Witch Finger Cookies

• A shortbread dough consisting of butter, sugar, egg, vanilla or almond extract, flour, baking powder and salt forms the base of sweet witch fingers. Refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes to allow it to firm up and then roll generous teaspoonfuls of it into long, finger-like cylinders. Make a knuckle shape in the center of each "finger," and use a toothpick or knife to slash knuckle lines. A whole, blanched almond pressed firmly into the tip of each cookie forms the "nail." Bake according to shortbread recipe instructions. For "bloody" variations on the finger, remove the almond once the cookies are out of the oven and coat the indentation with a small amount of red decorator's gel. Press the almond back in so the gel oozes out around the edges to resemble blood. Alternatively, you could make witch fingers that "bleed" by filling small strips of dough with raspberry jam before rolling them up and baking.

Cheddar Witch Straws

• A dough used to make cheese straws can be adapted into a cheesy witch finger. Mix together grated cheddar cheese, unsalted butter, salt, flour and a little cayenne and then form this dough into 4-inch finger-like shapes. Tip with an almond and brush with an egg wash before baking. These straws bake up looking nubby and wrinkled, so there's no need to form "knuckles."

Cheese Stick Fingers

• String cheese makes a witch finger treat that's appropriate for a classroom snack or kids' party. Cut a mozzarella cheese stick in half and insert a sliced almond in the tip to make the fingernail. Squares of red or green pepper could stand in for the almond.

Easy Sandwiches

• Make classic peanut butter or cream cheese and jelly sandwiches into creepy witch fingers. Take thinly sliced white bread and remove the crusts. Press them gently with a rolling pin to make them easier to manipulate and then spread with just a little peanut butter or cream cheese. Roll up the "sandwich" into a cylinder and "slice" with a knife to form the knuckles. Tip with an almond nail and dab with red jelly to create bloodstains.