15 Totally Awesome Junk Food Hacks to Make Now

May 07, 2015

Let’s be real: Junk food is designed to be delicious straight out of the package, but sometimes we just want to go ALL out. From dinner to dessert, these 15 unreal hacks take our fave snacks to the next gluttonous level. Reach for this collection of recipes the next time you have extra chips, crackers, cereal and the like on hand, and they’ll soon be transformed into something extra special in almost no time at all.

1. Fruity Pebbles Funfetti Cake: Switch up your usual confetti cake recipe by swapping out sprinkles for Fruity Pebbles. They’re just as colorful, and add a little somethin’ extra to every bite. (via Butterlust)

2. Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Sundae Cups: Fill these cups with your fave ice cream flavor for a treat that’s worlds better than any you can buy from the mall food court. (via Brit + Co)

3. Taco Salad With Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips: Taco salads from the local drive-thru have nothing on these cheesy, beefy, avocado-studded bowls. (via Wok and Skillet)

4. Sugar Cookie Birthday Cake: No one will guess that this gorgeous, Momofuku-Milk-Bar-esque creation is made with boxed cake mix and jarred frosting. (via Brit + Co)

5. PMS Brownies: Crunchy, chewy and intensely chocolatey, these brownies are perfect for when cocoa cravings strike. (via Love Bakes Good Cakes)

6. Frito Chocolate Chip Cookies: Salted chocolate is a flavor duo we can always get behind. These cookies take things to the next level by introducing a little bit of extra-irresistible texture to the mix. (via Dessert for Two)

7. Frito Cheesecake Layer Cake (Vegan): Made with a blend of cashew cream and non-dairy cream cheese, this cheese-less cheesecake is fluffier and less rich-tasting than its New York-style counterparts. To keep it from feeling too virtuous, a Frito cake and crumb topping join in on the fun. (via How to Philosophize With Cake)

8. Strawberry Jam Bundt Cake: You need hardly any ingredients at all to bake up this beautiful bundt. Boxed cake mix, a tub of frosting and a jar of jam are elevated with the addition of fresh berries and white chocolate. (via The Lazy Mom’s Cooking Blog)

9. Cheetos Marshmallow Crispy Treats: Craving a savory twist on the usual Rice Krispies Treat? Look no further. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (or original, if you prefer less heat) are tossed in a mix of ‘mallows and butter to create these colorful squares. (via Seeded at the Table)

10. Oreo Macarons: Deconstructed Oreos never looked so good. You’ll put the cookie and frosting to use in the macaron shells and filling. (via The Domestic Rebel)

11. Strange Magic Cookie Bars: There’s a whole lotta snack-aisle goodness going on in these bars. Pretzels, crumbled Oreos and peanuts mingle with coconut, chocolate and more to create these sweet-salty, strangely magical squares. (via Almost Supermom)

12. Crispy Baked Fish Sticks With Greek Yogurt Tartar Sauce: These crispy fish sticks go to show that crackers can easily go beyond an accompaniment for cheese or soup. (via Port and Fin)

13. Gummi Bear Ice Pops: Coconut water and a bag of gummi bears is all it takes to make these refreshing, multi-flavored pops. (via Diva Eats World)

14. Samoa Pretzel Bites: Recreate the flavors of a Girl Scout classic with just caramel-filled chocolates, pretzels, milk chocolate and toasted coconut. (via Lemon Tree Dwelling)

15. S’mores Sandwich Cookies: It’s hard not to love these classy, campfire-free s’mores cookie sandwiches. Caramelized meringue and crumbled graham crackers stuffed between two brownie-like cookies is a winning combo that everyone’s sure to love. (via Brit + Co)

Which of these creations tempts you most of all? Share your picks with us in the comments!

23 Impressive Last-Minute Halloween Snacks To Serve At Your Spooky Party

Halloween is on its way people! With just a handful of weeks to go, it's crunch time to find a costume and figure out what you'll be doing the night of October 31. Whether you're throwing a Halloween party and still need to figure out a food and drink recipes or you need a fun dish to bring to the one you're attending, these quick and easy Halloween snacks are here to help! After all, you don't want guests to be left hangry – that would be frightening. Have no fear! We have some last-minute Halloween snacks that are fast, festive, and tasty AF.

