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Ghoolies & Ghosties Spiced Biscuits

Ingredients

200g/8oz plain flour

25g/1oz cornflour

75g/3oz caster sugar

175g/7oz butter

¼ tsp. cinnamon powder

Method

Place the dry ingredients into a bowl. Cut the butter into the mixture and rub in. Initially this will make a crumbly mixture, but will eventually come together as a single piece of dough.

Flour a board or a worktop and turn the dough out. Knead gently and then roll out

You have three options at this point:

Use a cutter to make the biscuits. Roll the dough into a log shape and cut into rounds approximately 1.5cm thick. Place the dough in a round 18cm/7 inch tin and pack down well

Whatever you decide, prick the dough with a fork and bake in the oven at 180°C/Gas Mark 4 until the shortbread takes on a very light golden colour. Cooking time will depend on the size of shortbread you decide to make and will take anything from 10 to 20 minutes.

Decorate with an assortment of halloween figures and use ready-made fondant icing to decorate. Great chance for kids to use their imagination.

Pumpkin pie cakes

A simple one-stage cake recipe with the addition of 100gms/4oz of pumpkin puree which can either be bought or made using pumpkin flesh cooked in 125mls of water, or baked in the microwave oven until soft.

The addition of spice makes these really tasty, for a halloween party especially when warm.

Makes 6 - 8

150 gms/6 oz self-raising flour

100gms/4 oz caster sugar

125gms/ 5oz of softened butter

2 large or 3 small eggs lightly beaten

100gms/4oz pumpkin flesh

½ tsp mixed spice

½ tsp nutmeg

Method

Cream together in a bowl the butter, sugar, eggs, flour and spice until light and creamy this should take 6 to 8 minutes.

Fold in the pureed pumpkin flesh – mix well and transfer to individual little moulds or cup cases.

Bake in the oven 200 degrees C (gas mark 6) until risen, golden and firm to the touch.

When cool remove from the moulds and sprinkle with icing sugar.

Skinny Halloween cup cakes

Quick, light, no fat sponge lightened with whisking and sieved flour. Almost a quick one stage cake – ideal for kids to make.

Makes 12

75g/3oz plain flour

75g/3oz caster sugar

3 eggs

Method

Cooking time 12-15 minutes. Oven temp 200ºC/ Gas mark 6.

Beat the eggs and caster sugar together until light, fluffy approx 6-7 minutes. Lightly sift the flour into the mixture and fold it through using a metal spoon. Pour into either individual cupcake tin or paper liners.

Bake the cakes until golden brown and springy. Remove from the oven and cool on a wine rack.

Decorate with ready-made fondant icing in assorted colours and have fun with all the symbols of halloween.