All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s Oogie’s turn to Boogie now!

Oogie Boogie, the bug-filled gambler, in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas took over the decor at Disney California Adventure Park. His burlap face rests atop the park’s entrance, and he’s throwing quite the Halloween party.

If you’re looking to bring a little fun home, try these Oogie Boogie Cupcakes, decked out with a little extra Disney magic in the form of Minnie Mouse ears and bow.

Minnie Mouse Oogie Boogie Cupcakes

These cupcakes can be made with three steps:

• make fondant decorations
• make cupcakes
• make frosting

If you’re short on time, a boxed cake mix can be a big time savings. The recipe I’m sharing today fancies up a cake mix. If your friends or family judge you, make sure to spin Oogie Boogie’s roulette wheel of torture to find a suitable punishment!

Mom truth bomb: I’ve even purchased cupcakes from my local grocery store bakery and added my own decorations when in a pinch.

If you’re new to fondant, this would be a great way to test it out! You’ll be rolling out pre-made fondant and cutting circles. Using edible markers, you’ll draw Oogie Boogie on your circles. Not so sure of your artistic abilities? Print and cut out a picture of Oogie to use as a stencil.

Fondant Ears

Ingredients & Supplies

• 1 container of neon green fondant
• 1 container of purple fondant
• 1 container of black fondant
• 1 4-inch round fondant cutter
• 1 black edible marker
• 1 silver edible marker
• 1 small cutting board
• 1 fondant roller
• 1 C powder sugar
• 1 cookie sheet
• 1 Wilton bow fondant mold

Directions.

• Sprinkle powder sugar onto cutting board and spread around.
• Remove neon green fondant from container and place onto cutting board
• Coat fondant with powder sugar and roll out onto the cutting board into a flat 1/2 inch disk.
• Using the 4-inch round cutter, cut out 24 circles. Put aside on cookie sheet
• Using the purple fondant pinch off about 1 tbsp of fondant and place it into the large bow mold. Lightly use your finger to mold into the bow. Pop the bow out and place onto the cookie sheet.
• Using the black fondant and smaller bow mold, mold the black fondant into the bow and pop it out. Place onto the cookie sheet.
• Using the silver marker, dot on polka dots onto the black bow
• Next, fill a cup of water.
• Using your finger, dip it into the water and run it along the back of the black bow. Place the black bow onto the middle of the purple bow
• Using the black edible marker, draw out Oogie Boogie onto the neon green circles.
• Allow to set for 30 minutes.

Zoomed in on the cupcakes a little more, you can see Oogie is drawn on the fondant circles. If you can use a Sharpie, you can do this!

Chocolate cupcakes

Makes 12 Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 box of triple chocolate mix cake mix
• 3 large eggs room temp 
• 1/2 C of softened unsalted sweet cream butter
• 1 C whole milk
• Also needed: cupcake liners and cupcake pan

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line muffin pan with the white cupcake liners
• In a medium bowl, add the cake mix, butter, milk, and stir until combined.
• Scoop batter into the cupcake pans about 3/4 way full
• Bake in the oven for about 18-20 minutes. 
• Pull out the cupcakes and allow to cool before frosting.

Vanilla Frosting

Ingredients

• 2 C unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
• 5 C powder sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla 
• 6-10 TBSP heavy whipping cream
• Also needed: one large piping bag with large star tip

Directions

• Using a stand mixer, combine all ingredients and mix on medium speed.
• Mix until you see stiffed peaks in your frosting.
• Scoop frosting into the piping bag
• Frost cooled cupcakes
• Place two circles on the sides for “Ears”
• Place the bow in the middle of the cupcakes

Pin This Idea for Later

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a favorite around here. Like top 10 status! We even had a Nightmare Before Christmas party for my daughter’s 10th birthday. If you need any inspiration, I’ve got you covered!

Stitch some something sweet with Sally Sugar Cookies.

The Pumpkin King rules as a Rice Krispies treat, too! Make Jack Skellington Rice Krispies Treats.

Looking for party decor ideas? Make an inexpensive Nightmare Before Christmas Photo Backdrop!

Scavenger Hunts were the jam for me as a kid! Here’s a themed Nightmare Before Christmas scavenger hunt. Have the kids hunt for things like a dog treat for Zero and soup for Dr. Finklestein in the free printable Nightmare Before Christmas Scavenger Hunt.

Who’s your favorite Nightmare Before Christmas Character? I’d love to turn your favs into desserts! Share in the comments!

All thoughts and opinions are my own.  Please read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Halloween’s a pretty big deal around here.  It’s my favorite holiday of the year, and my husband adores The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Like we have framed portraits of Sally & Jack hanging in our home.  And let’s not even get started on when October rolls around.

