IT’S Halloween next week so Dorset based chef Lesley Waters has put together a delicious recipe especially for Halloween to satisfy those ghouls and witches knocking at your door.

So why not make these Spicy Halloween Heart Cookies to offer trick or treaters a traditional, tasty treat?

Lesley has created this flavoursome recipe in support of international children’s charity World Vision, who are looking to transform a night of fear into a night of hope for children across the world this Halloween.

World Vision is asking people to carve a heart into their pumpkin this year, display them in their windows and offer a lantern of hope for all those children across the world living in fear every night. For more of Lesley Water’s Halloween themed recipes, to win a cookery lesson with her and to download your free Pumpkin Pack, please visit worldvision.org.uk/pumpkins

SPICY HALLOWEEN HEART COOKIES

Makes 12 large cookies Ingredients 85g butter 110g caster sugar 1 large egg, beaten 170g self-raising flour 2 teaspoons ground mixed spice icing sugar for dusting heart cookie cutter. Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 5 190C, 375F.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and beat in the egg. Sift in the flour and spice.

Mix gently with a spoon until the mixture comes together and forms a soft dough.

3. Tip out onto a lightly floured table top and gently pat into a thick, flat disc and chill for 20 minutes or until firm. On a well dusted floured tabletop roll out the cookie dough into a thickness of ½ cm.

Using a large heart cutter, cut into 12 cookies.

You may have to carefully bring the excess dough together and roll out again, place on a parchment paper lined baking tray and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Leave to cool on the tray for two minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. Dust with icing sugar or decorate with fondant icing, sprinkles or mini marshmallows.

4. Allow to cool slightly before transferring onto a wire rack. Dust with icing sugar or get your children involved in decorating them with Halloween themed toppings.