Because making desserts shouldn’t be scarier than a horror movie

By: Ayleen Karamat

Halloween is the best time of the year! With endless amounts of sweet treats, pumpkin patch visits and horror movies in the dark, there are so many things you can do to prepare for the spooky season. And while COVID-19 restrictions might have been relaxed across Canada this Halloween, some parents are still feeling uncertain about letting their unvaccinated or immunocompromised little ones go out trick-or-treating. But that’s no reason to miss out on all the fun, as you can learn how to create your own sweet treats for the season!

I’ll admit that I have absolutely no talent in the baking department. I mean, I’m shocked I haven’t set anything on fire yet. You would think that with my cooking abilities (self-proclaimed, obviously, but I can make a mean Thai red curry), I would have some talent for baking. No… not at all, but that doesn’t stop me from trying. This Halloween, I decided to challenge myself by making a few sweet treats and they all actually turned out pretty amazing! 

If you’re worried about going out for Halloween because of COVID-19 and you want to experiment with making some sweet treats for trick-or-treaters, or perhaps with younger siblings or children who want to help you, here are some of the easy candy recipes I made. If I can make them taste decent then so can you!

1. Peanut butter fudge

Growing up, fudge used to be — and still is — my favourite sweet snack. I never knew that one day I could also be making it in my kitchen. This recipe by Insanely Good is so easy to make and only requires three ingredients! Did I tell you that this is all made in the microwave in under five minutes? You couldn’t ask for a simpler recipe than this! You will need:

• 250 ml (1 cup) unsalted butter 
• 250 ml (1 cup) peanut butter (the original recipe called for creamy peanut butter but I’m a fan of crunchy peanut butter)
• 750 ml (3 cups) powdered sugar 
• Water (if your dough becomes too grainy, add at your own discretion)
• 20-cm (8-inch) square pan
• Parchment paper
• Microwave-safe bowl
• Spatula

Instructions:

1. Line your pan with parchment paper and leave enough paper to hang over the edge. This makes it easy to remove the fudge from the pan as you can lift it out!
2. Combine the butter and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl.
3. Place it in the microwave for one minute and stir. Do that again for another minute and mix until the mixture is completely smooth.
4. Add in the sugar and stir. The batter should be paste-like and a little thick.
5. Spread the batter in the lined pan. 
6. Place another sheet of parchment paper on top of the fudge and press it down to make the top even.
7. Place the pan in the fridge for up to two hours or even overnight. 
8. After the mixture has cooled you can cut the fudge into small squares with a knife. Enjoy!

Before the expert fudge makers come and attack me, yes, this recipe isn’t like a normal fudge recipe. You don’t cook the mixture in a pot, but this process makes instant fudge without all the hassle of temperature, heat and time. You can even have young children help out in the process. There isn’t an open flame that you have to worry about and it significantly decreases the cooking time. If you don’t like peanut butter or have a peanut allergy, there are so many other flavours you could use instead. If you want to make chocolate fudge, this recipe also only has three ingredients and uses the microwave!

2. Dalgona (Korean sugar candy)

With the rise of the Netflix show Squid Game, the candy featured in the show has become a worldwide sensation! According to ABC News, “a dalgona stall in Seoul says sales boosted up to eight times” because of the popularity of the show. The recipe only calls for two — yes, two — ingredients and can be made within five minutes. Unlike the show, a thriller about survival in life-threatening games, dalgona has a cute history. Street vendors in Korea sell dalgona, also known as ppopgi, which was a very popular snack in the ’70s and ’80s. Customers who buy the candy and can get the shape out of the centre without breaking it get another free dalgona from the vendor. Making this candy can be a fun activity for young children and fans of the show for Halloween. This recipe makes enough for one candy piece. You will need:

• 30 ml (2 tbsp) of white granulated sugar 
• A pinch of baking soda 
• Ladle or small egg frying pan
• Wooden stick (disposable is better)
• Baking tray 
• Butter or oil 
• A plate (or another flat surface)
• Cookie cutters (any shape will do but if you want to mimic the show, find cookie cutters with the shape of circles, triangles, stars and umbrellas)
• Lollipop sticks — optional

Instructions:

1. Coat the flat surface and pan with a little bit of butter or oil. This helps the sugar not stick and makes for easy removal.
2. In the ladle or small pan, add the sugar. Place this over medium to low heat.
3. When the sugar starts to melt around the edges, use your wooden stick to stir in the rest of the sugar. 
4. Do this constantly, while making sure the sugar won’t burn on the heat. If there is smoke, take the mixture off the heat for a few seconds until it cools down. Repeat this as necessary until the mixture has no sugar clumps and is completely melted. 
5. Remove the mixture from the heat and add a tiny bit of baking soda. This is where your mixture should expand and become foamy. Stir until the baking soda is completely dissolved and caramel in colour. 
6. Pour the mixture onto the pan. This is where you can add the lollipop stick.
7. Let this mixture cool for 30 seconds. Take the lightly oiled plate and press the slightly cooled mixture for five seconds into a thin disc.
8. Immediately stamp it with a cookie cutter and let it set. Remove from the pan and use a toothpick or needle to get the shape out. Enjoy!
9. For clean up, if you have hard sugar stuck to your materials, boil a pot of water and when it is boiling, plop your materials inside! Take them out after a few minutes and your materials should be as good as new.

