Halloween presents an awesome opportunity for kids (and adults) to dress as ghosts and vampires, get together with their close mates and guilt the neighbours into dispensing their lolly loot. But Halloween treats can be so much more than a bowl full of assorted chocolates and lollies (although, let’s face it, they’re pretty good). If you feel like getting creative with your Halloween treats this year, here are some easy and fun recipes to inspire you.

Watermelon Jack-o-Lantern.

This year, why not try a twist on the traditional pumpkin? A watermelon should be your lantern material of choice this Halloween.  It’ll make a great centrepiece for your treats table!

What you’ll need:

• A whole watermelon
• A sharp knife
• A metal scoop or large metal spoon
• A candle and a lighter

What to do:

• Cut the top off your watermelon, then scoop out as much of the pink fruit as possible until the inside is hollow. You can use the excess fruit to make a delicious fruit salad for later. Soak up the excess water in the bottom of the watermelon with paper towel if needed.
• Cut out circles for eyes, a triangle for a nose and a jagged line or semi-circle for the mouth. If you need some ideas, you can pick up some carving stencils at the produce section of your local Woolworths.
• Pop a candle in the centre of the hollowed watermelon and light it.

"Why not try a twist on the traditional pumpkin?" Image: iStock.

Creepy crawly chocolate cupcakes.

As a complete arachnophobe these are the only spiders I will have anywhere near me. In fact, they are so delicious I’ll have several…in ma belly!

What you’ll need:

• Chocolate cupcake packet mix from Woolies baking aisle (Betty Crocker has never failed me)
• Dark cupcake cups
• Black or chocolate sprinkles
• Smarties (pick out the red ones to use as eyes)
• Licorice wheel cut into thin strips

What to do:

• Make the cupcakes as per the packet instructions in black cupcake cups.
• Once iced cover the top of the cupcake with the sprinkles.
• Use two red Smarties per cupcake as the spider’s eyes.
• Stick 4 liquorice strips in each side of the cupcake to form the spider’s legs.

Creepy crawly deliciousness. Image: iStock.

Fruity Marshmallow Monsters.

The kids will go crazy for these delicious fruity monsters. Just make sure none of the kids attending your Halloween festivities have a nut allergy.

What you’ll need:

• Green apples
• Smooth peanut butter
• Fresh strawberries
• Sunflowers seeds
• White marshmallows
• Dark coloured M&Ms

What to do:

• Cut the apples into quarters and remove the core.
• Cut a segment out of each apple quarter to create a mouth shape.
• Spread the smooth peanut butter on the bottom of the mouth.
• Cut the strawberries into thin slices and stick them on the peanut butter to create the monster’s tongue.
• Stick a row of sunflower seeds into the top of the mouth to form a row of teeth.
• Cut the marshmallows in half and use a little peanut butter to adhere the dark coloured M&Ms to the marshmallows as eyes.
• Stick the marshmallow eyes onto the top of the apple using peanut butter.
• Serve straight away.

Treats that are healthy and fun. Image: iStock.

Frog in a swamp.

Turn the well-known ‘Frog in a Pond’ into a ‘Frog in a snake-infested swamp.’

What you’ll need:

• Small clear plastic cups
• Freddo Frogs
• Green jelly mixture (made as per packet instructions)
• Lolly snakes

What to do:

• Fill each cup with a Freddo Frog and green jelly mixture and put in the fridge until set.
• Decorate with snake lollies.

Jelly is a must-have treat at Halloween. Image: iStock.

Count Dracula cookies.

Because who doesn’t love a cookie inspired by a blood-thirsty vampire that requires zero baking?

What you’ll need:

• Chocolate chip cookies
• Strawberry jam
• Mini white marshmallows
• Slivered almonds

What to do:

• Cut the cookies in half using a sharp knife, softer cookies will be easier to cut.
• Smear strawberry jam on the bottom of both half cookies then cover one cookie half with mini marshmallows laid upright.
• Place two slivered almonds in between the marshmallows to form sharp canines.
• Place the other cookie half on top of the marshmallows strawberry jam side down.
• Serve straight away.

Sink your teeth into these cookies before they take a bite out of you. Image: iStock.

Spooky strawberries.

Everyone loves a chocolate-dipped strawberry. Give your favourite indulgence a Halloween twist by turning your strawberries into mini ghosts.

What you’ll need:

• 250g fresh strawberries
• 400g white chocolate
• A tube of black writing icing
• Thin plastic white straws (can use wooden skewers)
• Baking paper

What to do:

• Wash the strawberries in cold water then cut off the leaves and pat dry.
• Melt the white chocolate in a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water until all the lumps dissolve.
• Cut the straws in half then stick a straw in the centre of the strawberry and dip it in the white chocolate until it the strawberry is covered all over, repeat if necessary.
• Place the strawberry on a tray lined with baking paper.
• Pop the tray in the fridge to set.
• When set draw eyes and a mouth on the strawberry with the black writing icing to create a ghost face.

Turn your chocolate dipped strawberries into mini ghosts. Image: iStock.

You’ll have a lot of fun trying out these super easy Halloween recipes and all the ingredients are readily available at your local Woolworths store. So forget the tricks and enjoy a delicious treat-filled Halloween.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is presented by Woolworths. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.

What are your favourite treats to make for Halloween?