Celebrate Fat Tuesday with Mardi Gras Jello Shots

Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

Whoever first decided to put pumpkin and brownies together needs some sort of reward. (via Brit + Co)

The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie

For your next all-Saturday Netflix session, surprise your binge TV-watching buddy with a pumpkin pie that tastes of pecans, cloves and Biscoff spread. It's the perfect thing to accompany your go-to comfort show. (via Brit + Co)

Spiked Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

Everything about this drink sounds like a good idea. Pumpkin? The perfect seasonal ingredient. Hot cocoa? Our favorite cold weather drink. Rum? A tasty (and optional) part of the recipe. Make this hot chocolate for your Halloween party, Friendsgiving, and beyond. (via Brit + Co)

Pumpkin Pie Cookies

It's a pie. It's a cookie. It's a pumpkin pie cookie! This loaded canned pumpkin dessert recipe is the perfect thing to make and bring to a party. (via Lifestyle of a Foodie for Brit + Co)

DIY Pumpkin Curry Recipe

If you like to warm up your evenings with curry, swap your usual ingredients for pumpkin puree to make it even more autumnal. This recipe is full of your usual veggies, plus some avocado and coconut milk. (via Brit + Co)

Double Chocolate Banana Pumpkin Bread

Banana bread is already a tasty idea for fall baking, but add in pumpkin *and* chocolate for something that is too good to pass up. Swap the chocolate ganache for chocolate chips if you want, or just add in both. (via Brit + Co)

Paleo Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe is like your favorite cookies, just a little bit healthier. These cute cookies even look like pumpkins! (via Brit + Co)

Chocolate Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats

Upgrade this childhood Rice Krispie Treat with a dab of chocolate and a pinch of pumpkin to turn them into something fall-approved. Colorful sprinkles are non-negotiable. (via Brit + Co)

The Pumpkin Trifecta

One can, three delicious pumpkin desserts? It's not magic. It's just the great pumpkin. Try one at a time over the next month or make all three for your next fall dinner party. (via Brit + Co)

Pumpkin Pie Frozen Yogurt

It's never too cold for fro-yo. With some canned pumpkin and spices, this recipe is only 100 calories and promises to satisfy your October cravings. Count us in! (via Brit + Co)

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Let's not forget our pooches. They deserve to gorge on gourd, too. Bonus points if you can find cute, dog-approved cookie cutters for this canned pumpkin recipie. (via Brit + Co)

French Toast Waffles Canned Pumpkin Recipe

Whoa. Pumpkin, French toast and waffles? This recipe is almost too good to be true. Talk about the ultimate Saturday morning breakfast! (via Brit + Co)

Pumpkin Spice Banana Bread

This easy banana bread is the yummiest excuse to use up ripe bananas and that can of pumpkin puree that's been sitting ini your cabinet for months. (via Brit + Co)

Apple Pumpkin Curry Soup

Get ready for a big spoonful of coziness. All of our favorite fall flavors are floating around this savory and sweet soup that makes for a great dinner anytime you're feeling cold. (via Brit + Co)

Pumpkintini

Who would've thought that you could make a PSL into a cocktail? Genius! (via Brit + Co)

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Eating pie for breakfast is not a wise choice. Making your breakfasttaste like pie is. You won't want to go back to normal oatmeal after you try this recipe. (via Brit + Co)

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Fall-ify your morning smoothie with a little pumpkin and a little spice. (via Brit + Co)

One Pot Cheesy Pumpkin Pecan Pasta

If you thought pumpkin couldn't be added to a cheesy pasta, this is proof that it definitely can. Pecans add a little bit of crunch, and while this recipe is already meatless, you can make it with dairy-free cheese to turn it into something magically vegan. (via Brit + Co)

Pumpkin Pie Cobbler

Forget apple cobbler this fall. Try this pumpkin cobbler that's baked… inside a pumpkin. Mind = blown. (via Brit + Co)

White Chocolate Pumpkin Mousse With Spiked Whipped Cream

Thanksgiving Day already has your oven working overtime. Give it a break by serving up this delicious pumpkin-y no-bake dessert. Not only will it allow your kitchen to take it easy but you also won't be sweating over the stovetop. (via Brit + Co)

Pumpkin Donuts

These sugar-covered donuts are made from cake mix and canned pumpkin. Trust us: you do have time to make them. They're just that good. (via Betty Crocker)

Spiced Pumpkin Yogurt Parfaits

If you're looking for a way to add pumpkin to your morning routine, you found it. Use Greek yogurt and honey granola to make yourself a healthy breakfast. (via Cookin' Canuck)

