HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!
This year I really wanted to make some special Halloween treats! I love love love Halloween, it is one of my favorite holidays (after Thanksgiving, which is my all time favorite). This year I have been all about challenging myself in the kitchen and I had never made confections or really done much cake decorating. So when my cousin Michelle aka “ The Evil Tooth Fairy†and her partner Luke invited us to a Halloween party this past weekend I knew it was the moment to challenge myself in this way. Trick or Treat!
PS – Don’t forget November 1st is the last day to post your entry for the Royal Foodie Joust! Don’t forget to participate this month!!!
Roberto and I (aka Aries and Aphrodite)
Spindly Spiders:
I thought I would make these guys using black licorice gumdrops and black shoestring licorice. However, according to the manger at the Publix grocery store we went to, black licorice is not popular in Florida, therefore they do not carry it, even at holiday time. Bah! So I had to come up with a different plan!
You Will Need:
Dried Plums
Blackberry Fruit Leather
Toothpicks
Red Tube Icing
METHOD:
To make the spider, roll the plums in the palms of your hands to form them into balls. Cut the fruit leather into very thin strips (using the shortest side). Using toothpick make 4 small holes on each side of the plum (spider body) and poke the fruit leather strip into the holes. Spiders have 8 fruit leather legs in total. Then using the tube of red icing, place two eyes on the top of the spider! Great for decoration and a very healthy fruit snack!
Kitty Kupcakes:
Cupcakes with character. I have a black kitty and I had to pay homage to her especially on Halloween – so she is my inspiration for these cupcakes! You could change it up and do orange kitties if you prefer.
You Will Need:
Halloween Cupcake Wrappers
Cupcake Baking Pans
Chocolate Cake Mix
Chocolate Icing
Pastry Bag
Star Tip
Dark Chocolate M&M’s or Reeses Pieces
Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
Chocolate Chips
1 cup Chow Mein Noodles
1 TBS Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
1 TBS Sugar
Red Tube Icing
METHOD:
Prepare the cupcakes according to the cake package directions. Once they have cooled put the icing in the pastry bag using a star tip. Pipe the icing on the cupcakes.
In a small bowl combine chow mein noodles, cocoa powder and sugar. Place two small pieces or blue corn tortilla chips as ears, M&Ms for eyes, chocolate chip for nose , chocolate covered chow mein noodles as whiskers and a red mouth.
Dark Chocolate Pretzel Wands:
Bring a little magic into halloween with these delicious dark chocolate pretzel wands!
You Will Need:
½ package of Ghiradelli Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
Package of Pretzel Rods
Halloween Sprinkles
Microwave Safe Mug
Parchment Paper
Cookie Sheet
METHOD:
In a microwave safe mug melt the chocolate chips (you want to use a mug so that when you dip the pretzel rods, the chocolate will go about 1/3 way up the stick).
Dip pretzel rods in chocolate and sprinkle them with sprinkles over parchment paper (you can also roll the sprinkles if you prefer, but you will use a lot more). Lay on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper until chocolate has hardened.
Eerie Eyeballs:
These were a HUGE hit at the party! Everyone loved the peanut butter surprise inside! Yum!
You Will Need:
Mixing Bowl
2 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
½ Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (I used Organic and did not mix the oil in – that way the PB itself is harder)
3 TBS Unsalted Butter, softened
Parchment Paper
Cookie Sheet
½ Lb. White Candy Coating (like Dolci brand for covering fruits)
24 Dark Chocolate M&M’s
1 TBS Water
¼ to ½ TSP Red Food Coloring (I had less and my icing turned out pink, so I used the leftovers of the red icing from the cupcakes).
METHOD:
In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup confectioner’s sugar, peanut better and butter. Shape into one inch balls. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Chill for 30 mins or until firm.
In a microwave safe bowl melt white candy coating and stir until smooth. Be careful not to burn. Dip PB balls into coating and place on parchment paper. Immediately press M&M (M side DOWN) on top of each ball for a pupil. Let stand in fridge for 30 mins or until set.
In a small bowl combine water, food coloring and remaining confectioner’s sugar. Transfer into a re-sealable bag and poke a small hole into the corner of the bag. Pipe wavy lines downward from pupil creating the look of bloodshot eyes. Store in fridge until ready to serve.
kat - October 31, 2007 at 2:37 am
what great halloween treats! have fun!
Wendy - October 31, 2007 at 3:40 am
LOVE the wands. The spiders are freaking me out though…
Emilie - October 31, 2007 at 5:06 am
Happy Halloween! Cute costumes! Everything looks really good and creative, but I like the pretzels the best. I love sweet & salty combos.
I’m so mad at myself. I tried to make a joust recipe tonight, but it was really ugly. Tasted good though.
Peter - October 31, 2007 at 7:26 am
Jenn, Halloween rock and Roberto & yourself make worthy Greeks! lol
I also noticed you used Ghiradelli chocolate. I discovered this product when I visited SF…great stuff!
Steamy Kitchen - October 31, 2007 at 7:56 am
I LOVE how you are so creative!!!
I didn’t know you were in FL. I’m in Sarasota!
Windy - October 31, 2007 at 8:20 am
Wow! At first, I was stunned when I saw the spiders. After reading the ingredients, I just love it and am really amazed about it…
Patricia Scarpin - October 31, 2007 at 10:14 am
Happy Halloween, dear Jenn!
Everything looks beautiful, as usual!
Jenny - October 31, 2007 at 11:07 am
Really CUTE stuff! Happy Halloween! 🙂
núria - October 31, 2007 at 11:11 am
You are just amazing! What a hard job! It looks great! My daughter convinced me to have a Halloween party tomorrow night with some of her friends (she is 11) and I might do some of these! I just uploaded our “foodietradition” on this day in Spain, take a look if you have the time!!!!
