The 34 Best Scary Halloween Recipes Guaranteed To Freak Out Your Party Guests

34 easy halloween recipes

You're starting to think about your haunting party invites, completing your DIY Halloween costume, and planning those spooky table settings, but what about cooking spooky-scary Halloween recipes? Bloody meringue bones and witch fingers and dip will get your guests hungrier than a zombie in a morgue. There are a lot of sweets on the menu, but you won't be stuck with just leftover trick-or-treating candy.

Get ready for some seriously startling recipes and ideas that'll have you and your guests doing a double-take. Keep your defibrillator handy, because these terrifying treats are not for the faint of heart.

Spooki-licious Halloween Recipes

Brit + Co

Mummy Pizzas

Trick your kids into eating their veggies by turning zucchini ribbons into tasty mummy bandages atop French bread pizzas. Take advantage of the Halloween holiday to get extra playful and silly with your food. To start this dish, grab ciabatta rolls or similar rectangular rolls, sun-dried tomato pesto or pizza sauce, grated mozzarella cheese, small zucchinis, and black olives. Halve the bread rolls, add your sauce of choice, sprinkle with cheese and use a vegetable peeler to cut the zucchini into thin ribbons that can be haphazardly placed on the roll at different angles. Use the sliced olives for eyes, and bake for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then you can mummy out! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Ghoulish Red Velvet Cake

Bloody bones, crumbled red velvet, lots of sugar — this dessert is everything a Halloween treat should be. You'll need a few hours to make the cake, frosting and bones from scratch in the DIY masterpiece. Check your pantry and refrigerator for butter, sugar, eggs, flour, cocoa powder, buttermilk, vanilla extract, white vinegar, baking soda and cake release spray for the cake; egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar for the bones; and mascarpone, icing sugar, heavy cream and blackberry syrup for the for the frosting. As far as supplies goes, it'll also be helpful to have a mixer, piping bags, cake stand, a few mixing bowls and a measuring jug. (via Brit + Co)

Brilliant Bites by Maegan Brown

Mummy Meatballs

These meatballs take on the flavors of your favorite pasta dish. The eyeballs, crafted from ricotta cheese and black olive bits, add in the spooky factor! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Spooky Halloween Popsicles

Autumn weather is notoriously unpredictable. Make a batch of spooky frozen pops in case you find yourself sweating through your monster mask. Your ingredient list for these includes a bar of dark chocolate, heavy whipping cream, a can of coconut milk, condensed milk, a pack of candy googly eyes, and popsicle molds. Also, be sure to set aside about four hours to complete this Halloween party food idea. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Bug Tuxedo Cake

This bug-covered cake is gorgeous, but it will absolutely creep out your friends and loved ones. We imagine this is what they served when Beetlejuice tried to marry Lydia. For this Halloween menu item, grab a chocolate cake mix, white chocolate, butter, powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla. This recipe will yield a four layer cake with thick frosting and thick chocolate ganache poured over the top. Mm, yum! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Spider Halloween Cookies

These creepy crawlies actually carry everything that's great about dessert – peanut butter and chocolate! They're easy to make after you bake the cookie base. Simply press a PB cup into the dough and decorate accordingly. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Raw Avocado Zombie Bars

Unlike zombies, vegans don't eat brains, or any other food that comes from an animal for that matter. Instead, serve them up some raw, vegan avocado zombie bars for a healthy treat. You'll get about 16 servings with this recipe, which requires Medjool dates, raw almonds, cocoa powder, coconut oil, avocados, agave nectar, coconut oil, a blender or food processor and an 8x8 inch brownie pan. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Petri Dish Jello Shots

Usually we avoid putting germs in our body, but these Jell-O shot petri dishes look so good, we just can't resist having one for dessert. Oh, and they're make-ahead, leaving you more time to work on your costume. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Blood Bones Cocktail

These bones are anything but dry in this spooky cocktail! Spike your punch bowl with bones made from Jell-O shot ingredients, including whipped cream vodka. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Halloween Avocado Toast

What's more terrifying than millennials spending all their hard-earned cash on avocados and destroying the real estate industry? Turning those avos into totally freaky breakfast toasts, of course. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

White Chocolate Strawberry Lab Mice

October 31 is the only time of year when seeing mice in the kitchen is actually a good thing. After all, they're made from strawberries and white chocolate! This make-ahead treat is easy to put together and ideal for a mad scientist themed spooky party.

