Halloween is fast approaching. You're going to party. Maybe make a parachute or a gift? Mike told me about this the other day - apparently people are making slides so they can slide candy over candy at a safe distance. Personally, I'm going to whip up a bunch of homemade Halloween goodies while we watch something scary but not too scary on Netflix. And you?
Sweet (and cute) Halloween candy
I am legitimately addicted to banana bread and will eat quite a bit of bread. And when is Totoro's face ?! I've finished. This banana bread is super chewy (laughs) and banana and it's definitely my favorite banana bread.
Two bite-sized brownies to win, but especially when they're so cute! Make them if you are a fan of Spirited Away and are also hungry like No-Face.
AHH I had an accident when I made these rice krispie treats… I ate them ALL by accident. I haven't had rice krispie treats in ages and there's nothing in the world quite like a fresh homemade rice krispie treat. Make them even if you don't want to decorate them. My recipe has extra marshmallows and a little extra butter and it's so good I can't even do it.
Cutest Soot Bunny Dust Sprite! They are gluten free and melt in your mouth. I love.
Ooh, if you haven't had whoopie pie before, make them! Whoopie pies are a cross between a chewy pie and a sandwich cookie, and they're chewy and delicious. These are pumpkins for more party. And they look like Totoro!
This is a little tutorial on how to use store bought marshmallows to melt them into your own shapes. My form of choice… Totoro of course! Perfect if you have extra marshmallows when making rice krispie squares.
Give me ALL the cheesecake bars. Cheesecake bars are great because who doesn't like to hold their food while they eat it? Also, they are pumpkins and too cute.
Buns are fall food. A hot grilled bun with a spicy chai is the quintessential cozy. These buns are pumpkin, of course. A perfect Totoro-ly gift for Halloween!
My all time favorite buns. They are so soft, squishy, and crushed. The fact that they are decorated like Totoro is a bonus, but even without their powdered sugar belly, I'd inhale a tray.
If you love the nutty flavor of black sesame, this baked black sesame is nutty and chewy and better for you than fried donuts. Win win!
Salty Halloween treats
Sometimes you want a treat but you don't want it to be sweet, do you? These recipes are still special enough to be considered Halloween treats, but they are tasty in case you've eaten too much candy like I have.
Soba is one of those amazing noodles and I'm not sure why it's not as popular as ramen or udon in America. A good soba is nutty and filling and sipping is the best part. Which part of Totoro are you going to eat first?
I'll be the first to admit that these Totoro Inari take a while to make. I will also be the first to create them! They are so cute and they taste great too. Inari are small pockets of perfectly sweet and salty tofu stuffed with sushi rice. I could eat about 6 at a time.
YAY Totoro Grilled Cheese with Giant Brie Belly! This cute and flavorful boy has some spices hidden inside him thanks to the jalapenos, but if you're not the spicy type, you can leave them out. I love how happy they seem to eat it.
This is probably one of the easiest treats to make and I think everyone should start the morning with a Totoro cream cheese muffin, toasted of course. I topped mine with chives afterwards because the chive cream cheese is where it is.
The message that started it all. This was my first Totoro themed meal and I have been obsessed ever since! Who knew spam could bring me so much joy?
If you've ever been to Tokyo, you're probably obsessed with onigiri. Who doesn't love a rice ball in hand? This sooty little goblin is stuffed with avocado seasoned with a hint of soy sauce all wrapped in nori. So tasty, so cute.
It's pumpkin season, so this creamy kabocha soup with a Totoro egg in a hole is the perfect way to warm up after an afternoon stroll looking at the leaves.
The softest and most undulating Japanese cotton cheesecake decorated with Totoro! Often imitated, never duplicated, was there first 🙂
And for rabbit lovers, two extra Halloween treats:
A crunchy lemon shortbread that you can make in any shape. Because who says Halloween has to be about pumpkins anyway?
Honestly, I feel like I could make a ton of onigiri for Halloween - ghosts, pumpkins, candy corn ... but for now, here's a shaped rice ball. Rabbit.
Phew! We did it.
Are you still cute? I am not. Give me EVERYTHING cute! Happy almost Halloween! I know we could all use a little cuter in our lives, so I hope you make one or if not, I hope they still smile at you because there is. has a crazy person in the world who took so long to make this cute food. (It's me. I'm the crazy one LOL)
xoxo steph