Pumpkin, Pineapple and Rum Cocktail

At your next soirée, warm everyone up with this sweet and sour cocktail. (via Cookie and Kate)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Pillow Popovers

These pillow popovers will melt in your mouth, filling it with flavors of pumpkin and cheesecake. Our mouths are already watering for this canned pumpkin dessert. (via Willowbird Baking)

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

Sometimes, you just need a PSL. Don't want to get out of your PJs to make that happen? This recipe = problem solved. You can make it right in the comfort of you own kitchen, especially if you have your own at-home coffee bar. (via Chocolate Covered Katie)

Pumpkin Pie In A Jar

We're sure that everyone has wished for their own personal-sized pumpkin pie at some point in their life. Make that dream come true with these no-bake pies in a jar! (via Life, Love and Sugar)

Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches

There isn't much in this world that compares to homemade ice cream. Except maybe homemade pumpkin ice cream sandwiches between homemade chocolate chip cookies. (via The Tart Tart)

Pumpkin Reeses

While Reeses are delicious all by themselves, replacing peanut butterwith pumpkin is the best idea we've heard all month. You can add a pinch of salt to round out the flavor. (via Chocolate-Covered Katie)

Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Rolls

Wake up to deliciousness and pumpkin pie with these cinnamon rolls. We'll take two… pans. (via Diethood)

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

If variety is the spice of life, then these cookies are everything. You can easily alter the flavor by using chocolate chips or cranberries or… wait for it… pumpkin seeds! (via Sally's Baking Addiction)

Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts

Do you have a strict morning routine? Make these Pop Tarts ahead of time for some pumpkin on the go if you don't have time to make a huge breakfast. (via Call Me PMC)

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

Realice cream plus canned pumpkin equals a super scrumptious twist on classic pumpkin pie. (via Averie Cooks)

Pumpkin and Peach Muffins

Who'd have thought these two orange ingredients would go so well together? You better be snatching up those peaches while you can. (via Eva Bakes)

Pumpkin Coffee Cake Donuts

These donuts will pair perfectly with your steaming cuppa. Pair with pumpkin spice tea or a PSL for the ultimate pumpkin experience. (via Delightfule Made)

Pumpkin-Spiced Walnut Butter

Alright, stop, collaborate and listen. Spice is back with a brand new invention. You've just gotta try this butter on your next bagel. (via Desserts With Benefits)

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

With the crazy baking season, who has hours and hours to spend baking? This cake may look complicated, but it's actually incredibly easy, which automatically gets a thumbs-up from us. Plus, who can resist a crumb topping like that? (Not us.) (via Bakerita)

Autumn Granola Canned Pumpkin Recipe

This pumpkin-y granola combines lots of flavors to create a breakfast you'll be craving all season long. Swap out some of the ingredients come winter to keep things seasonal. (via The Chic Life)

Maple Fudge Canned Pumpkin Recipe

Hand this fudge out to all of your trick or treaters, and don't be surprised when word on the street gets out that you've got the best treats on the block. (via The Sweet Chick)

Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake Cones

'Tis the season for bonfires, and ice cream cones make the ideal vehicle for a delectable cheesecake treat that can be eaten (quickly!) around the fire. (via Country Cleaver)

Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes

These pancakes are a fabulous healthy way to refuel after a morning workout. Just go lighter on the syrup, or get your sweetness by adding some semi-sweet chocolate chips in each cake. (via Daily Burn)

Pumpkin Creme Brulee

Crusty top, creamy middle, pumpkin taste — now that's a dessert worth breaking a diet for. (via Baking a Moment)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

This warm, gooey and chocolatey take on a delicious pumpkin loaf bread is a heaven sent option for those who love combining their favorite fall flavors together. (via Woman Scribbles)

Pumpkin Maple Pecan Granola With Cranberries

Add a different texture to your pumpkin maple pecan granola with cranberries. Its sweet and crunchy flavor will pair well with morning cereal or yogurt bowls. (via Vanilla and Bean)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Cheesecake is one of those classic desserts that will probably never go away – not that we want it to. To spice things up, try baking these sweet pumpkin cheesecake bars. (via Averie Cooks)

Instant Pot Pumpkin Chili

A warm bowl of chili on a crisp fall day is enough to bring a smile to anyone's face, but did you know you could add pumpkin to it? For something that's a little spicy yet savory, make this Instant Pot pumpkin chili for the family this weekend! (via Bowl of Delicious)

Chicken and Pumpkin Risotto

We live for comfort foods like this chicken and pumpkin risotto. It's light and flavorful, making every spoonful a delight to taste. (via Where Is My Spoon?)