For this Halloween recipe, all you need are strawberries, white chocolate melting wafers, and red food coloring. Set a few of the wafers aside to be used as mouse ears, and melt the rest in the microwave-safe dish for about 30 seconds. Then dip your strawberries into the melty chocolate and place on a flat plate or surface to help them keep their shape. As the chocolate starts to set, place two wafer on top of each strawberry for the ears. To achieve the spooky red eyes, mix red food dye into the remaining melted chocolate and use a fork or toothpick to pick up the color and complete the look. For more mad scientist Halloween food ideas, check out this lime green petri dish jello shot recipe. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Black Martinis

Despite its witchy vibes, this cocktail is sweeter than it seems. It gets its dark color from blackberries, Chambord, and a drop of food coloring. We imagine this something that someone from the Netherworld in Beetlejuice 2 would drink while creating their own brand of chaos. (via Brit + Co)

These Easy & Scary Halloween Recipes Will Spook Your Party Guests

Brit + Co

Midnight Galaxy Donut Holes

Howl at the full moon while snacking on glorious galaxy swirl donut holes. Just make sure you bring enough to share with the werewolves. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Halloween Monster Sushi Bites

Get the kids to help decorate these monstrous sushi bites, and they might actually forget about candy for a while. They feature friendlier versions of Frankenstein, Jack Skellington, and a seemingly disgruntled pumpkin. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Eyeball and Mummy Cake Balls

Nothing like popping an eyeball in your mouth for a sweet snack, right? It's just the dessert you need if you plan to scare the little people in your life. They'll probably sleep with both eyes shut super tight in case they think you've run out of eyeballs to snack on. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Blood-Splattered Petit Fours

Pound cake squares and sugar glass sounds totally scrumptious to us. Those who faint at the sight of blood might want to skip this one, though. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Bloody Meringue Bones

You don't need any special ingredients to make realistic edible blood. Frozen blackberries, sugar, and lemon juice do the trick nicely. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Black + Orange Rum Punch

This rum punch is on the tamer side of the spooky drinks you can serve at your Halloween party. It's a black and orange cocktail that'll only make your guests look at it sideways while drinking it. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

(Gummy) Worm Ice Cubes

For a Halloween cocktail trick and treat, add gummy worms to your guests' ice. They'll enjoy watching the worms float in their black and orange rum punch drinks. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Monster Eye-Scream Cookies

If you like cute more than creepy, these adorable ice cream cookies have your name written all over them. Grab your favorite sugar cookie recipe, royal icing in a variety of colors, and fondant for homemade candy eyes if you can't find the store-bought kind.

You can DIY candy eyes by rolling out fondant and using straws to cut out uniform small circles. Once the fondant dries, you can add on black dots with an edible market to finish the eyes and set aside. Then, before you bake your cookie dough of choice, use cookie cutters to create fun and cute shapes in the dough like hearts, triangles, stars, and more.

Think about the colors you want to use for your designs (we opted for a pastel palette with pink, yellow, peach, and blue), and dye the royal icing as needed to match your desired hues. Then get to work on decorating your cute scary monster cookies! (via Brit + Co)

Texanerin Baking

Whole Wheat Witch Fingers + Dip

Talk about scary Halloween snacks! Healthy and Halloween don't have to be mutually exclusive. Serve this on days when you're not feeling the sweet stuff. (via Texanerin Baking)

A Spicy Perspective

Halloween Monster Donuts

Kids can make their own frightful Halloween Monster Donuts over pre-made glazed donuts in this yummy no-bake dessert or breakfast. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Half Baked Harvest

Voldemort's Dark Serum

Harry Potter fans will delight in this spooky Halloween cocktail made with a mix of pomegranate juice, tequila, Chambord (raspberry liquor), lemon, and warming sage. Whip up some other Harry Potter Cocktails That Will Stupefy Your Muggle Friends too! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Boulder Locavore