For our daughter’s 10th birthday, she selected a Nightmare themed sleepover.  It was so much fun to add just the right amount of spooky to her celebration.  Check out some of the fun from our celebration down below.

With each holiday season, we’re looking to add new recipes, decorations, and family fun.  That’s why I’m so thrilled to be able to share these Sally Sugar Cookies with you!

A yummy sugar cookie recipe is the base.  When the cookie dough is colored to match Sally’s patchwork dress and completed with black icing stitches, they are the perfect treat for a Nightmare Before Christmas movie night or adding to any Halloween celebration.

Sally Sugar Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3/4 c unsalted butter, softened
• 1 c granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 all-purpose flour
• 1/4 c cornstarch
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• food coloring in blue, teal, purple, and pink
• chocolate melts

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degree F, and line baking pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar together on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes.  The mixture will be pale and fluffy.

Next, add the egg and beat again.  Continue by adding the egg yolk and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.

Add dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt).  Beat on low until well combined.

Now to Sally-fy your dough!  Split your dough into four bowls, adding food coloring to the individual bowls.  Mix with a fork to combine. Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.

What makes the cookies have the true Sally feel is the patchwork effect.  You’ll create this using 3 colors of dough pressed together to form a golf-ball sized dough ball.  Mix and match your colors for a beautiful display.

Bake cookies for 8-12 minutes.

Remove from pan and cool on wire baking rack for 2 minutes.

Once cooled, you can add the stitches to your Sally Sugar Cookies.  Melt your chocolate according to package instructions.  Using a piping bag or even a sandwich bag with the tip snipped off, add stitch designs along the cookies where colors meet.  Use both X’s and l’s for your stitches.

Let set for 30 minutes and enjoy!

Pin for Later!

Getting ready for Halloween or a Nightmare Before Christmas movie night?  Pin this recipe for later!

Even More Nightmare Before Christmas Party Ideas

Easy DIY Photo Backdrop

Easy Nightmare Before Christmas Rice Krispies Treats

Nightmare Before Christmas Printable Scavenger Hunt

We will be sharing even more fun as Halloween approaches!  Do you have a favorite Halloween tradition or recipe?

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Her birthday party was a ton of fun.  We started with a Nightmare Before Christmas Photo Booth and ate lots of yummy treats like these Easy Nightmare Before Christmas Rice Krispies Treats.  I say “we,” but truth is, by the end of the evening I was getting called out by the birthday girl for hovering and checking on them too frequently.  Hello, Tween Years.

Growing up, scavenger hunts were a slumber party staple.  We knocked on our neighbors’ doors hoping they could provide mystery items and help us race back to the house victorious.  Amusingly enough, I still live in the same neighborhood although the majority of the residents (my own parents excluded) have moved.

How to Host a Scavenger Hunt

Getting Started

Since we are talking about a dozen 10-year-olds, safety was the first concern.  The party guests were split into two teams.  To further tie in the Nightmare Before Christmas theme, you could roll dice like Ooogie Boogie to select team assignments.

Once the guests were in teams, an adult or two was assigned to each group.

We handed out glow sticks to provide a little extra light, but also to make the girls easier to keep track of.  I wouldn’t suggest going going out late at night for safety reasons, but also to be courteous to the neighbors.

Rules were discussed like staying with an adult and not running.

Once we had explained the rules, several copies of this free printable Nightmare Before Christmas Scavenger Hunt were passed out.  You can print as many as you need for your party guests, but I gave out two per group.

The Hunt is On

To make the scavenger hunt themed to the movie, there was an item associated for each of the main characters.  For example, the party guests needed to find sewing supplies for Sally.  Since Jack is a skeleton, they were asked to find him a skull.  Since it’s near Halloween, this was a bit easier.  Finding a Christmas decoration for ol’ Sandy Claws was a bit more challenging, hence making it a competition.

Winning

The first team to collect all of the items are return back to the starting point is the winner.  Unfortunately, my group did not win.  Next time maybe I need to plant scavenger hunt items along the route.  Maybe not, since cheating will get me on Santa’s naughty list.

Celebrating my daughter’s birthday this October with a Nightmare Before Christmas was a fun way to gear up for Halloween.

Looking for more Halloween fun?

Easy Nightmare Before Christmas Photo Backdrop

Easy Halloween Bat Wreath

Nightmare Before Christmas Rice Krispies Treats

How are you celebrating Halloween? Share in the comments your festive ideas.

