results for halloween

Homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark

This easy, 15 minute DIY Halloween Chocolate Bark is the perfect way to use up all that leftover Halloween Candy!
Filed Under > Desserts

Homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark

When I was thinking about what I wanted to make to celebrate the haunting season I thought why not make a homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark with all of the Halloween candy I have sitting around tempting me on a daily basis.  I love Homemade Chocolate Barks for a multitude of reasons.  The main one being that chocolate barks look way more difficult to make than they actually are.  I also love that the possibilities of bark combinations are endless.  Plus candy barks make the cutest homemade food gifts! So for all those reasons and more, I’m thrilled to share my Homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark with ya’ll today! 

As stated above, candy barks are incredibly easy to make. All you need to create this homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark for yourself is baking chocolate, candies of your choosing (I used Mini Kit-Kats, Peanut Butter Cups, M&Ms, Rolos, Sprinkles, and Candy Eyeballs), parchment paper and a sheet pan. 

Homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark

When it comes to the actual creating, the trick to creating a perfect homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark every time relays on 3 different things.

First, have your candy prepared and ready to place because you’ll need to work fast so the candies don’t melt into the bark.  The easiest way to do this is plan out in advance what candies you want to use, color themes you want to stick with, and most importantly have everything unwrapped and ready to go.  

Second, when spreading the chocolate out to create the bark base make sure to go thin. You’ll want the chocolate to completely cover the parchment paper, but just barely. This was my mistake the first time in trying this recipe. I made the bark way too thick which makes the chocolate bark taste too sweet, difficult to cut into pieces and incredibly hard to eat. 

Lastly, you need to let the chocolate cool for just a few minutes. If you begin placing the candies the second you have your bark spread out they’ll begin to melt. Wait 2-3 minutes and start with the non-chocolate candies that won’t melt like the candy eyeballs in this case. Candy Corn is also one of those great non-melting candies to try.

Homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark

After letting the bark cool in the fridge for at least 10 hours (I prefer overnight), you’re ready to cut it into pieces.  There’s no particular rhyme or reason to this, but I found the easiest way is to lay the bark out on a completely flat surface and with a very sharp knife start with the edges.  Your edges won’t have a finished look to them, and sometimes that works out to look great, but sometimes you’ll need to trim them. Next, cut the bark in half. It doesn’t necessarily have to be directly cut in half across, but by dividing the bark into two larger pieces it will make it easier to slice. Then try to either cut around the larger pieces or make it so you cut the larger pieces in half. 

And as best you can avoid touching the chocolate too much with your fingers.  Because the chocolate bark is thin your body heat will naturally begin to melt and smudge it if you touch it too much.

Once you’ve cut all the pieces, put the Halloween Bark back in the fridge for an hour to completely let the chocolate set and re-harden from any softening that may have happened while cutting.

Homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark

And voila, the cutest, most festive homemade Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark you’ve ever seen! I love whipping up a couple batches of this to gift to my neighbors and take into work. And how cute would this bark be served on this itsy bitsy spider plate!

See the recipe below, and if you’re reading this via Bloglovin’ you’ll need to click into the post to get the complete recipe. Happy Halloween friends! Truly, MKR

P.S. If baking isn’t your thing at all Williams Sonoma has some Mummy Halloween Bark that is almost as cute!

 

Halloween Chocolate Candy Bark
Yields 1
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
15 min
Total Time
10 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
15 min
Total Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. Baking Chocolate of your choosing, you'll need about about 25-30 oz for one bark
  2. Candy of your choosing
  3. 1 tablespoon canola oil
  4. parchment paper
  5. sheet pan
Instructions
  1. Prepare all of the candies, removing all the wrappings, and set them aside where you plan to create your bark.
  2. Cut out parchment paper to the size of your sheet pan, and place inside your sheet pan. Set aside.
  3. In a large pot over medium to low heat melt your chocolate and stir with a spatula or whisk. You'll want to stir the entire time the chocolate is melting, otherwise you'll run the risk of burning your chocolate.
  4. When the chocolate has completely melted, turn of the heat and add canola oil. The oil helps the chocolate shine.
  5. Pour the chocolate out onto your parchment paper and spread with a spatula to create a thin layer. Once spread out, lift the pan just slightly and carefully hit down onto your surface. This will remove any air bubbles and help even it out.
  6. Let chocolate cool for 2-3 minutes then begin placing your candies. Once your candies are placed put the sheet pan into the fridge and let cool a minimum of 8 hours. I prefer to let it cool overnight.
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How to put together a Halloween Candy Board

