Halloween Candy Pairings
By Laura Fagan Originally published September 2020, Updated October 2022
Halloween is the one day of the year where all things spooky, sinister and sweet combine. Candy is the most coveted of Halloween treats, and we’re not talking about those awful black and orange wax-wrapped Mary Janes, but the good stuff! The stuff we tax from our kids’ sweets stash. This Halloween, our BOOzy experts have conjured up the spookiest and most unexpected Halloween candy and spirits, wine or beer pairings that are yummy enough to raise the dead! Check out what you can pour into your goblet to enjoy alongside your favorite candy this All Hallows’ Eve.
Dark Chocolate & Arachnid Cabernet Sauvignon
If you are a candy purist and prefer richness over sweetness, we recommend some dark chocolate with a glass of Arachnid Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t let the web on the bottle scare you, there are no actual spiders included in this pairing. According to ABC wine expert Nathan Dale, this Cabernet is “lush and mouth filling, with bright, fresh acidity and floral aromas of red fruits and chocolate.” These two delights will make for a spooktacular Halloween treat.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups & Ballotin Peanut Butter Chocolate Whiskey
Up next, drum roll please… a fan favorite: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! If you are sneaky enough to snag one of the elite king-sized packs from your kid’s trick-or-treating haul, try enjoying it with Ballotin Peanut Butter Chocolate Whiskey. Peanut butter and chocolate is a love story as old as time, so why not pair as much of it together as possible? This whiskey is aged for 2 years and full of nutty, smooth flavors that will melt in your mouth.
M&M’s & Chronic Cellars Purple Paradise
M&Ms are Halloween candy royalty; the OG pillowcase prize for any trick-or-treater. These perfect spheres of colored chocolate pair wickedly well with a glass of Chronic Cellars’ Purple Paradise. This dark red blend features dark berry flavors with echoes of mint and mocha for a sinfully sweet match.
Candy Corn & Disaronno Velvet Cream Liqueur
Candy corn may be a heavily debated topic, but it is undeniably a Halloween staple. Whether you’re pro candy corn or looking to mask the flavor, try it with Disaronno Velvet Cream Liqueur. This cream liqueur is filled with sweet vanilla, cream and almond extract, making it the perfect match for this sweet and savory Halloween treat!
Skittles & Sierra Nevada Wild Little Thing
Sometimes you want to “taste the rainbow,” and sometimes you want to taste a refreshing beer—on Halloween, you probably want both! Enjoy Skittles with a can (or two) of Sierra Nevada Wild Little Thing. Our beer expert Gus Chinchilla explains, “The beer is a slightly sour ale with guava, hibiscus and strawberries. This fruited beer has a nice tartness that pairs well with Skittles.”
SweeTARTS & Giorgio Costarosa Sangue di Guida
On Halloween, you don’t have to share your SweeTARTS with your sweetheart. If they consider that a betrayal, that’s okay, because you’ll be enjoying them with a bottle of Giorgio Costarosa Sangue di Guida, which translates to “the blood of Judas.” This red wine is sweet and lightly sparkling with flavors of red raspberry and blueberry. As our wine expert Nathan says, “What is more Halloween than a sweet and fizzy wine named after blood and paired with SweeTARTS?” *Pro tip: This pairing is so classic, it also works as a great couples costume!
Looking for something a little different? ABC has many spooky options to enjoy on All Hallows’ Eve, whether it's paired with sweet treats or enjoyed solo.