I’d like a gold star, please. It’s the beginning of October and I already have our Halloween treats figured out for daycare, school AND my office! I’ll be making plate after plate of these little Halloween monster berries, and I’m going to love every minute of it. Why? Well, mainly because they are SO easy to make, but also because there aren’t many Halloween treats out there that taste as good as a chocolate-covered strawberry with only the tiniest touch of artificial food dye. (It’s only in the candy eyes!)
We’re a dye-free family, and that makes holidays and special occasions a bit of a challenge. Sometimes, we bend the rules a little, like we did this time, and we go as dye-free as we can while still holding on to some of the holiday fun. (My kids don’t have allergies. We just really don’t like chemical dyes and the effects they have on kids in general.) Candy eyes make everything easier, so I ordered these green ones online and I think they add just the perfect spooky touch to our Mummy, Dracula and Monster berries. (Does my monster look like a werewolf? I meant for him to be a werewolf, but I think he just looks like a hairy monster. We all love him anyway!)
You won’t need much to make these scary little friends: just some Ghirardelli chocolate melts, a sheet of candy eyes, some fresh berries, and sprinkles. You’ll also need a few piping bags, but if you don’t have those, you can use sturdy sandwich or freezer bags in their place. What a lifesaver they are in a pinch! Just snip off the very corner and VOILA! A piping bag!
Handmade Halloween Treats
- 2 lbs fresh strawberries
- 1 10 oz bag Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers
- 1 10 oz bag Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers
- 2 candy eyes for each berry
- chocolate sprinkles
- Rinse berries and pat dry.
- Melt Dark and White wafers in microwave safe bowls according to package directions.
- Get eyes ready (pull off paper, if attached) and set out sprinkles in a bowl.
- Lay out a piece of parchment paper to set dipped berries.
- For Mummies: Dip berry in melted white wafers. Place eyes on berry, place berry on parchment and allow chocolate to set. Once it has set, partially fill a piping bag with the same white melted wafers and drizzle in straight lines across berry, avoiding eyes. Allow to dry.
- For Werewolves/Monsters: Dip berry in melted dark wafers. Roll almost all of berry in chocolate sprinkles, leaving room for eyes and teeth. Place berry on parchment; place eyes on berry and allow to set. For angry eyes, angle sprinkles above eyes to make eyebrows. To make teeth, fill piping bag with melted white wafers and pull downward slightly to create points where teeth should be. Allow to dry.
- To make Dracula: Dip berry in melted dark wafers. Allow to dry on parchment paper. Once set, dip berry on its side into melted white wafers, then turn and dip the other side to create a pointed V-shape where the dark chocolate is. Place eyes on berry. Set on parchment and allow to dry. Using piping bags filled with both dark and white melted wafers, pipe on mouth and two pointy teeth. Allow to dry.
It’s hard to pick a favorite here, but I have to give it to the mummy for being the easiest. A bit of drizzle from a piping bag and you’ve got a Halloween treat that’s worthy of sitting in a case at a candy store. Even if you’ve never decorated anything before, I guarantee you can do this.
And when it comes to our buddy Drac, it’s all in the dip. First, dip in dark chocolate, then angle that berry into your white melts to form the telltale “V” on his forehead. Some ghastly green eyes and a couple of fangs is all it takes to create that famous face!
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I challenge you to put this lineup next to a bowl of candy corn and see which one goes first. NO QUESTION. (Plus, there’s fruit, Mom.)
I think we might try spiders next. Frankenstein is tempting, if I can get my hands on some natural green dye.
These treats are simple, easy to make yet they look absolutely adorable.