Halloween has become one of the UK's most eagerly anticipated days and, even if you're not a huge fan of trick-or-treating or horror films, there's still plenty to enjoy. Namely the wide range of hideously good, Halloween-themed recipes that are easy to make and great fun to share!
Here's how to make some of our favourites.
Toffee apples.
The perfect Halloween treat, toffee apples are a guaranteed hit with kids and adults alike. Although they're easy to make, the use of hot toffee means this is a recipe for adults only!
Ingredients.
To make 8 toffee apples, you will need:
8 red apples
400g caster sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
4 tbsp golden syrup
red or black food colouring
8 lolly sticks
Begin by inserting the lolly sticks into the stalk-end of each apple until they're firmly in place, then put a large piece of parchment paper onto a chopping board.
Tip the sugar, lemon juice and 100ml of water into a large saucepan, bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar dissolves, being careful not to stir the mixture - instead, gently swirl the pan to move the sugar around. Next, add the golden syrup and bubble the mixture, without allowing it to boil over, until it reaches 'hard crack' stage (when there is almost no water left in the pan) or reaches 150℃ on a sugar thermometer (if you're using one). To test if the mixture is ready, drop a small amount of the toffee into cold water. If it hardens instantly and is brittle when removed, it's ready; if it's soft, continue to boil.
When the toffee is ready, add some drops of food colouring, swirl to combine and turn off the heat.
Finally, quickly dip each apple into the toffee, tipping the pan to cover each one. Lift out, allow any excess to drip off, place on the parchment paper until cool and you're done! Ideally, these fiendish fruits should be eaten the same day.
Eyeball pops.
Decorate these mini chocolate cake balls to look like eyes and you'll have a spooky Halloween treat nobody will say 'Boo' to!
Ingredients.
To make 10 pops, you will need:
100g/4oz madeira cake
100g Oreo cookies
100g bar milk chocolate, melted
200g bar white chocolate, melted
Smarties and icing pens to decorate
10 wooden skewers
A small pumpkin - or similar - to stand the pops in
Start by breaking the Madeira cake and cookies into the bowl of a food processor, then pour in the melted milk chocolate and blend until combined. Tip the mixture into a bowl then divide into 10 balls and put them in the fridge for 2 hours until solid.
Next, push a skewer into each ball and spoon the white chocolate over the balls until covered. Stand the pops in the pumpkin, place a Smartie on each one while still wet and return to the fridge until the chocolate sets. Before serving, use the icing pens to draw a pupil on each Smartie and wiggly red veins on each eyeball.
Edible fake blood.
The perfect addition to any Halloween recipe - including those listed above - edible fake blood looks disgustingly realistic and kids will love adding it to their scary treats.
Ingredients.
To make edible fake blood, you will need:
1 tbsp cornflour
45ml cherry juice
250g glucose syrup
red, blue and yellow food colouring gel
Start by mixing the cornflour with 1 tbsp cherry juice, then tip the mixture into a small pan with the glucose syrup and remaining cherry juice. Heat gently over a low heat, whisking well to combine, then remove from the heat.
Squeeze in a good amount of the red food colouring gel and stir well, then add a very small drop each of the blue and yellow food colouring gels and stir again. Continue to add little drops of food colouring, stirring well between each addition, until you reach your desired colour.
This recipe makes thick, gooey blood; if you want it thinner, simply stir in a little more cherry juice.
Happy Halloween!
If you're hosting a Halloween party this year or just want a hot drink to take with you trick-or-treating, we've got you covered - contact your nearest Cafe2U van here and we can provide all your coffee needs!