Halloween Week

Halloween week is here at last. Usually, I make a big deal out of this holiday. It's one of my favorites. Lately, though, I haven't felt like decorating much at all. I did make these awesome cupcakes today, though:

They were super easy to make, and a hit with all the neighborhood kids. My windows swing open, old farmhouse style, and I had a line of kids at my window waiting for me to hand over cupcakes. They all ran home and scared their mothers by licking "bloody glass" shards.

Here's what you do:

Make your favorite cupcake recipe and let them cool.
Prepare your favorite frosting. Or, you know, buy the canned stuff and cake mix and make that. Semi-homemade is cool. No judging here.

To make the glass shards:

Set aside a large baking sheet that has raised sides. Covering it with parchment might make this easier later. I didn't use parchment.

Mix 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring this to a boil without stirring it. Once it's boiling, stir it constantly until a candy thermometer reaches 302F.

Immediately pour this mixture onto the baking sheet, tilting it back and forth to spread your candy into a thin layer. Now, let it harden. It only takes minutes to harden, especially if you stick it in the fridge.

Frost the cupcakes and stick shards of "glass" in haphazardly, then drizzle and dot with red food gel "blood".

For a more realistic blood look, you can combine chocolate syrup and red food dye until it looks like blood. I was going for easy, though. The kids loved them.

Here are a few more great ideas for Halloween week:

Credit: Artsy Fartsy Mama

Credit: A Pumpkin & a Princess

Credit: The Diary of Dave's Wife

Credit: Rook No. 17

And here are the Halloween cupcakes I made last year. I bought the stabby knives at Michael's:

What are you crafting for Halloween? Check out my Halloween board on Pinterest for more ideas.

This post is linked to  Tutorial Tuesday, Show Me What Ya Got, Consider Me Inspired