12 boo-basket ideas for adults and kids
Getting “booed” means it’s time to build a basket for the next lucky person. Here’s how to get started.
There’s a good chance trick-or-treaters have already seen a basket on their neighbor’s doorstep with a sign reading, “You've been booed.” That’s exactly how the tradition starts: Someone secretly drops off a basket of goodies with said note attached, leaving kids and adults grinning from ear to ear. Whoever receives the gift knows it’s their turn to treat someone next. The game plays out all through October, spreading neighborhood to neighborhood in the weeks before Halloween.
Here are some stuffer ideas worth bookmarking, many of which come in under $5. For those in a pinch, these curated picks can help anyone pull something together fast to keep the tradition going.
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What is a boo basket?
Ever put together an Easter basket? Well, a boo basket isn’t so different, except that it’s filled with goodies, little treats and toys specific to the Halloween season.
The tradition has expanded in recent years, thanks in part to TikTok and Instagram. Boo baskets have become popular for everyone from kids to teachers, and content creators are fueling this trend by sharing unboxing videos that run the gamut from small, budget-friendly finds to seriously elaborate spreads.
What to put in a boo basket
Boo-basket stuffers are small, festive extras that go in a Halloween gift basket. What type of stuffers to include really depends on the person receiving the gift. Fleece robes, salty snacks, sweet treats or throw pillows can be for the cozy types. Halloween decorations work well for those really into the holiday, while kids might gravitate toward activity books, games or toys. Pets can even get a Halloween themed treat or two of their own.
A memorable boo basket doesn’t have to come with a spooky price tag. Mixing in a few affordable treats, festive finds and toys can make it easy to build something thoughtful while sticking to a budget.
Discover candy, non-food goodies, toys and Halloween surprises to help build a boo basket under $5 for your little monsters.
Ways to make a boo basket
Making a Halloween boo basket takes just a few steps:
- Pick a container that holds all the gifts together. It might be a fun Halloween candy bucket, reusable gift box, storage bin, tote bag or traditional wicker basket.
- Line the basket with a filler like crinkle paper, fabric, raffia, shredded kraft paper or tissue paper.
- Choose a theme based on what the recipient likes, like a movie- or book-inspired basket. Bats, black cats, ghosts or skeletons might be fun motifs to lean into.
- Fill it with a mix of items like Halloween treats, fun surprises and practical items that help tie everything together.
- Finish with a personal touch like a custom tag, a handwritten letter or a little ribbon.
6 boo-basket ideas for adults
Here are six themed gift ideas worth building for the grown-ups on your list.
1. Cozy fall
This gift taps into the season with stuffers like fall-themed mugs, fuzzy socks, pumpkin spice coffee, throw blankets and treats like caramel apples and cookie or hot cocoa mix. Smaller items like autumn-themed lotions, candle or wax melts, cinnamon brooms and decorative pumpkins fill in the gaps nicely. Other ideas include:
2. Haunted houses
A haunted house basket helps cover indoor and outdoor Halloween décor. Raven figurines, spider webs, skeleton hands and a spooky doormat can help set the exterior scene. Ghost string lights, Halloween hand towels, mini potion bottles, pumpkin spice room spray and themed window clings help take care of the inside.
3. Pets
For the four-legged friend in someone’s life, a boo basket filled with pet supplies such as dental chews, freeze-dried salmon treats, peanut butter chews and a pumpkin puree meal topper helps cover the snack side. A collapsible water bowl, pet apparel like a themed collar or sweater, or a squeaky toy or soft mini plushie assortment can help take care of the rest.
4. Spooky movies
A spooky movie boo basket helps bring the theater home with snacks that might include classic movie candy boxes, retro popcorn bags with specialty seasonings and a soda or two to wash it all down. Cozy Halloween pajamas, a gift card, movie night slippers and an “Admit One” ticket with a personal note can tie it all together. With CVS® Photo, anyone can consider customizing unique gift tag and personalized messaging options in-store and online.