A spooky and fun take on just what you can put on a "cheese" board
Filed Under > "Hostess with the Mostest"
halloween candy board

There are a lot of food and entertaining trends I CAN’T get behind, boards for everything is not one of them.

Collecting your classic cheese and charcuterie boards in all different shapes and sizes has become as popular as collecting matchbooks or blue and white chinoiserie pieces. Not only do these boards look gorgeous placed around your kitchen, but they’re extremely practical. Practical yes for your classic cheese plate obviously, but if you’re not thinking outside of the cheese board it’s time to start. And what better way than loading one with all the Halloween treats your stomach can handle for a Halloween Candy Board.

Crafting a Halloween Candy Board is truly easier than it looks. Personally, I like to start from the center and work my way out. Mix up colors and types of treats like chocolate pumpkins, cupcakes (I just added eyeballs to store bought cupcakes), homemade mallows, and cookies. For those local, Pum’s Sweets made these gorgeous mini sugar cookies!

Always include a bowl, or rather three if you’re doing more than one as odds always work better in this case. My pumpkin bowl is filled with a classic Autumn Mixture of mine, recipe coming on Friday! And if you feel like making your own bark I highly suggest this easy bark of mine. I make it every year!

Aesthetically make sure you’re angling treats all different directions so it doesn’t look like your Halloween Candy Board is tilting or moving in one specific direction. And try to make everything flow together so you have very few spaces or gaps showing. Lastly, have fun and don’t take it too seriously.

One more thought. I love a good grazing board as much as the next person, but based on everything that’s going on grazing is a no-no. To help make your Halloween Candy Board more socially distanced friendly grab plenty of inexpensive tongs and make sure everyone has their own that way they can pile the treats on their plate and simply place the tongs in a “dirty” bucket once they’re done for the evening. And grab some Halloween themed goodie bags so guests can take a few goodies home with them.

Happy Halloween friends, and if you need any Halloween decor ideas make sure to check out my favorite Halloween-themed post HERE! Truly, MKR

Photography Rustic WHite Interiors

A Very Haunting Halloween

Filed Under > Holiday Entertaining

A Very Haunting Halloween, Waiting On MarthaWarm Bourbon Punch for Halloween, Waiting On MarthaBlack Feather Cake for Halloween, Waiting On MarthaA Halloween Centerpiece, Waiting On MarthaWarm Bourbon Punch for Halloween, Waiting On MarthaHalloween Decorations, Waiting On MarthaHalloween Decorations, Waiting On MarthaCharcuterie Board, Waiting On MarthaHalloween Table Settings, Waiting On MarthaHalloween Decorations, Waiting On MarthaHalloween Food, Waiting On MarthaA Halloween Bar Cart, Waiting On MarthaHalloween Decorations with Waiting On MarthaA Haunting Halloween Party with Waiting On MarthaHalloween Goodie Bags, Waiting On MarthaA Haunting Halloween with Waiting On MarthaHalloween Decorating & A Candy Apple Recipe with Waiting On MarthaA few months ago Jezebel Magazine asked me to put my spin on one of my favorite holidays, Halloween.  I adore Halloween, I simply adore it.  However Halloween, like many holidays, can sometimes be accompanied by a lot of kitsch.  And kitsch, unlike Halloween is just not my thing.  So instead of orange and black everything and grotesque themed food I set out to create a more elevated and classic look.  And while you can grasp the direction I was going from the pictures, I wanted to provide a few easy takeaways to help you create this look on your own.  

