Start with Paula’s Mini Mummies—puff pastry-wrapped goodness that’s just the right amount of spooky without scarin’ anybody off. They’re perfect as finger food and pair just as well with juice boxes as they do with your favorite fall cocktail. Next, whip up a batch of Sandwich Cookie Spiders—no oven needed, just some of everyone’s favorite sandwich cookies, pretzel sticks, and a little creativity. They’re as fun to make as they are to eat! And don’t forget dessert—Paula’s spooky Graveyard Pudding Cups are always a hit. Whether you want to set a spooky scene with bones, monsters, and gravestones or you prefer something more kid-friendly, like candy pumpkins or gummy worms, the only limit is your imagination!

No matter what kind of Halloween hootenanny you’re hosting this year, Paula’s easy Halloween food ideas will surely take it over the top! Let us know in the comments below what Halloween-themed recipes you’ll be making.

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Years ago, one of my best friends Donna Foltz and I thought we’d pair up on a costume idea. We decided that one of us would dress up like ladies of a less likable variety: witches. She chose to be a classic witch in The Wizard of Oz style, and I opted to be the Ice Queen—all cold, unapproachable, and downright mean. We took this as an opportunity to live outside the box, so to speak, since neither of us is “witchy” by nature. I don’t know about y’all, but I think costumes are always more fun when you do ‘em with someone else, like the year Michael and I dressed up like a slice of bread and a stick of butter (y’all can guess who was the butter).

Since Donna and I were so unrecognizable with these Halloween looks, I thought I’d share a helpful how-to for recreating these Halloween makeup looks. First up, we’ll start with my Ice Queen makeup tutorial.

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Witch’s Brew

You’ll need the following:

• 4 cups apple cider
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 juiced lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
• 1 block of dry ice
• 1 large cast iron Dutch oven
• 1 large metal bowl, which can easily fit inside the Dutch oven
• chilled glass mugs
• Spiced Rum, optional

To make this Witch’s Brew recipe, you’ll need to start by mixing together the apple cider, pomegranate juice, grated ginger, and lemon juice in a pitcher. If you’re looking to kick things up, you can also add the spiced rum to the mix.

While wearing gloves and protective eyewear, you will use a hammer to smash the dry ice into large chunks. Place a few in the bottom of the Dutch oven, and add water to cover it. Place the metal bowl inside the Dutch oven and pour in the brew—the dry ice will escape around the sides of the bowl, creating a spooky effect. Use a ladle to fill the mugs for your guests.

COOKS’ NOTES & SAFETY TIPS: Do not a use a glass bowl—only a metal bowl that fits inside the Dutch oven. Glass can actually shatter from the extreme low temperature of the dry ice, which is a safety hazard for both you and your guests. It is also advisable to wear gloves to protect your hands when using dry ice and protective eyewear for your eyes to avoid injury.

Paula’s Party Potion

You’ll need the following ingredients:

• 4 cups fruit punch
• 2 cups pineapple juice
• 1 liter ginger ale
• ¾ cup cream of coconut
• ice cubes
• 151 alcohol, optional

Directions

In a large pitcher, combine the fruit punch and the pineapple juice before adding a liter of ginger ale and ice cubes. Stir it up to combine and then pour the cream of coconut on top. Serve it up in a punch bowl to up the presentation. This recipe makes ten servings.

For a showy, alcoholic option, also called a scorpion bowl, add 151 alcohol into a cup, float it in the middle, and light it on fire.

Whichever option you choose to serve at your party, we hope your guests find it scary good. Now have a happy Halloween, y’all!

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In this first special, Halloween at Home from Paula’s Home Cooking season 2, I’m makin’ some spooky dishes, like my Bewitched Cake, a Cheese Ball Goblin, a creepy Snake Bite, and a Hand Punch Ice Cube. It’s the perfect episode to watch if you’ve got a Halloween party comin’ up.

