Rex & Regina's Blog

Every Halloween my husband and I stock up on mountains of candy in anticipation of an onslaught of trick-or-treaters. It never fails the next day we’re left with a ton of candy. You’d think we’d learn!

I love this idea from Martha Stewart on what to do with leftover candy — particularly the wrappers. Absolutely brilliant! I could see the cans used as a decor for a children’s birthday party or used next year for trick-or-treat pails.

Martha Stewart's candy-wrapper buckets

One of the most popular Halloween treats out there is candied apples. Granted, they are not the easiest to eat, but the messiness is worth it. All that gooey caramel and rich chocolate covering the crunch of a tart apple = pure deliciousness!

These whimsical fall treats are great not only for Halloween but would be perfect for wedding favors, at a children’s party, or served at a fall engagement party… you name it!

A bride I worked with a couple of years ago gave a candied apple to each of her guests as a favor. It made for a beautiful presentation on the place setting.

Candied apples accent a beautiful place setting, photo courtesy of Kate Triano

Making candied apples is fairly easy and there are many recipes out there to help guide you through the process. To make apples with a little more interest than the standard caramel apples, consider these two recipes.

The first, from Gourmet magazine (don’t get me started… I WILL start crying.) is a true grown-up version of candied apples. Don’t these  red wine caramel apples look amazing?

red wine caramel apple recipe, Gourmet, October 2009

I also love these mini candied apples from Martha Stewart — even easier to eat than the larger versions.

Mini candied apples, Martha Stewart Living

Or, if you don’t feel like making candied apples from scratch, check out this fabulous option from Dean & Deluca:

chocolate covered caramel apples, available from Dean & Deluca

Enjoy!

Call me a hater, but Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays. Even when I was a child, I was never excited when Halloween came around. It always seemed so dark and meaningless and I just didn’t enjoy it. The candy, however, was the day’s only redeemable quality and I still enjoy the sweet treats that come along on October 31.

I’d like to think my taste in candy has matured over the years, though. And while I do still enjoy the Halloween standards like M&Ms and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, these days I fall more easily to the temptation of artisan and handmade chocolates. Here are some great options for “grownup” Halloween treats for your trick or treat collection this year:

Dylan’s Candy Bar has a fabulous selection of Halloween-themed treats. The Oreo Gift Set looks particularly delish.

Halloween Oreo Gift Set from Dylan's Candy Bar

Or what about these Chocolate Valley Apples from Oliver Kita? Nothing says Fall like a candy apple!

Chocolate-covered apple from Oliver Kita

Looking for a spooky treat? Check out these adorable Party Ghosts (can ghosts be adorable?!) from Burdick Chocolate.

Chocolate Ghosts from Burdick Chocolate

You can’t get anymore grown up than these Boo! Chocolate Truffles from Coco luxe. You had me at “ganache.”

Boo! Chocolate Truffles from Coco luxe

My favorite purveyor of artisan confections, Rechiutti, has a great 8 piece Halloween Motif box. They are scary good!

8 piece Halloween Motif Box from Recchiuti