Halloween Treats

Nothing says Halloween more than Jack O'Lantern Cookies that my mom used to make.  I was also inspired on our Orlando vacation to make Cauldron Cakes that we saw at Zonkos. They are a chocoholics treat, which makes Wesley very happy.  I was inspired by this recipe, but left off the chocolate butter-cream frosting to better enjoy the fantastic chocolate mouse filling and swapped the base from a chocolate cupcake with a chocolate chip muffin to make it more authentic.  

Here's the recipe for Jack O'Lantern Cookies:

Cookies:
2 eggs
2 c sugar
3/4 c butter, melted
3 1/2 c flour
2T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground cinnamon
2 T water
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c finely chopped pecans (optional)

Cream the eggs, sugar, and butter.  Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, and cinnamon in a separate bowl and gradually add to the egg mixture on low speed.  Stir in the water, vanilla and pecans (optional).  Divide the dough into fourths and wrap in foil.  Chill for at least 2 hours.  Once chilled, roll the dough into 1/8 thickness (use powdered sugar instead of flour!!) and cut into 3 inch circles with a biscuit cutter.  Place on lightly greased pan and bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes until lightly browned.  

Frosting:
3T butter, softened
1/4 c + 1 1/2 t whipping cream
1/8 t salt
3 3/4 c powdered sugar
1 1/2 t vanilla
orange paste food coloring

10oz semisweet chocolate, melted

Cream the butter, cream and salt.  Gradually add powdered sugar.  Stir in vanilla and use small amounts of the orange coloring to get the icing to the depth you want.  Spread onto cookies and pipe the melted chocolate to make faces.

Delicious!