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When it comes to Halloween, there’s so much to love. Costumes, deocrations, and of course, candy! But it’s not just the kids who love it. A recent survey found that 86% of parents steal Halloween candy from their kids, and we’re willing to bet that most grandparents enjoy some sweet treats as well.
With Halloween just around the corner, why not bake up some happy memories with your little pumpkins? These recipes are designed for you and your beloved grandkids to make together.
Some of these recipes require you to work in the kitchen with a hot oven or burner. As always, keep the children away from the heat. Protect yourself too by using thick potholders when necessary and wearing clothing that doesn’t drape or hang over the pot you’re working with. And always consider using a medical alert pendant or watch while you work in the kitchen. Not only does medical alert technology keep you safe by allowing you to reach out for help at the touch of a button, it can also help others – so if there is ever an emergency with a grandchild, you can get help right away for them, too.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the recipes you can make with your grandkids to celebrate the spookiest of spooky days.
Ghoulish Rice Krispy Treats
This is a timeless treat that everyone seems to love. This twist on the classic cereal treat is incredibly easy and fun to make.
· 3 Tbsps. butter
· One 10-oz package of marshmallows
· 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
· A few drops of green food coloring
· Small tube of white icing
· Small tube of black icing
Coat a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Set it aside.
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows. Stir them gently until they are completely melted, then remove from the heat. Mix in a few drops of food coloring until the marshmallow mixture is tinted a slightly darker green than you want.
Immediately add in the cereal and blend to combine. Press the mixture into the pan using a well-buttered spatula or wax paper.
Allow the mixture to cool completely, then cut into rectangular squares. Separate each piece. Using the finest tip possible on the small tube of white icing, decorate the squares with strands of icing to look like a wrapped mummy. Using the black icing, add eyes to the top part of the rectangular squares. Get creative, have fun, and enjoy!
Halloween Pizza
A yummy pizza that’s good for you? Yes – as long as the grandkids don’t pick off the toppings instead of eating the hearty apple base! According to WebMD, apples have a great deal of fiber (especially in the skin), antioxidants that can slow the growth of cancer cells, and nutrients that can protect your heart and blood vessels.
· 4 cored and sliced Honeycrisp apples (or your favorite variety)
· 1 cup tiny marshmallows
· 1 Tbsp. butter
· ½ cup creamy peanut butter
· ½ cup seedless jam of your choice
· 1 cup of assorted small candies, such as M&Ms or candy corn
In a small bowl, microwave the marshmallows and butter together until you can easily stir to combine.
In a separate small bowl, microwave the peanut butter to melt it, about 30 seconds or so. Do the same with the jam in a separate bowl.
Arrange the apples on a large platter or plate. Drizzle a bit of each of the three “sauces” on top. Be generous! Then sprinkle the candies over the apple pizza. Serve the dish immediately to hungry kids of any age.
Marshmallow Monsters
These unique little treats start with big marshmallows as a canvas. This allows you and the grandkids to get all sorts of creative with a host of other ingredients. Keep in mind that we’ve included a recipe for eight marshmallows to make it easier for you to judge how many other ingredients you need.
· 8 large marshmallows
· 8 straws
· Candy melts of your choice (though Halloween colors are nice)
· Mini chocolate chips
· Small bottles of sprinkles in a variety of colors
· A variety of small candies, such as mini M&Ms, Nerds, etc.
Insert a straw into each marshmallow. In a small bowls (one bowl for each color you chose), microwave the candy melts until they are properly melted. Dip the marshmallows into the candy melts and immediately begin decorating them with sprinkles and other small candies to create festive marshmallow pops.
Happy Halloween Trail Mix
This twist on the old trail mix idea is loaded with good things for you – and one very important ingredient that isn’t good for you at all but is still a must-have for the season—candy corn. Let the kids measure the ingredients and combine them with your supervision.
· 2 cups crispy corn-based cereal, such as Chex
· 1 ½ cups honey-roasted nuts, such as pecans or peanuts
· 1 cup dried banana chips
· ½ cup yogurt-covered raisins
· ½ cup candy corn
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl (if serving immediately) or a plastic zip-lock bag. Blend or shake the ingredients well to mix them.
Classic Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
There are as many variations of this recipe as there are different jack-o-lanterns out there! If you’re creating a jack-o-lantern, you’re in good company – about 44% of Americans will carve their own this year[1]. But don’t forget to save the seeds. They pack a mighty punch of nutritional goodness.
This is a straightforward recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds that can be dressed up to your liking with a dash of whatever seasoning suits your fancy. Do the grandkids love garlic? Sprinkle some garlic salt over the seeds before putting them in the oven. Do they like things a little spicy? Sprinkle on some chili powder. The options are endless.
