all out of your favorite Halloween candy, you can make your own! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Reese's Peanut Butter Shooters

Take your favorite Halloween candy up a notch with some chocolate vodka. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Gummy Worm Ice

Don't like creepy crawlers? Trap them in ice for the perfect Halloween cocktail garnish. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Candy Corn Popcorn

Since we can't enjoy candy corn year-round, let's go candy corn overboard this whole month. This no-bake Halloween treat doubles the fun with candy corn popcorn served in a tri-color waffle cone. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Candy Corn Jello Shots

Let your partygoers shoot back these tasty shots of festive color and scary spirit. Pro tip: always make extra shooters! (via Brit + Co)

Spooky Punch

Servings: 12

Prep time: 5 minutes

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups white tea, such asPOM Pomegranate Orange Blossom White Tea
  • 2 cups vodka, tequila, or gin
  • 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
  • 2 cups orange or mandarin juice
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 cups sparkling water
  • Lychees and oranges, sliced for garnish
  • Ice

Preparation:

  1. In a large bowl or pitcher, add white tea, spirit of choice, water, pineapple juice, mandarin juice and water.
  2. Stir to combine.
  3. Top with sparkling water, and garnish with lychees and orange slices.

Salt & Lavender

Halloween Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip

This is basically pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting in a bowl — the way it was meant to be eaten. (via Salt & Lavender)

Half Baked Harvest

Sweet and Salty Healthier Caramel Apples

While you do need to heat up the maple syrup, honey, cream, and vanilla to make the caramel, all you have to do after that is dip some apples into the caramel, and drizzle with chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Jodi Levine

Halloween Bats

Supplies:

  • Mandarins, such as Wonderful Halos
  • Food coloring markers
  • Scissors
  • Black heavyweight paper or card stock
  • Paring knife
  • Adhesive dots

Instructions:

  1. Draw jack-o-lantern faces onto the mandarins with the food coloring marker.
  2. Cut pairs of bat wings, leaving an extra bit – around ¼ inch – on the flat side to fold back and act as a tab. Add an adhesive dot to the tab to adhere each wing to the mandarin.
  3. Cut pairs of small triangles for ears. Use the knife to cut small shallow slits on the top of the mandarin and tuck in the ears. (via Jodi Levine)

Mom on Timeout

Easy Pumpkin Patties

Whip up these festive homemade candies for a treat that will put your actual Halloween candy to shame. Each bite is as buttery and sugary as the last! (via Mom on Timeout)

Something Swanky

Peanut Butter Candy Corn Bark

Just in case caramel's not your thing! Plus, you can't ever go wrong with pretzels and PB! (via Something Swanky)

Epicurean Mom

Spiderweb Cheesecake Halloween Treat

The itsy-bitsy spider... ended up on your Halloween cheesecake (that you didn't have to bake)! (via Epicurean Mom)

Homemaking Hacks

Halloween Chocolate Bars

Did you know you could make candy corn- and Oreo-filled brownies without using your oven? This is turning into the best Halloween ever. (via Homemaking Hacks)

Hungry Happenings

Black Cat Cookies

Our favorite thing about these ominous feline bites is that the cookies are pre-made and totally smothered in melted chocolate. Me-ow! (via Hungry Happenings)

A Bajillion Recipes

Butterfinger Fudge

Here's another homemade (and more adult-ish) spin on one of Halloween's staple sweets. (via A Bajillion Recipes)

Marin Mama Cooks

Homemade Almond Joy and Mounds Bars

It seems these candy bars only make an appearance come Halloween. But we're willing to bet the homemade kind will stick around all year. They're that good! (via Marin Mama Cooks)

Creme de la Crumb

Mummy Truffles

These mummy truffle bites don't have a trace of “scary," thanks to the decadent pumpkin cheesecake filling. (via Creme de la Crumb)

Healthful Pursuit

Vegan Twix Bars

Something tells us the word “healthy" never comes to mind when you're eating a Twix. That's all about to change with this no-bake vegan dessert. (via Healthful Pursuit)

Family Fresh Cooking

Cheerios and Chocolate Tart

You're never too old for a helping of Cheerios. Especially when they're looking at you from this jack-o'-lantern tart! (via Family Fresh Cooking)

Finding Zest

Halloween Monster Marshmallows

These sweet desserts are about as no-bake as it gets. Plus, you only need four ingredients: candy eyes, candy melts, oil, and marshmallows. (via Finding Zest)

The Semisweet Sisters

Halloween Spider Donuts

Here, you'll use not just one, but two donuts per treat: one traditional donut and one donut hole for the creepy-crawly spider. (via The Semisweet Sisters)

Shaken Together

No-Bake Sugar Wafer Frankenstein Cookies

For this DIY Halloween dessert, all you'll need are sugar wafers, candy melts, chocolate sprinkles, and candy eyes. Yes, if you haven't gotten the hint already: you need to buy some candy eyes! (via Shaken Together)

Sugar Spice and Family Life

Graveyard Dirt Cake Cups Halloween Treats

These layered cookie-and-pudding cups are to die for. See what we did there? (via Sugar Spice and Family Life)

Unicorn Hat Party

DIY Halloween Monster Apple Bites

This kid-friendly DIY treat is only *kinda* creepy. It's also really cute, and a surprisingly healthy Halloween snack, made from apples, peanut butter, strawberries, corn, and — you guessed it — candy eyes. (via Unicorn Hat Party)

Inside BruCrew Life

Peanut Butter Zombie Eyeballs

It may be hard to believe, but these super-cool zombie eyeballs are simple to make. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare them before your big party. They'll need at least an hour or two to make, including chill time in the fridge. (via Inside BruCrew Life)

Follow us on Pinterest and subscribe to our email newsletter for more Halloween treat ideas!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Theresa Gonzalez and Meredith Holser. Previous reporting by Miranda Eifler and Maggie McCracken.