It is only a weeks until Halloween so I am going to give you a head start with this recipe as it is a little more challenging than our usual stuff. This might a bit more work but the results are stunning. I make these at the W Hotel here in South Beach for the front desk as a welcoming amenity for our guests.

Did you know that Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday? No? What else don’t you know about Halloween?

Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Holloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.

Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.

The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.

Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees

Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.

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READ MORE:

Terrifying Halloween treats - Devil's eyeballs and Yummy Crummy Mummy recipes

Halloween - an Irish invention and an American export

Floods claim second life as body found in Dublin basement

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SCREAMING SPICE COOKIES

Yield 20 cookies

INGREDIENTS

Cookies:

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for rolling out dough
¼ teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
½ teaspoon fine salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, slightly softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Icing:

Hard candies, try yellow, red, black, (Jolly Ranchers preferred)
¼ cup water
3 tablespoons egg white powder
3/4 teaspoon orange extract
1 ½ to 2 cups confectioners' sugar
Lollipop sticks, available in craft or bakers' supply stores
1 empty metal tuna fish can, (about 6 ounces) for cutting cookies {Remove the top and bottom of the tuna can and discard. Wash and dry well. Pinch the sides of the can together to make a skull-like shape}

METHOD

For the cookies: Whisk the flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt together in a medium bowl.

Beat the butter in a large bowl with a handheld mixer until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the sugars, and continue beating until light, about 3 minutes.

Add egg and vanilla extract, beating until smooth.

Gradually add the dry ingredients while mixing slowly to make a smooth dough. Divide dough in half and press each half into a disk
Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.

Transfer 1 disk of dough to a floured work surface and roll about 1/4-inch thick. Cut into cookies with a pinched tuna can.

Transfer cookies with an offset spatula to a nonstick or silicon lined baking sheet.

Cut out eyes and a mouth with a pastry tip, fat straw, or a knife. Press the lollipop sticks into the narrow end of each cookie, if using. Repeat with remaining dough. Press excess dough together, roll and cut into cookies. Refrigerate cookies for at least 30 minutes

Evenly space the racks in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Put the candies in a small plastic bag and hit with a rolling pin to break into little pieces.

Bake the cookies just until they are set, about 20 minutes. Remove baking sheets from the oven and carefully sprinkle the broken candies into the eyes and mouth of the cookies.

Continue to cook until the candy Liquefies, about 3 minutes more.

Cool cookies on pan for 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Cool cookies on a rack.

For the icing: Whisk the water, egg white powder and orange extract in a medium bowl until foamy but smooth.

Gradually whisk in the confectioners' sugar to make a smooth icing. Spread a layer of icing over the entire surface of the cookies with the back of a teaspoon.

Let rest until the icing sets, about 30 minutes. Serve or store in a covered container for up to 3 days.

AND FINALLY… Q: Why don't witches wear panties?
                                A: They get a better grip on their brooms.

{That was a bit naughty wasn’t it?}