Everybody here at PDB magazine loves a good party like Frankenstein loves stitches and witches love pointy hats. Who doesn't appreciate free food? If you’re planning something special for Halloween, have we got some ideas for you! Look back at our party planning tips for a refresher or continue on to read ghoulishly festive Halloween recipes that promise to be both fun to make and delicious to eat. These recipes and photos are found on the Taste of Home website. Most of all, have fun, relax—and don't forget to invite us. Remember, we're suckers for free food.
1. Marshmallow Witches
Wonderfully detailed and cute to boot, the only trick in preparing these charming little treats lies in the assembly.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup vanilla frosting, 36 mini semisweet chocolate chips, 12 large marshmallows, 1 drop each green, red and yellow food coloring (optional), 1/4 cup flaked coconut, 12 chocolate wafers, 12 mini peanut butter cups, and 12 milk chocolate kisses.
Directions:
To make the face of each witch, dab frosting on the bottom of three chocolate chips and press two for eyes and one for a nose onto the side of each marshmallow. For the wicked green hair, combine green food coloring and a drop of water in a plastic bag, add the coconut, and shake everything together. Frost the sides of each marshmallow and push the coconut into the frosting.
Next, put 3 Tb. of frosting in a small plastic bag and color it orange with a mix of red and yellow dye. Set this aside for the moment, and spread some of the frosting in the middle of each chocolate wafer to prepare the hats. Set the peanut butter cups top down on the frosting. Then touch up the bottoms of the chocolate kisses with frosting and place them on top of the peanut butter cups.
Finally, go back to the orange frosting and slice a tiny hole in the corner of a plastic bag (if you have a small star tip, insert it), and fill the bag with the orange frosting. Carefully pipe the frosting around the base of each peanut butter cup (if you have the tip, pipe little stars in a row). Then top off each witch with a hat dabbed with frosting, and you’re finished!
This recipe yields 12 dozen witches (unlike stealing people's parking spots, which yields who knows how many witches).
2. Spiderweb Dip With Bat Tortilla Chips
We’ve covered sweet, now let’s look at salty! This ingenious and fun treat should take less than a half hour of prep time and promises to be absolutely original for a Halloween party—unless you go to Sonia Candler's annual party, and then you'll find she's beat you to the punch. She invented this one, after all.
Ingredients: 20 chipotle chili and pepper tortillas or flour tortillas (8 inches), cooking spray, 3/8 teaspoon pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon of garlic salt, ground coriander, and paprika each. For the dip, use one 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese, 3/4 cup salsa, 1/2 cup prepared guacamole, and 1-2 Tb. sour cream.
Directions:
Using a 3-3/4-inch bat cookie cutter, cut the tortillas and place the shapes on baking sheets greased with cooking spray. Spray the tortillas as well. Mix the garlic salt, coriander, paprika and pepper, and sprinkle the seasoning over the bats. Bake at 350° for 5-8 minutes (or until edges just begin to golden).
Next combine the cream cheese and salsa and spread it into a 9-inch pie plate. Follow up by spreading the guacamole on top, leaving a 1-inch border. Put the sour cream in a small plastic bag, cut a hole in one corner, and squeeze out thin circles over the guacamole (about an inch apart). To complete the spiderweb look, gently pull a knife through the center circle to the outermost circle in a pattern, wiping the knife off between strokes. Serve this delicious dip with the fresh tortilla bats.
This recipe yields about 1-1/2 cups dip and about 7 dozen chips.
3. Ogre Eyes Hot Cocoa
Wrap up the evening with a delicious cup of smooth hot chocolate—but keep your eyes on your cup. These rich drinks will be looking right back at you! You’ll be sure to get a kick out of kids and adults alike with this last trick of the night.
Ingredients: 8 cups milk (divided), 1 cup mint chocolate chips, 1 cup instant hot cocoa mix, 16 large marshmallows, 16 Crows candies, and 16 lollipop sticks.
Directions:
Place 1 cup of milk, the chocolate chips, and the cocoa mix in a large saucepan. Stir over low heat until the chips are melted, and then add the remaining milk. While it’s heating, slice a slit in the top of each marshmallow and insert a Crows candy. Poke a lollipop stick through the bottom of each marshmallow and through the candy to hold it together.
Then simply pour the hot chocolate into festive mugs, float two prepared marshmallows in each, and serve while it’s hot!
This recipe yields 8 servings.
To find more fantastic Halloween recipes, go to tasteofhome.com!