Slow-Cooker Vampire Punch

Have chills running up and down your spine? Ghouls of all ages can sip on this non-alcoholic crimson punch. For a more potent potion, add rum. To master this recipe and round out your Halloween menu, you'll need a slow cooker, five minutes to mix all the ingredients, and three hours of patience to let it brew. Hawaiian Punch, ginger ale, and Red Hot Candies are the hero ingredients here. To take this to the next level on the spook-scale, use dry ice for a smoky vibe. (via Boulder Locavore)

Salty Canary

Jack-o-Lantern Pumpkin Ice Cream

Halloween heatwaves don't stand a chance against cones of grinning, grimacing pumpkin ice cream. Besides, everyone loves seeing pumpkins take on a life of their own during the spookiest month of the year! (via Salty Canary)

Half Baked Harvest

Haunted Orchard Cocktail

After tip-toeing through a haunted orchard, who wouldn't crave a cocktail to calm the nerves? (via Half Baked Harvest)

Domestic Gothess

Jack-o-Lantern Personal Pies

Carve pie crust jack-o-lanterns to top these personal pies. (via Domestic Gothess)

Jelly Toast

Spider Web Cereal Treats

Jazz up your usual cereal treats with a thick layer of chocolate ganache and a web of icing on top. Simple, spooky, and superb. (via Jelly Toast)

Salty Canary

Halloween Monster Popcorn

When stocking your Halloween pantry, you'd better buy edible googly eyes in bulk. Add them to everything from popcorn to oatmeal to instantly make your meal mortifying. (via Salty Canary)

Domestic Gothess

Witches' Finger Cookies and Red Velvet Hot Chocolate

Name a more iconic duo than witch finger cookies and red velvet hot chocolate — we'll wait. This Halloween recipe uses a buttery shortbread dough for knobby fingers, blanched almonds for fingernails, cinnamon for dirt and red food coloring to get the gory bleeding look. The coolest and creepiest part of this dish is the red velvet hot chocolate dipping sauce that looks like a goblet of blood.

Some quick tips: Once your cookie dough is ready to go, you'll want to measure out 1/2 tablespoon quantities of the dough, roll them into a ball, and then into a log shape. Be sure to make them quite thin as they were spread in the oven while baking. For the knuckle indentations, use a knife to make the ridges. (via Domestic Gothess)

Half Baked Harvest

Boo! Spooky Monster Chocolate Covered Pretzel Brownies

This is one of the easiest Halloween recipes you'll make this year and it's not scary to eat! Okay, the angry owl eye might rub someone the wrong way so we'll give you that. But, guests will forget all about it once they taste the sweet combo of instant coffee powder, vanilla extract, and milk chocolate! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Curbly

Halloween Bark Recipe

Dark chocolate and bloody red candy melts combine to make this popcorn bark a spooky treat. (via Curbly)

Give it Some Thyme

Spooky Chocolate Glazed Cannoli Dip

When faced with a vat of chocolate glazed cannoli dip, the only thing we have to fear is our appetite. (via Give it Some Thyme)

Cilantro Parsley

Graveyard Dessert

This ghostly dessert will haunt your guests taste buds with how yummy it tastes. (via Cilantro Parsley)

Want more delicious and scary Halloween recipes? Subscribe to our newsletter for more mealtime inspo and follow us on Pinterest for all the inspiration.

This post has been updated.

Nothing rings in the season better than Christmas cocktails. While some folks pine for next-level hot chocolate recipes, others are longing for sweet and spiced cider cocktails for a plethora of reasons. Perhaps it’s to get through an awkwardwork mixer, or maybe it’s the only way you can tolerate a certain in-law. Regardless of your situation, these 18 festive Christmas cocktail recipes are guaranteed to make you feel warm, fuzzy and in high spirits.

