The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook for Kids {Giveaway Contest}

Spooky season is around the corner and that means Halloween parties, trick or treating and watching scary movies. The next time you are watching a frighteningly good movie, you may want to whip up a spooky snack to go with it! Fans of the film, “Hocus Pocus” will be thrilled to know that “The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook for Kids” by Bridget Thoreson has many fun and spook-tacular recipes for your next movie night.

Those who know and love me understand that I am not the greatest cook. The wonderful thing about cookbooks geared for children is that the recipes are adapted in such a way as to make it easier for kids to prep, cook and serve. So that means that even someone like me can handle it! 🙂

Another neat thing about this cookbook is that the author conveys the importance of cooking safety by writing ‘In the “Torture Chamber”: How to Cook without an Ancient Spellbook.’ There are “spells” for every level, so that kids (or even adults) who need more help in the kitchen then others, can choose Beginner or Intermediate recipes instead of Advanced.

I rewatched “Hocus Pocus” with my family in 2021, during quarantine and then when the sequel came out, we eagerly watched that one as well. I know fans all over the world are going to love this cookbook!

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Bridget and find out what is her favorite recipe in “The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook for Kids.”

What inspired you to write this cookbook?

Bridget: In 2021 my long-lasting love for Hocus Pocus inspired me to write The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook. The amazing reader response to that book, the fun I had writing it, and the fun I was having learning to cook with my daughter and teaching her how to cook combined to inspire this new kid-friendly follow up!

Are you a big fan of “Hocus Pocus” and/or Halloween in general?

Bridget: I’m a fan of Halloween but a big fan of Hocus Pocus. It came out when I was a kid and was a very fun part of my childhood. The fun and nostalgia have continued into my adulthood, as it has with so many other 90s kids!

This is a kid-friendly follow-up to The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook. Did you adapt existing recipes from that book or create new ones for this children’s cookbook?

Bridget: I created almost entirely new recipes for this book. The only recipe that is the same in both books is Dead Man’s Toes (they’re pigs in a blanket). Obviously both books needed to have a Dead Man’s Toes recipe and this was just such a perfect fit for both books, so I carried it over. Everything else is completely different, so between both books there’s actually over 100 Hocus Pocus-themed recipes!

What’s your favorite recipe from the book that fans should include when throwing a “Hocus Pocus” movie night?

Bridget: If you’re looking for more of a hearty meal, I would definitely say Dead Man’s Toes–they’re fun and a major reference from the first Hocus Pocus movie! If you’re looking for more of a snack, my two favorites are the Halloween Party Snack Board or the Krispy Rice Booooooooks!

My daughter loves desserts and one of her favorites is a crispy rice treat! See below for an excerpt from The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook for Kids by Bridget Thoreson. Copyright © 2023 Ulysses Press. Reprinted with permission from Ulysses Press. New York, NY. All rights reserved.

Krispy Rice Booooooks

These books may not have been bestowed by strange and ridiculously beautiful witches in a dark wood, but since they’re treats meant for children, that is definitely a good thing. Like a magical tome containing powerful and evil spells, these treats will tempt anyone from young magicians to “clever white witches.”

You can get as cute or as ugly as you desire with your decorations, but remember that all great boooo—ooo-ooooks have all-seeing eyes.

SERVES 12
PREP TIME 10 minutes
COOK TIME 20 minutes

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 (10-ounce) package of marshmallows
6 cups crispy rice cereal
12 White Milk Chocolate Hershey’s Kisses
1 tube black or brown cake-decorating icing

1. Place the butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir, then microwave for another minute. Stir until smooth.

2. Add the crispy rice cereal to the melted marshmallows and stir with a wooden spoon until evenly mixed.

3. Coat a 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray. Evenly press the marshmallow mixture into the pan, using a buttered spatula or wax paper. Let cool completely.

4. Once cool, cut into 12 rectangles, 2 x 3 inches each. Press a white chocolate candy, point-down, into the right side of each rectangle.

5. Cut the tip of the icing tube. Squeeze the tube gently to make eyelashes for the candy eyes, scars, or other decorations.

To celebrate the release of this book, I am partnering with Ulysses Press on a giveaway contest. How would you like to win a copy of “The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook for Kids”? One Real Mom of SFV reader will win this prize! Please enter below for a chance to win.

**Winner will be chosen October 6, 2023.**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules: United States Residents ONLY. One prize per household. One winner will be randomly selected via RaffleCopter and notified via email. Winner must respond within 48 hours to claim the prize or a new winner will be chosen via RaffleCopter. The prize will be fulfilled directly by the sponsor. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to send me an email to realmomofsfv@gmail.com.

So tell me, why do you want to win this cookbook?

“The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook for Kids” by Bridget Thoreson can be found wherever books are sold. For more information, check out the Ulysses Press website.

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. I received a complimentary book which helped facilitate this review. The images shown in this post are used with permission. As always, my opinions are 100% my own.