How to Make Molded Chocolate Candies

While you wait for the ganache to cool, prepare the molds. If you have only one mold, you will have to repeat this process multiple times until all of your candies are formed. If you have multiple molds, you can do this all in one batch. Melt the candy coating, or take the tempered chocolate, and spoon some into each cavity in the mold, so that the cavities are entirely filled.

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How to Make Molded Chocolate Candies

Pour Excess Chocolate From the?Molds

(c) 2011 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Wait about a minute, then flip the mold upside down over a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper. The excess chocolate will drip down onto the paper. Swirl it slightly to encourage the chocolate to drip down. The chocolate on the paper can later be scraped off and re-melted to be used again.

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Witchy Woman Candies

Any Eagles fans out there? Sing with me now!
Woo hoo witchy woman see how high she flies
Woo hoo witchy woman she got the moon in her eye

Yes, today's candies are wonderfully weird witches and witch-ly accessories! We'll start with the witches themselves. How cute are these witch truffles?? Chocolate truffles form the head, and then they're outfitted with a kiss-and-cookie hat and decorated with luminous green skin, black hair, and even a protruding nose! If you've ever wanted to eat a witch's face--and really, who among us has not?--this is the perfect opportunity.

Maybe you're more interested in witch accessories than in witches themselves. I can respect that. Perhaps I could interest you in these chocolate-filled witch hats, then? Ice cream cones are filled with a chocolate truffle mixture, then set on cookies and dipped in chocolate. It's about five different desserts in one, and these babies look great when they're all lined up on a platter together.

Finally, I have an option for those with little children, little time, and/or little patience. Easy witch hats are so simple, they barely need a recipe. It's really more of an assembly project than a cooking project, which makes it a good choice for small helpers, or classroom projects. Simply stick kisses on a cookie, add a little ribbon, and you're good to go!

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Witch candies Photo c Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Mummy Candies

Making Halloween candy is a wrap with these mummy candies! First up, Mummy Truffles. Chewy, soft coconut balls are wrapped in fondant "bandages" to form adorable mini mummy candies. You can use purchased fondant, or for an easy homemade alternative, try this recipe for Marshmallow Fondant. Don't miss the video showing how to make mummy truffles!

At the other end of the work/reward spectrum are these adorable Mummy Pretzel Rods. They're so simple but so good! Everyone knows chocolate-dipped pretzels are inherently awesome, but when you add a drizzle of white chocolate "bandages" and some eyes, well, they're downright amazing. This is also a good recipe for if you need a last-minute Halloween treat, or a cooking craft to do with your little goblins.

Get the recipes:
Mummy Truffles
Mummy Pretzel Rods

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Photos c2011 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Ghoulish Ghost Candies

I'm in full-on spooky candy mode. Prepare yourselves for a blitz of creepy crawlies, spooky spiders, and ghastly ghouls!
First up, a trio of ghost candies, starting with ghost cake pops. I used pumpkin spice cake to make these easy lollipops--'tis the season, after all. The crumbled pumpkin cake is mixed with cream cheese frosting, then I put my play-doh sculpting skills to good use forming small ghostly figures. These are an awesome addition to a Halloween party dessert table, or they could be individually wrapped and passed out as party favors. Or you could just eat them all yourself! Not like I'd know anything about that...

Moving on! Ghost Strawberries are just about the easiest thing you can make--simply melt some white chocolate, dip fresh strawberries, and add little chocolate faces. Of course real white chocolate makes these extra delicious, but I won't tell if you use white chocolate chips--just be aware that you may want to add a little oil or shortening to thin it out and make it easier to work with.

Finally, these Meringue Ghosts are practically virtuous compared to some other Halloween treats. Meringues are light and crispy candies made from egg whites and some sugar, so they're fairly low-calorie. As the recipe is written they're a subtle vanilla flavor, but they can be customized with any additional extracts or flavors you'd like. Meringues are a wee bit tricky, so I have this video showing how to make meringue ghosts that'll take you through each step of the process.

Get the recipes:
Ghost Cake Pops
Ghost Strawberries
Meringue Ghosts

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Ghost Candy Photos cElizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Spooky Halloween Candies

This collection of spooky Halloween candy recipes is sure to liven up any Halloween party. Most are simple enough that kids can make them (with a little adult assistance) and their taste and appearance appeals to both kids and adults alike. Boooo appetit!

1. Marzipan Fingers

(c) 2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com

Marzipan fingers are the ultimate ghoulish Halloween candy! Delicious almond marzipan is fashioned into frighteningly lifelike severed fingers. Eat them if you dare!

2. Werewolf Truffles

(c) 2009 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Werewolf Truffles may be the best Halloween candy you’re too scared to eat! A delicious chocolate-peanut butter mixture is dipped in chocolate and decorated to look like spooky werewolves.

