Candy is a given on Halloween, but if you thought trick-or-treating was the only way to get your sugar fix, think again. In the days leading up to October 31, you can whip up simple Halloween food crafts with the kids that are anything but (candy) corny. Best of all, you don’t need fancy ingredients—just a little imagination and a spookily sweet tooth.
Chocolate Bark Halloween
Playing with your food has never been more fun than making Halloween Bark. It has everything you could want in a snack—sweet, salty, and eerily easy to make. Start by setting up your toppings: sprinkles, candy corn, pretzels, potato chips, etc. (candy eyeballs are always a nice touch). Line a large baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Melt your chocolate of choice (candy melts work well) over a double boiler. Once smooth, spread it on the baking sheet. (Don’t make it too thin, or the bark may break.) Since the chocolate sets quickly, decorate your dreadfully delish treat right away, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let it harden. For an eerie effect, use chocolates of different colors and swirl them together with a fork.
Dracula Cookie Teeth
With Dracula cookie teeth, it’ll be love at first bite. Take two cookies and spread a thin layer of frosting on the inside of each. Turn one cookie upside down, then arrange mini marshmallows in a circular pattern until it’s completely covered, making sure the outer edge looks like a row of teeth. Choose which marshmallows will be the front teeth and, with a dab of frosting, attach two almond slivers as fangs. Let set for about 15 minutes, then lightly frost the other cookie and press it on top.
Bloody Band-Aids
You’ll never look at a skinned knee the same after trying these bloody fantastic Band-Aids. Break graham crackers along the dotted lines until they’re Band-Aid sized. Spread about an inch of white frosting across the center, let set for a few minutes, then add a smear of strawberry jelly in the middle to complete this spine-chilling snack.
Witch Broomsticks
Witch Broomstick treats are way more fun than cleaning your bathroom. Just take a pretzel stick, pop it into a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup…and you’ve got a treat that you won’t be able to Reese-ist.
Witch Fingers
Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe (or store-bought dough) to make Witch Fingers that are almost too creepy to eat. Add a few drops of food coloring to give the dough a ghastly glow. Roll one-inch balls of dough into finger-like shapes, then lightly slice small horizontal lines across the middle to look like knuckles. Bake at 350°F for 10–13 minutes. While still warm, press an almond slice at one end to create a fingernail. As the cookies cool, they’ll crack slightly, making them look eerily realistic. For an extra ghoulish touch, tint them with a little green food coloring.
Melted Witch
Oh, what a world! Melted Witches are a treat even the Wicked Witch of the West would approve of. There are a few fun variations, but here’s an eerily easy one: split Oreos in half to make the hats, scoop out the creamy center, and tint it with a drop or two of green food coloring. Frost the bottom of each cookie half, top with a Hershey’s Kiss, and watch your little ghouls goblin them all up.