24 Halloween food-related projects for kids

Carve simple jack-o’-lantern faces into apples, oranges and more before packing the fruit in lunch bags or serving as snacks. If you’re carving ahead of time, dab the carved areas with a little lemon juice to prevent the fruit from browning.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Halloween cookie cutters are easy to find at craft supply stores and even at many supermarkets. Older kids can help make and roll out the dough, while the little ones can help cut out shapes and decorate the cookies. This is one project that also makes a great homemade gift.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Nothing more than a combination of crisped rice cereal tossed with melted marshmallows and butter, roll the warm mixture out and cut shapes using cookie cutters, or mold the treats into three-dimensional goodies to be decorated however you wish.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Cheesy ghost-shaped toasts are a perfect garnish for creamy tomato soup. Layer a thin slice of cheese over sliced bread, using a cookie cutter to cut out the ghost. Toast the bread in the oven or toaster until the cheese is melted, and use peppercorns to make the eyes.

Spread out your guacamole in a large shallow bowl, using cut olives, peppers, onions, cilantro and more to create bugs and other ghoulish decorations.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

For graveyard cupcakes, frost the cakes with rich chocolate ganache and decorate with cookie “tombstones,” colored coconut and bone-shaped candies.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Substitute pretzel sticks for more traditional pecans in “turtle” treats and arrange the sticks like spider legs. Top the legs with melted caramel candies, then top the caramel with melted chocolate chips. Use candy decorations for the eyes.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

LOS ANGELES, CA. - OCTOBER 17, 2014: Ghost shaped pizza for the Halloween Extravaganza food shoot in the Los Angeles Times studio on October 17, 2014. (Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times)  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Use a large cookie cutter to make pumpkin-shaped tortillas, and top with thin layers of refried black beans and grated cheddar cheese. Top the cheese with more pumpkin-shaped tortillas, but cut out a jack-o’-lantern face before heating to melt the cheese.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

A good project for older kids, marshmallows are simple to make but require precision to get the sugar to the right temperature. Once the marshmallow is ready, it’s practically screaming to be piped into chewy eyeballs. Use black food coloring for the center, and decorate with red food gel.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Instead of pouring round pancakes, whip up pumpkin-shaped oval cakes with a little extra batter at the top to form the stem. Use fruit, chocolate or nuts to give each pumpkin-shaped cake a cute -- or frightful -- face.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Heat 3 to 4 cups milk until it comes to a good simmer, then stir in a broken tablet of Mexican chocolate, cooking and stirring until it melts. Whisk the mixture until frothy before serving.   (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Arrange pretzel sticks in a pattern similar to the spokes on a wheel, then decorate with melted chocolate and Halloween candies. A great project for the little kids.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Cut pre-made breadstick dough into finger lengths. Place the fingers on a baking sheet, pinching the dough together in places to form knuckles. Top with egg wash and sliced almonds to make the finger nails. Serve alongside a pesto or marinara dipping sauce.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Mix together cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar to form these simple mints, flavored with a touch of lemon juice and peppermint extract. Tint the dough if desired with food coloring, then chill until firm before forming into worms and assorted bugs. A great project for the little ones.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

These tasty chicken burritos are wrapped in green tortillas and are ample fortification before an evening of trick-or-treating.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Another project suitable for older kids, pipe fluffy marshmallow into ghosts that are more adorable than spooky. Dab a little melted chocolate onto the ghosts to give them eyes.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Caramel corn is a classic party snack that can be served in a big bowl or packaged in treat bags for tasty party favors.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)