Fun Halloween Recipes: Marvelous Monster Treats

When we think of Halloween treats, we often think of those mini-chocolate bars, tootsie-rolls, and candycorn in individual packs. But Halloween treats don't have to be the store bought variety, here are some fun Halloween recipes for delicious, easy-to-make, creepy candies and cookies.

Note: I am not suggesting that you try to pass these out at the door, it is safer to stay with the wrapped stuff for that. Besides, these are so delicious, you may not want to share!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1¾ cup Shredded Coconut
• 1¾ cup Powdered Sugar (a.k.a. Confectioners sugar or Icing sugar)
• 1 cup almonds, coarsely chopped
• 2 cups Milk Chocolate, Semi-sweet Chocolate or White Chocolate Chips
• 1 separate cup of White Chocolate Chips

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine sweetened condensed milk, coconut, powdered sugar and almonds in a large bowl. Use your hands to shape into "eyeball" sized balls; set on waxed paper and refrigerate until firm.

In a microwave safe dish (I use a Pyrex measuring cup) melt your chocolate chips. Stir chocolate until smooth. You can add melted butter if your chocolate seems too thick. Using toothpicks, dip coconut balls into the chocolate. Use your creativeness here, you can dip them all the way, halfway, or just leave a white "eye." It is up to you; it's your monster. Place them back on the waxed paper and let the chocolate harden.

Melt the remaining white chocolate chips for the irises. Use a bit of food coloring; blue, red whatever color eyes you like best. Dip just a tiny bit of the chocolate balls into the colored dip to customize your monster eyes. Use an upside-down chocolate chip for the pupil, if desired.

Enjoy! These are a modification of a Christmas candy I have made in the past and everyone just loves them!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup of Sugar
• 1 cup of Softened Butter
• 1 Egg
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 2 1/3 cup of Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Whole Almonds

INSTRUCTIONS:

First, place your cookie sheets in the refrigerator and preheat your oven to 375°. Next, in a large bowl, mix sugar and butter until creamy. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Gradually mix with the butter mixture.

Roll dough with your hands into "fingers." Place onto ungreased, chilled cookie sheets. Press an almond (as a monster claw) on the end of each finger. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes. Cookies should be just starting to brown at the edges. Let cool briefly before removing to a cooling rack. Enjoy!!!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1½ cups Brown Sugar
• 3 tablespoons of Light Corn Syrup
• 1½ tablespoons of White Vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of water
• 1/8 tsp Salt
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1¼ cups of your favorite whole nuts: i.e. peanuts, pistachios, almonds...

INSTRUCTIONS:

Spray a large cookie sheet with non-stick spray and set aside. In a large iron skillet, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, vinegar, water and salt. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Cover and cook for just a few minutes more.

Uncover and use a candy thermometer to bring mixture to 280°, keep stirring constantly.

Add butter. Cook and stir until mixture reaches 300° (hard crack stage.) After removing thermometer, quickly stir in nuts and immediately pour onto greased cookie sheet. Spead the nuts into a single layer and let cool.

Break completely cooled candy into "scales" and eat them with a bunch of little (or big) monsters.