Brit + Co Christmas Cocktail Recipes

Brit + Co

Chocolate Martini

Did someone order a boozy chocolate drink? If so, your best bet is to serve them this scrumptious chocolate martini. This mix of chocolate liqueur, vodka, and more will make them feel so toasty. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail

Santa may want an alternative to milk and cookies when he comes to visit. To give him a proper send-off, leave this Christmas cocktail beside the peppermint bark you baked earlier in the evening. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Christmas Margarita

This Christmas cocktail recipe just sent a shiver down our spines! It's a tasteful blend of Grand Marnier, cranberry juice, tequila, and a splash of tequila. It's perfect for anyone who's taking a non-traditional approach to Christmas! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Peppermint White Russian

Peppermint cocktail recipes are mandatory if you're wiped out by the Elf On The Shelf festivities. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Peppermint White Christmas

This Christmas cocktail has the perfect blend of peppermint and vanilla, but get this — your guests' taste buds won't see this flavor coming! It makes for a pleasant surprise that'll have them asking for more. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Winter Aperol Spritz

A light and refreshing Aperol spritz is just the thing you need after spending time cooking a cozy Christmas eve dinner. (via Brit + Co)

Other Christmas Cocktail Recipes

The Sweetest Occasion

Hula on Ice

This is *the* cocktail you need this holiday season. With bright notes of pineapple and coconut meddling with spiced rum, chai and a tea-based syrup, this drink is easy to make and perfect for any gathering — big or small. (via The Sweetest Occasion)

Highwalls

Rum-Soaked Cherry Soothers

Fresh cherries and rum. That’s it — and that’s all you’ll ever want after you sip on one of these beauty shooters. This sweet and spiced drink is a fantastic boozy dessert or nightcap for the holiday season. (via Highwalls)

Garlic and Zest

Ruby Thyme Spritzer

We love brunch and we love cocktails — who doesn’t? But there’s more to choose from than the usual mimosas, Bellinis and Bloody Marys. This spritzer combines your morning fruit juice with fresh thyme to create a herbaceous cocktail that will pair wonderfully with your waffles or eggs benny. (via Garlic and Zest)

Boulder Locavore

Candy Cane Cocktail With Homemade Candy Cane Infused Vodka

\We’re used to seeing the candy cane incorporated into desserts and hot cocoas, but cocktails? Sign us up! This ruby-hued drink is as festive as it gets. (via Boulder Locavore)

Bijoux and Bits

Gingerbread White Russian

This rich and creamy classic gets a nice kick with the addition of ginger beer. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, gingersnaps get an invitation to the party too. Milk and cookies, please take a back seat. (via Bijoux and Bits)

Pizzazzerie

Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

If your heart lies with fall flavors — even around the winter holidays — these apple cider sangrias are a fab way to indulge. They’re crisp, refreshing and won’t weigh you down. (via Pizzazzerie)

Cafe Delites

Berry Limoncello Sangria

Nothing can brighten up a drink more than the tang and sweetness from limoncello. This fruity and flavorful sangria brings berries to the equation for a full flavor that can’t be denied. This just *might* end up being your go-to sangria from now on. (via Cafe Delites)

The Blond Cook

Jack Frost Cocktail

This icy blue drink is totally as delish as it looks! Though we’ll admit, the blue Curacao, pineapple juice and coconut cream will tease you with a hint of summer. (via The Blond Cook)

Kate la Vie

Salted Caramel White Russians

If your love for cocktails knows no bounds and adventure is your middle name, these sweet and herbaceous drinks will be a slurp-worthy dream come true. Traditional White Russians get dolled up with amaretto, a drizzle of salted caramel sauce and some chocolate and rosemary for extra WOW factor. (via Kate la Vie)

The Adventures of Bob and Shan

Eggnog Cocktail

It’s not really the holidays until you break out that ‘nog. This spiced, rich and creamy delicacy is yearned for all year long, so celebrating its arrival makes sense — and adding it to a cocktail is *clearly* the only way to celebrate. (via The Adventures of Bob and Shan)

I'm Bored Let's Go

Christmas Cookie Martini

A cookie-inspired martini is apparently a thing, and we are losing our collective minds. If you’re not into baking but most definitely into drinking, let this be your dessert. (via I’m Bored Let’s Go)

Vanilla and Bean

Bourbon Apple Cider Shrub Cocktails

A shrub takes some planning and some patience, but boy-oh-boy is it ever worth the wait. Apples and bourbon become buddies in this elixir, and it’s kind of the best thing ever. (via Vanilla and Bean)

Follow us on Pinterest for more exciting cocktail inspo!

