Halloween Cookies

Halloween Cookies

Today, I baked 2 dozen Halloween cookies. I used the Wilton 12 Cavity Nonstick Cookie Pan discussed in my former post. I bake a lot especially cakes, but have never used a pan with the different shapes in it so did not know how they would come out.

Halloween cookies Allen and I baked/decorated

Things to know before you set out to do a project like this:

• Don't set your expectations high if you are a novice like me.
• Don't give up and try again if you fail.
• Keep cleaning as you go along because you will make a mess.

The first batch I made had too much dough and the outlines of the shapes were not clear. For the second batch, I put less dough and pressed hard into the cavities of each design. As a result, this batch had better defined indentations even though they were thinner cookies. They looked better too.

Halloween Cookies

I am not an artist so using the decorating icing was harder than I thought. I can barely draw stick figures. Allen did great and decorated about half of the cookies. For beginners, I think we did a fine job! Some of the icing wouldn't stick on the cookie enough or too much came out so you can tell where that happened. I later learned this icing is better for cakes and is not good if you need to stack cookies. Next time, I will either buy Wilton's Royal Icing or make my own and dye it in different colors. Poor Frankenstein, I made a globby mess on him and my bat looks silly. It was quite an experience and fun either way. 

Halloween Cookies

Allen and I did not decorate some of the cookies, since this took way longer than I thought it would. I ate 3 of these cookies and love the taste. I used Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix which only needs 1 egg and 1/3 cup of butter. Working with the dough was messy and took some getting used to. After this experience, I read somewhere that the dough should be refrigerated until it hardens up a little so it will be easier to work with.

I will be baking more cookies for Christmas and hope the decorating process gets easier as I go along. You will see whether I progress or not in the months and years to come. We will enjoy eating these cookies!

-Sophia & Allen/Two Frys

Wilton Goodies for Halloween Cookies

Wilton Goodies for Halloween Cookies

I want to make decorative cookies for Halloween and good thing I have a Target nearby because I found what I was looking for. I bought Wilton 12 Cavity Nonstick Cookie Pan. It features frankenstein, spider web, mummy, cat, bat, haunted house, candy corn, pumpkin, spider, R.I.P. tombstone, ghost, and cauldron. It will be fun trying to decorate these cookies and hubby is helping me. Pictures will be posted.

Wilton 12 Cavity Nonstick Cookie Pan

For decorating cakes and cookies, I purchased Wilton 9-Piece Cake Decorating Set. The set contains 4 decorating tips, 2 standard couplers, 2 bags and instructions. Round Tip 5 is for outlines, dots, printing, and writing so this will be the one I use for cookies. The other three tips are star tip 18 for stars, shells, zigzags, and rosettes; petal tip 104 for bows, ruffles, sweet peas, and rosebuds and leaf tip 67 for basic leaves.

Wilton 9-Piece Cake Decorating Set

I bought Wilton Decorating Icing in Kelly Green, Black, Red and Royal Blue and their tips fit right on them so that should be simple enough, right? I will make my own white icing so I think I have a good variety to start with. I also got Spooky Sparkling Sugars so my cookies should look pretty. 



Wilton Decorating Icing, Spooky Sparkling Sugars

The Halloween section at Target is so fun and full of really cool stuff. I am partial to anything with skulls and bones and found these Skull Placemats for $1.99 each. They are so cool!


Skull Placemats

-Sophia/Two Frys

Skull Platters

Skull Platters

I got 4 Skull Platters for $1 each at my neighborhood discount store this morning in the Halloween section. I keep finding different stuff every week I go there. These Skull Platters go great with decorated Halloween cookies, cupcakes and candies. You can even serve hors d'oeuvres in these platters.


Skull Platters

-Sophia/Two Frys

Skull Ice Trays and other Halloween Goodies

October is my favorite month for many reasons. The fall weather is great and I find the coolest stuff for Halloween. Today, I bought 4 Skull Ice Trays for $1 each. I love them! There are 10 skulls per tray and have many uses. They would complement any drink or can be used as desserts. For the ice trays, you could use them as chocolate molds or freeze your favorite smoothie, lemonade, sangria, etc. You could also freeze water with fresh mint or fruit slices such as strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, lemon, or lime for seltzer or water. You will have delicious fresh flavor that is good for you.


Skull Ice Trays

Closeup of Skull Ice Trays

Last week, I got this plastic Skull Goblet at my neighborhood Rite Aid for $2.49. It's fun for the holidays but since I love skulls I will use it all the time. The goblet is filled with Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale and looks real cool.


Skull Goblet



I bought this foam Silver Glitter Skull and Skull Tablecloth at the same discount store I found the Skull Ice Trays for $1 each.  

Silver Glitter Skull

Have you found any cool Halloween goodies in your neighborhood? I would love for you to share in the comments section.

-Sophia/Two Frys

Peach Upside-Down Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Cake

Peach Upside-Down Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Cake

I was thinking of a way to use 3 peaches I had and decided to make this cake this afternoon. It is very rustic looking and tastes great. Enjoy a piece or two with your favorite cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. This is my recipe. I hope you try it.

Peach Upside-Down Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Cake

Cake Ingredients: 1/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
2 extra large eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 2/3 cup all purpose flour (I like King Arthur 100% Organic All-Purpose Flour)
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Peach Ingredients:
1/3 cup unsalted butter
3 peaches thinly sliced (remove core)
1 cup dark brown sugar

Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. Use a 9x13 inch baking pan and put butter in pan to melt in oven for a few minutes. Keep an eye on this since you do not want the butter to burn. Take out pan and sprinkle dark brown sugar over the melted butter. Then place the sliced peaches on top.

In a mixing bowl, beat vegetable oil and sugar until it is light and fluffy. Then add remaining ingredients starting with half the amount of flour, then all the wet ingredients, and finish with the remaining flour. Mix well until all the ingredients are blended. Pour batter over peaches.

Bake in oven at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes. (Check oven at 35 minute mark since ovens vary). Insert toothpick and if it comes out clean, it is ready.

Let the cake cool for about 10 minutes and then turn upside down on a large square serving plate or use a large wood cutting board. Let it cool for another 20 minutes before serving.

Add vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you want. It's delicious.

Enjoy!

-Sophia/Two Frys