one dollar zone Halloween Treats and Recipes

Treats and Tricks: Budget Friendly Halloween Recipes that are Scary Good

 

Halloween is one the spookiest times of the year filled with haunted houses, hayrides and horror films! But one of the scariest things about Halloween can be how much people spend on the candy, the costumes and the other treats.  The National Retail Federation estimates that people in the US will spend more than $9 billion total on Halloween this year, which works out to more than $86 per person. Yikes!

But, don’t worry. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly way to celebrate the scariest day of the year, one dollar zone has your back. These Halloween recipes are perfect for a party at home or in your child’s classroom and won’t break the bank.

Halloween Cupcake Recipe one dollar zone

Boo! Cupcakes

Perfect for a classroom celebration or for a party at home, these cupcakes come together quickly, thanks to the cake mix. And, the additional of marshmallow “ghosts” makes them super simple to decorate. Hats off to Chef Julie Yoon for the inspiration.

You’ll need:

  • 1 box cake mix (your choice of flavors, chocolate or vanilla)
  • Vegetable oil
  • Egg
  • 12 cupcake liners
  • 1 cupcake/muffin tin
  • 1 bag Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows
  • 1 tube black food coloring gel
  • Toothpicks

Step 1:  Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box, adding the vegetable oil and egg, as called for. Preheat the oven to the temperature listed on the box. Distribute the cupcake liners in the spaces on the muffin tin, then pour the cake batter into each liner. Bake as directed on the cake mix box. The cupcakes are ready to get when a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.

Step 2:  Let the cupcakes cool completely. While they cool, make your marshmallow “ghosts.” Draw eyes and other facial features on 12 marshmallows using the black food coloring gel.

Step 3: Push a toothpick into the bottom of each marshmallow ghost. Attach the ghosts to the cupcake by pushing the other end of the toothpick into a cupcake. Now, get ready to say “Boo!”

Makes: 12 cupcakes

Jack O Lantern Halloween one dollar zone

Jack O’Lantern Quesadillas

Not so good at carving out real pumpkins to make a Jack O’Lantern? Give these super simple, inexpensive Jack O’Lantern Quesadillas a try instead. Thanks to MyRecipes for the idea.

You’ll need:

  • 16 flour tortillas (get orange or red ones, if you can find them)
  • 2 8-ounce packages Kraft Pepper Jack cheese (or plain Monterey Jack cheese if you don’t like the heat)
  • 1 cheese grater
  • 1 sharp paring knife
  • Cooking oil spray
  • Non-stick skillet
  • Salsa
  • Kraft sour cream

Step 1: Grate the cheese using the cheese grater (Skip this step by purchasing pre-shredded Kraft cheese!).

Step 2: Using the paring knife, carefully cut a Jack O’Lantern face into each tortilla. Cut out two triangles for eyes and an opening for the mouth.

Step 3: Carefully sprinkle the cheese over half of the tortillas, dividing it evenly (you might have extra cheese). Top each with another tortilla.

Step 4: Spray the skillet with the cooking oil, then heat over medium heat on the stove. Place one quesadilla on the skillet and cook, until the cheese begins to melt. The tortilla might begin to brown. Flip the quesadilla over and continue cooking until the other tortilla is browned. Repeat with the remaining quesadillas, then serve, perhaps with a dollop of salsa and Kraft sour cream.

Makes: 8 quesadillas.

Halloween Party Mix

Inspired by the Chex Mix recipes you see on the back of the cereal box, this Halloween party mix recipe makes enough to feed a crowd. It’s a mix of savory and sweet, just what you need on Halloween. Thanks to One Little Harvest for the inspiration!

You’ll Need:

  • 1 14-oz box Rice Chex
  • 1 14-oz box Corn Chex
  • 1 bag pretzel thins
  • 1 bag candy corn
  • 1 bag plain M&M’s (Halloween colors if possible)
  • 1 5-oz bag Wise popcorn
  • 1 1/2 sticks of butter (3/4 cup), melted
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small bowl
  • 2 large baking sheets

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Combine the Chex cereals and pretzels. in one large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Combine the melted butter, sugar and vanilla in a small bowl, then pour over the Chex mix and stir.

Step 3: Spread the mixture over the two baking sheets, in one layer. Bake for about 35 minutes, checking and stirring every 10 minutes. You may need to bake it for up to 45 minutes.

Step 4: While the mixture bakes, combine the popcorn and candies in the same bowl. Once the mixture is cooled, add it to the bowl with the candy and popcorn and serve.

Key Takeaways

  • Make these budget-friendly and simple Halloween recipes for home, school or work celebrations.
  • There’s no need to spend lots of $$$ to have a fun holiday.

To get name brand candy and ingredients, at real dollar store prices, make sure to visit a one dollar zone store near you for all your Halloween needs!