Halloween DIY

DIY: Halloween Edition 

Fast forward. It’s October 31^st. It’s Halloween. You are probably thinking how did the month of October escape you. Your children have invited friends over and your neighbors might stop by. To top it off, you just got home from work and now you have less than an hour to prepare something fabulous to celebrate Halloween.

Cue the violins... Wait, stop, don’t panic. I have a quick DIY Halloween solution that will take less than an hour of your time and you most likely have all the ingredients in your home right now. 

What is it you ask? Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time you get creative and make your own apple bar!  We all love an old fashioned caramel apple. Halloween is the perfect time to celebrate with this pastime. Your guests will love the endless choices and wonder, how did they do it? Let's get started! 

First, you need apples. The amount of apples needed depend on your guest list. Take the apples and wash them. Any type of apple will work for this project. Wait to cut the apples until the rest of our apple bar is complete. It may be Halloween, but no one likes a brown apple. 

Next, it’s time to cook the caramel. Caramel, may sound daunting, but it is a very easy sauce to make. Here’s a recipe that I use from food.com:

1 packed cup brown sugar

½ cup half and half

4 tablespoons butter

Pinch of salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract 

Mix the brown sugar, half and half, butter and salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook while whisking gently for 5 to 7 minutes, until it gets thicker. Add the vanilla and cook another minute to thicken further. Turn off the heat, cool slightly and pour the sauce into a dish or jar. Place in fridge until cold.

Now that the caramel sauce is ready to go, it's time to look through your pantry and fridge for fun toppings. 

Here are some topping ideas that are quick and easy: 

Chocolate Chips

Chocolate Sauce

Peanuts

Marshmellows

Almonds

Sprinkles 

Walnuts

Granola 

Rice Crispies 

White Chocolate Chips 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips

Peanut Butter

Let your imagination soar!

This project is open ended. You can use whatever you feel would taste best on an apple! 

Now, it's time to set up for the apple bar. Use jars and bowls to put the toppings in. Have several spoons available for guests to use. You can write out name cards for each topping so guests will be able to identify the toppings with ease. Or you can skip the name cards for a little bit of Halloween mystery. Additionally, to save you from washing forks afterwards, put out a bowl of tooth picks for easy pickings! You can create a fun "BOO" banner using paper, markers, and ribbon. 

For my apple display I turned vases upside down and tied a black ribbon for some added décor. I also found some scrap black fabric and used it as table décor. Get creative and use things around your house. Have your child draw a scary picture, or color a pumpkin to decorate. It can be as elaborate or simple as you would like. It all depends on your time crunch and available resources. 

Right before the guests arrive cut your apples. They should be crisp and ready to go! Enjoy your apple bar and have a spooky Halloween 2012. 

Your Elegant Affairs DIY Guru 

      Rachel Ermitano