Lesley BallaNo matter how you slice it, Halloween brings out the sweet tooth in all of us. Sure, you can raid your kid's bag for something sweet, or grab that family-size bag of Kit Kats at Target (you feel the pull, whether you're giving out candy or not), plenty of local restaurants, bakeries and confectioneries have something more grown-up in store. Whatever you crave — chocolate, pumpkin, candy — here are five spots for Halloween treats for the kid-at-heart. We'll leave the tricks up to you.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and Pumpkin Pie in a Jar; Credit: Magnolia Bakery/Forage
5. Anything Pumpkin
We generally carve our pumpkins for Halloween (except for these non-jack-'o-lanterns), but it's that time of year to see it in everything, from cookies to cocktails. If you've got the craving, there are currently maple-cream-cheese-icing-filled pumpkin whoopie pies at Magnolia Bakery, pumpkin pie-in-a-jar at Forage and Clementine makes a mean pumpkin bread with raisins. On the savory side, there's even a pumpkin taco at Komida, the new Hollywood spot from Yamashiro chef, Brock Kleweno.
Yes, all on one plate; Credit: LA Market
4. Junk Food
If you can stomach it, Kerry Simon's “junk food platter” at LA Market in downtown L.A. is even more ridiculous this weekend. You get orange and purple coconut snowballs, bat and mummy cake pops, pumpkin-shaped Rice Krispy treats, candy-corn parfait and chocolate “dirt” brownies with gummy worms all for $9. Available through Monday.
Bloody Good Chocolate Truffles; Credit: Compartes Chocolatier
3. Bloody Good Truffles
While these were inspired by True Blood, you don't have to be a fang banger to appreciate Jonathan Grahm's blood orange chocolate truffles at Compartes Chocolatier. The best part is the spurt of blood orange “blood” (puree) with every bite. The chocolates are $25 for 10, or create a mixed box with other spirited flavors like the skull-printed Mexican hot chocolate, vanilla-pepper or pumpkin pie. Get them at the Brentwood shop or order online.
Gingerdead Men, Serial Killer Cookies, Ghost Cupcakes; Credit: Village Bakery
2. Crazy Cookies and Cupcakes
For the last couple of weeks, The Village Bakery in Atwater Village has featured a new Halloween-inspired morsel every day. There were mummy puffed-rice treats, bat brownies, chocolate “mice” and other incredibly cute things. For the weekend you'll find Ginger”dead” Men cookies (today), jack-o'-lantern pumpkin tarts (Saturday), serial killer cookies (Sunday) and skeleton cupcakes (Monday). Really, who doesn't love a good Charles Manson cookie? Watch the bakery's Facebook page for updates.
Caramel apples like you've never had; Credit: Valerie Confections
1. Gourmet Caramel Apples
Talk about being a kid again, albeit one with a very good palate. At Valerie Confections, Crabapples, MacIntosh and Granny Smith apples from See Canyon Farm and Windrose Farms are dipped in luscious caramel, sprinkled with grey sea salt and rolled in various toppings like roasted peanuts, bittersweet chocolate and Valrhona chocolate pearls. Find them at the shop all weekend long as well as at the Valerie stand at the Santa Monica farmers market on Saturday and the Hollywood farmers market on Sunday.
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