3. Blood-Splattered Fudge

(c) 2011 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Blood-Splattered Fudge is gruesome…and gruesomely delicious. A smooth and creamy white chocolate fudge is covered in red food coloring splatters that look disturbingly like blood. It's not for the squeamish, but if you're looking for the perfect scary candy for Halloween, look no further than Blood-Splattered Fudge.

4. Mummy Truffles

(c) 2009 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Making Halloween candy is a wrap with these Mummy Truffles! Chewy, soft coconut balls are wrapped in fondant “bandages” to form adorable mini mummy candies.

5. Marzipan Brains

(c) 2010 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Pistachio marzipan is formed into creepy brain shapes in this fun Halloween candy! The greenish-black candy brains are eerily realistic, and have a great roasted pistachio taste.

6. Vampire Bite Truffles

(c) 2010 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Vampire Bite Truffles have bloody vampire fang marks on the outside and ooze red "blood" when you bite into them! These truffles are made of sweet almond marzipan and contain a liquid cherry filling that gushes once they're opened.

7. Bat Truffles

(c) 2011 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Bat Truffles are delightfully spooky chocolate truffles in the shape of bats. This candy is perfect for Halloween or any scary occasion.

8. Meringue Ghosts

(c) 2009 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Meringue Ghosts are fluffy, crispy meringue candies dipped in chocolate and formed into cute ghost shapes, perfect for Halloween.

9. Spider Truffles

(c) 2011 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Spider Truffles are one spider you'll want to eat, not squish! Rich chocolate truffles are decorated with black licorice legs in this creepy candy spider recipe.

10. Chocolate-Filled Witch Hats

(c) 2009 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

These clever Chocolate-Filled Witch Hats Halloween candies feature crunchy ice cream cones, shortbread cookies, and a rich, creamy chocolate truffle filling.

Click here to see more spooky candies on the next page!

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Spider Candies You Won't Want to Squish

Today I have a bevy of spider candies...no, a flock...no, a herd...no...what DO you call a group of spiders? (A murder of spiders?) Well, whatever the proper term is, I have one of those for you! A handful of delicious and creepy spider candies to get you in the Halloween mood. First up: Spider Truffles. I love the look of these spider truffles, with their fat chocolate bodies atop black licorice legs. You can give them faces and personalities, but I prefer my spiders to be as anonymous and far from human as possible!

Spider Lollipops are the easiest candy you'll ever make, consider the fact that they consist of store-bought lollipops and some pipe cleaners. (Oh, and googly eyes! Mustn't forget the googly eyes.) Their super-easy nature makes them a perfect kid-friendly activity or treat.

If truffles and lollipops don't float your boat, try these Candy Spiders instead. They may look small and innocent, but these marshmallow and chocolate confections are actually viciously addicting and savagely delicious. The only way to exterminate candy spiders is to eat every last one of them. Are you up for the challenge?

Lastly, let's not forget a home for our creepy creations. These Spiderwebs Candy are an incredibly easy Halloween candy, and everyone will love the great taste of salty, crunchy pretzels and smooth, sweet white chocolate. If you don't want to draw the spider in the middle of the web, you can place a raisin or chocolate chip in the center to represent the spider.

Get the recipes: Spider Truffles
Spider Lollipops
Candy Spiders
Spiderwebs Candy

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Photos c2011 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Vampire Bait: Bloody Candies

Velllllcome. I vant to share vith you zis collection of candies featuring everyone favorite bodily fluid, blooooood. Mwahaha! First, zee Blood-Splattered Fudge. A smooth and creamy white chocolate fudge ees covered in red food coloring splatters that look disturbingly like blood. Eet ees not for the squeamish, but if you're looking for the perfect scary candy for Halloween, look no further than this gruesomely delicious fudge.

Next, you von't be able to resist biting into zees Bleeding Truffles! Zee innocent-looking chocolate truffles contain a surprise center of red jam that oozes out when you bite into the truffles, just like...you guessed it...bloooood.

And finally, a candy near and dear to my heart, Vampire Bite Truffles! Zhey have bloody vampire fang marks on the outside and ooze red "blood" when you bite into zhem! Zees truffles are made of sweet almond marzipan and contain a liquid cherry filling that gushes once bitten. Don't miss zee photo tutorial showing how to make Vampire Bite Truffles. Vhichever bloody candy you choose, I hope you enjoy sucking them down! Mwahaha!

Get the recipes: Blood-Splattered Fudge
Bleeding Truffles
Vampire Bite Truffles
Vampire Bite Truffles Photo Tutorial

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Photos c2011 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Label Your Candies

Don't assume that people will know what your candies are! Although some might be obvious, other candies might be harder to identify, and your guests will appreciate labels. Plus, creating labels is a chance to add another decorative touch. For my table I made simple folded labels from cardstock that were placed in front of each candy. To make them fit with the Halloween theme, I used a font that looked like it was dripping blood. Websites like dafont and Font Squirrel have a great selection of free novelty fonts to help in your label making.

