Halloween Eats & Sweets

So we’re too old to go trick or treating. That doesn’t mean we can’t get into the Halloween spirit and eat our way through the holiday. There’s a slew of creative sweets to indulge in this month far beyond M & M’s & mini-snickers bars.  If you thought Serendipity’s hot chocolate was over the top, you should see their “Cookies and Scream” sundae. And just down the street Dylan’s Candy Bar has a Haunted Halloween sundae of their own with pumpkin ice cream and candy corn.  If you’re throwing a party, Jacques Torres chocolate haunted house doubles as decoration and dessert.  That’s just for starters.

Jacques Torres Chocolates

Address: 350 Hudson Street between King and Prince Sts.
Phone: (212) 414-2462
Website: www.mrchocolate.com
We’re suckers for multi-function goodies of all sorts, so we’re loving the Jacques Torres where Halloween decorations double Halloween treats.  The reigning king of chocolate has
handcrafted chocolate haunted lanterns, jack-o-lanterns, milk chocolate coffins, and a dark chocolate skull.  There’s even a chocolate house, made with over one pound of dark, milk and white chocolate.  And if you’ve never been to this flagship store, Halloween is the perfect time to see all of the artful and edible creations yourself.

Serendipity 3

Address: 225 E. 60th St. between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
Phone: (212) 838-3531
Website: www.serendipity3.com
Most of us have indulged in one of Serendipity’s famous frozen hot chocolates, but you can get that year round.  The “Cookies and Scream” sundae, on the other hand, is only available through the end of October.It’s deliciously complicated.  It starts with three scoops of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and “dirt” (don’t worry it’s just Oreo cookie crumbs). Add in gummy worms, skeleton lollipops, glow in the dark fangs and black-sugar encrusted whipped cream. This dessert bleeds Halloween, literally, with the addition of blood-red raspberry sauce. (Too tempting to pass up that opportunity.)  All proceeds from the “cookies and scream” sundae go to the Wildlife Conservation Society, so you’re indulging for a good cause.

Peanut Butter & Co.

Address: 240 Sullivan St. between W. 3rd and Bleecker
Phone: (212) 757-3130
Website: www.ilovepeanutbutter.com
Peanut butter sandwiches aren’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind for Halloween, but leave it to the masterminds at Peanut Butter & Co. to find a way to bring it back to peanut butter., Along with a collection of other fall-inspired sandwiches, their “Halloween
sandwich” features tombstone-shaped bread with peanut butter, pumpkin butter, and cream cheese, along with a few gummy worms and a sprinkling of cookie crumbles on top.  While you’re there, sample the “Johnny Appleseed,” special, a bagel with peanut butter, cream cheese, and sliced apples.

Brooklyn Hard Candy

Brooklynhardcandy.com
It’s not often you get to sample old fashioned candies made from scratch right here in New York. But Nathan Panum and Daniel Mowles are old school about their trade, even using a custom-made cutting machine to give each a distinct shape. They package all their handiwork in a recycled glass bottle that’s capped with a cork. The flavors are unlike any you’d find in your local drug store, the likes of wild strawberry, concord grape and our personal Halloween favorite, green apple.

Max Brenner

Address: 141 2nd Avenue and 9th Street
Phone: (212) 388- 0030
Website: www.maxbrenner.com
To satisfy your autumn sweet tooth, we recommend the Apple Pie Cinnamon Waffles at Max Brenner in the East Village.  But, of course,  the Bald Man is also known for his chocolates and there’s a special chocolate collection just for Halloween. A variety of bon bons round out this grown-up box of chocolates, but we’re suckers for the dark chocolate with dulce de leche and whiskey. Our advice? Be completely selfish and enjoy these treats solo in lieu of relegating them to the communal candy bowl.

Dylan’s Candy Bar

Address: 1011 3rd Avenue and 60th St.
Phone: (646) 735-0078
Website: www.dylanscandybar.com
Halloween isn’t just an excuse to dress in costume.  It’s also an excuse to go overboard on candy. What better place than at Dylan’s Candy Bar? Gummy eyeballs, teeth and brains, haunted cookie houses, and “zombie blood energy potion” anyone?   Or stay awhile and head up to the café for a “Haunted Halloween sundae,” composed of pumpkin ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, candy corn, mini-Reese Peanut Butter Cups, whipped cream, and chopped peanuts.   There’s also a full bar, so you can pair it with the Witches Potion – green apple candy with Midori and a citrus infusion.

Crumbs

Website: www.crumbs.com
Crumbs is really getting into the Halloween spirit with six new cupcake flavors available at any of the Crumbs Bake Shops around the city. The Halloween Collection includes the Spidey Web, Vanilla Halloween Sprinkle, Oooooohstess, Candy Corn and our personal favorite, the Chocolate Halloween Pumpkin (of course).  They also make colossal cupcakes, giant-size cupcakes, including a Monster Mash Colossal.  It’s vanilla cake filled with chocolate buttercream, topped with orange-tinted vanilla cream cheese, green sprinkles, and four lil’ monsters.

Ovenly
Website: Ovenlynyc.com

So it’s not technicallycandy, but Ovenly’s salty-sweet bar snacks are the perfect treat for grown ups this Halloween.  Agatha Kulagaand Erin Patinkin – the baking duo behind the company – came up with aspicy bacon caramel corn that’s got quite a restaurant following, but you can buy your own directly from the company and serve it at your Halloween gathering. Add their Old Bay-spiced peanuts, rendered in bacon fat, and you’ll guarantee a return crowd. Or forget the party and stay in, watch scary movies, and eat these outstanding snacks.  .

Liddabit Sweets

Website: www.liddabitsweets.com

Liddabit Sweets raises the bar on candy bars with their handmade collection, made with local and organic ingredients when possible . The PB&J, pecan pie bar, the Snacker, and the S’more are year-round favorites, but come Halloween there’s a divine Pumpkin Pie Bar.  Inside this milk chocolate candy bar, you’ll find pumpkin caramel ganache, fluffy marshmallow, and crispy pie crust.  While you’re there, buy a few fig-ricotta caramels and maple-apple lollipops to snack on later.

Vosges Haut Chocolat

Phone: (212625-2929
Website: www.vosgeschocolates.com
If you’re looking for something more elegant, Vosges is an excellent choice and one of our favorite chocolate shops.  They’re famous for their creative combinations, marrying chocolate with everything from chiles to roses, or even better, bacon.   The combination of hickory smoked bacon, smoked salt, and your choice of milk or dark chocolate is curiously delicious.  For Halloween, there’s skull lollipops in three different flavors, crafted in homage of Dias de los Muertos – a Mexican celebration devoted to honoring and welcoming the souls of the dead. Our first pick is the Red Fire chocolate skull, flavored with Mexican ancho and chipotle chilies, Ceylon cinnamon, and dark chocolate.