Brit + Co

Mummy Jalapeño Poppers

This savory Halloween snack can be made as spicy as your guests want it – just scoop a little or all of the jalapeño seeds out before stuffing these 'mummies' with cheese and wrapping them in store-bought crescent roll dough.

Brit + Co

Deviled Egg Brains

Your party pals will definitely be freaked out by this bite! Red food coloring aids in turning traditional deviled egg filling a spooky pink color.

Half Baked Harvest

Sweet and Salty Healthier Caramel Apples

Made without any processed sugar, these caramel apples require just a few ingredients: apples, maple syrup, honey, cream, vanilla, chocolate, and flaky salt.

A Spicy Perspective

Halloween Popcorn Mix

This candy-coated bowl of popcorn loads up on festive accoutrements like candy corn, pumpkins, and Halloween sprinkles.

Salt & Lavender

Halloween Puppy Chow

Add Halloween-themed sprinkles to some classic Chex mix for a spooky seasonal snack.

Handmade Charlotte

Monster Party Bark

Melt a few chocolate bars with some pretzels, candy eyes, and coconut flakes for a salty-sweet Halloween snack that will be ready in only three minutes.

Sally's Baking Addiction

Halloween Pretzel Bites

Just place small pieces of chocolate on top of pretzels, heat them long enough for the chocolate to soften, then lightly place a candy corn on top. Viola! Simple, tasty treats with a twist – and no tricks!

The Healthy Family and Home

Chipotle Pumpkin Hummus

We don't know anyone who doesn't love hummus. This quick dip can be served with crackers or veggies for a healthy Halloween party snack.

Crowded Kitchen

Halloween Pumpkin Covered Strawberries

If you have some strawberries on-hand, this recipe is made even easier. Just grab some orange candy melts and decorate away!

Polka Dot Chair

Caramel-Dipped Marshmallows

Simply dip marshmallows in caramel, then cover them in some cute holiday sprinkles for an easy treat that everyone won't stop snacking on.

Skinnytaste

Banana Boo Pops

Put a festive touch on the classic frozen chocolate “boo-nana" by giving them a ghostly makeover. The only heavy lifting you'll have to do for this recipe is let them sit in the freezer for a bit.

Delia Creates

Spiderweb Pretzels

Melt some chocolate, then swirl it over pretzel sticks for a spooky spiderweb-like snack. These could be served alone, or on a cake or ice cream.

Completely Delicious

Halloween Candy Bark

Whether you're using new or leftover Halloween candy, this bark recipe is super simple.

Home Made Interest

Apple Kabobs

Buy a package of pre-sliced apples, then dip them in chocolate and caramel for an easy alternative to a favorite Halloween pastime. Plus, they're just easier to eat!

Suburbia Unwrapped

Candy Corn Fruit Parfait

For a sweet treat that's still healthy, skip the candy corn and cut up some colorful fruit in its place.

This Wife Cooks

Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

For flavors both sweet and salty, these pumpkin seeds can be made in a jiffy.

Miss Candiquik

Strawberry Ghosts

Dip some strawberries in white chocolate, then give them chocolate chip eyes and a mouth for these cute and tasty snacks.

Bren Did

Tangerine Pumpkins

Peel a few tangerines and place a small piece of celery in the middle to make these tangerine pumpkins. Bonus: these can definitely double as the perfect kid's snack for school.

Feel Good Foodie

Witches' Brooms

To make these adorable 'brooms,' you'll push a pretzel in the end of a sliced string cheese stick.

Culinary Hill

Halloween Walnuts

These nutty little guys are the perfect snacking companion for the holiday.

Averie Cooks

Loaded Halloween Cream Cheese Brownies

These super soft and gooey brownies are the ultimate snack that'll melt in your mouth. They're perfect for anyone who has a sweet tooth and loves a combination of fudge, oreo cookies, and cream cheese. Plus, you'll taste a hint of vanilla extract in it that serves as a nice surprise!

Completely Delicious

Halloween Candy Bark

Looking for chill Halloween snacks to munch on throughout the day? Make this holiday candy bark that has all the makings of a trick-or-treat explosion. You'll need everything from bittersweet chocolate to your favorite Halloween candies for this fun recipe.

