While everyone else is caught up in what they’re going to wear for Halloween, we here at Cooking the Books are more concerned with what we’re going to eat (although we’ve been amused by the various food-related costume ideas circulating online). We’ve already been tempted by the Jack-o'-Lantern pops from Cake Pops by Bakerella, but there are a few more Halloween-themed recipes from some recent and forthcoming cookbooks that look (sorry!) frighteningly good.
Zombie Cupcakes: From the Grave to the Table with 16 Cupcake Corpses by Zilly Rosen (Andrews McMeel, Feb. 2011)
This creepy cupcake cookbook has recipes for making little maggots and flies to top such delectable cupcakes as The Crows White Velvet Cupcakes and Zombies Rising Mud Cupcakes. But our faves are the Skeletal Zombies Chocolate Mint Cupcakes, in which candy cleavers sever the heads of skeleton zombies. Atop chocolate ganache (of course).
Bon Appetit Desserts by Barbara Fairchild (Andrews McMeel, Nov.)
This hulking book has recipes for practically every holiday, and the Halloween options include a Chocolate Ganache Tart with Toasted Pecan Crust that has a spooky spiderweb design on top, and a Halloween Candy Cake, with roasted peanuts in the cake and topping, peanut butter and Reese's peanut butter cups in the filling, and Reese's peanut butter candies and wedges of Butterfinger candy bars on top.
A World of Cake: 150 Recipes for Sweet Traditions by Krystina Castella (Storey, Oct. 2010)
A collection of international cake recipes, including doughnuts, fritters, dumplings, milk treats, candy, and frosting. Pan de Muerto is a yeast bread traditionally prepared for the Mexican Day of the Dead, usually designed to look like crossbones and skulls. Castella suggests making one as an offering for your ancestors to enjoy and one for your family to eat. Make one for PW, too, while you're at it.
Fat Witch Brownies: Brownies, Blondies, and Bars from New York's Legendary Fat Witch Bakery by Patricia Helding (Rodale, Sept.)
While we loved the rum raisin bars, pretty much everything in this cookbook looks delicious. Caramel Witches are the first to sell out every afternoon at the Fat Witch Bakery. A classic chocolate brownie with buttery caramel oozing out the sides, and um... sorry, what were you saying?
Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany (Flammarion, Sept. 2010)
Recipes are inspired by the thrillers and crime novels ranging from MacBeth to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Bewitching Caramel Apples (from Snow White) are a miniature take on traditional caramel apples. All the better to crack your teeth just a little bit!
Little Monsters Cookbook by Zac Williams (Gibbs Smith, Aug. 2010)
Kid-friendly recipes for treats like Screams-After-Dark Snack Mix and Trifle with Death. Frankenfeet are basically ham and cheese sandwiches shaped like huge monster feet. We're thinking you could swap the ham and cheese out for head cheese and really freak out your party guests.
