Halloween Treats

by cookingwithauntjuju.com

Over the past few years I have posted a few Halloween treats I have made.   Below, I have included pictures and links  directing you to specific posts such as chocolate skeleton cookies, meringue bones or even some punch.  I know it is early but if you are like me I like to plan ahead and do as much as I can for a party or just a treat for a special friend 🙂

Did you know that the colors orange and black associated with Halloween have specific meanings?  Orange represents the bounty of harvest, while black represents the darkness of the coming winter.  That is sure true here in Michigan!

This year I  made a couple of new things – chocolate covered witches’ brooms and witches’ shoes.  These can be made ahead of time and keep really well if they are covered tightly.  Also, I made two different Halloween cupcakes with the help of my two sisters.

Everyone loves a party over at The Novice Gardener and I am bringing all of these Halloween goodies to share with everyone.  Thanks also to the co-hosts, Julianna @foodieonboard.com and Hilda @alongthegrapevine.wordpress.com.

Oct. 22, 2015 – Witches’ Fingers Cookies – these were a lot of fun to make 🙂

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Oct. 4, 2015 chocolate covered pretzels – I chose not to paint the designs as they do take some time…

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More chocolate covered pretzels – Witches Fingers – September, 2015…

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Chocolate Covered Pretzel Witches' Brooms and Shoes

  • chocolate wafers; yellow, purple and pink or colors of your choice for the detail
  • pretzel rods
  • small paint brushes
  • plastic molds for brooms and shoes (available at Amazon or Wilton)
  • bags and ribbons for gift giving

First paint the band on the broom and the detail on the shoes in colors of your choice; allow to harden.  Then add a layer of melted  chocolate, place the pretzel in the mold  and add more chocolate to cover; refrigerate until hardened.  Remove and trim with a knife if needed.

Recipe by cooking with aunt juju  http://cookingwithauntjuju.com/2014/10/10/halloween-treats/  

See also Pretzel Rods Covered in Chocolate.

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Oct, 18, 2014 – I have added 1 new chocolate covered Oreo; mummy heads!   See also my post Halloween Oreos for more choices or search “Oreos”.

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Oct. 19, 2014 – Made these Funny Frog Sliders for lunch today.  See Funny Frog Sliders – Boo for full details.

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These cupcakes were a lot of fun to make especially since I had four extra hands!  When my sisters come for a visit I usually try to have different things to do and baking/cooking is often included as a backup in case the weather is lousy or we have nothing better to do, like on an early Sunday morning.

The cupcakes are ideas from the Food Network Magazine dated October 2012 and we tweaked the recipes especially the Witches Cauldron.   The first cupcake was a runner-up and the cauldron was the winner in a contest they held!

Wicked Witch Cupcakes

  • cupcakes of your choice
  • white icing
  • green food coloring
  • silver foil liners
  • white fondant
  • orange coloring
  • black fondant (it is actually called Shape-n-Amaze or edible decorating dough and it comes in black)

Make and bake your favorite cupcakes and set aside.  Tint your white icing green and set aside.

Shape pieces of the black fondant into small boots.  Mix enough orange food coloring into some white fondant by kneading it until it is incorporated; you do need a number of drops to get the bright orange.  Wear gloves if you want as your hands will turn orange but it does wash off.  Take a small piece and roll into a rope.  Cut into 1-1/2″ legs.  Push the boots into the legs and attach.  We tried to use gel as suggested for stripes around the legs and it did not work too well so we did not use it after trying it on one leg.  Next time I might try painting the stripes.

When ready to serve place two assembled legs on a plate and turn the cupcake upside down on top of the legs.  You can also stick the legs out of the top of the cupcake  but I did not get any pictures.  My one sister took them to school and assembled them there.

Recipe by cooking with aunt juju http://cookingwithauntjuju.com/2014/10/10/halloween-treats/  

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This next recipe required some preparation and patience.  The Food Network Magazine only gave a picture of this cupcake and explaining what to use, no hints or detailed instructions.   I think if I did not have help I might have become frustrated and reconsidered making these.  Then, I have to admit I was not totally prepared in thinking things through.

First of all problems in shopping for these ingredients.  I know I have seen cotton candy in bags somewhere but no I could not find any.  So, I went shopping at Target and found a children’s cotton candy maker.  Making cotton candy is harder than you think!

Then I could not find small plain cake donuts – sure  there were glazed ones and powdered donuts but no plain cake donuts.  So, in a pinch I bought the big cake donuts thinking I could use a cutter and make small donuts.  No, that was not a good idea!  You see the original recipe said to place 1/2 of a donut on top of the cupcake and frost it with chocolate frosting.

So, once we realized the cut out cake donuts were not going to work a sister drove off to check a couple of more places where I had not been and she found small chocolate donuts and this is what we used instead of the cake donuts.

Then I could not find licorice strings but instead I found these rings which were better as they had two strands and that made them stronger.

Also, I only needed a few pretzels but I bought a 2 pound bag – oh well it was good for snacking.

Luckily at my local cake decorating store an employee recommended this type of fondant that was already black as she stated it would take an awful lot of black coloring to tint white fondant.   The orange was not bad to tint.  I have used fondant in the past and even took a class at Zingerman’s Bakery but have not worked with these intense colors.

Next time I will also make one of my homemade frostings instead of using canned.  I was trying to cut corners and save some time but it was not worth it!

