Like an army, a newsroom moves on its stomach. Especially desserts.

One morning last week, The Courier's copy desk trooped in loaded with Halloween treats -- a Haunted Graveyard, Witches on a Stick, Ghost Cookies, Vampire Bat Cupcakes and a witches' cauldron filled with brew (actually, punch) and a floating ice hand. It made a scary-looking spread, perfect for any Halloween party. Plus, the recipes are easy to make and fun to decorate.

Haunted Graveyard

1 can cherry pie filling

1 8-ounce container whipped topping

1 4-ounce package instant chocolate pudding

2 cups milk

1 package Oreo cookies (or chocolate creme-filled cookies)

Garnish:

E.L. Fudge or other rectangular cookies

Chocolate chips

Icing

Pour cherry pie filling into bottom of 9- by 13-inch pan and spread to cover. Whisk together pudding mix and milk in separate bowl. Pour over cherry pie filling and refrigerate until set. Reserve some whipped topping for decoration and spread remainder over pudding. Crush cookies and sprinkle over top. Decorate with whipped cream ghosts, using chocolate chips for eyes. Use cookies as tombstones, writing messages on them with the icing.

Witches on a Stick

20-25 pretzel rods

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Shredded coconut

Hershey's Kisses

Green food coloring

Black frosting

Cut tops off pretzel rods to make them even. Set aside. Combine white chocolate chips and oil in bowl; microwave to melt. Add more oil to thin as needed. Add a couple of drops of food coloring. Mix. Dip cut end of pretzel rods into chocolate, coating at least 2 inches. Set on wax paper. Sprinkle coconut on sides for hair. Top with a Kiss. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens. Use black frosting to pipe on eyes, nose and mouth and color in Kiss to make black hat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Source: Parenting magazine

Witches Brew

1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries, thawed

2 1/2 cups cranberry juice

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin

2 liters ginger ale

2 liters sparkling apple cider (non-alcoholic)

6 gummi snakes candy

To make the frozen hand: Wash and rinse the outside of a rubber glove. Turn glove inside out and set aside. In a 4 cup measuring cup or a bowl, combine the thawed raspberries and cranberry juice. Pour 2 cups of the raspberry mixture into a small saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over and let stand 2 minutes. Warm over low heat, stirring constantly, just until gelatin dissolves. Mix back into the reserved raspberry mixture in the measuring cup.

Pour raspberry mixture into the inverted glove. Gather up the top of the glove and tie securely with kitchen twine. Freeze until solid, or several days if possible.

To serve: Carefully cut glove away from frozen hand. The fingers, especially the thumbs will need extra care to ensure they do not break off. If they do break off, throw them in the bowl, it will look even more fun with floating fingers. Place frozen hand, palm side up, leaning against side of a large punch bowl. Pour in ginger ale and sparkling cider. Garnish with gummy snakes.

Note: To avoid issues with people who may have allergies to latex, use a disposable glove that is latex-free.

Bat Cupcakes

1 box of chocolate cake mix

1 can chocolate cream cheese frosting

2 packages Keebler fudge-filled cookieso

1 bag Hershey's Kisses

1 tube red cake decorating gel

Make cake batter according to directions for cupcakes. Cool completely, then frost cupcakes. Break cookies in half. Place on cupcake to look like wings with broken half facing toward the front of cupcake. Place a chocolate kiss in front of the cookies with the point facing forward for the body. With red gel make two red dots that look like eyes on the Hershey's kisses.