Tricks and treats with Halloween SWEETS

Family Features

The bewitching season is here! Gather the goblins, conjure up some creative costumes and prepare scary, scrumptious sweets for a great ghostly gathering.

Making these frighteningly fabulous party treats together is a perfect way for Mom and the kids to share some spooktacular fun.

UCast a spell right from the start with a Happy Haunted House. Begin with a ready-to-decorate Halloween Cookie House Kit available at craft and hobby stores. The house is pre-assembled; just decorate and enjoy!

USweetly smiling Goldfish Grahams do double duty as both roofing “tiles” and a wholesome snack (they’re made with whole grains, without artificial preser vatives). Kids can affix the Goldfish crackers to the roof after it’s been iced (and enjoy snacking on them as they work), making sure to give equal representation to each flavor: cinnamon, honey and chocolate. The sparkling blue piping gel moat and pond need to be stocked with Goldfish, too. Complete the decorating with green coconut grass, a candy corn fence plus the icings and the candies that come with the kit.

UB-O-O Pops are easy ... nothing sinister here! Use a brownie mix for convenience and bake in the Brownie Pop Silicone Mold to ensure perfect pops. The kids can insert the lollipop sticks, then dip pops into the colorful Candy Melts. Decorating sprinkles and sugars add the finishing flourish.

UHalloween Goldfish Munch is a snappy party snack or a tantalizing take-away for ghoulish guests. Kids can mix the Goldfish crackers (graham and pretzel flavors), with nuts and dried fruits while Mom melts the Spooky Green Candy for drizzling.

Add favorite beverages and let the spookalicious party begin!

For additional information about Goldfish Grahams, recipes and nutrition information, visit www.pepperidgefarm.com.

Find more ways to bake, decorate and celebrate, or order the Halloween Cookie House Kit at www.wilton.com.

Happy Haunted House

Wilton Halloween Cookie House Kit

10 x 14-inch cake board

Cornstarch

Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon, Chocolate and Honey Goldfish Grahams

Wilton Piping Gel

Wilton Royal Blue and Kelly Green Icing Colors

Flaked coconut

Candy corn

Prepare icing mixes following instructions. Attach house to cake board.

Outline door with black icing; attach candy dots. Outline door window in black icing; fill in with orange icing and smooth with finger dipped in cornstarch.

Outline windows with black icing; add orange icing accents. Attach candy dot window sills.

Spatula ice roof; attach crackers to roof with dots of icing. Decorate house eaves with jelly beans attached with dots of icing. Add orange outline to roof peaks; attach candy dots.

Tint portion of piping gel blue; spatula blue gel “moat” and “pond” on cake board; arrange crackers in the water. Brush clear piping gel onto open areas of cake board; sprinkle with green-tinted coconut. Arrange candy corn around house with dots of icing.

B-O-O Brownie Pops

Makes 48 pops

1 package (about 16 ounces) brownie mix (8 x 8-inch size)

Egg, water and oil to prepare mix

48 lollipop sticks

Wilton Orange, Spooky Green and Light Cocoa Candy Melts

Wilton Spider Mix, Hallow Pumpkin Mix, Halloween Nonpareil Sprinkles, and Orange, Black and Lavender Sugars, as desired

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray brownie pop mold with vegetable pan spray; place on cookie sheet.

Prepare brownie mix following package directions. Spoon batter into prepared brownie pop mold, filling cavities 2‚Ñ3 full. Bake 15 min utes. Remove mold from oven; insert lollipop sticks. Return to oven and continue baking 10 to 15 minutes or until brownies test done. Cool brownies in mold on cooling grid 20 minutes; remove from mold and cool completely.

Melt each color candy following package instructions. Dip cooled pops into melted candy, covering completely.

While the candy is still soft, sprinkle with or dip pops into sprinkles and sugars. Place on parchment paper to set.

Note: If desired, bake brownies completely without inserting stick. After brownies have cooled, dip lollipop sticks into melted candy and insert into either end of brownie. Let set before decorating.

Halloween Goldfish Munch

Makes about 14 cups treat mix

3 packages (6.6 ounces each) PepperidgeFarm Cinnamon, Chocolate or Honey Goldfish Grahams (or any combination)

1 package (8 ounces) Pepperidge Farm Pretzel Goldfish Snack Crackers

1 can (10 ounces) salted mixed nuts

1 cup chopped dried apricots

1 cup golden raisins

2 packages (10 ounces each) Wilton Spooky Green Candy Melts

In large bowl, combine crackers, nuts, apricots and raisins; divide between 2 large cookie pans. Melt candy following package directions; drizzle over snack mixture. Refrigerate until firm. Break apart and store in airtight container until ready to serve.