Try new tricks with your treats

Coming up with new tricks to wow Halloween visitors and party guests every year can be a monstrous challenge. but don’t be scared. We’ve got a treat for you: A grab bag of spooky decorations and frighteningly easy refreshments to get you in the spirit of the holiday.

MINI CARAMEL APPLES

Bite-size versions of the fall fair treat, these tiny "caramel" apples are a great party snack.

YOU WILL NEED:
4-inch lollipop sticks
Melon baller
Granny Smith apples (one apple makes about 8 mini apples)
Butterscotch or peanut butter chips
Chopped nuts, nonpareils, sprinkles, shredded coconut (optional)
Small paper candy cups

First, cut the lollipop sticks in half at an angle (the pointy end will go into the apple pieces easier). With the melon baller, scoop little balls out of the apple. Each ball should have a section of apple peel. Push half of a lollipop stick into the peel of each ball. Pat the apple pieces dry.

Melt the chips according to the package directions. Dip and swirl the mini apples in the melted chips, then roll the apples in nuts, sprinkles, non-pareils or coconut, if desired. Place the mini apples in paper candy cups to set.

— FAMILY FUN MAGAZINE

BLACK BEAN CAT CRUDITES

Looking for a Halloween night snack that’s both healthy and festive? This skeletal array fits the bill, no bones about it — just assorted fresh vegetables and a bowl of dip arranged in the shape of a spooky cat.

BRAIN CUPCAKES

Here’s a treat to put you in a Halloween mindset. Spread a coat of light orange icing (we stirred drops of yellow and pink food coloring, and just a touch of green, into 2 cups of buttercream frosting until we had a hue we liked) on a dozen cupcakes.

Then use a pastry bag fitted with a number 10 round tip to top them with fat zigzags. It works best to first pipe two zigzags down the middle and then fill in the sides.

WITCH'S HOUSE CAKE

When guests dig into this devilishly delicious cake with its broken candy "glass" path, cookie graveyard, marshmallow ghosts and spooky hilltop shack, it will be love at first bite.

Ingredients:
3 baked devil's food or chocolate cakes: a 13- by 9- by 2-inch, an 8-inch round cake baked in an ovenproof bowl and a 6-inch loaf
4 cups chocolate frosting
1 cup orange frosting
Decorations: chocolate graham crackers and ice-cream cones, Nutter Butter cookies, black shoestring licorice, green gumdrops, chocolate kisses, twisted licorice, mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, chocolate-covered raisins and green hard candies