Just because you’re coming to the Smokies this October doesn’t mean you have to miss the excitement of trick-or-treating, jack-o’-lanterns, and ghosts-and-goblin fun! In fact, the Smokies is loaded with ways to celebrate Halloween while you’re in town—from Ripley’s Fright Nights to the Trick or Treat Kick Off Karnival at Ripley’s Aquarium to Shocktober at the Space Needle.
Don’t miss these exciting events during your stay, but also don’t forget that your Cabins for YOU rental is one of the easiest places to celebrate this spook-tacular holiday. Some ideas include carving your own jack-o’-lanterns for the front porch or planning a Halloween party for friends and family! You can always do fun Halloween crafts with the kids and have a scary movie night in your cabin’s private home theater, too!
To help you plan, we’ve put together 5 of the easiest (and cutest!) Halloween treats around. Display these on your dining room table with a cauldron full of “Witch’s Brew” (see FoodNetwork.com), and you’ve got the makings of a Halloween party your guests will never forget!
Spider Bites
Maybe you’ve heard of haystacks? “Spider Bites” are a Halloween version of this classic candy treat. You won’t need many ingredients or a lot of time, but these scary “spiders” will make your Halloween table come to life! (See FoodNetwork.com.)
6 cups pretzel sticks
½ cup creamy peanut butter
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet morsels
Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet; set aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and peanut butter; melt on high for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and stir until smooth. Stir in pretzel sticks. Then spoon pretzels onto the parchment paper and arrange the “legs” to look like spiders. Place in freezer for 5 minutes or until chocolate has hardened. Yield: 24 spiders.
Eyeball Sandwiches
For a seriously creepy addition to the table, try these mini sandwiches that really do look like bloodshot eyes! You can always make your ham, chicken, or tuna salad from scratch, but if you’re short on time, we suggest grabbing a premade salad from a nearby deli. (See FoodNetwork.com for full recipe.)
20 slices traditional white bread
ketchup (for decoration)
2 cups prepared salad (ham, chicken, or tuna)
10 pimento-stuffed green olives
Use a 2 ½-inch round cookie cutter to punch out rounds from your bread. Squirt ketchup on the bread to mimic veins in an eyeball. Set aside. Take a tablespoon of your prepared salad and form it into a ball. Lay each ball on a sheet of parchment paper and stuff 1 olive into the center of each. Place one ball in the center of each bread round. Yield: 20 eyeballs.
Ghost Cookies
Your kids will love this ghostly treats—and you’ll love how quick and easy they are to make! With only three ingredients, you’ll have a tray of Halloween goodies that are as delicious as they are adorable! (See Pillsbury.com.)
12-ounce vanilla-flavored candy coating
1 (1-pound) package peanut butter-filled sandwich cookies
64 mini chocolate chips (4 teaspoons)
Cut candy coating into pieces and melt in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Hold cookie with tongs, dip entire top and side of each cookie into coating, and lay flat, coated side up, on parchment paper. Place 2 chocolate chips in coating to look like eyes. Let stand for 10 minutes until candy has hardened. Yield: 32 ghosts.
Yummy Mummies
Everyone loves pigs in a blanket. So, for Halloween, why not turn this classic party snack into a ghoulish surprise by making mummies? (See Pillsbury.com for full recipe.)
1 (8-ounce) can refrigerated crescent dough sheet
44 cocktail-size smoked link sausages
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. On work surface, roll dough sheet to a 14×11-inch rectangle. Cut vertically to make two 11×7-inch rectangles. Then cut crosswise into 44 (7x½-inch) strips. Pat sausages dry with paper towels. Wrap one strip of dough around each sausage to look like a little mummy; press firmly at each end to secure. Place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Yield: 44 mummies.
Monster Mouth Treats
Our last Halloween treat proves that not all party snacks are loaded in unwanted calories. With apples and peanut butter, this mouthwatering treat will give your kids a healthy alternative during this candy-loaded holiday. (See CountryLiving.com.)
20 unpeeled apple slices (red apples)
10 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
80 mini marshmallows
Take an apple slice, and smear about half a tablespoon of peanut butter on one side. Place 8 mini marshmallows side by side in the peanut butter. Take another apple slide, and smear the remaining tablespoon of peanut butter on one side. Place the apple slice (peanut butter side down) on top of the marshmallows. Gently squeeze apple slices together. (You’ll want your marshmallow “teeth” between the fattest part of the apple slices or “gums.”) Yield: 10 monster mouths.
For more recipes, be sure to click on the links provided. You can read more about these easy Halloween treats, see pictures for guidance, and find other recipes to make your Smoky Mountain Halloween party a spook-tacular success!