By: Dallin Rahlf 

If there’s any friends in the house that have diabetes, tread carefully on this here blog, my friend. It might tempt you beyond your power of self-control. Below is a list compiling the top of the Halloween goods for you to impress your friends and future spouse. It’s perfect for kids to get involved and have a blast making some sweet, delicious little goodies. Go out to your favorite venue on the GetOutPass, then come home to some homemade snacks. That’s a great night to me.

1. Reese’s Bats

Bats. Adorable little flying creatures that eat cute things like strawberries, or blood sucking vampire wannabes? Even the great Ace Ventura had a tough with our flying friends. It was the one animal he couldn’t seem to enjoy being around. Do they deserve to be on this list? Absolutely, cause these Oreo and Reese’s combination will do just fine at the coming Halloween party you’re debating to throw. Be ready for people not to eat them cause they’re just so cute.

2. Ghost Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a blast when you’re a kid. You get to make the dough and see your works come to life before your very eyes. Dig up some of your favorite spooky collection of cookie cutters and go to work. Once the cookies come out, be sure to have a variety of colors for icing. Watch your kids go to work by decorating their favorite cookies exactly how they see fit. PRO TIP: Having a toothpick is great for light drizzling.

3. Caramel Apples

I feel like this one is a given. Is it not? Are there people out there that don’t do caramel apples in October? Are YOU one of those people? Shhh, it’s ok. No more fears. No more tears. It’s time to embrace the absolute magic of this healthy snack. Well, kinda healthy. Not healthy. No, it’s not healthy, BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT. Unless you have braces (which I did, major RIP because these are the bomb), then this snack is for everyone. The recipe below will have a section to make your very own caramel, which sounds awesome. If you’re pressed on time, you can make an easier and still yummy caramel with those prepackaged little cubes you can get at practically any grocery store.

4. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

You might lose all respect for me after what I’m about to say: I am not a huge fan of pumpkin desserts. Unless it’s pumpkin pie, everything else can take a hike. No pumpkin spice candles for this guy. Though I might hate it, I will not deny that the common folk loves a good pumpkin chocolate chip cookie. Never let it be said that I am not a fair blogger, for I know what the people desire. Even if their desire is found in something like this, you have my respect. Eat them! Eat them all! 

5. Dirt Cake

I know I just went on a huge tangent about not liking pumpkin… but is there anyone in this world who does not like Oreos?? I’m honestly asking. Message me on Instagram if you don’t like Oreos. I want to meet you and have a private interview concerning the inner thoughts of a truly unique individual.

Either way, you’re gonna want to try out this dirt cake. Dirt cake is the combination of two of Earth’s greatest gifts: Oreos and vanilla pudding. That’s… basically it. It takes, and I mean this literally, all of 10 minutes to put together. The hardest part is letting it chill in the fridge for a couple hours. You can add some spookier things to this great dessert, such as gummy worms or little graves with marshmallow bodies.

6. Dead Man Meatloaf

For those of you looking to NOT get 30 cavities this year, we’ll take a break with some nice meatloaf. Meatloaf gets a bad rep based of its name alone. Meatloaf is AWESOME, and I will gladly go toe to toe with anyone who believes otherwise. If you’re on the fence about it, trust in me when I say that this recipe is fun, easy, and will get you to make the jump to the other side, where we welcome you with open arms.

If you’re wanting to put this meatloaf to the next level, you can make a stab wound in the middle and some ketchup for some innocent looking blood. Go even further with some olive eyes and spaghetti hair! I didn’t love meatloaf as a kid, but I gobbled this up with no problems. Hopefully that isn’t anything concerning.

7. Cinnamon Apple Crisp

If you’re an Olive Garden fan like I am, you may remember a certain apple dessert they had that was simply phenomenal. Why they went and took it off the menu is something that fuels my hatred for corporate. Yes, CEO of Olive Garden reading this blog, I’m talking to YOU. If Olive Garden is going to let you down with their lack of apple desserts, turn the other cheek, wipe the tears from your face, and get to the kitchen to bake some apple crisp that will blow your socks off.

This is a great dessert to use your extra apples left over from your caramel apples. Make sure to have some exquisite vanilla ice cream to pair with your cinnamon apple crisp. Oh, my mouth is watering as I’m writing this at 10:00am. It’s so good. 

8. Halloween Finger Hot Dogs

Of all the easy recipes on this list, this is the one to do if you realty want to something low maintenance. Prepare the hotdogs however your picky two-year-old likes (likely boiled, for some insane reason), cut the hot dogs to look like little fingers, smear in some nice ketchup, and you’ve got yourself a spooky dinner that all will enjoy. For some extra fun, dye the hotdogs and ketchup a different color to look like alien fingers!