Written by Julia Garcia, Staff Writer

As the weather gets colder and Halloween approaches, there are so many treats to make that can add to your festive mood. Make them in bulk and hand them out to trick or treaters, or gather your friends for a fall themed get together and serve them there! Whether you’re serving them to friends or eating them alone while watching Netflix, no matter what you’re sure to enjoy these spooky treats. Here are a few easy and adorable autumn desserts to make this Halloween extra sweet.

Rice Krispy Pumpkin Treats

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp. butter

½ tsp. vanilla extract

red and yellow food coloring or orange gel coloring

6 cups rice krispies cereal

mini tootsie rolls

Candy for decorations, M&Ms, candy corn, etc.

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, melt and slightly brown butter on medium heat. Add vanilla extract and marshmallows. Stir until marshmallows are completely melted. Add food coloring until desired orange color is reached. Add cereal and stir until completely combined. Turn off heat and let sit for a few minutes until cool enough to handle.
2. When mixture has cooled, spray your hands with cooking spray and mold cereal mix into spheres. Unwrap a tootsie roll and press into the top of each pumpkin for the sem. Optional: add candy for the eyes and noses, using frosting as an adhesive. Eat and enjoy!

Gooey Monster Eye Cookies

Ingredients:

1 Yellow Cake Mix Box

½ cup softened butter

½ tsp. vanilla extract

1 bar of cream cheese softened

1 egg

green food coloring

powdered sugar

candy eyeballs

Instructions:

1. Beat butter, vanilla, egg, and cream cheese until fluffy
2. Mix in cake mix. Add green food coloring until it’s the color you want. Chill for 30 minutes
3. Roll into balls and dip into a bowl of powdered sugar
4. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. While warm, push eyeballs into the center or all over the cookie. Eat and enjoy!

Jello Worms

Ingredients:

2 packs (3 oz) Raspberry jello

1 package unflavored gelatin (for extra firmness)

¾ cup whipping cream

3 cups boiling water

15 drops green food coloring

100 flexible straws (or enough to fill your container)

Tall container (1 quart or 1 litre carton of milk)

Instructions:

1. Combine gelatin and raspberry jello in a bowl and add boiling water
2. Let it cool to lukewarm and then add the whipping cream and 15 drops of green food coloring
3. Gather your straws (don’t forget to flex them out) and put them in the container. It’s important that the straws have a tight fit so the jello stays in the straws. For this reason, a 1 liter carton may be better; you will probably get longer worms since there is a tighter fit. If you have a bigger container, a rubber band around the straws is helpful. Otherwise just add more straws to fill the container.
4. Add the gelatin mixture to the straw filled container and let it set in the refrigerator until firm
5. Remove the worms from the straws. Roll a rolling pin over the straws and squeeze them out, or hold the straws over warm water. the worms should slip out. Eat and enjoy!