Halloween Food Fun!

I was so lucky to have my mom and sister come visit this past weekend. The kids got lots of playing in and we got to do some shopping and baking. The problem was that I didn't get to my blog for what seems like forever! I was excited to get to my computer this morning and share the fun things I've been doing!

First are my Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats. I first tried making pumpkin rice krispie treats with pumpkin puree and that was a disaster. The krispies were soggy instead of krunchy! So, take my word and don't try it. I kept trying things and found a winner!

Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispy Treats
recipe by Becky

3 T butter or margarine
40 regular mallows or 4 C mini mallows
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
6 C rice krispie cereal
1 pkg pumpkin spice Hershey kisses (I hear they are only sold at Target and I had to go to two before finding a store that wasn't sold out yet)

Melt butter or margarine in large saucepan with mallows. Add pumpkin pie spice and mix well. Add rice krispies. Spread in greased cookie sheet with greased spatula and let cool. Frost with melted Hersey Kisses. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares when cool.

Candy Corn Hershey Kiss Cookies

I can hardly take too much credit for these because they weren't that difficult or anything. But they sure are cute and tasted really good too! I sure was having fun with all the seasonal Hershey Kisses though. I look forward to the new flavors each holiday!
Candy Corn Hershey Kiss Cookies
recipe by Becky

Start with your favorite sugar cookie dough. I used the Betty Crocker pouch mix where you just add egg and butter because I got a really good deal on them and love those sugar cookies. I did add 2 T extra flour though to they weren't as flat after cooking them.

1 bag of Candy Corn Hershey Kisses (found mine at Walmart and haven't seen them anywhere else!)

Bake sugar cookies as you like them.

Unwrap all kisses and melt 10 of them when cookies have about a minute left before they are done baking. Put melted kisses in frosting decorating bag with about a size 4 tip or a plastic bag cutting a small corner off and drizzle across tops of baked sugar cookies.

Place one kiss in the center of each cookie and let cool to room temp. You really have to work quickly so that the cookie doesn't cool too much before you get the kiss on top.

Spooky Cheesecake Pops

Okay, these were the biggest mess, but so worth every sprinkle on my floor and glob of chocolate on my counter. I had so much fun making these for a Halloween party we went to. When we got there though, I had to make a name-card for them that was creative and Halloween-ish, and I really couldn't come up with anything at all except Spooky Cheesecake Pops. I know, I'm totally lame!

I know I talk a lot of my good friend, Steph, from Stephanie's Kitchen, but really I don't know where I would by in my little baking world without her. She made these for a Daring Baker's Challenge a few months ago and I happened to be throwing a baby shower at the same time, so she donated them to me and they were such a hit. I was so excited when I found a good enough excuse to make them myself for this Halloween Party!
You can find the recipe here on her blog. And yes, I know, her's look a lot more professional than mine, but hey, I tried!
Here are some fun variations I did though...

White chocolate dipped covered in Orange Creamsicle flavored crunchies. Found them at Target with the Halloween stuff and they were SO yummy!

I also melted dark chocolate and added orange extract to it before dipping. It tasted like those chocolate oranges you have to whack at Christmas time!

Other than that I just did milk chocolate with lots of different fun Halloween sprinkles.

A good tip: I melted the chocolate to dip in mugs so I could easily dip the pops and coat the whole cheese cake with no problem. The chocolate hardens pretty quick though so be sure to work quickly with your sprinkles or whatever topping you choose to use.
You really have to take the time to make these for your next Halloween party. They were such a hit and I can't wait to make them again for Thanksgiving and Christmas parties with all sorts of variations!