In Hallo-Deen, an episode from Paula’s Best Dishes season 7, this witchy woman is whippin’ up a Monster Mash, a sweet Corn & Butternut Squash, and some creepy crawly Crunchy Crab Cake Spiders. Then y’all know we have to finish up with something sweet, so I’m bakin’ some can’t-miss Upside-Down Pumpkin-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes.

I hope y’all enjoyed takin’ this stroll down Halloween’s past with me. Have a safe and happy Halloween, y’all!

The post A Haunted Halloween appeared first on Paula Deen.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• Twine or sturdy string
• A stick, cut to desired length and trimmed
• Dried straw or various dried grasses

The post How-To: Halloween Broom Craft appeared first on Paula Deen.

For starters, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 8 fun-size Milky Way candy bars, divided
• 3/4 cup plus 5 tablespoons, divided unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 (4-oz) bars chopped semi-sweet chocolate
• 15 chocolate wafer cookies
• 15 sugar ice cream cones
• 2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted
• green food coloring
• black licorice laces
• 30 red cinnamon candies
• candy corn

Bake the Cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 350 °F, place 15 paper baking cups in muffin pans, fill any empty cups half-full with water, and set aside. Melt 5 candy bars and 2 tablespoons butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth, then let the mixture cool.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Cream together the sugar and 1/4-cup plus 2 tablespoons of softened butter in a large mixing bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Add the egg, beating just until blended.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat at a low speed just until it’s blended after each addition. Beat in the melted candy bar mixture and the half-teaspoon of vanilla. Spoon the batter evenly into the baking cups, filling them two-thirds full.

Bake the cupcakes until a wooden pick inserted in the centers of the cupcakes comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Remove them from the pan, and let them cool completely on wire racks.

Make the Witchy Green Buttercream

Place 1 tablespoon of the butter and 3 candy bars in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on medium power for 2 minutes or until soft. Stir the mixture until smooth.

Now, beat the remaining softened butter (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons) until creamy in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer. Add the confectioners’ sugar and warm melted candy mixture, beating until the frosting is smooth and fluffy. Beat in 6 drops of green food coloring until blended.

Make the Witch Hats

Place the chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave it at medium power for 2 minutes or until it’s soft, stirring until smooth.

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If you’re like us and enjoy pumpkin everything in the fall, give some of these fall pumpkin recipes a try. You’re sure to find the perfect recipe for any occasion.

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Try these “AHH!”-inducing Halloween appetizers if you dare. Every party needs tasty appetizers to keep the ghouls and goblins from turning into wicked witches from hunger. Of course, Halloween parties call for something a little more spooktacular, and these creepy crawlies have cast a spell on us—they’re so spooky, we can’t look away!

Don’t be a scaredy cat. These devilishly good dishes are just screaming for you to take a bite! But beware… these ghastly Halloween appetizers are frighteningly flavorful.

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Here are some of our favorite ideas:

Mini Mummies – This spooky snack is a cinch to make. It just takes a little pie dough and some cut-up hot dogs. But the mysterious mummy look makes it a whole lot of fun to eat!

Ghoulish Grins – Parents will love this snack because it’s good and healthy, and the kids will love making these silly or scary smiles—and eating them too!

Pumpkin Seed Snack Mix – We’re leaving the spook-factor out of this one. This yummy fall trail mix is full of healthy ingredients, like pumpkin seeds, almonds, coconut, and dates. But the chocolate candies add the perfect dose of sweetness for your little ones.

Cheese Cats, Bats, and Jack-O-Lanterns – These flavorful cheesy bites are a favorite after-school snack come Halloween. Of course, you can always change up your shapes to make them perfect year-round.

Parmesan Popcorn Mix – What happens when your children’s favorite snacks come together? This super snack—that’s what! They’re sure to love this savory snack.

Jack-O-Lantern Grilled Cheese Apple Sandwiches – The classic grilled cheese is getting a Halloween treatment. We’re making them pumpkin shaped and adding a little ham and apple. Yum!

Which would your kids love? Let us know in the comments below!

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