The Best Homemade Halloween Candies

I'll take any excuse to make — and eat — candy, especially if it's homemade. And since I'm not expecting a lot of trick or treaters this year (we live at the top of a huge hill), I can focus my Halloween efforts on goodie bags for myself and my adult neighbors.

Apple Cider Caramels (shown above) will be my first inclusion. They get their robust appley-ness from our Vermont Boiled Cider, which provides a super-concentrated flavor that regular cider can't replicate. (Right now, we have a buy one, get one half off deal. You'll want that second bottle for Thanksgiving pie, of course.)

To counter those chewy caramels, I'm also making some crisp and snappy Microwave Nut Brittle. Our recipe calls for peanuts, but I'm going to try with toasted pecans and hazelnuts for an even bigger crunch.

Maybe you're less into making candy at home and more into figuring out what to do with the kids' giant haul? Replace the chocolate chips with chopped Twix, Snickers, and Kit Kat bars in these Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, or bust out the candy thermometer, make Carol's Caramel Corn, and mix in leftover M&Ms.

Or perhaps you're not into candy at all? (How?!) You can still take some inspiration from the glowing jack-o'-lanterns (and my one-year-old's costume) and bake some pumpkin bread. I guarantee you'll enjoy it, even if you have been pressured into dressing up.

Yours in sugar,