For the overall color scheme I opted for a pallet of blacks, silvers, greys and natural linen.  My everyday lanterns were filled with black candles and flanked by plenty of mercury glass pumpkins.  I highly suggest investing in mercury glass pumpkins as they can easily transition well past Halloween and right on to your Thanksgiving table. Lastly, I enhanced the overall look with dripping dried moss and dried moss branches (which is my favorite way to get that spooky look), spiders, faux crows, chains, and skulls.  

I kept the serve-yourself table simple with a moody cheese board, mini black eyed pea salads, and fried chicken sliders.  The walking dead bowl was filled with dry ice and my favorite wine, and the warm bourbon punch served in festive glasses.  To round out the food portion I wheeled in my trusty bar cart full of candied apples, cake, and a sweet little takeaway tied up in burlap bags.

I must say, I’m just over the moon with how everything turned out.  Make sure to check out Jezebel for my top 10 entertaining tips and grab my recipes for the Candied Apples and Spiced Bourbon Punch below.  Happy Haunting Loves.  truly, MKR

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Candied Apples
Serves 8
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
35 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
35 min
Ingredients
  1. 8 apples
  2. 8 wooden skewers
  3. 2 cups granulated sugar
  4. 1 cup light corn syrup
  5. 1/2 cup hot water
  6. 1/2 cup red cinnamon candies (Red Hots)
Instructions
  1. Line a baking sheet with foil and spraying with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Wash and dry apples. Remove stems and place skewers firmly in place of the stems.
  3. Combine water, corn syrup and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
  4. Stir until sugar dissolves and continue to cook, without stirring, until mixture reaches 250 degrees.
  5. Wash down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush occasionally to prevent crystallization.
  6. Add cinnamon candies and stir briefly to incorporate.
  7. Continue to cook, washing down the sides, until candy reaches 285 degrees.
  8. Remove from heat and continue stirring candy until it is smooth and even.
  9. Hold an apple by the skewer and dip it into candy in saucepan, tilting the pan at an angle and rotating the apple to cover it completely with a smooth, even layer.
  10. Twirl it to remove excess candy and set on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining apples.
  11. Allow apples to cool at room temperature.
  12. Once completely cooled, pull out skewers and replace with a moss or tree branch for an extra spooky effect!
  13. NOTE: Candy apples are best enjoyed within 24 hours and once cooled are best stored in the refrigerator.
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Warm Bourbon Punch
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
25 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
25 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 gallon (16 cups) Fresh Apple Cider (I use Williams Sonoma Apple Cider Mix)
  2. Williams Sonoma Mulling Spices
  3. 3 cup(s) Bourbon
  4. Apple slices for garnish
Instructions
  1. In a stockpot combine and heat apple cider concentrate, water, and mulling spices.
  2. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat, let cool for 5 minutes, then add bourbon.
  4. Garnish with thin cut apple slices and serve.
Welcome by Waiting on Martha https://waitingonmartha.com/

Concept & Styling: Mandy Kellogg Rye of Waiting On Martha  ||  Photography: Rustic White  ||  Food c/o:  The Spotted Trotter Atlanta (Charcteuterie Board), Bantam and Bitty (Chicken Sliders and Pimento Cheese), Anne Kathleen Cakes (Cake)  ||  Decor:  Pottery Barn Lanterns, mercury glass pumpkins, mercury glass skulls, black skull candles, crows, glitter spiders, chain link candle holders, skull drink dispenser, skeleton drink holder, white skelton vase, black and silver mercury glass vase, silver skelton hand, black glitter sticks, black glitter toparies, black taper candles, martini glasses  ||  Target Mirror  ||  Waiting On Martha noir cake stands, black paper cheese trays, scary creature plates, snakeskin drink tray (large size), mercury glass skull wine stopper, jute bags and black twill ribbon for goodie bags  ||  CB2 glass candelabra  ||  Zodax Bar Cart (similar HERE and HERE)  ||  Pier 1 Imports mini appetizer glasses  ||  Restoration Hardware chandelier and linen ottomans

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