You can also find countless videos on YouTube and TikTok about this viral candy that everyone seems to be making. For only two ingredients, this recipe takes a few good tries before you get the perfect candy, but once you get it right you won’t be able to stop making them!

3. Peanut butter cups

Peanut butter cups are my vice, but homemade is really the way to go. If you are obsessed with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups like I am, challenge yourself to see if you can make them from scratch! Here is what you need for the recipe:

• A package of milk chocolate chips 
• 250 ml (1 cup) of peanut butter
• Cupcake pan
• Muffin liners 
• Microwave-safe bowl

Instructions:

1. Place your muffin liners in a cupcake pan.
2. Place half of the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, and melt in the microwave for two minutes.
3. Once melted, fill the muffin cups halfway with the melted chocolate. Use a spoon to help you coat the sides of the muffin cups. Refrigerate for 20 minutes before the next step.
4. Spoon the peanut butter into the chocolate cups, filling them about three-quarters of the way.
5. Melt the remaining chocolate chips in the microwave and spoon them over the filling.
6. Refrigerate for 10 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Instead of using milk chocolate, you can mix it up and use dark chocolate. The warm and dark taste of chocolate complements the nutty and salty flavour of peanut butter. I also tried making a strawberry jam filling and a Nutella filling by taking both fillings and adding them about three-quarters of the way into the cups, and then covering them with melted chocolate to lock it into place. This makes for great a peanut-free recipe! Here is a great resource for other fillings you can use in your cups.

4. Peanut brittle

This recipe is something I’ve grown up with and had at every family get-together, so making it was very nostalgic. The best part of this recipe is that you can cook it all in your microwave. Here is what you need:

• 250 ml (1 cup) white sugar
• 125 ml (1/2 cup) light corn syrup
• 250 ml (1 cup) peanuts (use whatever kind of nuts you want! I used 125 ml of peanuts and 125 ml of walnuts)
• 5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract 
• 5 ml (1 tsp) butter
• 5 ml (1 tsp) baking soda
• Butter, cooking spray or parchment paper to coat the bowl and pan
• Microwave-safe bowl
• Baking pan
• Spatula

Instructions:

1. Add butter or cooking spray to the bowl, baking pan and spatula. When the sugar hardens it will be very hard to get out so this helps you prepare beforehand! If sugar does harden on your materials, you can always put them in a bowl of boiling water.
2. Combine the sugar and corn syrup in a bowl. Microwave for four minutes at one-minute intervals. Be very careful, the bowl is very hot!
3. Add in the peanuts and use your spatula to stir in the sugar mixture. 
4. Place the bowl back into the microwave and cook it for 3.5 minutes (again, at one-minute intervals so you don’t burn anything)
5. Take the bowl out and add the vanilla extract and butter.
6. Microwave the mixture one last time for one minute.
7. Remove the bowl from the microwave and add the baking soda. Keep mixing until the peanut brittle becomes orange and foamy.
8. Take the candy out of the bowl and spread it evenly on the buttered baking pan. Try to be quick and careful because the mixture is very hot. If you take your time it will almost immediately set.
9. Let the peanut brittle set at room temperature until it is cool to the touch.
10. Break it into small pieces and you’re done!

This sweet and salty recipe is perfect for dinners, snacking or even gifting. I served this at my mom’s birthday and my family approved — so you know it tastes amazing!

5. Candy cookie bars

I think out of all the recipes I tried, this one had to be my favourite. I liked the freedom I had with the chocolates I could use, and I’m also a sucker for cookie dough! Any kind of candy will do, from peanut-free options to your leftover Halloween candy. Who doesn’t love a cookie bar filled with all of your favourite sweets! Here’s what you’ll need:

• 250 ml (1 cup) white sugar
• 250 ml (1 cup) brown sugar 
• 250 ml (1 cup) melted butter
• 2 eggs 
• 10 ml (2 tsp) vanilla extract
• 2 ml (1/2 tsp) salt 
• 2 ml (1/2 tsp) baking powder 
• 500 ml (2 cups) flour 
• 375 ml (1.5 cups) assorted candy of your choice
• Large bowl
• Spatula

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 175 C (350 F).
2. Chop your candy of choice into bite-size pieces.
3. Mix the two sugars and melted butter in a large bowl. Whisk until the mixture turns lighter in colour.
4. Add in the eggs, vanilla, salt, flour and baking powder until the mixture is completely blended and smooth.
5. Add in your candy. Make sure that everything is evenly mixed.
6. Pour your mixture into a lightly greased pan. Smooth and place it in the oven.
7. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

This recipe allows a lot of freedom for whatever choice of candy you would like. You can even add in leftover candy from Halloween. To make the cookie bars look more colourful, add different types of chocolates. You can even add small candies like M&Ms or candy eyeballs to give them that pop of colour.

I hope some of these recipes inspire you to make something delicious for Halloween, whether it’s for yourself, your kids or for family get-togethers.