Lead image via Brit + Co

This post has been updated.

"What would you do if your entire family, and your hometown, set you up to find love?" That's the question Ashley Williams poses in the first Small Town Setup trailer, coming to Hallmark+ in 2025. And if anyone has the answer, I have no doubt it's Hallmark — if anyone knows about warm, cozy, and sappy romance it's them! Even if you're not a huge reality dating show fan (or if you couldn't stop watching Reese Witherspoon's Love in Fairhope) this is one January TV show you won't want to miss.

Here's everything we know about Hallmark's dating show Small Town Setup, hosted by Ashley Williams.

'Small Town Setup' puts you right in a Hallmark movie.

All six episodes of Small Town Setup premieres on Hallmark+ on Thursday, January 2, 2025, and is hosted by Ashley Williams, who you'll recognize from movies like Falling Together and Two Tickets to Paradise as well as How I Met Your Mother.

Just like your favorite Hallmark movies are all about finding love, Small Town Setup focuses on singles coupling up. The show will follow a single who "has made it in the big city, but has yet to find love." And their concerned parents (definitely a Hallmark trope and an IRL trope...) get the whole neighborhood involved in finding three potential matches.

"When the singleton arrives home for a visit, they are presented with dating options curated by their hometown. After three dates, will they find love in their hometown? Or head back to the big city? All is revealed at a big town hall event, full of heart, warmth, and a few laughs along the way."

Okay, getting the entire town involved in my love life sounds crazy, but the whole community coming together for a town hall event sounds exactly like the kind of sweet and sappy event my life needs. (Listen!! Dating as a 20-something in the city is harder than I expected...)

Throughout the trailer we see our singles looking for love around their hometown, going on small town dates, and finding connection in the most unexpected places. Yeah...I'll be tuning in — especially since Small Town Setup is totally giving Gilmore Girls.

Check out the 11 New January 2025 Movies Viewers Will Adore — and you'll want to add to your calendar ASAP!

Christmas is right around the corner, and we know everyone’s ready to par-tay. Whether you’ll be hosting a bash or two, or attending as a dinner party guest, leave thecookies and cocktails to someone else. Instead, bring out a sweet treat that’s guaranteed to get the most OMGs – cupcakes. You simply can’t go wrong with cute Christmas cupcakes — especially when they feature adorable Santa hats, sugary Frosty faces, and comical Rudolph noses.

Here are the tastiest, most crafty Christmas cupcakes for sprucing up the holiday dessert table this year.

Brit + Co

Melting Snowmen Cupcakes

Save these snowman Christmas cupcakes from melting by simply scarfing 'em down! The entire holiday party will go bonkers over the detailed decorations, too. (via Brit + Co)

Your Cup of Cake

Reindeer Cupcakes

You need these Christmas cupcakes in your life right now! Break them out while watching your fave Hallmark Christmas movies, and they’ll put you in the most perfect mood. (via Your Cup of Cake)

Baked Bree

Christmas Light Cupcakes

The M&M "bulbs" on these little trees have a totally 3D effect. It’s so cool, and the technique is so easy, even the littlest bakers in the house can get in on the decorating action. (via Baked Bree)

Averie Cooks

Tall Christmas Tree Cupcakes

The secret to building these green trees as tall as possible is ice cream cones. Set some on top of your Christmas cupcakes, then go crazy with the piping bag! (via Averie Cooks)

Frugal Mom Eh!

Santa Hat Cupcakes

Here’s a festive Christmas cupcake that requires zero special decorating tools. Just pipe on store-bought icing straight from the tube, then add mini marshmallows and voila — a jolly Santa hat! (via Frugal Mom Eh!)

