Healthy Halloween - Cooking Light

Photo: Randy Mayor

Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies

Get festive with these delightful chocolaty cookies. For the spiderweb glaze, snip a very small hole in the corner of the plastic bag. If it's too small, you can always make it bigger.

View Recipe: Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies

Candied Apples

When we prepared these Candied Apples in our Test Kitchens, we were won over by their simple charm. In particular, we liked the way the cinnamon candy coating complemented the sweetness and cool crunch of the fruit in a classic flavor match. Our recipe uses cinnamon candies (Red Hots are a good choice) instead of the cinnamon and red food coloring used in other versions.

View Recipe: Candied Apples

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spiced Pumpkin Biscuits

These light, flavorful biscuits are the perfect complement to a fall meal, especially when paired with Orange Blossom Honey Butter. A light hand with the dough will help to ensure tender biscuits.

View Recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Biscuits

Photo: Randy Mayor

Beef Daube Provençal

This classic French braised beef, red wine, and vegetable stew is simple and so delicious we named it one of our 25 best recipes ever. The flavor and texture allow you to keep it warm for your guests. Buy a whole-grain baguette, bagged salad greens, and bottled vinaigrette to round out the meal.

View Recipe: Beef Daube Provençal

Photo: Ellen Silverman

Caramel Apple Pie

You can't go wrong with a classic! A touch of kosher salt adds depth to the caramel topping.

View Recipe: Caramel Apple Pie

Photo: Howard L. Puckett

Halloween Green Bean Salad

Throw together a quick salad full of fresh fruits and veggies while the kids are trick-or-treating. A white wine and orange juice-based vinaigrette helps marry all the flavors together.

View Recipe: Halloween Green Bean Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Instant coffee intensifies the chocolate richness of these cupcakes. To repeat the Halloween theme, decorate them with plastic cake toppers, licorice, jelly beans, or candy sprinkles.

View Recipe: Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo: Howard L. Puckett

Candy Apple Punch

Cinnamon candies and cranberry-apple drink help give this party-ready punch its fun, bright red color. For a toddy version, adults can substitute 1 cup rum for 1 cup water.

View Recipe: Candy Apple Punch

Photo: Randy Mayor

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies

Like popcorn and butter or apple and cinnamon, chocolate and peanut butter is an enduringly irresistible combination. Bake on a weekend and serve as an after school snack or offer them at a Halloween party.

View Recipe: Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies

Photo: Anna Williams

Roasted Root Vegetables with Sorghum and Cider

Sorghum—also known as sorghum molasses—is the distinctive, syrupy by-product of sorghum grain. Look for it in specialty stores and gourmet grocers, or substitute molasses.

View Recipe: Roasted Root Vegetables with Sorghum and Cider

Photo: Karry Hosford

Caramel Popcorn

This top-rated treat is always a hit. Divide and store in airtight containers to give as gifts or set out for friends and family to snack on at your next party.

View Recipe: Caramel Popcorn

Photo: Tina Cornett

Butternut Squash and Parmesan Bread Pudding

A side of sautéed kale or mustard greens would provide a nice counterpoint to the sweet butternut squash in this savory vegetarian entrée.

View Recipe: Butternut Squash and Parmesan Bread Pudding

Photo: Randy Mayor

Jackson Pollock Candied Apples

Named for the abstract expressionist's signature paint-splattered canvases, these apples make great Halloween treats. Green Granny Smiths go well with the sweet white and bittersweet chocolates, but use any apple you like. Look for wooden sticks at craft supply stores, or use forks instead.

View Recipe: Jackson Pollock Candied Apples

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Tarte Tatin

Caramel-bathed apples nestle in a tender crust, while crème fraîche lends a little French tang to this fall classic.

View Recipe: Tarte Tatin

Photo: Anna Williams

Shaved Fall Vegetable Salad with Cider Vinaigrette

Sparkling cider and cider vinegar amplify the apple flavor in this fresh seasonal salad also featuring butternut squash, celery root, and arugula.

View Recipe: Shaved Fall Vegetable Salad with Cider Vinaigrette

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Maple-Chile Popcorn

Maple syrup provides a touch of sweet, while ground red pepper adds heat to this quick and easy appetizer. A heatproof spatula works best to combine and spread the ingredients into the pan.

View Recipe: Maple-Chile Popcorn

Photo: Howard L. Puckett

Brownie Snack Cake

Don't be intimidated by the spiderweb design on this cake; it's much easier than it looks! Starting in center of cake, pipe frosting in 4 concentric circles. Then, starting at center circle, pull a wooden pick or tip of a knife through circles at regular intervals to edge of cake to form a "web" design.

View Recipe: Brownie Snack Cake

Randy Mayor

Quick Fall Minestrone

Fall produce, with its powerful flavor and heartiness, is a frequent presence in comfort-food recipes. Butternut squash, potatoes, kale, and carrot make this soup soul-warming, and pasta and white beans give it traditional Italian flavor.

View Recipe: Quick Fall Minestrone

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spiced Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Vegetable shortening gives this piecrust—which we've deemed our best ever—a delicious, flaky texture. Be sure to read the nutrition labels and buy a brand with no trans fats though.

View Recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cider-Roasted Chicken

Brining overnight in a salt-and-cider mixture makes this chicken incredibly flavorful and moist while basting with reduced apple cider adds a hint of sweetness to the finished chicken.

View Recipe: Cider-Roasted Chicken

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Crisp and Spicy Snack Mix

Snack on this salty, spicy mix before dinner. And if there's any left, toss it on a salad.

View Recipe: Crisp and Spicy Snack Mix

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chocolate-Toffee Apples

These candied apples combine the buttery richness of caramel apples with the fun crunch of candied ones—two old standards twisted together.

View Recipe: Chocolate-Toffee Apples

Photo: Johnny Autry

Black Cat Sandwich Cookies

These yummy (and slightly spooky) confections are a tasty blend of shortbread-like cookies with a layer of soft chocolate.

View Recipe: Black Cat Sandwich Cookies

Healthy Halloween and Fall Favorites

Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies

Candied Apples

Spiced Pumpkin Biscuits

Beef Daube Provençal

Caramel Apple Pie

Halloween Green Bean Salad

Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Candy Apple Punch

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies

Roasted Root Vegetables with Sorghum and Cider

Caramel Popcorn

Butternut Squash and Parmesan Bread Pudding

Jackson Pollock Candied Apples

Tarte Tatin

Shaved Fall Vegetable Salad with Cider Vinaigrette

Maple-Chile Popcorn

Brownie Snack Cake

Quick Fall Minestrone

Spiced Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Cider-Roasted Chicken

Crisp and Spicy Snack Mix

Chocolate-Toffee Apples

Black Cat Sandwich Cookies