Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Graveyard Cupcakes
Although it looks almost like a cake, this graveyard is made up of individual cupcakes, making it a perfect self-serve Halloween party treat. Just grab your cupcake and go — no knives necessary.
get the recipe
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Foam Tombstones
Whether you choose to add funny sayings or be deathly serious with traditional designs, our tutorial will show you how to turn inexpensive foam boards into realistic-looking grave markers.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Photo: Brian Kennedy ©
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Spider Bites
Three ingredients are all you need to make these easy spider bites. The chocolate-covered pretzel critters are just creepy enough for young kids to enjoy.
get the recipe
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Spider Napkin Rings
Spook up your Halloween get-together with these cute, easy-to-make felt and pompom napkin rings — a perfect project to craft with the kids.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Ghost Pizzas
Classic white pizza takes a ghostly turn with this recipe, complete with three cheeses and pitted black olives. Using prepared pizza dough makes it even easier, and no sauce to simmer makes it simpler still.
get the recipe
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Levitating Ghost
Turn craft-store materials into a life-size (or at least
afterlife-size) ghost that appears to float several feet above the ground.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Phyllo-Wrapped Mummies
There's no need to be too meticulous when wrapping these spooky versions of pigs in blankets, as the raggedy look suits the mummy theme to a tee.
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Mummy Candy Cans
These adorable treat cans make upcycling look great! Kids will love helping you craft these cans almost as much as they’ll enjoy devouring their sweet contents.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Vampire Blood Soup
Halloween cookie cutters (think ghosts, pumpkins, bats or witches) are all you need to dial up the fun factor with these mini sandwiches. For an extra-spooky presentation, serve the “bloody” tomato soup alongside in vials.
get the recipe
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Maple Cinnamon Spider Web Fritters
Put a Halloween spin on a classic carnival treat, the funnel cake. For a spooky-yet-sweet surprise, garnish the fried dough webs with creepy-crawly garnishes like jelly spiders.
get the recipe
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Spider Web Pillow
Give arachnophobes a case of the heebie-jeebies with this realistic looking (but thoroughly harmless) pillow. This project involves basic machine- and hand-sewing, so it's a snap to make, even for beginning crafters.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Photo: Renee Comet ©
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Angel’s Food Cupcakes
A pillowy meringue frosting and white candy halos make these super-light cupcakes especially angelic. Serve them alongside their sinful counterpart,
Devil’s Food Cupcakes.
get the recipe
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Costume Angel Wings
These feathered wings are perfect for occasions that require a costume, like Halloween or a Christmas nativity play, but they are also sturdy enough to be worn for everyday imaginative play.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Pecan Caramel Spiders
Chocolate-caramel nut clusters turn into these creepy-cute spiders with the help of licorice legs.
get the recipe
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Glittered Treat Bags
Give plain muslin bags a trendy custom touch with one of our free printable patterns. These little sacks are just the right size to give out as party favors, take to the kids at school or use to surprise your favorite trick-or-treaters.
Get step-by-step instructions and download templates.
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Photo: Renee Comet ©
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Mummy-aki Chicken Fingers
Mummify chicken tenders with strips of phyllo dough and bake them until golden brown. Then they’re ready to skewer and dip in “bloody” sweet-and-sour sauce for a kid-friendly Halloween dinner or a party appetizer for all ages.
get the recipe
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Mummy Makeup
Basic makeup, coffee (yes, coffee!) and spirit gum are all you need to turn your kid into a card-carrying member of the undead. Our
step-by-step instructions show you how to perfect the sunken-eye look.
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Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher
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Witch Finger Cookies
Giada De Laurentiis transforms classic ladyfinger cookies into spooky witch fingers by adding almond fingernails and dipping the blunt ends in jam.
get the recipe
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Witch’s Broomstick Place Cards
Made from just a twig, some raffia and a scrap of paper, these diminutive brooms will cast a spell over your Halloween guests. Plus, they're a fun party favor that guests can take home with them.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Black Cat Pops
A little crafty decorating transforms chocolate-covered fruit balls into cute black cat pops. Use fruit leather for the kitties' ears and noses, and use piped white chocolate for their eyes and whiskers.
get the recipe
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Black Cat Pumpkins
Welcome trick-or-treaters and Halloween guests with a litter of black cat pumpkins. These carve-free kitties are easy to craft, making them a fun project for older children or small kids with a little help from a crafty adult.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Photo: Brian Kennedy ©
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Witch’s Brew
This adults-only punch will be the centerpiece of any Halloween bar. A little dry ice is responsible for the steamy special effects — you can find it at many supermarkets, or ask your local ice cream shop.
get the recipe
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Witch Pumpkin
Create this not-too-scary witch for your front porch or entryway using a faux pumpkin and basic supplies from the craft store. Create a friendly witch to welcome Halloween guests or a scowling witch to keep mischief-makers at bay. Get
step-by-step instructions.
