Haunted Gingerbread House

(NC)-If you are looking for a ghoulish Halloween activity everyone can enjoy, why not create a peanut-free Haunted Gingerbread House? Decorated with Nestlé Fav*rites peanut-free treats, it’s not only safe for children who have peanut allergies, it’s also spooktacularily fun to make!

Haunted Gingerbread

1 1/2 cups shortening 375 ml

1 1/2 cups sugar 375 ml

3 eggs 3

1 1/2 cups fancy molasses 375 ml

1/4 cup golden syrup 60 ml

8 cups all purpose flour 2000 ml

1 1/2 tbsp ground ginger 22 ml

2 tsp each pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon 10 ml

1 1/2 tsp each baking soda and salt 7 ml

1 box of 100 Nestle Peanut Free Fav*rites snack-size chocolate bars

Method

1. Beat shortening and sugar until light. Add eggs, one at a time, with molasses and syrup.

2. Stir dry ingredients together and add in heaping spoonfuls to molasses mixture; stir until well combined. Divide dough into 4 balls. Wrap individually and refrigerate for at least 2 1/2 hours or up to 1 week.

3. Cut out and carefully label each pattern piece. Roll balls of chilled dough individually between wax paper to 1/4 inch thickness. Trace and cut out each pattern piece for the house; save cookie scraps to roll again as needed. *Remember to cut out windows and doors before baking*.

Click to enlarge the Halloween Gingerbread House pattern

4. Transfer gingerbread to parchment paper-lined cookie sheets leaving at least 1 inch between shapes. Place in freezer for 25 minutes.

5. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until gingerbread is firm.

Haunted Icing

3 egg whites 3

1 tsp cream of tartar 5 ml

3 1/2 – 4 cups icing sugar 875-1000 ml Optional: food colouring

Method

1. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar for 4 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Slowing add icing sugar, 1/2 cup at a time beating until thick (may require less sugar). Add food colouring if desired.

2. Transfer icing to large zip-lock bag. Close and set aside.

Assembly and decorating

1. Use the haunted house photo as your assembly guide, and use a foil-covered cutting board as the base.

2. Snip corner from icing bag, and pipe icing generously along edges of gingerbread to glue pieces together. Start with the walls, using cans or jars to support the structure as the icing hardens.

3. Complete structure by gluing on the roof and chimney with piped icing. Allow to harden for at least 15 minutes.

4. Use the 100-count box of Nestlé Peanut Free Fav*rites to decorate your haunted house, gluing the chocolate in place with icing.

Nestlé Canada encourages parents to read the labels when buying ingredients to ensure they are made in a peanut-free facility. For more information on Nestlé’s peanut-free offerings, visit www.nestle-peanutfree.ca.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

Spider Favor Boxes (Halloween craft project below article)

Halloween is one of the biggest decorating holidays of the year, second only to Christmas. According to the National Retail Federation, nearly 60 percent of people plan to purchase decorations and 47 percent expect to decorate their home or yard this year.

With everyone getting into the Halloween spirit, make your house stand apart from your neighbors’ by keeping in mind this year’s trends.

“Making homes festive with creative Halloween decorations can be easy and fun for everyone from beginners to advanced crafters,” said Susan Atchison, trend expert for Jo-Ann Stores. “This season, cute is in and creepy is out. Gone are the days of menacing mummies or frightening felines. Cute spiders, goofy monsters and playful witches will be especially hot. Also, décor adorned with sunny and unexpected color pairings such as royal purple mixed with hot green, pink and jack-o’-lantern orange will add extra personality to the inside and outside of your home.”

If you’re in the mood to embrace the charming side of Halloween this year, check out these easy ideas from Jo-Ann Stores to add a playful and creative touch to your un-haunted house — inside and out:

• Show your trendy side by dressing your table with vibrantly colored place settings that feature friendly spiders made from basic shapes with large animated eyes. 
• Accent your mantle with spider votive holders on a yarn table runner to add quirky distinction to party décor. 
• For Halloween entertaining, give your guests goofy handmade spider boxes filled with goodies and treats. With wiggle eyes and bright, glittery colors, these little favors are gifts your guests won’t soon forget! (See instructions below.) 
• Greet guests and trick-or-treaters with a festive door wreath made with silly monster and jack-o’-lantern faces in a rainbow of colors. 
• Colorful lights aren’t just for Christmas anymore. Use strings of lights to decorate outdoor trees and bushes for Halloween. For a fun, friendly feel, add lively and unexpected hues of green and magenta with traditional orange and blacks to bring fresh life to your outdoor lighting. 
• Post unique stakes in the yard featuring cute character cutouts, such as the one featured to the right, to welcome guests (instead of scaring them away!) 
• Let kids make their own personalized treat bags this year by easily stitching two pieces of black felt together with a strip at the top for a handle. Glue on ears, eyes and whiskers to make a black cat or use green and orange felt to create a pumpkin.

Spider Favor Boxes

Skill Level: No experience needed
Approximate Crafting Time: 30 minutes plus drying time

Supplies and Tools (for one favor box):

One 2-inch paper mache box
7 inches of 5/8 inch dotted ribbon, optional
4 Chenille stems cut to 6 to 8 inches, black
Glitter, examples use black, green and purple
Tacky glue
Two 10mm wiggle eyes
Two 1/2 inch black pompoms
Black spray paint
Wire cutters
Scissors

Directions:

1. Spray paint box and lid. 
2. For legs: Make one small hole on each opposite side of box near bottom. Poke chenille stems through holes in box, extending out both sides. Shape legs and make small loop at end for foot. 
3. Spread glue on lid top and top of feet, sprinkle with glitter; set aside to dry. 
4. Glue pompoms to lid, then glue eyes to tops of pompoms. 
5. Fill boxes with favorite treats.

Optional: Glue ribbon around side of box lid.

Courtesy of ARA Content