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

The weeks before parties are kind of hectic.  Typically, I make a spreadsheet a few weeks in advance and start making decorations like this Easy Halloween Bat Wreath inspired by Oogie Boogie’s take-over of Disney’s California Adventure or this Nightmare Before Christmas Photo Booth.  But with treats, I’m normally making those at crunch time.

I was so grateful these rice krispies treats were so painless to make.

Nightmare Before Christmas Rice Krispies Treats

Ingredients:

• Store-bought Rice Krispies Treats
• Wax Paper
• Black Candy Melts
• White Candy Melts
• Decorating Bags
• Lollipop Sticks (optional)

Instructions:

You could totally make your own Rice Krispies.  I will high-five you if you do.  Oooooor, you could cut out a step and just buy them already made.  You can still get a high-five.

An optional step is to make the Rice Krispies be more like pops by inserting a lollipop stick into the end.  

Melt the black candy melts according to package directions.  I found that one package was enough to dip 24 treats halfway.  If you find your chocolate is too thick, add a little oil to thin it.  After melting, dip each treat halfway & place on wax paper to set.

Note: the chocolate looked as though it had a purple hue when it was setting.  They came out plenty dark. 

After dipping each treat in black chocolate, melt the white chocolate.  Approximately, 1/3 of the package will suffice.  Carefully transfer melted chocolate to a decorating bag and snip off the end. Draw thin white lines across the top and sides of the chocolate.

Once these have set again, you’re ready to party!

If you chose to make them into pops, a cute black and white ribbon is a nice touch.

Nightmare Before Christmas Returns to the Big Screen

Although I try to make our family movie nights special, there’s still something magical about seeing a movie on the big screen.  That’s why I’m elated that Nightmare Before Christmas is returning for a limited engagement this Halloween weekend, October 27th-31st at select Regal Cinemas nationwide.

Tickets are now on sale.  Check for locations and grab your tickets here.  We will be nibbling on these easy treats in preparation for the return of Jack, Sally, and all the other residents of HalloweenTown.

What treats do you have in store for Halloween?

That’s right, it’s Halloween here in Clementine County.  And this month, my oldest daughter also turned 10.  I’m only mildly overly-emotional about the whole thing.  We ended up having a multiple-day celebration with one highlight being a Nightmare Before Christmas slumber party for the neighborhood girls.  One of my favorite things was also the fastest to put together–an Easy Nightmare Before Christmas Photo Backdrop.

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

With a house full of 10-year-old girls, I planned a variety of activities inspired by my 10-year-old’s love for the Halloween classic.  To be honest, decorating was a cinch since my husband is equally obsessed and we have Jack & Sally displayed all year.  I can’t wait to show you all of the party details, but I thought I’d start with a fun Nightmare Before Christmas photo booth since it’s the easiest to create.

Crafting makes me happy; spending a ton of money does not.  I was able to pull together the backdrop for around $10, with supplies planned to be repurposed for other projects.  I’m thrifty and I’m not going to let one thing go to waste!

My inspiration for this backdrop came from this pin.  Super cute, right?

How to Make a Nightmare Before Christmas Photo Backdrop

Supplies Needed

• Purple tablecloth
• Black tablecloth
• White Felt
• Black Felt
• Hot glue gun
• Photo booth props
• Black & white striped straws
• 3M hooks (optional)

How to Make Your Photo Backdrop

I raided my party supplies to see what I had on hand before shopping.  I already had the purple, so I nabbed a black tablecloth from the dollar store.

Leaving a 6-inch margin at the top, I cut the black tablecloth into strips.

To make the skulls, I opted to use black and white felt using this template.  Cardstock would absolutely be acceptable, but I opted to use black and white felt so I could reuse it for a Disney’s Coco/Dia de los Muertos wreath.  After cutting out the white felt, I adhered it to black felt using a hot glue gun.

I have 3M hooks permanently adhered to my front porch wall.  We have a lot of parties, after all.  If you don’t have hooks, use strong tape instead.  I first put up the purple tablecloth and then the black.  To make it look like a curtain, I split the shredded pieces in half and secured to the sides with tape.  Then I stuck the skulls to cover where I had secured the black tablecloth.

The photo booth is almost done!

I nabbed some inexpensive photo booth props from Etsy.  Once I printed them out, I attached them to black & white straws.  That’s it, folks.

I love photo booths for kids’ parties.  It’s an easy way for guests to invest in the party’s theme, and makes for fun memories.  You can grab an instant camera to make the fun extra.

If you’re looking for more Halloween fun, try making a Easy Halloween Bat Wreath inspired by Disney’s California Adventure.

We had such a hauntingly good time celebrating at our Nightmare Before Christmas party.  How will you be celebrating Halloween?