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Pumpkin Cupcakes
Add pumpkin puree to store-bought yellow cake mix for this shortcut party-ready treat.
get the recipe
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Glam Glittered Pumpkins
School glue and black glitter are all you need to give natural or faux pumpkins a fashion-forward makeover. Choose an easy pattern for crafting with kids, or go with a timeless design, like a monogram or graphic pattern, for a sophisticated look.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Photo: Jackie Alpers ©
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Candy Cake
Kids consider their stash of hard-earned Halloween candy scared, so the concept of leftover candy is a fantasy in a lot of households. Before making spooky desserts like this candy-loaded cake, stock up on extra goods in advance, or hit the post-trick-or-treat sale aisles. Store-bought cake, frosting and brownies can be used as timesavers, or you can make your own. Do frost the cake and brownies yourself, though, because the frosting needs to be wet for the toppings to adhere properly.
Get more ideas for treats to make with Halloween candy.
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Set Up a Trick-or-Treat Station
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Photo: Brian Kennedy ©
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Halloween Popcorn Treats
Giada’s sticky treats contain chopped chocolate bars, chocolate chip cookies, salted almonds and Halloween-colored candies. Serve them at your Halloween party or pack them up in cellophane as favors.
get the recipe
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Paper Treat Cone
Delight trick-or-treaters or Halloween party guests with this easy-to-create card stock cone filled with candy, small toys or trinkets.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Candy Bucket Cookies
Got anything left in the candy bucket once the trick-or-treaters have come and gone? Chop up the leftovers (anything with chocolate works!), fold into Jeff Mauro’s easy cookie dough, then bake up a batch of post-Halloween treats.
get the recipe
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Pumpkin Candy Dish
Cut a faux pumpkin in half to create a cute lidded container for serving Halloween candy. The waterproof foam interior also makes these a great cooler when filled with ice and beverages.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Monster Cupcakes
These more cuddly than scary monster treats are easy enough for kids to decorate. Pipe a monster face onto the cupcakes with green (or your favorite color) frosting, then make eyes with jelly candies and horns out of cashews.
get the recipe
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Furry Monster Wreath
Faux fur, plastic vampire teeth and small balls in assorted colors make fairly realistic stand-ins for a friendly monster’s coat, fangs and staring eyes. Complete the look by using permanent markers to add black or white slits to the eyes. Customize your monster further with pipe cleaner antennae or a bow tie.
Get more easy-to-craft Halloween wreath ideas.
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Ghostly Pumpkin Puddings
Top creamy pumpkin puddings with a swirl of light, fluffy meringue for a ghostly effect. Just decorate with candy eyes to complete these cute mini Caspers.
get the recipe
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Ghostly Outdoor Draperies
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Photo: Tara Donne ©
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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
When you scoop out your pumpkins to carve jack-o'-lanterns, don’t forget to save the seeds! Roasted pumpkin seeds make a great snack and can be used to add crunch to salads and soups.
Here’s how to roast them to crunchy perfection.
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Easy Pumpkin-Carving Templates
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Ghost Cupcakes
Decorate chocolate cupcakes with meringue piping to make a dozen tasty ghosts or monsters of your choice.
get the recipe
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Easy Billowing Ghosts
This quick-and-easy craft is a great Halloween project to make with the kids. Best of all, the inexpensive materials ensure you can whip up a whole gaggle of ghosts for your front yard.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Candy Corn Cupcakes
Use yellow food coloring to match your vanilla frosting to the color of candy corn bottoms, then arrange candy corn pieces sticking up in a circular pattern until all of the spaces are filled.
get the recipe
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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Eyeball Cocktail
This punch — a spookified version of a classic rickey — is a refreshing drink for kids after trick-or-treating. Add some gin for an equally refreshing after-dark cocktail for adults.
get the recipe
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Jack-O'-Lantern Cupcakes
These cute cupcakes look like they came from a bakery, but it’s actually super-easy to make jack-o'-lantern faces using orange fondant. Make a batch of your favorite cupcakes (or use store-bought cupcakes, we won’t tell!) and roll out orange fondant to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a round biscuit cutter, cut out 12 rounds and create face designs with small cutters or a clean X-Acto knife. Then simply lay the rounds on top of your frosted cupcakes.
get the recipe
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Craft a Pumpkin Family
Instead of carving or painting your pumpkins, turn them into characters that resemble your nearest and dearest. Fresh produce, felt, a permanent marker and a few bits of clothing are all you need.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Photo: Brian Kennedy ©
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Caramel, Chocolate and Candy Apples
Eating apples is much more fun than bobbing for them in a bucket, especially when they’re covered in caramel and chocolate! Giada rolls these in tasty toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles and candies.
get the recipe
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Chalkboard Treat Bucket
Upcycle an empty paint can into a Halloween treat bucket that can be decorated and customized each year to coordinate with your child’s costume. Kids will love this interactive trick-or-treat accessory that can be topped with a lid to safely store their stash.
Get step-by-step instructions.
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Truffle Spiders
Dress up store-bought chocolate truffles as creepy-crawly spiders for Halloween with just a few ingredients. For a fun party presentation, serve them on a “web” of cotton candy.
get the recipe
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Pin the Spider on the Web Game
Turn everyday craft supplies into an interactive Halloween party game that's fun for all ages.
