Halloween Idea: Ghoulish Banana Pops

You guys.  I just realized that we're moving next week.  Next week!  Pardon me while I run up and down our street, screaming my head off and waving my arms in frantic circles.

Yowza.

Halloween Idea: Silly Spider Cupcakes

Hello from Syracuse!  Yep, I'm travelling again.  But, this should be my last trip for October, and then..... we move into our new house!  I'm so, so, so excited that I can't even hardly talk about it for fear I'll jinx it all.  We have 22 more days until we get our keys, because we close on our house on HALLOWEEN!  How fun is that?!

Homemade Candy Corn

And without further adieu, I present to you... Homemade Candy Corn!!

This stuff is so fun!  I was prepared for the recipe to take up most of my day, but it actually came together in a couple of hours.  This would be a fantastic recipe to make with kids, because it uses all their amazing playdough snake-rolling skills :)  And if you have a kid-safe plastic knife, they could even do the cutting steps too.

Friday Fun: Halloween Recipe Roundup

Mischievous Meringues

Trick or Treaters' Swamp Juice

Spider Web Eggs

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Fly Away Favor Bags

Spider Web Cupcake Toppers

Apple Monster Mouths

I'm Your Guinea Pig: Fall Sweets Edition

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My back is still a pesky pain, so I wasn't able to make a second recipe for this week.  Sad face.  I'm hoping to whip up a bunch of things this weekend because there are at least three recipes I can't get out of my head - browned butter rice crispy treats, copycat Kind bars, and caramelized pears.  I've already tested out two of the recipes, so I'm really itching to make them again with my camera handy!!

Anyway, I thought I'd take a moment to discuss holiday treats with you all.  But not your typical bagged mini-sized chocolates.  Nope.  I'm talking about the lesser-loved varieties that come out this time of year.  And since I've got such a massive sweet tooth, I've obviously tried a bunch of these babies out for you.  (If I say I tried them out for you - for the greater good - I feel less guilty about my impulse purchases at 9pm on a Tuesday night at Walmart.)

Do you have any guilty pleasure treats during the Fall?  I want to hear about them!  Because maybe I'm missing out on something :)
Do Tell,

This is the first time I've seen Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows, so I'm guessing they're brand new this year.  I love the fun shapes, and they taste like pumpkin pie spice (not so much like actual pumpkin).  They'd be fun for decorating Halloween treats, but I can't say that I'll buy them again.




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Because I love the Gingerbread Marshmallows so much!  These also have a ginger and cinnamon spice flavor, but it's a little stronger than the Pumpkin variety.  Plus, the little man shapes are just too dang cute!  I'll admit to having drawn on mine and last year, I put them on sticks and dipped them in white chocolate.  So fun!!



I saw Candy Corn Kisses last year for the first time, and I immediately had to try them.  I'm part of the minority who actually likes candy corn flavor, but these actually aren't much like the original.  Maybe it's because they don't have that trademark weird flaky plastic texture? :)  They are a gussied-up vanilla in a white chocolate texture.  I really like these! 

So, of course, I tried the M&Ms Candy Corn too.  (It's all in the name of research, people!)  These have a flavor very similar to the Kisses, but with the M&Ms candy shell.  I can't say I enjoyed these much.  They were vaguely chemical-y in flavor because the vanilla was just too funky. 

If you absolutely hate Peeps, scroll on down.  I won't be offended, I promise.

Peeps Cocoa Cats and Cocoa Bats.  These are probably my favorite nontraditional Peep, because the cocoa flavor isn't overpowering, yet it adds a nice flavor.  Kinda like how chocolate soft serve ice cream isn't overly chocolate flavored, but it's still yummy. 



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Chocolate Covered Peeps.  At first, I was excited by these, but they're basically just chocolate over sticky marshmallow and don't taste anything at all like regular Peeps.  I wouldn't even call them Peeps at all.  They're more like the Russel Stover or Whitman's marshmallow treats you see this time of year.

Holiday Cookie Peeps are sometimes hard to find, but they're yummy.  Better than the Vanilla Peeps, these have a slight cinnamon/gingerbread flavor.  Kinda like the scent of a cookie candle, but in sugary marshmallow form :)

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Peppermint Peeps will clear out your sinuses.  Have you ever inhaled when you've got a strong mint in your mouth and it made your nose and throat really cold?  It's like that.  Great flavor, interesting experience.

THESE.  You must, must, must pick up a bag of Andes Peppermint Crunch chips before Christmas.  I bought some last year (see below), and Walmart ran out before I could pick up another bag.  They taste a bit like those Hickory Farms mints - a creamy white chocolate-peppermint chip with a nice little crunch to it.  I made my chocolate chip cookie recipe last year with these instead of chocolate chips, and they made my house smell amazinggg.  I bought two bags last night, so I'm hoping to branch out with how I use them.  Anyway, I Love These.



