Spider Spoons Recipes

DIPPED PEPPERMINT SPOONS

Steps:

• LINE baking sheet with wax paper.
• MICROWAVE semi-sweet morsels and vegetable shortening in small, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 20 seconds; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.
• DIP the end of each spoon in melted chocolate, tilting bowl to easily dip. Use side of bowl to remove excess. Place on prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until set.
• MICROWAVE white morsels in small, heavy-duty plastic bag on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 20 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from each bag. Squeeze to drizzle over ends of already dipped spoons. Dip spoons in crushed peppermints; return to baking sheet. Let stand until set. Insert spoons into bags and secure with ties. Store at room temperature.
• *Paired with NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® ULTIMATES™ Dark Chocolate Delight Cookie Dough

CANDY CANE HOT COCOA SPOONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Spray 3 soup spoons lightly with cooking spray. Place 3 unwrapped candy canes on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the candy canes are slightly soft and pliable and very warm to the touch, 8 to 10 minutes. Gently lift a candy cane and place onto one of the greased spoons (if they're too hot to touch, lift with a paper towel.) Mold and gently press the curved top of the candy cane into the bowl of the spoon so that it takes the shape of the spoon; the center of the bowl will be bare. Mold the straight part of the candy cane to the handle of the spoon. If the candy canes cool too quickly, you can pop them back in the oven for a minute or two to soften again. Let cool on the spoons while you bake the next batch of candy canes, continuing until you've molded them all.
• Melt the 3 chocolates in 3 separate small bowls by microwaving each on 50 percent power in 20-second intervals, stirring in between each, until melted.
• Dip the bowls of the candy cane spoons into the melted chocolate; you will have 4 of each type of chocolate. Set the spoons so that the chocolate-covered bowls sit flat on the cooled baking sheet and the handles tilt upward resting on the baking sheet rim. Let the chocolate set slightly, 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature or 5 minutes in the refrigerator. Keep the remaining chocolate in the bowls warm and melted, returning them to the microwave if necessary.
• Spoon some melted chocolate into the open unfilled space in the bowls of the spoons. Sprinkle with marshmallows, chocolate chips or crushed candy canes, mounding them in the center so they look like they're on the spoon. Let harden completely at room temperature, about 1 hour, or in the refrigerator, 15 to 20 minutes.

DEEP-FRIED TARANTULA SPIDER

Steps:

• In a deep saucepan or deep-fat fryer, heat the oil to 350°F.
• With a sharp knife, sever and discard the abdomens from the two tarantulas. Singe off any of the spider's body hairs with a crème brûlée torch or butane cigarette lighter.
• Dip each spider into the tempura batter to thoroughly coat. Use a slotted spoon or your hands to make sure each spider is spread-eagled (so to speak) and not clumped together before dropping it into the hot oil.
• Deep-fry the spiders, one at a time, until the batter is lightly browned, about 1 minute. Remove each spider from the oil and place it on paper towels to drain.
• Use a sharp knife to cut each spider in two lengthwise. Sprinkle with the paprika and serve. Encourage your guests to try the legs first and, if still hungry, to nibble on the meat-filled mesothorax, avoiding the spider's paired fangs, which are tucked away in the head region.

SPIDER BISCUITS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line two baking sheets with parchment. Using an electric hand whisk, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugar together until very light and fluffy, then beat in the egg and vanilla. Once combined, stir in the flour, bicarb and ¼ tsp salt.
• Scoop 18-20 tbsps of the mixture onto the trays, leaving enough space between each to allow for spreading. Make a thumbprint in the centre of the cookies. Bake for 10-12 mins or until firm at the edges but still soft in the middle - they'll harden a little as they cool. Leave to cool on the tray for a few mins before topping each biscuit with a peanut butter cup, Rolo or Malteser. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Heat the chocolate in the microwave in short bursts, or in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, until just liquid. Scrape into a piping bag and leave to cool a little. Pipe the legs onto each spider, then stick two eyes on each. Leave to set. Will keep for three days in an airtight container.

SPOOKY SPIDER CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and line a muffin tin with 12 cases, preferably brown ones. Put the butter, sugar and flour in a mixing bowl. Break the eggs into a smaller bowl, taking care not to get any shell into it, then tip on top of the butter mixture.
• Add the baking powder and vanilla to the larger bowl, then beat with an electric hand whisk until smooth and creamy. Stir in the chocolate drops or chocolate. Spoon the cake mixture evenly into the cases and bake for 20-25 mins until golden - a cocktail stick pushed into the middle of one of the cakes should come out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
• To decorate the cakes, unravel the liquorice wheels and cut into lengths with scissors to make dangly legs. Stick 8 into the top of each cake, making small cuts with the tip of a sharp knife so they push in really securely.
• Spoon the chocolate spread on top and spread lightly within the liquorice legs to make a round spider's body. Now cut the Allsorts to make eyes and the red bootlaces to make mouths, then stick them onto the cakes and dot on the icing to make eyeballs. Will keep for up to 2 days in a cool place.