13 kid-friendly Halloween recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen

Serve the kids this creamy tomato soup with cheesy ghost-shaped toasts before they go out into the night. Click here for the recipe.

Serve the kids this creamy tomato soup with cheesy ghost-shaped toasts before they go out into the night. Click here for the recipe.  (Ann Johansson / Los Angeles Times)

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Trick or treat! From tomato soup with spooky ghost toasts to cupcakes and caramel popcorn, here’s a selection of kid-friendly recipes to help you -- and your little ghosts and ghouls -- celebrate Halloween!

Caramel Apples

Caramel apples are easier to make than you think. This recipe simplifies things by using caramel candies. And have the kids help unwrap the candies and dip the apples. Click here for the recipe.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Butter cupcakes

These rich butter cupcakes are practically screaming for festive decorations! Click here for the recipe.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Caramel corn

This recipe for salty and sweet caramel corn can be served in a big bowl or packaged in treat bags for tasty party favors. Click here for the recipe.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Cinnamon marshmallow stars

Spiced with a touch of cinnamon, these homemade marshmallows can be cut into stars, ghosts, skulls or any other spooky shapes you conjure up. Click here for the recipe.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Spiced hot chocolate

Rich hot chocolate, or champurrado, is lightly spiced with fragrant cinnamon and thickened with masa. Click here for the recipe.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Pan de muerte

Halloween is not complete without a sugary finish. This traditional Dia de los Muertos cake is partially shaped like bones and a skull. Rich and buttery, the flavor is to die for. Click here for the recipe.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Chocolate cupcakes

Bake up these dense chocolate little cakes, then have the little ones help with spooky decorations! Click here for the recipe.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Hot fudge sauce

Whip up a caldron -- er, pot -- of this rich and creamy hot fudge sauce to top ice cream, cakes or other goodies. Might want to make a double batch -- you’d be amazed how quickly it magically disappears. Click here for the recipe.  (Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Halloween sugar cookies

Sugar cookies are the perfect blank slate for cookie cutters, stamps and food coloring. Fall shapes or orange food coloring will get cookies ready for a Halloween party. Click here for the recipe.  (Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times)

Peanut butter cookie cups

These peanut butter cookie cups seem trickier than they really are. They use only two ingredients (perfect for little chefs): cookie dough and peanut butter cups. Click here for the recipe.  (Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times)

Flavored popcorn

Looking for something a little more calorie-conscious? Let’s revisit flavored popcorn. You’ll find that these recipes for chile-flavored Witch’s Blend and rosemary-garlic Ghostly Gobbles make for quick, healthy Halloween snacks. Click here for the recipes.  (Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times)