· 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds (straight from the pumpkin!)
· 1 Tbsp. olive oil
· ½ tsp. of your choice of seasoning – this might include garlic, chili powder , grated cheese, or salt
Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash the seeds, making sure all bits of pumpkin are removed. Dry the seeds thoroughly before combining the seeds with the olive oil and seasonings of your choice. Spread the seeds evenly on a large rimmed sheet pan.
Bake the seeds for five minutes, stir them a bit, then cook for another five minutes. Continue the cooking/stirring process for up to 20 minutes or so, when the seeds are slightly browned and crispy. When they’re done, allow them to cool before serving.
Haunted Forest Cups
Make this easy treat with pudding mix! The kids can help you blend the pudding and marvel at how quickly it goes from powder and milk to something firm and ready to eat.
· 1 package chocolate pudding, prepared by package directions
· 10 large pretzel sticks
· A small bag of mini pretzel sticks
· 1 cup melted chocolate candy melts
· ¼ cup chocolate sprinkles (optional)
· 1 cup crushed dark cookies (Oreos are great for this)
· Candy pumpkins
You will need 10 small juice glasses or something similar for this recipe. The glasses need to be clear to get the full decorative effect. Sprinkle some of the crushed cookies into each glass, then top with pudding. Sprinkle more of the cookies on top. Put them in the fridge to chill while you make the haunted trees.
Dip each pretzel stick into the melted chocolate. If you are using the sprinkles, gently drop them onto the pretzels while the chocolate melt is still wet. Dip the smaller pretzel sticks in the chocolate and press them to the larger pretzel sticks, allowing the chocolate to seal them together. The idea is that the large pretzel stick is a tree trunk and the smaller sticks are the branches.
Set the pretzels aside to allow the chocolate to harden.
To prepare the cups, insert the pretzel trees gently into the pudding so that they stand upright. Garnish with more of the crushed cookies, if necessary. Place a candy pumpkin or two at the base of each tree.
Caramel Pumpkin Dip
This unique dip is delightful for kids and adults alike. It might seem like a sweet treat that can’t possibly be good for you, but the base is made of pumpkin puree – and pumpkins have magnesium, which can help lower blood pressure, as well as anti-oxidants and vitamin A to protect your vision[2]. And that’s just the tip of the jack-o-lantern of vitamins and nutrients pumpkin brings to this dish!
· 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree
· 1 package of instant pudding mix in butterscotch or caramel flavors
· 1/3 cup caramel sauce
· 1 – 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
· 16 oz. container of Cool Whip or similar frozen topping
In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Whisk them to combine it all very well. Fold in the whipped topping with a rubber spatula. When the ingredients are mixed well, cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes.
Serve with a variety of dipping items, including fruits, graham crackers or pretzels.
Note: If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand, you can make your own by combining 3 Tbsp. cinnamon, 2 tsp. ground ginger, 2 tsp. nutmeg, 1 tsp. ground allspice, and 1 tsp. ground cloves. Blend well and store in an airtight container to use as needed.
Shivery Ghost Pops
These ghost pops have a healthy base thanks to the banana. Healthline tells us that bananas are a low-fat, low-calorie food that can help you control your blood sugar, aid in digestion and weight loss, support the health of your heart, and help prevent cramps and soreness. And it just so happens that the shape of a banana makes a great ghost!
· 1 medium, firm banana
· 1 cup white chocolate candy melts
· 8 mini chocolate chips
· 4 popsicle sticks or chop sticks
Cut the banana in half across the center line. Insert a popsicle stick into the wide part of each half. Freeze the bananas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This might take an hour or so. When they are frozen, fill a small bowl or mug with the chocolate melts. Melt them in the microwave until the chocolate is smooth. Dip the bananas into the chocolate and place them back on the parchment paper. Add the chocolate chips to the “ghosts” to create eyes, working quickly to get them on the bananas before the chocolate hardens too much.
Return the bananas to the freezer to make sure they are frozen through. Serve them straight from the freezer for a delicious, cool treat.
Safety Makes for a Happier Halloween
Staying safe during Halloween can be the difference between a wonderful time and an emergency department visit. It’s not just the kitchen where you need to be careful, though a majority of household accidents do happen there[3]. Since slips and falls are a leading cause of injury, make sure that if you spill water or other liquids on the floor, you clean them up immediately. Having the peace of mind of a PERS device, or personal emergency response system can make you feel more confident in the kitchen.
It’s always a great time to consider an on-the-go, mobile medical alert system with fall detection. Not only does this give you the power of getting help at the touch of a button, it also offers fall detection technology that can sense that you’ve fallen and automatically send an alert without your even needing to press the SOS button! This Halloween season, Alert1 wishes you all the best in health and safety!