5. Vampires
A vampire-themed basket might include blood orange sparkling water, cranberry pomegranate mocktails or red wine. These can be paired with a charcuterie spread that includes meats and cheeses, black cherry preserves and dark truffles on top of a do-it-yourself (DIY) wooden set. Accessories like plastic fangs, vampire wine glasses and a copy of a supernatural horror film or a paranormal romance novel can help complete the theme.
6. Wellness
A wellness basket trades candy for more nutritious picks that might include apple crisps, chai tea bags, pistachio snack packs and protein bars. Other wellness-themed items could include electrolyte packets, lip balms, mini resistance bands or water ball squeezers.
6 boo-basket ideas for kids
Kids are the sweetest ones to boo. A little candy or a fun toy can often be all it takes to make their day. Here are six gift ideas to make it happen.
1. Candies
When candy shows up around kids, their reaction says it all. A Halloween Pez dispenser, Halloween Peeps Ghost marshmallows, Nerds spooky gummy clusters, Reese’s peanut butter pumpkins or Snickers Pumpkins singles can be tossed into a pumpkin bucket dressed up with crinkle or tissue paper.
2. Crafts
An acrylic paint set, air-dry clay, colored markers, create-a-bracelet kits and gel pens can provide kids with fun arts and crafts activities. Ghost and pumpkin molds, sticker sheets or washi tape in Halloween prints might also make the basket.
3. Glow-in-the-dark goodies
Lots of kids like light-up goodies. For a glow-in-the-dark basket, people might consider including foam sticks, glow pendants, glow stars for bedroom ceilings, Halloween light-up rings, LED finger lights, light sticks or light-up puffer toys. There are many glow-in-the-dark options available for the baskets themselves.
4. Monsters
For kids who love monsters, this basket can include a dress-up squishy, monster cereal snack packs, monster coloring books, monster-themed toys or silly monster masks.
5. Toys
Gifts and toys like Halloween toy springs, mini card games, pop it fidgets or temporary Halloween tattoos can be mixed into an orange pumpkin pail along with a “You’ve Been Booed!” instruction sheet. A Halloween activity book, Hot Wheels car or mini Lego set can also help keep kids busy. Families participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project can also include these toys as fun, non-food alternatives for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or dietary restrictions.
6. Witches
This Halloween gift basket idea draws on all things mystical. It can include things like crystal-inspired accessories, herbs and flowers, a tea sampler, tarot deck or zodiac book. Other add-ins might include black and purple crescent moon earrings, hair clips and Halloween bracelets.
Key takeaways
If there’s a Halloween move that doesn’t get old, it’s delighting tiny trick-or-treaters and adults who deserve a treat with a boo basket. Including their favorite snacks and surprises is a personal touch that can help make a basket feel uniquely theirs. With ideas ranging from fall themes to kids’ crafts to pet treats, there are versions of this Halloween tradition that are affordable for anyone’s budget. And for those moments when time runs short or a snack bag slips through the cracks, a quick CVS trip can cover all the fillers and the fun.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
For a friend who’s always pouring themselves into others, a gift that pours back into them means a little more. Booing them a basket full of self-care favorites is a way of doing just that. Some ideas include:
- Face masks
- Fall candles
- Spooky bath bombs
- Throw blankets
- Sweet treats
For a girlfriend who loves her glam, beauty picks make for a genuinely exciting unboxing. Some boo basket stuffers worth considering:
- Body sprays
- False lashes
- Hair masks
- Lipsticks
- Nail kits
Thoughtful boyfriend boo basket items might be the ones that he wouldn’t necessarily pick out for himself. These ideas find the sweet spot between playful, sentimental and useful:
- A beanie
- Horror-themed pint glass
- Printed couple’s photos
- Pumpkin carving kit
- Salty snacks
This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your health care provider if you have any questions about medications, vitamins or supplements you may be considering or changes to your wellness or health care routines.