8 Fun Treats to Try this Halloween
Spooky season is upon us, and while Halloween might look a little different this year, there are still plenty of ways to make it just as fun as ever. The most delicious one? Halloween-themed treats, of course! From pumpkins to ghosts, we’ve put together a host of scarily tasty treats you can whip up right in your chef-inspired kitchen.
Spooky Ghost Cookies
When the ghosts are this cute, there’s no reason to be afraid! These iced sugar cookies take a bit of extra love in the kitchen, but the result is definitely worth it. Plus, the whole family can shop for the perfect ghost-shaped cookie cutters at a convenient nearby shopping center.
Halloween Candy Bark
From white chocolate to pretzels, candy corn to sprinkles, this is one treat that’s guaranteed to make the whole family’s mouth water! All you need is the assorted candy of your choice — we recommend stopping by a premier retailer at The Market Place to find your favorites — and a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then you simply melt the white chocolate, combine it with all the candy and sprinkles, bake it, and voila! Candy bark you can break into pieces and eat for the rest of the month! (If you’re planning on keeping it longer than a week, you should freeze it in the refrigerator.)
Caramel Apples
Butter, brown sugar and apples, oh my. Caramel apples are a classic treat of the Halloween season, and definitely something the whole family can enjoy. This recipe is easy enough for you and the kids to whip up together in your gourmet kitchen — just boil the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and milk in a saucepan, stir in the vanilla, dip the apples and you’re good to go.
Jack Skellington Mini Cheesecakes
If you love The Nightmare Before Christmas, this is definitely the treat for you! These miniature cheesecakes feature Jack Skellington’s face atop a light and fluffy cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. Why not turn on the movie in your Great Room while enjoying this delectable dessert?
Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats
If you love candy corn, this is a treat you’ll definitely want to try! Not only are these Rice Krispie treats shaped like candy corn, but they’re dyed with different hues of food coloring and baked in an innovative row-like design inside cake pans. These might take a little extra love and attention in your gourmet kitchen, but the end result is definitely worth it!
Hocus Pocus Spell Book Brownies
It just isn’t the Halloween season without a couple viewings of cult classic Hocus Pocus. These chocolate brownies are made even better since they’re decorated to look like the spell book! Simply bake your brownies of choice, set aside black cake frosting and have your kids help decorate for a fun afternoon activity.
Pumpkin Candy Chocolate Cups
You didn’t think we’d have a list of Halloween-themed treats and not include pumpkins, did you? If your kids are a fan of Halloween candy, this treat is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only do you fill the pumpkin with candy, but it is actually made out of candy. You’ll make the pumpkins themselves out of melting chocolate and balloons — it’s innovative and a bit time consuming, but definitely worth it — and then you’ll fill them with your family's candy of choice.
Bonus Treat: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
In case your family wants a treat that’s a little on the saltier side, you can never go wrong with roasted pumpkin seeds! After carving the pumpkin you get from one of the pumpkin patches nearby, such as Tanaka Farms, simply rinse the seeds in cold running water, lay them on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350° in the oven and they’re good to go.
So, are you ready to start baking some scary-good treats? There’s no better time to use your gourmet kitchen than to whip up some Halloween goodies in your home at the Villages of Irvine!