To make the candy shown here, visit the Candy Corn Fudge recipe or Candy Corn Fudge video page.

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Apple Candies

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but can the same be said of apple candies? Only one way to find out! Try one of these delicious apple candy recipes, like caramel apples, candy apples, apple fudge, apple caramels, and apple truffles. They're a cure for the boring candy blues--no doctor's prescription needed!

1. Caramel Apple Recipes

(c) 2007 About.com

This list of caramel apple recipes features tons of fun caramel apple variations, from the classic plain caramel apple to caramel apples covered in crushed cookies, candy bars, peanut butter and pretzels, and much, much more.

2. Candy Apples

(c) 2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com

A layer of crunchy cinnamon hard candy coats a crisp, tart apple in this old-fashioned favorite. Readers give this recipe five stars!

3. Apple Spice Truffles

(c) 2010 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Apple Spice Truffles have the warm fall flavors of fresh apples and spicy cinnamon mixed with milk chocolate. The truffles are coated in chocolate and topped with crushed graham crackers to give these truffles all the flavors of delicious apple pie.

4. Apple Cider Caramels

(c) 2009 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

In these Apple Cider Caramels, the sweet, slightly burnt caramelized sugar taste pairs perfectly with the tart apple cider, spicy cinnamon, and rich butter. These caramels are soft, silky-smooth, and won’t stick in your teeth.

5. Apple Pates de Fruits

(c) 2009 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

These Apple Pates de Fruits have a wonderful sweet-tart flavor and a great texture. Pates de Fruits are a traditional French candy that are sometimes described as a very condensed jam. These chewy candies practically burst with apple flavor with every bite.

6. Applesauce Fudge

(c) 2009 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Applesauce Fudge is made with real applesauce and lots of toasted nuts and spices, to give you a taste of fall in every bite. If you're extra-ambitious, you can even try making your own fresh applesauce to add even more flavor to this recipe.

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Dried Apricot Candies

Is it strange that I always think of eating ears when I'm eating dried apricots? (Maybe you shouldn't answer that.) It's not that I have subconscious cannibal tendencies--I don't think--it's just that dried apricots look alarmingly like what I imagine dried ears would look like. These are the thoughts that haunt my mind, people. And now I have haunted your minds as well. Let's put chewy ears off to the side for a moment and focus on dried apricots instead. They're sweet-tart, chewy, and oh so good. I like them plain or dipped in chocolate, but if you're looking for an even more exciting candy, consider one of these gems:

Chopped dried apricots and almond and orange extract give this pretty pale orange Apricot Fondant lots of flavor. If you have apricot extract all the better, but in truth the dried apricots add plenty of apricot taste on their own. I like these creams with a white chocolate coating, so it doesn't overwhelm the delicate flavor, but they're also good dipped in milk chocolate, or simply rolled in crushed almonds. Another good option would be pistachios--I think orange centers, dipped in white chocolate, and topped with green pistachios would look gorgeous.

It may sound weird to describe Apricot Balls as "jam in a truffle," but that's about what they taste like. In a good way! The filling has a robust apricot flavor and a lovely chew, and the tart apricots and dark chocolate keep them from being too sweet. Just don't try to spread them on toast.

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Get the recipes: Apricot Fondant
Apricot Balls

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Apricot Fondant Photo c2010 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Fresh Raspberry Candies

Now is the time I dream of all winter long--when farmer's markets are overflowing with ripe berries that are actually flavorful (not sad hard things imported from another continent!) and reasonably priced. I've been trying to take advantage of it and eat my weight in fresh produce these past few months. Lately I've been loving raspberries, especially the unusual golden raspberries that seem to be following me around town. Here are two delicious candy recipes that take advantage of bountiful fresh raspberries.

Chocolate Raspberry Truffles are, perhaps, my ideal truffle. I don't like my truffles too hard--I like them to melt in my mouth. These truffles have a luscious center that stays soft even when refrigerated. These babies incorporate 10 ounces of real raspberries, so they have a vibrant raspberry flavor that goes perfectly with good-quality semi-sweet chocolate.

White Chocolate Raspberry Bites couldn't be simpler. Mounds of vanilla-scented white chocolate are topped with juicy fresh raspberries to form an effortless candy that's perfectly sweet and tangy. I love this candy because it's so flexible--try using other fresh berries or nuts, or try adding candy flavorings to the chocolate to create different combinations. This is an easy dessert for parties or showers, and it's always a crowd-pleaser.

Get the recipes: Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
White Chocolate Raspberry Bites

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Photo c Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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