Spooky Recipes

Whether you are throwing a Halloween party or spending a quiet night a home watching movies, we have just the thing to help you enjoy your Halloween event!

Many adults and teens feel that the more yucky or gross it is, the better it is but here is a little treat that I’m sure you’ve seen at another time of year but…when you use a little imagination, you can use this snack favorite for many holidays.

What is the goodie? Well, for Halloween we call it Ghostly Bites and have added all the trappings and doo-dads to fit in with the holiday. However, you may also have seen it named Reindeer Poo or Snowflakes in the winter.

Ingredients

2 C confectioners’ sugar
6 C crispy, hollow cereal, like Crispix
1 (1 gal.) sealable plastic bag
8 oz. of chocolate coating or dipping chocolate
Wax paper

Utensils

1-2 large microwave safe, mixing bowls
1 cup measurer
1-2 spoons
1 cookie or toast pan
1 serving bowl or tray (optional)
Directions

In a mixing bowl, melt 3-4 squares of chocolate coating, which amounts to about 6-8 ounces. Use 4 squares for a thorough coating.

Heat chocolate squares in microwave on high for 30 seconds. Use a small spoon to stir. If the chocolate isn’t quite melted, heat for up to 30 seconds more. The more chocolate you add, the longer the melting time will be.

To be on the safe side, never heat for more than 30 seconds at a time. This allows time to stir and also helps to prevent burning.

Measure out 6 cups of cereal into a large bowl. Pour the cereal, a little at a time, into the melted chocolate.

Stir gently but well after each addition of cereal. Set aside when cereal is coated to your satisfaction.

Tear off a sheet of wax paper and line your cookie sheet or toast pan. Pour the cereal mix onto the pan to dry slightly. Make sure you spread the cereal out as much as possible. Let set and cool for about 10 minutes.

In your gallon sized bag, add your two cups of confectioners’ sugar.

When the cereal and chocolate have cooled, break apart any large chunks. Then add the cereal mix to your bag with sugar and close.

Leave plenty of air inside the bag. Shake gently until the chocolate coated cereal is coated with the sugar.

It should look something like this. I usually let the mix stay in the bag about 10 minutes to make sure the sugar sticks to the chocolate well.

Now it’s time to add the doo-dads that will give it a Halloween flavor, so to speak. At parties, we use a simple metal tray, a ceramic ghost, a leaf garland, and a pack of individual silk leaves. When eating while watching movies, we use a decorative dish or even a plastic Halloween cup.

You may have heard the old song “The worms go in, the worms go out, in your stomach and out your mouth.” Fortunately, these worms will go in your mouth because they are gummy worms. Your children will enjoy helping to decorate this cake, but they will enjoy eating it even more!

Dirt Cake

Before you can make a really good dirt cake, you have to have the right dish to hold it. Since this cake doesn’t have to go into the oven, why not use a new plastic cauldron that has been washed and dried? It will be a novel way to serve your guests for a Halloween party.

You will need the following ingredients:

* 1 1/2 to 2 pounds chocolate crème filled cookies such as Oreo
* 1 – 8 ounce tub of cream cheese
* 1 cup powdered, or confectioner’s, sugar
* 1/2 stick softened butter
* 3 1/2 cups milk – You can use whatever type you like
* 2 small packages of instant vanilla pudding
* 1 – 12 ounce container whipped cream topping such as Cool Whip

Begin by creaming together the cream cheese, softened butter and powdered sugar in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix together the milk and instant pudding for at least two minutes. Then add the whipped topping and mix thoroughly.

Combine the two mixtures together with a spoon ensuring the two are combined well.

In a large plastic zip-top bag, place part of the cookies and crush them until they reach the desired “dirt” consistency. This is easily accomplished by adding pressure with a rolling pin. By having the cookies in the bag, you’re assured to reduce cleaning time. Put the remainder of the cookies in another plastic bag and repeat.

Line the bottom and sides of the cauldron with aluminum foil. This will help make clean-up much easier. Place one and one-half inches of the cookies crumbs in the bottom of the cauldron followed by the pudding mixture. Continue alternating the layers so you end up with pudding on the top. Cover the cauldron with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least two hours.

Before serving, add an inch of cookie crumbs to the top. Decorate the ‘cake’ with gummy worms, spiders and whatever other creepy candies you can find. Use a spoon to serve. Your guests will love it once they can get past the idea of eating worms and insects.

Nearly everyone has had bloodshot eyes at one point in their life, especially if you’re a parent. Children may squirm when they see these treats and realize they are supposed to eat them. Be prepared, however, there is quite a bit of sugar in these eyeballs, so your children may not be able to close theirs for a while after enjoying them.

Scary Eyeball Treats

* 1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter – If you are preparing these for your child’s school party, be sure to ask the teacher if any of the students have peanut allergies. It would be a nice idea if you can have something special for them so they won’t feel left out.
* 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 3/4 cups powdered or confectioner’s sugar
* 12 ounce white candy coating – Chopped to make it easier to melt
* 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
* 20 blue chocolate coated candies
* 20 brown chocolate coated candies
* Red decorating gel

Cream the peanut butter, vanilla and butter in a medium sized mixing bowl. When it is thoroughly creamed, start adding a little bit of the confectioner’s sugar and mix it well before adding more. When all the sugar is incorporated, roll the dough into 1 inch balls. Place them on a baking sheet or plates and refrigerate them for at least one-half hour.

Melt the candy coating and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it for 30 seconds and then remove the bowl to stir. Continue doing this until the candy coating and shortening are completely melted and combined. Stir until it is smooth. Allow the mixture to cool slightly before you begin dipping the peanut butter balls into the coating. Place the balls on waxed paper which is on the table.

Complete the treat by adding one chocolate coated candy on each peanut butter ball. Be sure any writing is not visible. Allow the balls to cool until the coating has set. Make the eyeballs look “bloodshot” by squeezing a thin line of red gel on them. Start in the center and go to the sides.

As you hand each child their treats, tell them you always wanted to “keep your eye on them” and this is the perfect way to do just that!