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But if you can't find the Andes chips, Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses are super similar.  I bought some two years ago and made that bag last months.  Seriously.  These are the closest to the Hickory Farms mints I grew up with, and they even have similar nonpareils inside to give them crunch.  As soon as they come out, you can bet I'll be grabbing these too.



Hershey's Cinnamon Baking Chips are another seasonal item, and these are probably the hardest to find.  I only found them in one store last year, but I don't understand why because they are so, so good.  The chips are creamy in texture (a bit like white chocolate) but taste like an explosion of cinnamon and brown sugar.  They are amazing in oatmeal cookies and folded into homemade bread.  I can't wait to get my hands on a few bags this year.


Full disclosure:

This is my hoard.  I'm still clinging to these remnants from last year.  Yes.  Last year!  It's embarrassing, but true.  I'll talk more about the tea soon.

Halloween Idea: Spider Web Eggs

I'm so excited about this recipe!  Talk about easy!  These would be so fun to serve your kids or friends.  They look a little creepy and gross, but aren't so far out there that they won't get eaten :)

Enjoy!



Spider Web Eggs
adapted from Martha Stewart

eggs
black food dye

Place eggs in single layer in a large saucepan, and cover with water.  Add enough food dye to make water nearly black in color. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 10 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, remove eggs one at a time, and place on a folded kitchen towel. Lightly crack shell on side with a spoon. Return egg to dyed cooking water and repeat with remaining eggs. Let eggs cool completely in water in refrigerator. Carefully peel shells from eggs. Serve with salt and pepper.

Ingredient Lineup:

   

Halloween Idea: Apple Monster Mouths

I thought these apple treats were too fun - and too easy - to pass up!  In a sea of candy and sugar-laden Halloween treats, these are a great little healthy option.  And they'd be super quick to throw together for an after school snack!

If you'll be making these ahead of time or for a party, you can first soak the notched apple pieces in a bowl of water with a couple tablespoons of lemon or orange juice.  Then continue decorating with peanut butter and almond pieces as directed.

Enjoy!



Apple Monster Mouths
idea adapted from Cute Food for Kids

Apples
Almond slices or slivers
Peanut butter
Toothpicks
Mini marshmallows

Core an apple and then cut it into 1/4ths.  Using a small knife, cut a notched section from each apple piece.  Spread the open notch with peanut butter and then press in the almond slices for teeth.  Dot an eyeball onto mini marshmallows using food markers or chocolate syrup.  Poke a toothpick into each marshmallow eyeball and then poke into the top of each apple piece.

Core an apple and then slice it into quarters.

Using a small knife, cut a notch into the side of an apple piece.

And then cut another notch perpendicular to the first notch.

Remove the cut out section and turn apple piece on its side.

Tip:  If your apple slices don't want to stay upright, poke the eyeball toothpicks

all the way through the apple to prop up the slice from the back.

   

Halloween Idea: Spider Web Cupcake Toppers

Know what I learned today?  No matter how hideous a cupcake recipe turns out, as long as you have a great frosting and some cute decorations, no one will ever know.  I wasted a bunch of butter and time (thanks a lot, Martha), but oh well - the point of today's baking extravaganza was to show you an easy Halloween idea, hurrah!

I invited the neighbor girls over to play with frosting and chocolate, and we had so much fun!  All you need to transform a cupcake into a festive Halloween treat is some melting chocolate and a squeeze bottle.  (You can find both at a craft store, like Michaels.)  The girls made all the cupcake toppers, and I created a base and a topper for a mini-cake.

Chocolate Spider Webs

Melting/Dipping chocolates (like Wilton or my fave, Chocoley)

Squeeze bottle

Parchment paper or wax paper

Cookie sheet or cutting board

1.  You can print out spider web templates or free hand them onto a sheet of paper.

2.  Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper over the template and place both onto a cookie sheet.

3.  Melt chocolates according to package directions, and pour into a squeeze bottle.

4.  Squeeze melted chocolate evenly along the template.

5.  Place cookie sheet and parchment paper with melted chocolate web into the freezer for one minute or until hardened.

6.  Remove from freezer and carefully peel the chocolate web off the paper.  

7.  Carefully press the chocolate shape into soft frosting on a cupcake, showing the reverse smooth side of the chocolate shape if desired.

The girls had the awesome idea of making spider shapes too!

They made the spiders separate from the web pieces, and then glued

the spider to top of the web with a small dot of frosting.

I made two large chocolate webs - one for the bottom of the cake and one for the top.

Then, I made a smaller web to accent the top of the cake.