Last-Minute No-Bake Halloween Treats!

I promise, these treats are so quick and easy to make — you have time for this story

So, there I was, home early from work Monday, thanks to Hurricane Sandy. Unable to sit still (a genetic trait), I decided to bake. I was dying to make my Halloween-time candy bar cookies – this time with the mini Rolo candies that jumped into my Walmart carriage without warning.

I also wanted to use my new mixer — ain’t she a beaut?

Sometimes, however, the best ideas are sunk by poor execution. While every instinct may tell you that a cookie filled with mini marshmallows and Rolos will be incredible, they lose their charm quickly when you have to chisel them off the baking pans. Tasty? Sure! But, also a gooey, sticky, caramel mess. Almost ruined three cookie pans. Why did I not use the silicon baking mat that’s been in my cabinet for 5 years?! Or consider parchment paper, the suggestion that my FB friends practically shouted in unison when I shared my failure publicly. Next time…

Not to be derailed by failure, I decided give another go at Halloween treats, this time with a less risky baking genre. No-bake, to be exact. Halloween treats you simply assemble. I can’t burn ‘em. I can’t over mix ‘em. I can only drop ‘em. And I didn’t!

And they are adorable, right??

Witch hats made with fudge-striped cookies and Hershey’s kisses. Cute ghosts from Nutter Butters and white chocolate. So simple they are brilliant! And a quick, fun activity for Georgia and me. Thank you, Pinterest, again, for saving my butt and making me look like Mom of the Year in my kid’s eyes

Directions (blueprints?) below…

Chocolate Witch’s Hats
Makes 1-2 dozen

Hershey’s chocolate kisses, unwrapped
Fudge-striped cookies (like Keebler’s Fudge Striped Cookies)
1-2 tubes of writing gel (like Cake Mate)
Decorative sprinkles & stuff (nonpareils, jimmies, mini M&M’s, mini chocolate chips)

Step 1: turn over the cookie
Step 2: hold the kiss in your hand upside down
Step 3: squeeze a large dollop of writing gel on the bottom of the kiss
Step 4: put the kiss right-side up on the center of the cookie
Step 5: decorate with sprinkly stuff
Step 6: step back and admire your handiwork; do a little victory dance; giggle and strut

Ghostly Nutter Butters
Makes 1-2 dozen

Nutter Butter cookies
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
mini chocolate chips

Step 1: Put the white chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute at 70% power. Stir with a spatula.Continue microwaving at 15 second intervals at 70% power, stirring between each interval. They are ready when they are smooth and creamy after stirring.
Step 2: Working steadily while the chocolate is warm, dip one side of the cookie in the white chocolate mixture. Smooth the chocolate lightly with a small spatula, if necessary. Place on wax paper.
Step 3: Add 2 mini chocolate chips for eyes.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 forever and ever until you run out of Nutter Butters
Step 5: Step back and marvel at your brilliance and panache. Pat yourself on the back.
Step 6: Do some laundry cuz it’s likely you just got melted chocolate all over your shirt. My bad.

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Tagged as: chocolate witch's hats, Hershey's kiss cookies, last minute Halloween treats, nutter butter ghosts