Recipes — halloween desserts

Need to bring something to a Halloween party? Everyone likes brownies. Can I just say… please don’t ever bring brownies from a box! You know what brownies from a box says? It says…you’ve given up! There are so many super simple scratch brownie recipes out there.  Just turn on your computer and you’ll have a zillion in seconds. Pick one and it will be better than anything in a box!

 But these brownies, are special. They are dense, fudgy and rich. They are slightly chewy at the edges and incredibly moist and fudgy underneath. It’s made with a little less sugar and whole wheat flour, and you can’t taste the difference!!  Something you can’t get from a box. Can you tell I really dislike boxed brownies?!

Use this as your standard go to brownie recipe. You won’t be disappointed.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter melted
• 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar 500g
• 1 tbsp VanillaPura Madagascar/rum vanilla extract.
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour or sub all-purpose (about 195g)
• 1 cup cocoa about 80g
• 1/2 tsp salt
• chocolate chips for sprinkling on top or to mix in, optional
• basic white frosting
• candied eyes from the baking isle at the grocery store.

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar and vanilla with a whisk until smooth.
• Whisk in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Stir in flour, cocoa and salt until combined.
• Line a 9x13" pan with tin foil and spray with non-stick spray. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake for 26-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Add the frosting and googley eyes for the mummy effect, or leave them plain, they are just as good.

Thanks to the recipe rebel for sharing!

Halloween is right around the corner and I’m getting excited!  I usually host a family Halloween party full of fun games, food, treats, and of course prizes! It’s really the only time of year I can gather them all up. With nieces and nephews now having their own little’s, its very rare we see everyone on the traditional holidays.   It’s just another opportunity to laugh, eat good food, and make some more memories.

 This trifle recipe reminds me of a party we hosted a few years back, entitled, “The HUNGRY Games”.  All families were invited to come representing their district. The food was fabulous and the games all surrounded some type of food.  For example, archery, which was aimed at an apple on the opponent’s heads. And of course the "tribute trifle challenge, where each team was required to make a yummy trifle dessert from the unknown ingredients in a chosen bag.  It was super fun and they really created some great trifles and some scary Halloween versions too.

 Trifles are the perfect party dessert. I like to create them in individual servings. It’s a party! Presentation counts as part of the decorations:).  Because they need to be made ahead of time, you're left with plenty of time for other preparations, and time to enjoy your guests when they arrive.

This trifle recipe is fun and delicious! Pumpkin cheesecake, gingerbread cookie crumbles, and googley eyes?! It's sure to be a hit at your next Halloween party.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups cold heavy cream
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon VanillaPura Mexican/rum vanilla extract
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 1 ¼ cups pumpkin puree
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups crushed gingersnaps
• 1 bag of large marshmallows
• I box of milk duds for the eyes

Instructions:

Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat cream, ¼ cup powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.

In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese, pumpkin puree, ¾ cup powdered sugar, and cinnamon until smooth and combined. Fold ½ cup of whipped cream into pumpkin mixture.

In small glasses or individual trifle dishes, layer the crushed gingersnaps, pumpkin cream, and whipped cream. Top with the marshmallow/milk dud googley eyes. 

**If your not a fan of gingersnaps, cookie butter cookies, Oreos, or graham cracker crust crumbles would be good too. That's what's great about a trifle, you get to create whatever you like!