Witch Hat Surprise

Sugar ice cream cones turned upside down on frosted chocolate cookies make instant witch hats, and the “surprise” is the M&Ms, candy corn, or Reese’s Pieces hidden inside each cone. When kids pick one up by the tip and take a bite, the candy tumbles out.

This is a no-bake assembly project, which makes it ideal for a Halloween party activity where kids do the building and decorating themselves. Spread chocolate fudge frosting on the cookie base, drop some candy on the frosting, invert the cone, then frost the outside of the cone and add a fruit leather hatband.

The thick frosting layer on the cookie acts as glue between the cookie brim and the cone hat. Press down gently when placing the cone so it adheres.

Let the frosting set for about 15 minutes before handling, or the cones slide off.

Kitchen Tips

• Use sugar cones with pointed ends, not flat-bottomed waffle cones. You need the witch hat point.
• Spread the frosting thickly. A thin layer won’t hold the cone in place and doesn’t hide the candy well.
• Work with one hat at a time. The frosting starts setting and becomes harder to spread if you try to do them all at once.
• Display on a tray lined with black or orange tissue paper for a spooky presentation.

Variations

• Wizard hats: Use a variety of colored frostings and star-shaped sprinkles for a Harry Potter theme.
• Glow-in-the-dark: Use neon-colored candy and green frosting for an eerie, monster-themed version.