If you have read a few of my other articles about Halloween, then you probably know that I recommend not giving out anything that is home-made. This can make Halloween a bit of a disappointment for those of us who love to make some devilishly delightful treats for the kids in the neighbourhood but before you hang up your witch’s hat, try making a few treats for kids you know or for your child’s class.

See there is always an alternative and although you may not be handing out the treats on Halloween night, you are still handing out some type of Halloween goody. One of the bonuses of baking for kids you know or for a class, is that you can be much more creative and messy.

Now for the recipe since I am sure that you are wondering when we will get to it. I’m sure that many people have made Worms and Dirt or a Dirt Cake and that is all this recipe is, slightly modified for Halloween.

What you need:

• Gummy Halloween Candies (skeletons, spiders, eyeballs, things that go “ewww” in the candy store.)

• Clear Plastic Cups (this recipe should make between 10 to 12 servings)

• 1 package of softened cream cheese (the 8 ounce package)

• ½ cup of softened butter

• 3 ½ cups of milk

• ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar

• 1 large container of Cool Whip (frozen whipped topping) Make sure it is thawed.

• 1 package (about 20 ounces) of Oreos or similar cookie

• 2 packages of instant vanilla pudding

• (optional: orange food coloring)

Directions:

1. Before you start anything, make sure you pull out your witch’s hat and caldron to get into the spirit of brewing up a tasty treat.

2. In a food processor, grind the cookies into chunky crumbs. Not a powdery crumb but one that has large and small bits. Set it to the side.

3. In your caldron, combine the cream cheese, butter and sugar. Blend together with a mixer at medium speed.

4. In a separate caldron, yes you will need to pull out your spare, blend together the milk, whipped cream and the vanilla pudding powder.

5. Combine both caldrons together to create a pudding and cream cheese mixture. If you would like to add a more Halloween feel to the dish, add a few drops of food coloring to create an orange colored mixture.

6. Take the clear plastic cups and spoon a layer of cookie mixture on the bottom of the cups.

7. Next, spoon in a layer of cheese and pudding mixture. Repeat with the cookies until you get about an inch or two from the top of the cup.

8. As you work, drop in a few of your Halloween gummy candies or wait until the end and arrange them on the top. You can make some interesting pudding tops with the proper candies. A haunted house, a cemetery, or a bunch of bugs and eyeballs coming to the surface of the dirt. Not only are they yummy but they are delightfully disgusting.

And with that, it’s time to pull out the old broom (you know the car or minivan) and deliver your treats to the school, party or home of your choosing. Make sure you refrigerate them first before serving and don’t forget those magical words that will not only make them delicious but the biggest success of the Halloween holiday.

By: Sirena Van Schaik

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