Haunted with the thought of a ho-hum Halloween? Never fear — trick-ortreaters will want more than just candy once they see your party table.Throw a fabulous Halloween party fit for little goblins or grown-up monsters with some devilishly good sweets.
Try these easy party ideas from Wilton to make your Halloween spook-tacular:
Add some “pop” to popcorn: Trick out ordinary popcorn into a sweet-and-salty party pleaser. Drizzle on Candy Melts candy for festive flavors, and then capture the Halloween spirit by adding fun sprinkle mixes.
Jack-o’-lantern cakes: It wouldn’t be Halloween without carved pumpkins. Make yours edible by baking a pumpkin spice pound cake shaped like a pumpkin. Increase the fun by adding silly icing facial features.
Midnight potions: Spice up the night with candy corn drinks served in containers guests can devour, making cleanup easy and delicious. Or, toast the night with the Witch’s Brew Mocktail.
For more Halloween ideas and inspiration, visit www.wilton.com.
Pumpkin Spice Popcorn
Servings: 6 cups
6 cups popped kettle corn
2 cups mini pretzel twists
1 package (10 ounces) Pumpkin Spice
Candy Melts candy
1 bottle (2.5 ounces) Pumpkin Mix
Sprinkles
Spread popcorn and pretzels on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. In disposable decorating bag, melt candy in microwave at 50 percent power for 1 minute; remove bag and knead. Continue melting candy for 30-second intervals at 50 percent power until completely melted. Snip off end of bag and drizzle melted candy over popcorn mixture; immediately add sprinkles. Let stand until candy has hardened, about 20 minutes. Break into pieces to serve.
Caramel Apple Popcorn
Servings: 6 cups
6 cups popped popcorn, buttered and
salted
¾ cup roasted salted peanuts
1 package (10 ounces) Caramel Apple
Candy Melts candy
1 bottle (2.5 ounces) Spider Mix
Sprinkles
Spread popcorn and peanuts on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
In disposable decorating bag, melt candy in microwave at 50 percent power for 1 minute; remove bag and knead. Continue melting candy for 30-second intervals at 50 percent power until completely melted. Snip off end of bag and drizzle melted candy over popcorn. Immediately top with sprinkles. Let stand until candy has hardened, about 20 minutes. Break into pieces to serve.
Pumpkin Pound Cake
Servings: 16
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ¼ cups canned 100 percent pumpkin
(not pie filling)
Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare Dimensions Large Pumpkin Pan lightly with vegetable pan spray with flour. Place on baking sheet.
In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition; beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with pumpkin; mix well. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake 70–80 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in pan. Turn onto cooling rack. Cool completely before serving.
Witch’s Brew Mocktail
Servings: 6
3 cups ginger ale, chilled
1 ½ cups pineapple juice, chilled
1/3 cup sweetened lime juice, chilled
Green gel food color or green icing color
(optional)
Black colored sugar
Gummy eyeball skewers
In large pitcher, combine ginger ale, pineapple juice, sweetened lime juice and, if using, gel food color.
To prepare glasses, dip rims of martini glasses in water, then in black sugar. Fill with drink mixture; add eyeball skewers.
Candy Corn Drinks
Servings: 8
1 cup (half of 12-ounce package) Bright
White Candy Melts Candy, melted according
to package directions
1 cup (half of 12-ounce package) Orange
Candy Melts Candy, melted according to
package directions
1 package (12 ounces) Yellow Candy
Melts Candy, melted according to directions
Orange flavored fruit drink, orange,
peach or mango juice or other favorite drink
Fill disposable decorating bag with melted bright white candy. Divide evenly among cavities of eight-cavity silicone shot glass mold, taking care to not get any candy on sides of mold. Repeat process with orange and yellow candy. Refrigerate until candy is set, about 30 minutes. Remove candy glasses from mold and set aside. Fill with orange drink.