All that Halloween Candy. (Flickr)

For a bite of peppermint perfection ...

York Peppermint Patty Brownies
Ingredients (to yield 16 squares):

• 1 box Brownie mix (Ghirardelli’s preferable  or from scratch, William Sonoma’s Brownie Recipe)
• About 16 Miniature York Patties

Method:

1. Prepare brownie mix and spread half the batter on the bottom of the pan, enough to lightly coat the bottom
2. Cover with peppermint patties
3. Spread remaining batter on top and bake and serve as instructe

When you need to take a break ...

Kit Kat filled Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients (to yield 12):

• 1 box chocolate cake mix: Duncan Hines is generally the best for cake or from scratch, Barefoot Contessa’s Recipe
• 6 Fun-Sized Kit-Kat bars broken up into single wafers and split in half, extra bars for shaving on top
• Chocolate Frosting: Duncan Hines, or an easy to make from scratch frosting 

Method:

1. Mix cupcake mix and line cupcake trays with holders. Fill cupcake a quarter way filled with batter, then place 2 Kit-Kat halves on top, and finish off with more batter. Make sure the holder is less than ¾ of the way full.
2. Bake and cool according to directions on the box.
3. Place the remaining pieces of Kit-Kat into a sealed plastic bag and crush with a mallet or with your hands.
4. Top with frosting and crushed Kit Kat.

The non-bake, Reese’s lovers' delight ...

Chocolate Dipped, Peanut Butter Stuffed, Oreo Sandwiches
This recipe does not involve the oven; however, it does involve patience.

Ingredients (to yield 8 sandwiches):

• 8 Reese’s peanut butter cups
• 16 Oreo Cookies (frosting lovers, use double stuffed)  
• 1 ½ cups of milk chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon butter

Method:

1. Melt butter and chocolate over a double boiler, set aside.
2. Separate each Oreo so that one half has all the cream and the other half is cream less. Give the cream-less Oreos to a friend or discard, as you won’t need them after.
3. To assemble the sandwiches: stack in this order: Oreo cookie with cream facing up, Reese’s cup on top, and another Oreo cookie with the cream facing down.
4. The hardest part: dip the sandwich into the melted milk chocolate using a fork, and set aside on a sheet of wax paper after the whole sandwich is coated. Refrigerate till chocolate is firm, and serve chilled.

So you don’t feel like a letdown …

Milk Duds Cookies
Ingredients (for 3 dozen yield):

• Peanut butter or sugar cookie recipe or mixes depending on your preference
• 36 Milk Duds

Method:

1. Prepare cookie dough. Shape about 1 tablespoon of dough about the milk dud to create a ball and place on a lined pan. Be sure to space out the dough balls to account for their expansion while baking.
2. Bake and serve according to guidelines from recipe

And finally, to bring in some color ...

M&M’S Blondie Bars
Ingredients (for about a dozen large Blondies):

• Blondie recipe, William Sonoma is a good one, as is Bobby Flay’s
• As many M&M’S you can comfortably fit on a tray

Method:

1. Mix Blondies mix as normal and spread evenly in a square pan
2. Scatter M&M’S on top. Bake and serve according to the directions from your chosen recipe.

Happy Halloween and enjoy!

Reach Contributor Nika Shahery here. Follow her here.