Goblins love hauntingly sweet treats

As the night falls on Oct. 31, children of all ages, dressed in disguises, take to the streets going from door-to-door, yelling “trick-or-treat!” in search of every sugary goody they can find.

The traditional trek dates back to the 19th century in the U.S., and kids look forward to it every year. They’re not the only ones.

Local sweetshops and stay-at-home bakers spend days preparing for Halloween just so they can showcase their talents. Houma baker Cindy Dugas, of The Sugar Plum on West Main Street, is anxiously waiting for the big night. Not just to treat the ghouls and goblins who usually come calling, but because the end of October usually marks the arrival of fall in south Louisiana.

“There’s just something about that first cool breeze that gives me the urge to want to bake something,” she said. “And besides, I enjoy the little kids when they come into the shop to order different treats for their Halloween parties at school.”

Prior to opening The Sugar Plum, Dugas ran Home of Cindy’s Designer Cakes.

She’s always had a knack for baking. When her three children were young, Dugas loved baking treats for them when they returned home each day from school. The tradition continues, but now she’s coming up with new creations for her three grandchildren.

Halloween goodies are the fourth biggest seller at The Sugar Plum, taking a backseat only to birthdays, bridal showers and weddings.

The hallowed occasion’s top draws are candy-haunted houses made with Merchens chocolate, caramel candy apples and bat suckers made with crispy rice.

Here are a few other ideas Dugas shared to make your homemade treats a sure-fire hit.

Cindy Dugas, owner of The Sugar Plum in Houma, shows off one of the many Halloween creations her sweetshop offers this time of year. Dugas’s shop has a number of kits and baking supplies for home bakers designed to fit any occasion. All it takes to make a memorable creation, she says, is the baking essentials, an oven and a little imagination.