Hidden Candy Corn Cupcakes

I learned something today.  Which is,

 If you don't like random people talking to you and staring at you, don't go out in public with a kid dressed up like a mad scientist with white-dyed hair standing 6 inches out in all directions and freaky black eyebrows. 


Obviously.

 Right?


Next year I will pre-arrange my grocery shopping and other errands around children's Halloween parties and the need thereof for them to be dressed like freaks and thus the center of attention.

Don't get me wrong I love this holiday but strangers talking to me and watching me makes me nervous.  The little alert in my head says STRANGER DANGER- STRANGER DANGER.

Also it takes 45 minutes to grocery shop instead of 10 and I'm not great at small talk.


Since I'm pretty sure your kids won't get enough of a sugar high today I thought I'd make you some cupcakes.  You have to cut into the middle first though, for the surprise!

Have a very happy and safe Halloween my friends!!

Halloween Sugar Cookies

Nom Nom Nom. 

I think my favorite thing about holidays is the sugar cookies that can be adapted for them.  This is the same recipe I used for Firework Sugar Cookies and if you haven't tried it, you need to! They're sweet and satisfying and addictive.

I love this method of piping cookies with regular frosting.  They turn out super cute and it's SO much easier than the royal icing/pipe & flood method.

Vampire Bat Bark

Halloween is in... 1 1/2 days, and I still have tons of treats to post. No matter what I do, I seem to always be behind these days. The pictures just keep piling up.  Life has been so crazy lately I can't blog every day or two like I want to.  This week for example I've been busy watching my 2 year old throw up all over the table at Chick-fil-a, cleaning up my 4 year old after he peed his pants at a movie night at our friends' house, and biting back curse words while attempting to make my husband's Halloween costume with my electronic cutting machine. (yes... I said husband's costume there.)

Also I've been listening to Taylor Swift's RED on repeat for several days, and buying sparkly champagne colored shoes.

These things are necessary to lift one out of a depression when the temperature plummets down into the 30's.

What's up with that? 

I hope you all have a very Happy Halloween on Wednesday! Don't forget to pick all the poisoned pieces of candy out of your kids bags.  I hear this year that means Reeses, Milk Duds, and Kit Kats.  At my house anyways.  ;)

Trick or Treat Skewers

Wanna talk about how many bags of candy you've bought to "put away for Halloween"  (but then actually eaten and had to go buy more) ?


Yeah, me neither.


But if you miraculously have some candy laying around, this is a cute idea for it.  You can even wrap the whole stick in a long piece of clear wrap and tie it with a spooky ribbon.

If you live in a friendly neighborhood where your neighbors like you and don't think you're the witch from Hansel and Gretel that likes fattening people up, you could even make some of these to give out on Halloween.


Cause obviously giving children sharp sticks along with their sugar high is always a good idea.

Candy Corn Bark

I've been such a bad blogger lately.  I blinked my eyes and it went from September to October 19th.  Seriously. 

I had plans to celebrate reaching my half-a-million views milestone.

Yeah, pretty much missed that days ago. 


Can we pretend I made this bark in honor of that?


Thanks to all of you who read along, try my recipes, and leave me comments, emails, and facebook messages to keep me going.  Blogging seriously wouldn't be any fun without you.

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This bark has a nice sprinkle of all candy corn flavored treats, and it's pretty darn good.  I also think it would be super cute if you layered orange, yellow, and white candy melts instead of milk/dark chocolate.  

Hot Orange Cinnamon Cider

Thought I'd share our favorite cider with you.  It's the perfect drink for a rainy Fall day and it's a snap to make!

Spiced Apple Cider Streusel Muffins

It's officially Fall.  I know because I caught my first nasty illness of the season.  I'm not sure if it's strep or just a monster sore throat but it's preventing me from eating and that just makes me grumpy.  Boo.  My secret cure to a sore throat is that Alpine sugar-free hot spiced cider that comes in little packets.  Seriously nothing cures a sore throat better than that.  Try it out! 

Turns out cider is also great in muffin form.

My secret to this recipe is to condense the apple cider nearly in  half to give it a distinguishable cider flavor.  Be sure not to mix the batter more than necessary or the muffins will be dry and dense.  These aren't super sweet so if you go slightly heavy on the sugar I won't snitch.  ;)

Happy Fall!!