Amanda Wilens

White Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting

This recipe reminds us of our fave Starbucks holiday drink, the Peppermint White Mocha. When anything sweet and minty comes in dessert form, we're there. (via Amanda Wilens)

Barley & Sage

Bourbon Eggnog Cupcakes

Eggnog is *the* signature drink of the holiday season, and baking it into some Christmas cupcakes only makes it better. (via Barley & Sage)

A Virtual Vegan

Festive Cranberry Orange Cupcakes

Cranberry and orange flavors team up alongside pistachio in these vegan cupcakes that'll put the finishing touches on your Christmas dinner. (via A Virtual Vegan)

Little Sunny Kitchen

Snowman Cupcakes

These jolly little guys are guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Keep your phone handy to snap some Insta pics while you bake, because they’re guaranteed to rack up the likes. (via Little Sunny Kitchen)

Hungry Happenings

Ultimate Chocolate Reindeer Cupcakes

These Christmas cupcakes are made from the very best chocolate batter you’ll ever taste, then topped with a giant swirl of chocolate ganache. Add a peanut-butter cup head, an M&Ms nose, and candy cane antlers, and they’ll be utterly irresistible. (via Hungry Happenings)

Bakerella

Snowman Cupcakes

These little treats are *snow* good. They're topped with donut holes, so you're basically getting two desserts in one! Both pieces are rolled in confectioner’s sugar before assembling, making this cupcake doubly-sweet. (via Bakerella)

Crafty Morning

Rudolph the Reindeer Cupcakes

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer… had a shiny gumball nose! Your littlest guests will be wow-ed to see their fave Christmas character make an appearance on your dessert table. (via Crafty Morning)

Frugal Mom Eh!

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

The base of this holiday cupcake is the richest double-fudge cake batter you’ll ever taste. Prepare for the onslaught, because everyone will be asking for the recipe! (via Frugal Mom Eh!)

Pink Owl Kitchen

Blackberry Cupcakes with Blackberry Buttercream

Blackberries remind us so much of the winter season. If you want to serve some fruity Christmas cupcakes this year, this easy recipe is your best bet! Just wait 'til you try that buttercream. (via Pink Owl Kitchen)

A Spicy Perspective

Chai Latte Cupcakes

The warm spices included in chai will also warm your heart as you begin to bake these Christmas cupcakes for the fam. (via A Spicy Perspective)

One Little Project

Easy Snowman Cupcakes

These snowmen are super festive, and they come together fairly quickly using ingredients that you probably already have on-hand. Be sure to finish them off with a generous avalanche of granulated sugar to make them extra sweet. (via One Little Project)

The Girl Who Ate Everything

North Pole Cupcakes

These Christmas cupcakes get their jolly flair from a peppermint stick decorated like the North Pole. How cute are these?! (via The Girl Who Ate Everything)

Half Baked Harvest

Gingerbread Cupcakes

Cookies + cupcakes = dessert overload. But we're here for it! Each bite of these Christmas cupcakes will bring forth that warm, fuzzy feeling. (via Half Baked Harvest)

One Little Project

Polar Bear Paw Footprint Cupcakes

These polar bear paw-print cupcakes look just like little teddy bear paws. And the clever coconut "fur" makes them just as sweet to look at as they are to eat. (via One Little Project)

Two Sisters Crafting

Mickey Mouse Santa Hat Cupcakes

Hold onto your holiday Mickey Mouse ears, because everyone’s fave Santa hat cupcakes just got a cartoonish twist. Your new favorite Christmas cupcakes have arrived! (via Two Sisters Crafting)

Your Cup of Cake

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

Christmas season has not truly arrived until you spend a morning sipping on hot chocolate. Be sure to invite a few friends over, because treats this sweet treat must be shared. (via Your Cup of Cake)

Bakerella

Mini Polar Bear Cupcakes

Sprinkles and candies make for the cutest little cupcake faces. These baby bears would be super adorable at a winter wonderland-themed party. (via Bakerella)

Earthly Provisions

Vegan Gingerbread Cupcakes with Snowmen

This vegan gingerbread cupcake base will enchant you and your guests even further once you top them with tiny lil' snowmen. (via Earthly Provisions)

Kathryn's Kitchen

Strawberry Santa Hat Cupcakes

These Christmas cupcakes are as healthy as they get – with a darling strawberry Santa hat! (via Kathryn's Kitchen)

If you’re enchanted with these adorable Christmas cupcakes, follow us on Pinterest for more fun recipes!

