Fun and Affordable Halloween Recipes

Most people past a certain age are solely concerned with the excitement and thrill of picking out a Halloween costume. What about the candy? Remember Mom's crazy Halloween baking and candy collecting as a child? Well, here are a few fun recipes to help rejuvenate those childhood memories. This is not Cooking with Paula Dean or Hell's Kitchen so all of these recipes are quick easy and affordable.

*Pumpkin Spice Krispie Treats

3 tablespoons of margarine or butter

6 cups of Kellogg's Rice Krispie Cereal

4 cups of Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows

In a large saucepan, melt butter on low heat and add pumpkin spice marshmallows, stirring slowly until completely melted.  Stir in Kellogg's Rice Krispies until completely coated in marshmallow. Evenly spread the mixture on 13x9x2- inch pan with cooking spray or butter and let set for 10-15 minutes. Cut approximately 2-inch squares and enjoy!

*Pumpkin Bread

Libby's Pumpkin Bread Kit (don't judge)

            -includes 1 can of Libby's pumpkin, 1 bag of bread mix, 1 icing packet

4 large eggs

1 cup of vegetable oil

1 cup of water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and combine eggs, oil, water and Libby's pumpkin and mix until you have a thick blend. Add bread mix and stir until it has moistened. Pour batter into pan with cooking spray and bake as directed or insert knife into middle of loaf to make sure loaf is baked all the way through. Let cool for approximately ten minutes and drizzle icing over the cooled bread load, slice, and serve.

*Pumpkin Patch Cookies

1 package of Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookie Mix

1 stick of butter

1 large egg

1 package of candy pumpkins

1 tin of orange icing

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine softened butter and egg in a large mixing bowl and stir in cookie mix. Place small rounded teaspoons of batter 2 inches apart from each other on an ungreased cookie sheet. Baked as directed or until golden brown and remove to let cool for 2 minutes. Dollop a small circle in the middle of the oatmeal cookie and top with candy pumpkin.

*Reese's Peanut Butter Bars

Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Kit (it's no bake)

1 cup of melted butter

½ cup of red cooking morsels

This kit IS the real deal. It comes with all the mixes and a miniature pan. Start off by combining the graham crumbs, sugar and peanut butter mixes together. Stir in melted butter and press the mixture evenly throughout the provided pan. Empty and microwave bag of milk chocolate chips  and apply over the peanut butter mixture. Chill in the refrigerator for half hour or until the bar is set. Melt ½ cup of red morsels and drizzle over the set Reese's bar. When rock hard, cut into small squares and enjoy.

Again, these recipe's are fun and easy ways to enjoy the holiday, and if you remember Mom's or Grandma's recipe's and are too good to follow directions on the back of a bag or box, then start from scratch and make your own.