October is popcorn month, which is convenient, since popcorn makes great Halloween treats with relatively little effort.

Here are two recipes, one for adults and one for kids or kids at heart, ideal for a Halloween festivities.

The cranberry and chocolate spiced popcorn, redolent of cinnamon and nutmeg, is a popcorn riff on granola.

The Happy Halloween Mini Popcorn Balls are a popcorn version of one of my favorite food groups, Rice Krispie treats. The recipe calls for butterscotch chips, but I prefer chocolate. The orange food coloring makes them quite seasonally appropriate, but that’s optional. You can use just about any dried fruit you like, including papaya, mango, or peaches. I like dried cherries with the chocolate.

And here’s another Halloween idea: haunted popcorn hands made with food service gloves, candy corn, and some ribbon or yarn.

Cranberry & Chocolate Spiced Popcorn

Popcorn.org

Ingredients

8 cups popped popcorn

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup toasted pumpkin seeds

1 ½ tbsp coconut oil, melted

¾ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground nutmeg

4 oz dark chocolate, melted

½ tsp coarse sea salt

Directions

In a large bowl, toss together popcorn, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Lay mixture flat on parchment paper–lined tray. Drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt. Let stand at room temperature for about 20 minutes or until chocolate sets. Break apart into chunks.

Happy Halloween Mini Popcorn Balls

Popcorn.org

Ingredients

10 cups popped corn

1 (1-lb.) bag miniature marshmallows

¼ cup (½ stick) butter or margarine

1 cup diced dried fruit (papaya, mango, or peaches)

1 cup butterscotch chips

Orange food coloring

Directions

Place popcorn, fruit and butterscotch chips in large bowl; set aside.

Heat marshmallows and butter in a large saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth.

Stir in several drops of food coloring.

Pour over popcorn and candy, tossing to coat evenly. Cool 5 minutes.

Grease hands and form into 3-inch balls.

Notes

Haunted Popcorn Hands

Popcorn.org

Clear polyethylene food service gloves

Candy corn

Popcorn

Ribbon or yarn

Place 1 to 3 pieces of candy corn at the end of each finger (depending on size of glove), pointy side first, to make fingernails. Fill the glove with popcorn and tie it off with ribbon or yarn.