Like all such stories, this one begins on a dark and stormy night. A heavy cloud passes over the moon. A clock chimes mournfully. And the sound of approaching footsteps echoes from the kitchen. Suddenly, the dining room door opens with a creak of hinges.

Casting a shadow over the cake plates, the host of the Halloween party enters, tray in hand. Guests gasp in horror, facing what lies before them: desserts shaped, colored, and decorated to look as fearsome as possible.

The devil is in the details. Licorice has turned into sharp spikes, hot chocolate has transmogrified into blood, and ganache has acquired the sinister aspect of a spiderweb. The hapless diners resolve not to fall prey to their baser appetites, but their foe is formidable.

Here, mysteriously, our story ends. Not much more is known, other than that the host was heard to say that revenge is a dish best served sweet. You'll notice that no dinner guests appear on these pages. All that was found after the fateful party were empty plates.

Recipes
Almond Brownie Coffins
Blood-Red Hot Chocolate
Boston "Scream" Pie
Candy Cats
Candy Spiders
Ghost Cupcakes
Haunted-House Cake
Haunted-House Chocolate Cookies
Marshmallow Bones
Marshmallow Skulls
Marzipan Pumpkin Petits Fours
Midnight Moon Cookies
Mini Sweet-Potato Doughnuts with Brown-Butter Glaze
No-Bake Spiderweb Cheesecake
Skull Madeleines
Square Pumpkin-Cake Petits Fours with Honey-Chocolate Glaze

How-To
Bat Mobile

Text by Bunny Wong