Halloween Sugar Gems

 We have a fun tradition that we do for Halloween each year. I'm sure some of you have heard about The Halloween Phantom. To become the Halloween Phantom, you will need to make a yummy treat and print off the two documents below (the poem and the picture).  Then you go 'ghosting', otherwise known as doorbell-ditching. :)  You place the plate of goodies, the poem, and the picture of the ghost, on someone's porch step, then ring the doorbell and run! The fun keeps spreading like a chain letter: they will pass the phantom on to others who will continue passing it on and so forth. You'll have to click on the link below to read the clever poem. Children think this activity is very exciting! But I have a confession to make, I started The Phantom in the married student housing while my husband and I were finishing up at our university, and I had no kids - I was 20 years old and thought this was just as exciting and fun as any little kid!  :)
I made a bijillion of these Sugar Gem cookies yesterday, and filled about 8 or so piping bags full of black and orange frosting. Then I brought them to a youth activity I was in charge of last night. The girls (ages 12-18) had a blast decorating their cookies, and then we dismissed 30 minutes early so that they could go 'ghosting' with their parents on their way home, and deliver their cute jack-o-lantern cookies. In addition to the frosting (in piping bags and in tupperwares so they could spread it), I also had a little can of Wilton Color Spray in orange (it's like an aerosol edible color spray). Wow, was that a hit! They fumigated the room with that stuff! But they thought it was very fun. :)
Have fun spreading the Halloween Phantom! I'd love to hear about how your deliveries go! :)

Halloween Phantom Poem
Halloween Phantom Picture
Sugar Gems printable recipe

as another option, you can use this happy phantom instead of the ones used above.  I just made it tonight; this one can be cut out and might be cuter displayed from a front window. I might use this one from now on.
Halloween Phantom Poem (happy phantom)
Halloween Phantom Picture (happy phantom)

*update - Thanks to AJ, who left a comment and said, "We got booed too and our printouts were from a website so that people could just go to the website and print it off instead of trying to worry about copying the poem and picture. www.BeenBooed.com"  I think this is a good idea. Their poem is different, but still cute. So there's another idea for you all! :) 


Sugar Gems

submitted by Erin (recipe from Melanie) ~ www.thesisterscafe.com

Cream together:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
1 cup real butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla


Add:
5 cups flour
1 tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda


Mix all ingredients well. Roll into golf size balls and place on cookie sheets. Flatten with bottom of glass dipped in sugar.
Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes. Cool and frost with sugar gem frosting.


Sugar Gem Frosting

2-2 ½ cups powdered sugar
½ cup oil 
1 ½ tsp almond flavoring or extract (very important!)
3-4 Tbsp milk
food coloring if wanted


Mix well and add a little more milk or powdered sugar to get the right consistency. If you plan on piping this frosting, add a little more powdered sugar to make it a bit thicker.