Pumpkin Spice Macarons

Macarons are another fan favorite that deserve their chance to be baked this fall. Bake this pumpkin spice recipe for your upcoming Halloween party! (via Barley & Sage)

If you're not of trick-or-treating age anymore, and also don't have little ones of your own yet to rack up a pumpkin full of candy for the whole family, you might be wondering how to get your sweet tooth fix this holiday season. We've curated some truly next-level Halloween cake recipes you can create to get your spooky season off to a chilling start.

The best part about the Halloween cakes ahead? They are the *perfect* conversation starter for any parties you might attend, plus you can also leverage these ideas for October birthdays or for your friends who embody spooky vibes all year long.

Keep scrolling for all of the iconic Halloween themes in edible form, from Jack-o'-lanterns and graveyard dirt cakes, to desserts with spiderwebs, bats, creepy eyeballs, blood, gore, and more! And don't worry – we have some picture-perfect holiday cake recipes in the mix as well for the scaredy cats out there. Bon appetit!

Moist Black Velvet Cake

Red velvet cake is a staple during birthdays and holidays, but have you ever tried its darker sister? She still has the same moist feel and taste you love, but the black cocoa, buttercream, and white food coloring add to her appearance. Top it off with flying bats and your guests will love staring at it at your party.

Bloody Broken Glass Cupcakes

Someone wasn't careful while baking and ended up cutting their fingers on the broken glass sticking out of these cupcakes. The horror!

All jokes aside, this dessert is perfectly spooky and edible because it features ganache, sugar glass, and 'blood' you can feast on. It'll be a good idea to dress up as a sexy vampire who has fangs to really spook your guests!

Effortless No-Bake Mummy Sponge Cake

Sponge cakes aren't usually this spooky, but there's no reason they can't be! Between us, mummies aren't always talked about during Halloween so this dessert gives you a reason to celebrate them.

You'll need ingredients like powdered sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, salted butter, and flour to create the cake. Next, you'll combine white vanilla frosting and large candy eyeballs for the mummy design. Put it all together and you have the spongiest Halloween cake ever!

Meringue Bone Palace Halloween Cake

Not to be attempted by the faint of heart (meringue is known to be one of the trickiest substances to work with), this creative cake is completely inspired by skeleton bones. Oh, and by the way, underneath all those bones, you'll find a decadent (and equally visually stunning) bright red velvet cake.

Neon Confetti Cake

Light up any darkened room with a *shockingly* bright Halloween dessert. Treat guests to this neon cake, and throw in some other glow-in-the-dark decorations to really make it shine.

Spooky Cake Balls

Here's an easy cake recipe to whip up in a hot minute when you don't feel like making an entire cake. Your guests won't be able to resist the spooky eyeballs and mini mummies.

Oreo Brownie Trifle

Turn this simple trifle into something spooky: layer brownies, chocolate pudding, whipped topping, and crushed Oreo cookies in a cake pan. Top the stack with *extra* crushed Oreos and write on the Milano cookie “tombstones” with homemade icing. Add some gummy worms to amp up the creep factor!

Forbidden Forest Chocolate Butterbeer Cake

Pretend it's the Halloween feast at Hogwarts and serve up a cake that's inspired by the intriguing and terrifying Forbidden Forest. After an adventure in there, you definitely deserve chocolate.

Black Cocoa Halloween Layer Cake

Wow your guests with this black cocoa Halloween cake that's covered in black cocoa buttercream, marshmallow spiderwebs, and ghost meringues! It's delicious *and* spectacular looking.

Stenciled Halloween Sprinkle Cake

What better way to incorporate a fun gradient into your Halloween cake than with this absolutely stunning dessert? It features ombre-toned buttercream frosting and a delicious vanilla yellow cake. You can *also* easily repurpose this recipe throughout the year by switching out the stencil design color theme.

Monochrome Cake

Channel your inner Beetlejuice when you decorate this monochrome black-and-white cake – just don't look too long at those spirals, or you might find yourself hypnotized! This elegant Halloween cake uses melted dark chocolate and vanilla for contrasting colors, plus an extra black gel food coloring to provide the rich dark shade.

Pink and Gold Pumpkin Cakes

If you've got a bright, pastel aesthetic to uphold, these pumpkin spice cakes draped with pastel-colored fondant and edible gold offer a fancy fall treat.