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Tourism can be a blessing for the economy of many cities around the world, but it often comes at a price. Destinations like Venice and Bali are iconic for a reason — they’re unique, breathtaking places that lure travelers from around the globe. But when a travel destination becomes too popular, it risks losing its charm and overcrowding can strain infrastructure, inflate costs for locals, and disrupt the peace and quiet of small, serene towns.

Here are 12 destinations that have struggled with overtourism. The good news? Many are implementing smart strategies to balance tourism with sustainability. Planning to visit? Consider booking during the off-season for a more authentic and enjoyable experience or try these hidden gems.

Pixabay

Venice, Italy

Cruise ships and swarms of tourists have overwhelmed this picturesque city, leading to overcrowded canals, damaged infrastructure, and skyrocketing prices. The local population is dwindling as Venetians leave due to the city’s unsustainable tourism boom. Last spring, in an effort to manage the influx, the city put into effect an entry fee for day-trippers and has limited cruise ships docking its shores.

Oleksandr P

Bali, Indonesia

Once an idyllic paradise, Bali now suffers from traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and overcrowded beaches. The island’s resources are strained under the weight of mass tourism, but there are efforts underway to promote sustainability like putting a moratorium on new hotels.

Willian Justen de Vasconcellos

Machu Picchu, Peru

Overtourism has led to erosion and damage to this ancient Incan citadel. A quota system and mandatory guides are helping preserve this popular South American destination.

Darren Lawrence

Tulum, Mexico

Once a tranquil paradise known for its pristine beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, and eco-chic vibe, Tulum has become a cautionary tale of overtourism. The surge in popularity, fueled by Instagram-worthy scenery, has brought overcrowding, environmental strain, and rising costs. The Guardianreported that locals are being pushed out by developers and despite the thinking that tourism helps local communities, poverty nearly doubled between 2015 and 2020. Local ecosystems, including fragile mangroves and coral reefs, are threatened by unchecked construction and pollution too. The local ruins have implemented stricter rules like no food or drink to limit trash and environmental impact from tourists.

Jimmy Teoh

Santorini, Greece

Instagram fame has turned this once-serene island into a tourist hotspot. Narrow streets are perpetually clogged, and locals are struggling with soaring costs of living due to tourism demand. The government has since capped the number of daily cruise ship visitors to keep overtourism at bay.

Chait Goli

Cinque Terre, Italy

Known for its colorful cliffside villages and breathtaking coastal views, these once-quiet fishing towns now see millions of visitors annually, way more than they can handle. To combat issues like congestion and cruise ships, local authorities have introduced visitor caps and encourage sustainable travel to protect Cinque Terre’s charm.

Rudy Kirchner

Reykjavík, Iceland

Is there anyone not going to Iceland these days? A small country with breathtaking landscapes, Iceland has been overwhelmed by tourists flocking to Instagram-famous sites like the Blue Lagoon and Diamond Beach. It's best to travel during the off season (November to April) and travel to lesser known spots like the Sturlungalaug hot spring.

youseflns

Maya Bay, Thailand (Phi Phi Islands)

This iconic beach, popularized by the DiCaprio film The Beach, suffered ecological devastation from hordes of visitors and anchored boats. Coral reefs were destroyed, and the beach was closed for years to allow recovery. It has since reopened after a huge revitalization project, but they have introduced visitor caps.

Pixabay

Kyoto, Japan

Traditionally quiet streets of this ancient capital city now teem with tourists during peak season. An increase in litter from tourists has required the city to install more trash bins to handle the crowds, and peaceful geishas are often chased down for photos. To mitigate the problem, Kyoto is considering running special buses to popular sites to reduce overcrowding, and temples and shrines are encouraging visitors to come early in the morning.

