Ghoulish Goodies: Creature Feature Cupcakes, Monster Eyeballs, Bat Wings, Funny Bones, Witches' Knuckles, and Much More! [Paperback]

Sharon Bowers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2009

Eat, drink, and enjoy the creepy yuckiness of Monster Eyeballs, Chocolate Spider Clusters, Buried Alive Cupcakes, and Screaming Red Punch. In her colorful collection of frightful foods, Sharon Parrish Bowers shares the fun of baking, decorating, and indulging in delicious treats that celebrate witches and jack o' lanterns, ghosts and graveyards.

Everyone loves Halloween. It's a holiday that is pure fun and childish joy, an excuse to dress up and eat treats. Packaged candy may be the common reward for trick-or-treating, but plates of Spiderweb Cookies or big bowls of Sticks and Stones Caramel Corn are perfect contributions to school Halloween events, tailgating parties, neighborhood open houses, adult costume parties, and even afternoon play dates. It's difficult to imagine an autumn gathering that wouldn't be even more fun with ghoulish goodies to share.

These frightful treats are not just for October, though. A birthday party for a nine-year-old or a scary movie sleepover for teenagers practically demands an I'Scream Cake or Spidery Cupcakes. And Chocolate-Chip Pumpkin Bars with Orange Glaze would be welcome at an office coffee break or an afternoon tea party.

Baking from Ghoulish Goodies is a wonderful way to celebrate the change of seasons and the pleasure of working with kids in the kitchen. Baking cupcakes and making fudge are great activities for autumn afternoons, when the weather turns cool and the kids are underfoot after school. Put them to work stirring, decorating, and scraping pumpkin seeds. These are recipes that parents and kids can have fun making together. And the entire family will enjoy eating a warm Choco-Bat Cookie for dessert.

Watch the author create Funny Bones featured in the book. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aGMe1VwBbA 

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–8—Perfect for Halloween and beyond, this conveniently organized, well-illustrated cookbook is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Following a somewhat lengthy introduction explaining Halloween fun from the author's perspective and "pointers for success" in using the book, Bowers dives in to the heart of the matter. Arrangement is by types of food (candy, cookies, cakes, drinks, etc.), and it's easy to find something to whet any appetite for scary fun. The I'Scream Cake is reminiscent of Edvard Munch's The Scream. Monster Eyeballs and Cheddar Eyeballs are more mouthwatering than icky. Ghoul-Ade with Fly-in-My-Ice is gloriously spine-chilling. While most recipes start from scratch, Bowers allows for substitutions such as store-bought cake mixes. Most recipes are complemented by a full-color photograph of the finished product. While young children will not be able to create these fright-fest delights without intense adult help, they will nevertheless howl at the promise of the outcome. Hauntingly appetizing.—Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI END

Review

"Perfect for Halloween and beyond, this conveniently organized, well-illustrated cookbook is sure to be a crowd-pleaser."
(School Library Journal)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; Original edition (July 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603421467
• ISBN-13: 978-1603421461
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #612,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute book. October 22, 2009

By G. Klonowski

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Certainly worth the small cost, so three stars. But I was disappointed in the number of recipes that have no photograph of the finished item. Given the topic of this cookbook, a photograph of every recipe would have made the book more useful and fun to flip through. For those recipes with no picture and a humorous name, you need to read the recipe to find out what it is. But there are some fun ideas and largely the recipes seem easy enough.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Deliciously scary! October 4, 2009

By BermudaOnion VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

If you're looking for some fun treats for Halloween, then Ghoulish Goodies is for you! This adorable cookbook has recipes for candies and goodies, cookies, cakes, party food, drinks and even a Halloween supper. There are darling photographs for most (but not all) of the recipes. There are some deliciously scary looking treats in here that would be great to make for the classroom!

Since olives and cheese are two of the major food groups, I decided to try making the Cheddar Eyeballs. The recipe was easy and delicious, but I came out with about half as many eyeballs as it said I would.

A great idea in this book is to make a frozen hand for your punch bowl. All you have to do is take a rubber surgical glove and rinse it out several times. Fill it with water, tie the wrist tightly closed, and freeze. Once it's frozen solid, cut the glove off the palm and each finger with sharp scissors.

This is a great book for those with kids or for the kid inside of you!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Treats for your Halloween Party October 5, 2010

By AZ School Psych

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Of the Halloween books I have read over the past few weeks, this is hands down the best! The introduction is full of nostalgia and visions of Halloweens past. I could not help but smile and nod my head in agreement as she described the excitement of sorting candy in front of the television before bedtime or trading your spoils with your siblings. The introduction is also full of practical information that one should read before rolling up your sleeves to create these festive treats. As a matter of fact, I attempted my first cookie icing (royal icing recipe on p. 61), at her bidding. She was right! It is incredibly simple and beats out any store-bought icing I have purchased in the past. I also purchased paste colorings for the first time (based on her recommendation). I originally checked this book out from the library, but after my family went nuts for the first few recipes, I knew I had to purchase this book and make it a permanent part of my personal library. I cannot wait to photograph the food for our Halloween party this year! Oh, and did I mention that the recipes are delicious? Happy Halloween!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ghoul enough to eat October 14, 2009

By Andrea S. Stern

Format:Paperback

My son fell in love with this book from the moment he saw the cover. He has a list of foods he wants to make from it, and he has already made the cocoa bats and the white chocolate bones. The instructions are clear and easy to follow and the illustrations put the book over the top. These recipes will be used year round in my household.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great party food! October 9, 2011

By Kelly Beasley

Format:Paperback

I just had a birthday/Halloween party for my 9 year old yesterday with 100% recipes from this book. Everything turned out lovely. The kids loved the Swamp Creature Toes, Candy Corn Pizza and Bandaged Fingers, the parents loved the Shepherd's Pie, and the tombstone cake was gorgeous and delicious. Buy this book. It will become an instant Halloween tradition!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My new Favorite Book about my Favorite Holiday! September 27, 2009

By Lara

Format:Paperback

I picked this up at the Scholastic Book Fair at my son's school - and it's fantastic! I have several Halloween recipe books b/c it's my absolute favorite holiday, and this one is amazing!

1) Fun, unique recipe and "food craft" ideas. The "Ice Scream" cake alone is worth the price of admission
2) Love Sharon's funny, friendly voice
3) Recipe ideas for leftover Halloween candy is brilliant
4) Great ILLUSTRATIONS! The clever art direction and illustrations really set the book apart. A book like this doesn't *need* illustrations of creepy crawlies or scary monsters, but they add such charm and whimsy and shows that the author and publisher were really committed to taking the book to the next level - love it!

-Lara Starr, author of The Frugal Foodie Cookbook

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ghouls' Make Fun Cooking October 5, 2011

By Terry

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great book with many fun ideas for Halloween treats. Make a few and enjoy looking at the rest with your kids (plenty of eeewwwws to be had).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This Rocks October 1, 2011

By Cecil Wilson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This cookbook is fun and easy, a party hit every time. You;ll have no problems using this book :easy instructions