I love pumpkin spice everything. There, I’ve said it. Call me basic, but nothing gets me going like the sweet/spicy combo of a pumpkin spice latte. In honor of THE pumpkin holiday (sorry Thanksgiving, you can’t beat jack-o-lanterns), we’re bringing you some of the best Halloween and/or pumpkin inspired treats. While Halloweekend can be all about the parties , a way to really wow the crowd can be by throwing a pre-party munchies, or hey, bring the cupcakes TO the party (and we can be bffs forever). No matter how you’re spending the spookiest day of the year, give one of these recipes a shot! Then call me up and share.
Shake It Up Baby
This is one of the easiest recipes ever, but it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. Simply blend 1 part milk and 5 parts vanilla ice cream in a blender with ice – BUT WAIT! Before you make a bland vanilla milkshake, add a scoop of canned pumpkin. Really. It’s that simple.
A Tribute to the Pumpkin King
The Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite animated movie, possibly my favorite movie hands down, so I had to pay homage to Jack Skellington this Halloween. Bake sugar cookies (bonus if they’re homemade, but not judging if you use store-bought dough) and ice them in white. Use two mini-oreos for his eyes, and line up sprinkles to emulate the stitch-like nature of his nose.
A Spooky Case of Stripes
Ever heard of the Fourth of July red-white-and-blue drink layering trick? Well with a change in the color palette, you can do the same for Halloween! Start with a green sports drink (make sure it’s not sugar free), orange soda, and seltzer. The order of the drinks will depend on the sugar contents of the kinds you choose, so check the labels before you pour! In a glass full of ice, start by filling it a third of the way with the most sugary drink. Slowly pour the drink with the next highest sugar content on top of it, then repeat with the seltzer.
Pumpkin Pie Bites
I know, it’s not Thanksgiving, but these fall treats are great finger foods at Halloween gatherings! Preheat your oven to 400 degrees farenheit. Next, cut phyllo dough (a thin, flaky dough that can be purchased at most supermarkets into small squares, laying two on top of each other, on a prepared baking sheet. Put a thin layer of canned pumpkin on top and sprinkle on pumpkin pie spice. Top with two more layers of phyllo dough, brush with a thin layer of butter, sprinkle with cinnamon, and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Optional: top each with a dash of whipped cream!
Like this, only mini – and a lot healthier!
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