Brava Jenn!
Deborah - October 31, 2007 at 11:24 am
Wow – you made all kinds of treats!! Have a happy Halloween!!
Chrisina - October 31, 2007 at 12:20 pm
You forgot to blank out Ghirardelli because they didn’t sponsor you!
Great ideas you came up with. I wouldn’t have thought of using dried plums as a base and the eyeball cookies are awesome!
Maryann@FindingLaDolceVita - October 31, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Love the eyeballs. You look so pretty in the photos!
Katie - October 31, 2007 at 4:31 pm
You HAVE been having fun! Great treats and lovely costumes…. Happy Halloween!
Adriana - October 31, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Wow!!! Great treats!!!
I love the spiders and the eyeballs! hehe!
Happy Halloween! 🙂
Belinda - October 31, 2007 at 8:26 pm
I’m amazed at all of the fun and festive treats you whipped up, Jenn! Way to go, and how super creative you were. I could eat those chocolate covered pretzels until I was forced to step away from them! And you and Roberto and your cousin all look fabulous, I tell ya! 🙂
Elly - October 31, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Everything looks so great! The pretzels are gorgeous…love those sprinkles 🙂
Jeni - October 31, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Great photo and faaaabulous costumes dahhhhling!
sognatrice - November 1, 2007 at 8:19 am
Well you certainly did up Halloween this year! Awesome! And great costumes too 🙂
Valli - November 1, 2007 at 11:15 am
Yes I can see that we were both thinking of Aphrodite this past week. Excellent costumes! And look at all those spook-tacular treats! Sounds like you had a very tempting time!
holler - November 1, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Wow, you worked hard for Hallowe’en! I loved the pretzel rods, such a simple and yet ingenious idea!
The Leftover Queen - November 1, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Hi Everyone! Thanks for all the wonderful comments! 🙂
Hey Kat!
Wendy! I think they are kinda cute and dumb looking. Prunes are very non-threatening! 😉
Hi Emilie! Well we are all about taste! I hope you post it anyway! Yes, I love sweet and salty – so good!
Thanks Peter! I am not a Greek, but I play one at Halloween! 🙂 Yes, Ghiradelli is great stuff!
Hi Jaden! Yes, I live in Ocala but we are moving to St. Augustine in January. Sarasota is a great pace I hear.
Hi Windy! Wow! Thanks – that is quite a compliment!
Hi Patricia! Thanks so much!
Thanks Jenny! 🙂 I love Halloween!
I will definately check it out Nuria! I hope the Halloween party went well!
Thanks Deborah! Hope yours was great as well!
True Crisina! Well maybe now they will WANT to sponsor me, I wouldn’t say no! 😉
Thanks so much Maryann, you are so sweet!
Yes, Katie I have been working hard, but having a great time!
Thanks so much Adriana!
Hey Belinda! Thanks so much, We really had such a great time. I hope Michelle and Luke do it again next year. I am so there!
Thanks Elly! Aren’t those sprinkles just great?
Thanks Jeni! You are just too cute!
Yes, Sognatrice! I just love Halloween! Has it come to Calabria yet?
Hi Valli! Spook-tacular! How witty you are! 🙂 It really was a great time.
Hey Holler! Thanks so much! It was the best work possible!
Andy - November 1, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Looks like you had a fun Halloween! You have such creative ideas, I just love the things you come up with. Thanks for sharing!
retno - November 2, 2007 at 6:10 am
Wouw..they are soooo cute!
The Leftover Queen - November 2, 2007 at 6:50 am
Thanks so much Andy. It really was a blast – making them and also sharing them.
Thanks so much Retno.
Happy Cook - November 2, 2007 at 8:35 am
Looks like you had such a blast for halloween.
Love the spiders with the prunes.
Julie - November 2, 2007 at 11:31 am
Wow, what a bake-a-thon! I would’ve passed out and missed the party. Everything looks so fun and yummy!
Cynthia - November 2, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Jenn you are so much fun!
Sylvia - November 2, 2007 at 4:19 pm
This is wonderful, you really enjoy making those treats and I enjoy myself reading. Love your post and love the spider,scary cute!!!
brittany - November 3, 2007 at 2:57 am
Look at you! Halloween goddess! Great costumes and BEAUTIFUL goodies. Sheesh, nobody ever does this stuff at the halloween parties I go to. NO fair.
Deb - November 5, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Better late than never! Sorry, I am doing a catch up today. Too fun Jenn! You and SO look so great!! And the goodies! Wow!
The Leftover Queen - November 6, 2007 at 8:33 am
Hi Happy Cook! Yes, it was wonderful!
I know Julie _ I was pretty tired! We were the first ones to go to bed that night! LOL!
Thanks Cynthia! I really appreciate that!
Hi Sylvia! Thanks! Scary and cute was exactly what I was going for! 🙂
Hi Brittany! Well you are always welcome at the Orlando bash! 🙂 There is always next year – I do believe you have the skills to pull something like this off!
Hi Deb! Thanks so much! I am the one BADLY in need of catch up!!!!
Cakespy - November 6, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Whoa! Salty and sweet bonanza! Everything looks so festive and happy (um, including all of you!!!). I think that “Sweet and SAUCY” sums up this Halloween!
The Leftover Queen - November 7, 2007 at 8:24 am
Thanks Cakespy! I really loved it!
Michele - October 20, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Jenn, these Halloween treats are awesome! We are so excited to have them included in this week’s FoodieView Recipe Roundup!…and those costumes aren’t too shabby either :). Looks like you guys are in for a great time this Halloween. Have fun!