No tricks here. • Photo courtesy of Carissa’s
‘Tis the season of cavity creating, which means we’re on the hunt for the best—and stickiest—Halloween treats. Move over, Reese’s, because there’s far more going on out on the East End than run-of-the-mill drug store candy. The season is short, so scoop these treats up while you can. Because running out of sugar is, well, downright scary.
1. Tate’s Tricks and Treats Bag
At this point, who hasn’t heard of Tate’s Bakeshop, home to the crispy, chocolatey, somewhat perfect cookies that are now available nationwide? But the best things that Tate’s produces (see: salted caramel chocolate cake) must be picked up in person, at the Southampton bakery. That includes their Halloween tricks and treats bag, which features brownie thins, chocolate chip cookies, mellocreme pumpkins, and, my personal favorite, milk chocolate-dipped bright orange Peeps—which you probably won’t find anywhere else. The package comes in a pumpkin tote bag that can be reused for trick-or-treating. (We’re assuming it will already be emptied by Halloween.)
Tate’s Bakeshop, 43 North Sea Road, Southampton, (631) 257-5830, open Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. Sang Lee’s Pumpkin Bread
This bigger, better version of the summer zucchini bread is made from heirloom pumpkin varieties, roasted together to create the perfect loaf. And in October, it’s in high demand, selling out both online and at the farm stand. The farm uses all organic and local ingredients in this spicy, Halloween-friendly loaf, which is only available through the holiday. Can’t find it on the Sang Lee website or in person? Stop by the Riverhead Farmer’s Market (Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for a chance at snagging one of the East End’s most coveted things.
Sang Lee Farms Shop, 25180 Country Road, Peconic, (631) 734-7001, open Monday through Thursday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3. Dylan’s Oreo Pumpkin Cookies
To be fair, Dylan’s Candy Bar, the ephemeral East Hampton storefront created by Ralph Lauren’s daughter Dylan, offers up a plethora of Halloween-only candies, packages, and treat boxes, but these gems are my favorite. Each three-piece package contains Oreos cloaked in dark chocolate and decorated with neon pumpkins. If Oreos aren’t your thing, there are decorative marshmallow pops, chocolate eyeballs, dipped and decorated pretzel rods, Twinkies, and chocolate molds of skulls with crossbones. In essence, this is a Halloween playground, perfect for trick-or-treat pre-gaming.
Dylan’s Candy Bar, 52 Main Street, East Hampton, (631) 324-6181, open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
4. Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe’s Peconic Swamp Thing
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ59BG1g0in/?tagged=peconicswampthing
Long before conservatives were calling liberals “snowflakes,” Riverhead denizens were busy eating ice cream. This flavor (chocolate ice cream with raspberry and fudge) is technically available year-round, unlike, say, the pumpkin and eggnog flavors. But the Swamp Thing, in all its gory glory, a messy, scary scoop, is the perfect Halloween ice cream flavor: rich, indulgent, and swirled with what may or may not be blood (feel free to tell your kids that). This Riverhead ice cream parlor has enjoyed a spot on Main Street for over 30 years and its old school, candy-striped awning will really take you back into the nostalgia of childhood, ghoulish flavors notwithstanding.
Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe, 1148 West Main Street, Riverhead, (631) 727-4394, open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
5. Carissa’s Chocolate Cream and Candied Orange Pie
Yes, you read that right. Bread- and pastry-baker Carissa Waechter of Carissa’s Breads is adding a Halloween pie to her repertoire this October, and you should definitely make it part of your holiday oeuvre. The gorgeous pie features piped chocolate cream and a cocoa crust and will be available at her East Hampton bakery through the holiday. There’s nothing scary about this addition to the East End sweets scene except, maybe, how many slices one can scarf down in a sitting. These are sure to sell out quickly, so make sure to hit Carissa’s Breads early (and often) if you’re planning to serve it for Halloween.
Carissa’s Breads, 68 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, open Thursday through Monday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