Halloween Cookies and Cream Cake

Oreo-filled vanilla cake, cookies and cream frosting, dark chocolate ganache, and a heap of seasonal candies make this one decadent dessert you simply can't pass on making. To decorate the layers, you'll make a chocolate ganache with heavy cream, chocolate chips, and corn syrup. Then, add some Oreo pieces, sprinkles, candy corn, Peeps, and the whole she-bang.

No-Bake Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake

Pumpkin-flavored cheesecakes are one of the main dessert staples of the fall season. The best part about this recipe? It's no-bake! Plus, with a prep time and cook time of 10 minutes each, you can have a delicious treat ready to set in the fridge in 20 minutes. This pumpkin spice cheesecake features all the classic fall flavors like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and ground cloves.

Salted Caramel Apple Snickers Cake

This is one of our favorite Halloween cakes to bake and serve with a side of apple-bobbing games and spiked apple cider. It's perfected with applesauce to make it *sort of* healthy... but you'll still you dump some ooey-gooey salted caramel sauce all over the cake and apples.

Nightmare Before Christmas Cake

If you're a Tim Burton fan, you *have* to try this. What better way to celebrate one of the coolest movies ever than by showcasing your fandom with this artsy and spooky Halloween cake idea? And best of all, it'll only take you 45 minutes to tackle this spook-tacular sweet.

Unicorn Halloween Jack-o'-Lantern Cake

If you have younger kids, rockin' with traditional Halloween cake themes can be pretty scary. Shake things up by offering this sweet unicorn instead of the usual creepy fare. Bonus points if you match your Halloween unicorn costume to this treat!

Candy Corn Tuxedo Cake

The creepy exterior of this cake cuts away to a whimsically colorful surprise on the inside. Inspired by s'mores-flavored candy corn, this Halloween cake is one no one can turn down. The harvest colors definitely bring an autumn feel to the recipe that you can break out long past Halloween, and this one reads more cute-spooky instead of scary-spooky, if that's your preferred vibe.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake

Halloween doesn't have to just be about darkness and ghouls. It's also perfectly fine to celebrate with a bright autumnal vibe, as with this beautiful pumpkin spice cake!

Slime Cake

This dark chocolate cake has a shocking contrast in color, thanks to its lime green buttercream frosting. Here's the secret to the dramatic combo: the chocolate is made extra-dark with black food coloring. On the inside, there's layered neon green pudding to provide an ooey-gooey texture that makes perfect sense for the slime factor.

Skeleton Piñata Cake

Fill your Halloween cake with almond bark-based bones for a scary (and delicious) surprise. Start with a succulent red velvet cake base for the inside, then use ready-made fondant for the skeleton design on top.

Orange Cream Cake with Chocolate Ganache

Layer cakes always feel special, especially when they're made with bright orange and dark black cake and frosting for Halloween! Cutting that first slice is bound to make you smile.

Melted Witch Cake

Uh-oh — it looks like Dorothy came to visit this melting witch! The secret to the dripping look is whipping up some dark chocolate ganache. (via The First Year)

Halloween Candy Mug Cake

Once your kids go to bed, sneak some of their Halloween candy for yourself. You'll be on your way to whipping up a fast and tasty mug cake for one!

Boo Surprise Inside Cake

Surprise your guests with a secret message inside their dessert. It sounds complicated, but this one is actually quite easy to make when you follow the notes.

Black Velvet Cake

This ghoulish Halloween cake gets topped with little white chocolate ghosties that can be equally creepy or cute, depending how you make them at home.

Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cake

How adorable is this? Create your very own pumpkin patch with instant pudding, Oreo crumbs, and mini pumpkin candies.

Salted Caramel Upside Down Cake

Caramel apples may no longer be acceptable as a trick-or-treating sweet, but you can enjoy the flavors of this classic autumnal treat in cake form instead.

Halloween Witch Hat Cupcakes

Though these individual treats don't make a full cake, they are perfect for serving a crowd at your Halloween get-togethers.

Spiderweb S'mores Cheesecake Brownies

Repeat after us: there is no such thing as too much of a good thing. Smash together all of your favorite desserts and you get an elaborate concoction that is alone worth celebrating during Halloween.

Vegan Zombie Cupcakes

These freaky bites will turn out so impressive, you won't want to sink your teeth into them.

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

• Gifts for Him
• Gifts for Her
• Gifts for Foodies
• DIY + Handmade Gifts
• White Elephant Gifts
• Gift Sets

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!