Two Recipes to Try This Halloween From “Spooky Snacks and Treats”

Frightfully fun Halloween recipes for kids

Are you looking for inspiration for creative Halloween treats that are sure to entertain and impress (and maybe slightly gross out) friends and family?

Then you are going to want to pick up a copy of “Spooky Snacks and Treats” by Zac Williams. The book contains dozens of recipes for drinks, snacks, munchies and treats. Click the arrows at the top of the page to see recipes from the book for Creature Cupcakes and Werewolf Cupcakes. 

The spooky photography is also by Zac Williams, and these recipes are reprinted here with the permission of Gibbs Smith Books.

Up first: Creature Cupcakes

Creature Cupcakes

MAKES 18 CUPCAKES

• 1 (15.25-ounce) box chocolate cake mix
• 1 (16-ounce) package white candy coating or almond bark
• Green food coloring
• 1 bag large marshmallows
• 1⁄2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 (16-ounce) can chocolate frosting
• Assorted decorating frostings and gels
• Green Mike and Ike candies
• Assorted candies and sprinkles

Prepare cake mix according to directions for making cupcakes. Line cupcake pans with fun cupcake papers and fill each two-thirds of the way full. Bake according to instructions. Let cupcakes cool completely.

Following the package directions, melt the candy coating in the microwave. After the coating is melted, add a few drops of green food coloring and stir. Add more if needed, until the candy coating is a nice monster green.

Using a bamboo skewer, dip a marshmallow into the candy coating until covered. Place on wax paper to cool. Repeat until you have made 18 coated marshmallows.

Stir almond extract into the chocolate frosting. Then frost each cupcake.

Place 1 coated marshmallow in the center of each cupcake. Decorate with frosting and gels to create a mini Frankenstein’s monster head. Use a little extra frosting to stick green Mike and Ike candy “bolts” to the sides of the head. Finish off with more candies and sprinkles.

Up next: Werewolf Cupcakes

Werewolf Cupcakes

MAKES 18 TO 24 CUPCAKES

• 1 (15.25-ounce) box devil’s food cake mix
• 2 to 3 cups shredded coconut
• 1 (8-ounce) jar seedless raspberry jam
• 1 (16-ounce) can cream cheese frosting
• Assorted decorating frostings and gels

Prepare cake mix according to directions for making cupcakes. Bake and let cool.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place coconut in a shallow baking dish and toast for about 5–7 minutes. You will need to have your adult supervisor help you stir the coconut a few times during the baking process until it is brown.

Microwave the raspberry jam in a glass bowl on high for 30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Set aside 2 tablespoons of jam in a separate bowl.

Using a small paring knife, cut a circular wedge out of the top of each cupcake. Spoon some raspberry jam into each and replace the top parts of the cupcakes.

Frost the cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting. Top with toasted coconut. Use decorator frostings and gels to create ears, eyes, nose, mouth and fangs. Add reserved raspberry jam on the tips of the werewolves’ fangs.

Editor’s note: This article was written in 2022 and updated for 2023.