Simple Ideas for Halloween
We know how frantically busy family life can be, with school runs and children’s parties and dress up days and a million and one other things to think about. So much so that holidays like Halloween can sneak up on us before we realise it. As fun as it can be spending hours cooking up spooky delights for those Halloween parties, sometimes we just need something quick and easy that brings the fun without the effort. Here, I’ve come up with a couple of ideas that I’ve made with my own children on busy Autumn evenings.
CHILLING CHEESECAKE BROWNIE
Just when you thought brownies couldn’t get any better… along comes the cheesecake brownie!
This indulgent Halloween recipe combines those two best of deserts with that ever controversial flavour twist - chocolate orange. Pile high with Halloween themed treats and serve at room temperature.
Cook in your Electrickit Aga or conventional oven at 180c or in the baking oven of your traditional Aga. For a 2 oven Aga, use the cold shelf to create a cooler zone in the roasting oven.
Ingredients:
For the brownie:
200g dark chocolate
200g unsalted butter
250g caster sugar
3 eggs
110 plain flour
For the cheesecake:
400g full fat cream cheese
150g icing sugar
2 eggs
1tsp orange water (or to taste)
zest of 1 orange
orange food gel
For the topping:
Icing sugar
Chocolate drops
Oreos
Edible halloween decorations
black food gel (optional)
Method:
1) Prepare a half size roasting tray or 33 x 23cm tray, lining with Bake-o-glide.
2) Melt the chocolate on the warming plate, on the hot enamel surface of the Aga or over a pan of gently simmering water.
3) Cream the butter and sugar with mixer or food processor, then gradually add the eggs one at a time, adding a tbsp of flour with each new addition to prevent the mixture from splitting. Beat in the remaining flour and continue to whisk until smooth. Slowly pour in the chocolate whilst continuing to mix and beat until thoroughly combined. Pour into the prepared tin.
4) Clean out the mixer bowl and combine the cream cheese, sugar, orange zest and orange flower water, beating until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time and continue to mix. Add orange food gel for that Halloween look - you'll need more than you think as the colour will fade as it cookers.
5) Once smooth and creamy, spread carefully over the brownie mix and smooth with a palette knife.
6) Bake for 35-45 minutes until firm to the touch and lightly golden around the edges.
7) Leave to cool and then refrigerate if time before turning out and carefully cutting into 12 portions. Prepare some icing and colour orange - this is your glue! Pile high with chocolate drops, broken up Oreos and some edible decorations. Add a squiggle of black icing and a good dust of icing sugar to finish.
Biscoff Caramel Spooky Spider
A frightfully easy spooky party piece, perfect for fun with the family.
Music: Clint Robinson. The Addams Family theme
Ingredients:
2x ready rolled puff pastry (or make your own if you’re feeling fancy!)
Biscoff spread
Caramel sauce
Fondant icing
Writing icing
Icing sugar
Method:
1) Roll out one puff pastry sheet, coat the pastry with biscoff spread, right up to the edges. Then add a layer of caramel sauce.
2) Place something circular in the middle of the pastry (just any object that you are able to cut around), cut as shown in the video and discard the edges.
3) Cut the triangle edges into sections (spiders legs) and then twist
4) Brush with the egg wash to make it golden and crispy.
5) Bake in the top right oven on the middle runners and set the temperature to 200 degrees on your electrickit aga.
6) Let the spider cooker for approx 15-20 mins or until golden.
7) Use fondant icing and writing icing to create the eyes.
8) To finish, sprinkle with a little bit of icing sugar.
Stuffed Cookie Pumpkins
A handy little trick for a family friendly Halloween treat.
Music: Scary Pumpkin. Fass Sounds
Ingredients:
-Cookie dough
-Biscoff spread or Nutella (spread of your choice)
-Caramel Sauce
-Matchsticks or pretzels
Method:
1) Using 3mm thick string, lay your string on the baking tray.
2) Cut the cookie dough into 3 equal pieces.
3) Flatten the pieces and place the spread of your choice in the centre.
4) Mould the cookie dough around the spread, forming a ball.
5) Place the ball in the centre of the string you prepared earlier.
6) Tie up each end of the string.
7) Pop in the top right oven on the middle runners of your Electrickit aga for approximately 10-12 minutes.
8) Loosen the string and let them cool slightly before fully removing the string, decorate with a stalk (matchstick) and caramel drizzle to finish. Enjoy!
