Halloween Cake Pops

I’ve been seeing these around lately and thought I’d give them a try. I’ve been told that making cake pops can be quite an addicting little habit.

A bat dip 051

I started with the basics–but instead of regular cake, I chose a Gingerbread mix–but you can use whatever flavor cake you’d like.

A bat dip 055

Bake the cake according to package directions and allow to cool completely.

A bat dip 059

Now, this might just go against all your maternal instincts–BUT do forge ahead. You might even like it. Crumble the entire cake into a bowl. Be brave.

A bat dip 060

Now add about 3/4 of the tub frosting to the crumbs.

A bat dip 063

Mix it all in real good until you can tell the frosting is evenly distributed.

A bat dip 065

Measure out level tablespoons…

A bat dip 067

and roll them into tidy little balls. You’ll need to wash your hands a lot through this part because it’s pretty sticky business. Store them in the freezer for at least an hour.

a cake pop 004

Using white or colored candy melts–heat them very gently on low or in a double boiler until they are completely melted.

A bat dip 064

I could only find the long sucker sticks so I cut them all in half. It worked great.

A bat dip 070

Dip each sucker stick in the melted chocolate just before you…

A bat dip 071

poke them about 3/4 of the way into the cake balls.

a cake pop 002

The cold cake chills the candy melts and it helps the sticks and cake stay together.

a cake pop 014

Now, dip the pops carefully into the melted coating. I found it easier to spoon the candy up and around the cake rather than swirl them. If you take too long the warm coating will melt the cake and it may try to fall off. So spoon it on quickly.

a cake pop 011

Gently nudge the excess coating off the bottom of the pop.

Set them down on a wax paper coated pan and store back in the freezer to set.

a cake pop 026

We used melted chocolate to make faces. We aren’t too good at it yet but just wait till you see what’s coming in November. hee hee.

a cake pop 032

Or if the face thing frightens you—just roll them in chocolate sprinkles and call it good.

A bowl of soup 010

Of course, you could taste them and call it REALLY good!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Gr-Sig-right-size-e1547674736862.png

Halloween Cake Pops
 
Ingredients
  • Cake mix (prepared according to package directions)
  • Tub Frosting
  • Candy Melts
Instructions
  1. Bake the cake according to package directions and allow to cool completely.
  2. Crumble the entire cake into a bowl.
  3. Now add about ¾ of the tub frosting to the crumbs.
  4. Mix it all in real good until you can tell the frosting is evenly distributed.
  5. Measure out level tablespoons and roll them into tidy little balls.
  6. Store them in the freezer for at least an hour.
  7. Using white or colored candy melts--heat them very gently on low or in a double boiler until they are completely melted.
  8. Dip each sucker stick in the melted chocolate just before you poke them about ¾ of the way into the cake balls.The cold cake chills the candy melts and it helps the sticks and cake stay together.
  9. Now, dip the pops carefully into the melted coating. I found it easier to spoon the candy up and around the cake rather than swirl them. If you take too long the warm coating will melt the cake and it may try to fall off. So spoon it on quickly.
  10. Gently nudge the excess coating off the bottom of the pop.
  11. Set them down on a wax paper coated pan and store back in the freezer to set.

Creamy Potato Cheese Soup

D.I.V.I.N.E.

There are no words that describe this Halloween Evening soup any better. Of course you can serve it anytime, but it’s a real easy way to get those excited Trick or Treaters to sit still for a moment and eat. It will be nice to know that they have warmed up their tummies with something fabulous before the sugar frenzy begins.

We served this to Kathy, a close family friend on just such an evening–years ago, only in a toasted bread bowl that looked like a pumpkin. Apparently, this cheesy little thing was filed away in her memory under “too fabulous to forget,” because she asked us to make it again and share the recipe. I’m thinking her baby girls will have a new soup tradition this very Halloween.

