Ghosts and Witches and Spiders, oh my!

Pesty Melanie here and I love Halloween!  It's not the trick-or-treating that's my favorite part, it's the whole month leading up to it.  The weather chills, pumpkins decorate, costumes emerge, and ghoulish goodies delight!  I love gathering the kids to make some fun Halloween treats, and even though I don't have any photos of my own, I want to share some of these ideas with you. 

Nutter Butter Ghosts

Simple, cute and yummy - perfect combination.  All you need is a package of Nutter Butters, some white candy coating, mini chocolate chips, and (optional) a bit of chocolate to melt or chocolate frosting.  Melt the white candy coating; dip in a nutter butter.  Add two mini chocolate chips for the eyes.  You can pipe on a mouth with melted chocolate or chocolate frosting if you'd like.  Let cool and voila! -- cute little ghost cookies!  I've seen these with and without mouths and I love them either way, so it's totally up to you what you want to do.  The photo has them on sticks - also completely up to you but not necessary.

Witch Hats

Aren't these absolutely darling?!  They're so fun to make!  All you need is a package of Fudge Stripe cookies, a bag of chocolate kisses and some frosting.  Set out your cookies solid chocolate side up, use frosting to attach a kiss to each one, then pipe a bow around the base of the kiss.  That's all there is to it.  Of course, you can make these fancier if you want.  You could dip the cookie in melted chocolate and add spinkles or mini candies.  You could roll the edges in frosting and then in a sprinkles, candies, or edible glitter.  You can choose any color of frosting you like - my favorite for these cookies is green.

Chocolate Spiders
These are so cute, and I'll give you two ways two do them: the pretty easy way and the super simple way. 

The pretty easy way starts with a chocolate cake mix.  Add 1/2 c melted butter and 1 egg; mix to form a stiff dough.  Roll into 1-inch balls.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  When cookies are cooled, spread bottom of cookie generously with chocolate frosting.  Attach 4 black string licorice pieces to opposite sides.  Top with another cookie.  With chocolate frosting, attach 2 red hots or mini m&ms.

The super simple way is even easier than that.  Instead of making your own cookies and assembling your spiders with chocolate frosting, you'll need double-stuff Oreos.  Stick your black string licorice pieces into the filling and attach two candies to the top for eyes.

My little goblins and I have so much fun making these tasty treats.  I hope you do, too!  Happy Halloween!!