With Halloween fast approaching, and trick or treating off the cards this year, here are some fun ways to brighten up the mood and get the kids in the spirit of all things SCARY over the mid-term break. From the best kids Halloween movies to recipes for eerie cupcakes and tutorials on how to make your very own Origami monster claws and bookmarks, these ideas will keep the kids entertained for hours and put a smile on their face.
Origami fun
Try your hand at making these easy origami paper monsters and owl book marks or have a go at making these very freakish monster claws.
Online Halloween writing camp for kids
Hosted by WriteWords, this Halloween-themed workshop is for kids aged 8-12 years and will help enhance writing skills through activities. Contact Derbhile on 087 6959799 to book a spot.
Top 5 kids Halloween movies
If you’re looking for proper Halloween entertainment, check out these spooky flics that will stir up their imagination and ruffle their feathers just enough to scare them a little.
Cupcakes to die for
Ingredients
- 200g butter, softened
- 300g golden caster sugar
- 200g dark chocolate, melted
- 2 eggs
- 250g self raising flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder mixed with 100ml boiling water
- 50g cocoa powder
- 200ml milk
- 1-2 tsp black food colouring (optional)
For the buttercream
- 300g unsalted butter , softened
- 500g icing sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- black food colouring
For the decorations
- pack of Smarties
- black icing pen
- 1 pack mixed coloured fondant icing (you’ll need pink, green, blue and white)
- liquorice and strawberry laces and other sweets such as jelly fangs and liquorice allsorts
- icing eyes (see tip, below)
Method
- STEP 1 Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line two 12-hole cupcake tins with cases. Beat the butter and sugar until the mixture is creamy. Beat in the chocolate and the eggs until combined, then stir in the flour and baking powder, cocoa powder, milk and food colouring, if using. Spoon the mixture evenly between the cupcake cases, levelling the tops.
- STEP 2 Bake for 20 mins or until the cakes are risen and springy to the touch. Cool for 5 mins in the tin, then lift out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- STEP 3 To make the buttercream, beat the butter until soft, then stir in the icing sugar a little at a time. Beat in the vanilla and some black food colouring, then transfer to a piping bag fitted with a plain nozzle.
- STEP 4 For the cat face, pipe the black buttercream in an even swirl onto the cupcake and smooth with a palette knife. Pipe two ears by making a blob for each and pulling the icing bag upwards to a point. Add two eyes on each with Smarties and use the black icing pen to paint a pupil onto each. Add a triangle nose made of pink fondant icing and create whiskers with sweets.
- STEP 5 For the monster faces, cut circles of green and blue fondant to fit the tops of the cupcake and fix them in place with a little buttercream. Add eyes, noses and mouths made of sweets or use icing eyes (see tip, below). For skeletons, cut out shapes with white fondant and fix in place with the buttercream.
Dress-up ideas
Pinterest boards
Attractions
Halloween Dress Up Ideas
We all love a reason to dress up and this Halloween is no different here in Waterford! Upload your pics to Instagram and tag Waterford.fyi with your most wicked Halloween Costumes. We’d love to see what you’re up to on one of the spookiest nights of the year.