For you, Kathy—

Creamy Potato Cheese Soup

Ingredients:

4 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cut up

8 cups water

1 cup chopped carrots

2 Tbsp. dried, minced onion

2 Tbsp. chicken bouillon granules

dash of pepper

3 cups cheddar cheese, grated or cubed

Directions:

In a large saucepan, place potatoes, water, carrot, bouillon and pepper.  Over medium-high heat bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Place half at a time in a blender. Cover and blend until smooth. Return mixture to sauce pan. Add cheese. Cook and stir over medium heat until cheese melts.  Serve with croutons or crackers and garnish with cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

Just think, after dad takes the kids out for the candy harvest–you can have the rest of the pan all to yourself. You may just be unable to fight the urge to send me a million dollars.

Resistance is futile.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Gr-Sig-right-size-e1547674736862.png

PS–Kathy–Your prize is on it’s way.

5.0 from 3 reviews
Creamy Potato Cheese Soup
 
Ingredients
  • 4 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cut up
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • 2 Tbsp. dried, minced onion
  • 2 Tbsp. chicken bouillon granules
  • dash of pepper
  • 3 cups cheddar cheese, grated or cubed
Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan, place potatoes, water, carrot, bouillon and pepper.
  2. Over medium-high heat bring to a boil and reduce heat to low.
  3. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Place half at a time in a blender.
  4. Cover and blend until smooth.
  5. Return mixture to sauce pan.
  6. Add cheese.
  7. Cook and stir over medium heat until cheese melts.
  8. Serve with croutons or crackers and garnish with cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

Volturi Dip

A bat dip 084

All you need for this lovely dip is:

1 cup salsa (medium or for more “bite” use hot)

8 oz. cream cheese

1 Tbsp sour cream

Blend ingredients together with an electric mixer. Spoon into serving bowl.

Serve with Batty Chips--of course!

A bat dip 083


Food storage prompt: 100 lbs. wheat

Volturi Dip
 
:
Ingredients
  • 1 cup salsa (medium or for more "bite" use hot)
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 Tbsp sour cream
Instructions
  1. Blend ingredients together with an electric mixer. Spoon into serving bowl.

Batty Chips

A bat dip 077

You could–of course, go ahead and buy tortilla chips OR you could make these cute little batty ones with tons of personality. This is an easy way to get people talking about–your chips. You know, that has never happened before.

A Halloween Party 031

Simply cut random bat shape out of regular flour tortillas.

A bat dip 075

Place them on a cookie sheet. Spray lightly with Pam so the spices will stick.

A bat dip 076

Sprinkle with a mixture of garlic salt, ground coriander and paprika (equal parts). I mixed the spices and put them in a shaker bottle. It worked beautifully.

A Halloween Party 035

Bake at 350 degrees for about 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Allow them to cool.

A bat dip 078

Serve with Volturi Dip. You may hear a lot of, “No way! You made those?” from your guests. Just say, “Oh, yeah. I slaved allll day.”

Heh.

Halloween Luminaries

A Halloween Party 016

Kinda pretty—

A Halloween Party 004

wouldn’t you say? And you know me–I need it to be fun and easy and if you can repurpose something in the process–well, then…it’s perfect.

All you need is:

a mummy dog 011

small jars–any size–we used baby food jars, tiny mustard jars and even a spaghetti sauce jar.

a mummy dog 016

tissue paper or crepe paper–we used orange, peach and purple–cut or torn into small pieces

Mod Podge–my new love in life

small paint brushes

LED candles–you can use real tea lamp candles, but it makes the surface of the jars tacky while they are hot. LED are better.

a mummy dog 018

Dab a tiny bit of Mod Podge onto the paintbrush…

A mummy dog 036

and paint it on the jar.

A mummy dog 035

Collect up a piece of tissue and stick it on the gluey spot.

A mummy dog 039

Cover the entire piece with the glue–top and bottom.

A mummy dog 040

Keep collecting and pasting and covering your tissue pieces until you have covered every inch of the bottle.

A mummy dog 069

Set them somewhere upside down to allow them to dry. You may just be surprised at how really beautiful they look.

A mummy dog 071

You could even sneak a face on one of them when no one is looking.

A Halloween Party 023

Fancy them up with ribbon or raffia…

A Halloween Party 014

Or leave them plain. Insert the LED lights in the bottom of the jars. Turn down the big lights and try dinner by… luminaries. I think you’ll like it!Â