Those Are Some Spooky Snacks

From watching scary movies to dressing up as ghouls and goblins, spooky season means it’s time to pop up your loved ones’ favorite snacks for a ghostly good time. Before heading out to trick-or-treat, gather your minions in the kitchen for some family-friendly fun, crafting these haunting yet tasty treats.

Spooky Popcorn Spider Web

Yield: 1 spider web

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter

• 8 cups mini marshmallows, divided

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 9 cups popped popcorn, divided

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided

• black string licorice

• candy eyes

Directions

1. Line round pizza pan with parchment paper; set aside.

2. In large saucepan over low heat, melt butter; stir in 5 cups marshmallows, stirring constantly, 3-4 minutes, or until completely melted.

3. Stir in vanilla.

4. Remove from heat. Stir in 8 cups popcorn until coated.

5. Spread onto prepared pizza pan in irregular round shape, about 1" thick, to resemble spider web.

6. Refrigerate about 15 minutes, or until firm.

7. In microwave, melt remaining marshmallows about 20 seconds, or until melted.

8. Using spatula, string strands of melted marshmallow over popcorn spider web to create cobweb effect.

9. In heatproof bowl, set over saucepan of hot (not boiling) water, melt 3/4 cup chocolate chips; cool slightly.

10. In large bowl of remaining popcorn, pour chocolate over popcorn, folding gently to coat.

11. Spread mixture on waxed paper-lined baking sheet, separating into eight small clusters. Affix two candy eyes to each popcorn cluster.

12. Refrigerate 10-15 minutes, or until set.

13. Melt remaining chocolate chips. Cut licorice into 1-inch lengths.

14. Using small spoon, dab circles of chocolate onto spider web. Affix chocolate-coated popcorn onto chocolate circles. Affix licorice lengths to chocolate popcorn clusters to resemble spider legs.

15. Refrigerate 15 minutes, or until set. To serve, cut into smaller pieces.

Green Halloween Zombies

Yield: about 7 pieces

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 quarts popped popcorn

• 6 tablespoons butter or margarine

• 3 cups mini marshmallows

• 4 tablespoons lime gelatin powder

• red gum balls

• candy corn

• flat green candy strips or fruit leather

• green sugar sprinkles

Directions

1. Place popcorn in large bowl; set aside.

2. In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.

3. Stir marshmallows into butter until melted. Stir in gelatin powder until evenly colored.

4. Pour melted mixture over popcorn and stir until evenly coated.

5. With buttered hands, shape popcorn into seven ovals.

6. Flatten one oval slightly and squeeze one end to form a skull shape. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining ovals.

To Decorate

Press two gumballs into each skull to form the eyes. Press candy corn into skull to form teeth. Use scissors to trim candy strips and press into top for the hair. Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles. Allow “zombies” to set about 20 minutes before wrapping individually in plastic wrap or serve immediately.