Witches Cauldron Cupcakes

  • Difficulty: intermediate
  • Print

  • cupcakes of your choice
  • chocolate frosting
  • green frosting
  • small chocolate donuts
  • cotton candy
  • black licorice wheels ( these work the best versus the string licorice)
  • decorative cupcake liners (preferably foil-lined)
  • small thin pretzels
  • orange sprinkles

Make your cupcakes using a favorite recipe and frost with chocolate frosting.  Shake orange sprinkles on top of the iced cupcake.  Place one chocolate donut on top.  Make your green frosting and drizzle  some out of the hole in the donut so it drips down.  Stick in your licorice handle, then add some cotton candy and a pretzel stick. Keep the cotton candy covered as it does harden and eventually will disintegrate as we found out making these too far in advance.

Recipe by cooking with aunt juju http://cookingwithauntjuju.com/2014/10/10/halloween-treats/  

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Last years fun creations, Witches’ Brooms using pretzels and licorice.  Also, a couple of good punches, for children and adults.

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How about an adult punch?  See Zomgria Punch.

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This is a perfect punch for the kids by the Pioneer Woman, Bloody Punch for Halloween.

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Mom’s Sugar Cookies for Halloween.  This is a cookie I have made since I was very young and I continue to make them out of different shapes depending on the occasion.  See Mom’s Sugar Cookies.

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These are so simple and you only need a couple of ingredients.  See Meringue Bones. I can’t seem to get the photo but go to the post for  pictures.

I have a lot of fun making these and they are always a big hit!  See Chocolate Skeleton Cookies.

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I have lots of molds for making these chocolate covered Oreos.  See Halloween Oreo Cookies.

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Rice Krispies use to be a favorite cereal to eat a long time ago but now I make Christmas ornaments or these cute Halloween jack-o-lanterns.  See Rice Krispies Treats.

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68 thoughts on “Halloween Treats”

  1. Holy Halloween, Judi, what an amazing spread of spooky eats and treats! Those cupcakes with the legs sticking out are to die for. So creative! I have to find some of those candy molds for the broom and legs soon if I want to make anything for Halloween this year. Looks like you are well stocked and prepared! Happy weekend.

    Reply

    • Those are my favorites too Ngan – you can also keep the cupcake upright and stick the legs in the top instead of underneath. Simple to make and you can get the legs/boots done ahead of time. The pretzels are very simple too and always a hit with everyone! Have a great weekend 🙂

      Reply

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  7. Wow, Judi…such an adorable array of Halloween goodies! I love the cupcakes you made with your sisters…especially the upside down witches. 🙂 I’ve already bookmarked this page…I’ve just gotta make something fun this year!

    Reply

    • I just love Halloween Nancy – it is such a fun holiday where you can make so many cute things. You could also stick the legs out of the top – good luck and by all means do something that will make you smile 🙂

      Reply

      • You are so right, Judi! I just found out I’ll have friends staying with us for 5 days next week…it sounds like the perfect excuse to bake for me. 😀

  12. Wow, wow, wow, Judi! I hereby dub you the Queen of Halloween! Your post is so awesome; I just keep staring at all of your cute creations, noticing more and more detail! Well, you have just inspired me to stop being so lame, and to get out there and make something cute and delicious for Halloween! Thanks so much for bringing all of your goodies to FF! 😀

    Reply

  14. Absolutely LOVE these little halloween treats. Wish Halloween was more of a thing around where I live, what a treat this would be 🙂

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  17. Incredible attention to detail Judi and labors of love for sure. I hope your lucky recipients will appreciate how hard you worked to create such an arrray of spooky sweets. They look professional. Spooktacular!

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  19. OMG, how absolutely, ghoulishly fabulous Judi!! So many wonderful details!! I have to try atleast some of these out soon! My munchkin will love them 😀

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  21. You are so creative! I would just love to spend an afternoon in your kitchen! Adorable witches shoes. Your cupcake reminded me of the house falling on the witch. I didn’t know about orange and black. That I sure true here too.

    Reply

    • Thanks very much – my main purpose in posting all of these was to give everyone some ideas for Halloween that are fun and for the most part easy to make. The links will give you more detailed instructions 🙂

      Reply

  25. Oh my gosh, Judi. I’m loving this. I don’t know what’s come over me, but lately I’m really in the Halloween spirit. usually I let it go without doing anything….and it’s those wicked witch cupcakes that are really calling out to me right now!! They are so freaking adorable…. I want to make them!! You have so many great ideas here…it’s all so beautifully made… it doesn’t surprise me, you truly have that talent… Love this post!! <3

    Reply

    • Thanks so much Prudy – you always take the time to write a nice comment and usually a long one – very appreciated 🙂 The wicked witch cupcakes are my favorite too – you could also stick the legs in the top and say the witch fell headfirst into the cupcake! I read a lot and get ideas/recipes from many sources.

      Reply

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  30. Oh wow! I LOVE those treats! If I were a kid in your neighbourhood, I’d come to your house and again and again and aigain… until every delicious treat of yours was mine! 😀

    Reply

    • Ha!Ha! – Thanks Sarah – actually we get too many kids trick or treating so I usually buy treats from the store. I do make these for my family, friends and a few special neighbors:)

      Reply

      • How wonderful 😀 I bet your family, friends and special neighbours love you so much 🙂 And not only because of these treats, of course ^^

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