Prabin Sunar

Mount Everest, Nepal

The ultimate challenge for adventurers, Mount Everest has experienced overcrowding on the slopes and at base camps, leading to dangerous conditions, with litter and human waste piling up on the mountain. Permits are now harder to get, and stricter regulations for climbers are being enforced.

Mateusz Popek

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Game of Thrones effect brought an influx of fans to this medieval city. Overcrowded streets and cruise ship arrivals have made it difficult to appreciate its beauty. The local government is taking steps to limit daily visitors and impose stricter cruise ship regulations.

Helena I

Lisbon, Portugal

Short-term rentals dominate the housing market now, thanks to affordable flights and the digital nomad craze. This has led to skyrocketing rents and displaced locals. Historic neighborhoods are inundated with tourists, making them less charming too. Everything from public transport to waste management struggles to keep pace with the influx. I went in December and it still felt a bit like Disneyland. Douro Valley and Madeira might be more favorable destinations any time of year.

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Heaping plates of Christmas cookies are synonymous with the holidays. It seems that nearly every country around the globe has their own variation on the holiday classic. In fact, some of these regions have been making their version of Christmas cookies for literal hundreds of years.

If you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your heritage, or maybe just want a little baking inspiration, check out our picks for the yummiest Christmas cookies from around the world.

The Noshery

Mantecaditos con Guayaba

These may look like ordinary thumbprint cookies, but these almond shortbreads from Puerto Rico are filled with a special guava marmalade. (via The Noshery)

Broma Bakery

Meringues

French meringues are a classic crumbly egg white cookie with a chewy interior. These get an extra European twist with the addition of Nutella. (via Broma Bakery)

Pretty. Simple. Sweet.

Alfajores

Deeply flavored dulce de leche, a caramel made from whole milk commonly found in Spain and many Latin American countries, is the key ingredient in these super pretty sandwiched Christmas cookies. (via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.)

Fancy Peasant

Melomakarona

These Christmas cookies that hail from Greece get their sweetness from a generous soaking of fresh honey! (via Fancy Peasant)

Very Eatalian

Baci di Dama

The name of this Italian treat translates to “lady’s kisses” — how adorable is that? These bite-sized cuties are made with ground hazelnuts and filled with a dollop of dark chocolate. (via Very Eatalian)

Cooking Classy

Linzer Cookies

These Austrian Christmas cookies are typically made with raspberry jam, but feel free to get crazy with a filling of your choice. Plus, the gorgeous windowpane look will make them a prize takeaway at your next cookie exchange. (via Cooking Classy)

Olivia’s Cuisine

Basler Brunsli

If you’re hanging out in Switzerland around Christmas time, you’ll definitely see these chocolate treats around. They’re often described as Swiss brownies due to their deliciously chewy texture. Perfect with a cup of eggnog or coffee! (via Olivia’s Cuisine)

Cilantro Parsley

Buñuelos

These tender miniature fritters from Mexico are a mix between a donut and cookie. Whatever you want to call them, they’re delicious. (via Cilantro Parsley)

Chef Lindsey Farr

Apricot Kolachys

The Hungarians definitely know what’s up when tart apricot jam gets wrapped in a blanket of flaky pastry. They’re a bright spot on a cold Christmas day. (via Chef Lindsey Farr)

Life, Love and Sugar

Cutout Sugar Cookies

In the United States, a plate of these festively decorated sugar cookies is just what Santa ordered. (via Life, Love and Sugar)

Saveur

Polvorones

You’ll find these simple pecan shortbread cookies all over Mexico around this time of year. The coating of powdered sugar and canela, a type of Mexican cinnamon, really bring the flavor to the next level. (via Saveur)

A Healthy Life for Me

Pignoli

These Italian Christmas cookies are made of a chewy almond base and topped with pine nuts. (via A Healthy Life for Me)

Fancy Peasant

Kourabiedes

These Greek Christmas cookies feature a buttery biscuit topped with mass amounts of powdered sugar. (via Fancy Peasant)

Does your family have a traditional cookie recipe for the holidays? Tag us @BritandBo in your Instagram photos and let us know!

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Lead image via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.