If you've noticed an abundance of pumpkins, cobwebs, witches hats and bats suddenly adorning your neighbours' houses and gardens, don't be alarmed, they're just getting in the mood for Halloween.
Although some people wish the celebrations accompanying October 31st were still mostly confined to America, there are some things for even the most resolute Halloween haters to enjoy at the spookiest time of year… and a lot of them are edible!
With that in mind, here are a few of our favourite Halloween bakes for you to try at home.
Halloween rocky road
Easy to make, easy to eat. Dare you give any away to trick-or-treaters?
Ingredients
To make 16 pieces of Halloween rocky road, you will need:
Sunflower oil, for greasing
100g unsalted butter, cubed
1 tbsp golden syrup
300g milk chocolate, broken into pieces
150g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
30g popcorn
80g jelly sweets
50g mini marshmallows
16 large chocolate buttons
1 tbsp milk chocolate chips
Edible eyes, to decorate
White writing icing, to decorate
Strawberry laces, to decorate
First, oil a 23cm square non-stick cake tin and line with baking parchment. Next, gently melt the butter, syrup and chocolate in a large saucepan over a low heat, stirring until combined. Once combined, remove from the heat and leave to cool for 10 minutes, then stir in the popcorn, sweets and marshmallows. Spoon the mix into the tin, then evenly arrange the chocolate buttons on top, adding two small chocolate chips to each button to make ears. Cool, then cover and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours until set.
Once set, remove from the tin and use the writing icing to pipe two dots on each chocolate button (to secure the eyes) and two small fangs. Position the edible eyes on the dots, then press 1cm lengths of strawberry lace over the fangs to create a mouth. Cut into squares and serve.
Gingerbread zombies
Not even the undead can resist these crunchy classics!
Ingredients
To make 14 gingerbread zombies, you will need:
350g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
125g butter, cubed
175g light muscovado sugar
1 egg
4 tbsp golden syrup
decorations, such as writing icing, chocolate chips and strawberry jam
Begin by preheating your oven to gas mark 4/180°C/160°C fan. Line two baking trays with nonstick baking paper. In a food processor, mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger, cinnamon and butter, then pulse until all incorporated. Add the sugar and pulse 3-4 more times.
In a bowl, whisk together the egg and golden syrup, then pour into the food processor and whizz until the mixture comes together in sticky clumps. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes.
On a large sheet of lightly floured, nonstick baking paper, roll out half the dough to roughly 3mm thick. Using a 14cm gingerbread man cutter, cut out 7 shapes, arrange on one of the prepared trays and bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, then repeat with the remaining dough.
Once the biscuits have cooled, decorate however you wish (we like to use the writing icing to draw skeletons, then use chocolate chips for eyes and use blobs of jam as fake blood). Leave to set before serving.
Ghost cupcakes
These spooky treats are as tasty as they are terrifying!
Ingredients
To make nine ghost cupcakes, you will need:
335g pack of chocolate chunk muffin mix
1 tbsp oil
1 medium egg
Semi-skimmed milk or water (depending on the muffin mix brand)
200ml double cream
100g dark chocolate chips
First, preheat your oven to gas mark 6/200°C/180°C fan and place 9 muffin cases in a muffin tin.
Prepare the muffin mix, oil, egg and milk as per the pack instructions, then divide between the 9 cases. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Whisk the cream until it holds its shape, then place in a piping bag with a 1cm nozzle. Pipe the cream into a peak on the cakes to create ghost shapes, then use the chocolate chips to make eyes.
Happy Halloween!
Whether you're hosting a party or heading out trick-or-treating, we've got all your hot drink needs covered this Halloween - we've even introduced a range of spooktacular pumpkin-spiced coffees and hot chocolates especially for the occasion!
Contact your nearest Cafe2U van here to find out more and arrange a delivery.