Jack O Lantern Candy Apples Food

JACK-O'-LANTERN CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. Wash and dry apples; remove stem and blossom ends. Insert stick into stem end of each apple.
• In 3-quart heavy saucepan, mix granulated sugar, water, corn syrup and food color. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Boil uncovered 15 minutes, without stirring, to 300°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water separates into hard, brittle threads. (Watch carefully so mixture does not burn.) Immediately remove from heat. Let stand until bubbling stops.
• Dip each apple into hot sugar mixture, turning to coat and letting excess drip off. Place on cookie sheet. Let stand until set.
• On surface lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar, roll fondant to 1/8-inch thickness. Using paring knife, cut out eyes, nose and mouth for each jack- o'-lantern. Attach leaf tip to icing tube; pipe leaves on each apple. Remove leaf tip from icing tube; attach small round tip. Pipe vines. Use icing to attach eyes, nose and mouth to each apple, pressing gently. Let stand until set.

JACK-O'-LANTERNS

Steps:

• Place sheet of waxed paper on work surface. In 2-quart saucepan, heat butter and marshmallows over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in both food colors until mixture is orange. Stir in cereal until evenly coated.
• Lightly spray hands with cooking spray. For each pumpkin, shape about 1/3 cup cereal mixture into a ball. Press 1 cashew into top center of ball for stem. Place balls on waxed paper. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• Attach raisins and candies with decorating icing to make faces on pumpkins. Store in loosely covered container.

JACK-O'-LANTERN CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring the water, butter and sugar to a boil. , In a small bowl, combine flour and pie spice; add to water mixture all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. , Preheat oven to 400°. Drop 12 rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Remove to a wire rack. Immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside. Discard soft dough from inside. Allow puffs to cool completely. , For filling, in a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and pie spice until smooth; fold in whipped topping. Pipe into cream puffs; replace tops., For frosting, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Divide frosting into thirds; tint one portion green, and one portion orange; set aside. Stir cocoa into the remaining frosting. Pipe jack-o'-lantern faces with orange and chocolate frosting. Pipe stems with green frosting.

JACK-O'-LANTERN ORANGES

Steps:

• Choose which side of each orange will be the jack-o'-lantern's face; cut a thin slice from the bottom of each so that it rests flat. Cut another small slice from the top. Spoon out pulp. Chop pulp and combine with apple and grapes; set aside., Cut faces as desired; decorate with cloves and almonds. Spoon fruit mixture into jack-o'-lanterns.