There’s no doubt Halloween will feel different this year, but with a little effort and creativity in the kitchen — and help from your friends at Zoku — the holiday can still be fun and festive. Whether you’re safely trick-or-treating, hosting a small group of friends and family, or attending a virtual costume party, here are three easy Halloween recipes that will feel like a treat for kids of all ages.

BENTO SPIDER SANDWICHES

Get kids in on the festivities early in the day by inviting them to help assemble these adorable spidey sandwiches. There’s no actual cooking (or cutting) involved in this “recipe,” and if they get a little sloppy, they’ll just look extra creepy. These also make a fun lunchbox surprise on Halloween! 

For each sandwich, you’ll need:

1–2 pieces sandwich bread
Peanut butter or other nut or seed spread
Your favorite jelly
8 pretzel sticks
2 mini chocolate chips 

Directions:

Use a small cup or round cookie cutter to make two circles from sandwich bread. Assemble the sandwich with peanut butter and jelly, then insert four pretzel sticks in the side of each sandwich to create the spider legs. Gently dip the bottom of two mini chocolate chips in the jelly to get them a little sticky, then add them to the top of the sandwich for "eyes." 

On the Go:

Sending these for lunch at school or work? Avoid smashed spidey sandwiches by transporting them in the durable Zoku Neat Bento.

Witches’ Brew Tomato Soup

Witches, warlocks, and especially kids who plan to eat lots of candy on Halloween need something warm and hearty to start the night off right. This easy, creamy tomato soup will hit the spot. For an extra-spooky touch (and an extra-creamy garnish), use a squeeze bottle filled with crème fraîche to “draw” bones or ghosts on the soup immediately before serving. Or, just read Shakespeare’s recipe for Witches Brew, because honestly, that’s pretty creepy, too.

Ingredients:

2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
⅓ cup butter
½ cup finely chopped red onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (32-ounce) carton chicken stock
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Warm a pot or large saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter, onions, and garlic. When the onions begin to sweat, slowly pour in the crushed tomatoes and simmer for about five to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use an immersion blender to puree the solid ingredients (or carefully transfer the mixture to a blender to puree then return to the pot). Slowly incorporate the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir well, lower the heat, and let the soup simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste before serving.  

Keep it Warm:

Need to prepare this ahead of time? No problem! The Zoku Food Jars will keep your spooky soup warm for hours.

GRAVEYARD ICE CREAM

Making individual servings of ice cream is quick and easy with the Zoku Ice Cream Maker. And with a few crushed cookies and creepy candies, your frozen treat can just as easily be transformed into a ghoulish graveyard. While you make the ice cream, kids can crush their own Oreos (and probably sneak a few gummy worms while they’re at it). 

For One Serving of Ice Cream:

Frozen Zoku Ice Cream Maker
1½ cups whole milk
1½ cups heavy cream
⅔ cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Make the Ice Cream:

Whisk together the milk, cream, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt in a medium-size bowl for three minutes, or until the sugar is dissolved. Stir well and chill to 40˚F (4.4˚C), then pour 5 ounces of the mixture into the (already-frozen!) Zoku Ice Cream Maker and immediately begin scraping the bowl with the spoon. Continue to stir (scraping the edges of the bowl as you go) until your ice cream has reached the desired consistency. 

For the Graveyard: 

Gallon-size freezer bag
Gummy Worms
Oreos

Assemble the Graveyard: 

Put the Oreos in the freezer bag, seal it, and crush the cookies until they resemble dirt. Stick the gummy worms into the ice cream (to look like they’re coming out of the ground) then sprinkle the top with the Oreo dirt. Probably the more “dirt” you use the better because Oreos are delicious. Enjoy!

Be sure to tag @ZokuHQ in your creepy culinary creations and use the hashtag #ZokuCreations