Kathryn's Kitchen Blog

Halloween Popcorn Mix

Got a taste for something that involves trail mix and popcorn? This Halloween snack has your name written all over it! It takes less than an hour to perfect and involves popcorn, a little sugar, honey, salt, and more delicious ingredients! In our mind, it's the perfect sweet and salty treat you'll want to recreate every season!

What are some of your favorite Halloween snacks? Let us know in the comments, and join our newsletter for more holiday inspiration!

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

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“Protective” Peter Gallagher Is “So Grateful” Mischa Barton Survived “Toxic Fame”

No matter what kind of day you're having, Marissa Cooper's having a worse one. Mischa Barton's The O.C. character went through the ringer during the first three seasons of the teen drama (remember how she overdosed in Tijuana...and also saw her parents post-hookup after their divorce?).

And during her time on The O.C., Mischa Barton struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. She was arrested for a DUI in 2007 and eventually received involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in 2009 after allegedly threatening to end her own life. And in a new interview, Peter Gallagher (who played Sandy Cohen on the show) says he's "just so grateful" for "the fact that she’s still alive."

Mischa Barton starred alongside Peter Gallagher in The O.C. from 2003-2006.
The actress has revealed the "trauma" of being a star at that point in her life.
Peter recently opened up about how he's thankful "she’s still alive."

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC/John Lamparski/Getty Images

The O.C. follows Ryan Atwood, who moves in with the Cohens after getting kicked out of his mom's house, and starts a relationship with Marissa shortly after. While Peter Gallagher played Adam Brody's TV dad instead of Mischa's, Sandy was a definitely father figure for Marissa, and it seems like Peter felt that same responsibility off camera.

"I’ve always felt very protective of her," Peter told The Independent. "First fame is toxic. First fame can kill you. She was 16 years old when she started working with us, so just the fact that she’s still alive, I’m just so grateful."

“You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life,” Mischa said in a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times. “There’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early twenties, that just doesn’t go away overnight.”

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage revealed that season 1 overdose not only served as a cliffhanger, but gave “network executives an escape hatch on a performer they had been wary about” (via People). But Mischa Barton got her big break, becoming "how people knew the show," and (thankfully) Marissa recovered — only to die after a car crash in season 3.

As hard as that season 3 ending is to watch, Mischa did have the opportunity to watch it with Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke for the first time on their rewatch podcast. "It needed to be a thing, after everything she's been through, but if it's here I'll watch it with you," Mischa says.

"I couldn't do it, Mischa, I couldn't do it," Rachel adds. "But I'm going to do it if you're going to do it."

Mischa says even though being written off the show "was a little bit of a bummer," it wasn't necessarily a surprise. "The character was just doing too much," she told Vanity Fairin 2023. "And I think they ran out of places for her to go. It was not the best thing in the world, [but] there wasn’t much you could do at that point. It was whether she could sail off into the sunset, or die. At that point, I guess it’s better to have the more dramatic ending.”

What did you think of The O.C. season 3 finale? Let us know on Facebook!

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16 Scary-Good Halloween Appetizers To Bring To A Spooky Potluck

There are plenty of things you can do besides trick-or-treating or Netflix-bingeing come Halloween. For one, you can throw one hell of a Fright Night party. Don't know what foods to make? We've got you covered. Here are some scary Halloween appetizer recipes that you and your guests will totally die for.

Brit + Co

Mummy Pizzas

Making your own pizza dough can be scary. Swap it for ciabatta loaves instead to make these easy mummy apps. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Deviled Egg Brains

Savory deviled egg brains are bound to turn your party guests into hungry zombies. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Monster Sushi

A tray of monster sushi looks colorful and surprisingly stylish among your other appetizers. (via Brit + Co)

Foxes Love Lemons

Halloween Snack Platter

Treat party guests to a variety of sweet and savory snacks. They'll be so impressed, they won't even be tempted to dip into your candy stash. (via Foxes Love Lemons)

Chelsea's Messy Apron

7-Layer Spider Web Dip

Turn a classic appetizer into a Halloween favorite with just a little sour cream artistry and a handful of black olive spiders. (via Chelsea's Messy Apron)

Half Baked Harvest

Spooky Halloween Pretzels

Your starters don't all have to be savory – serve up a tray of these sweet chocolate-covered pretzels. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Crowded Kitchen

Halloween Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Keep your Halloween snack spread even sweeter by dipping some strawberries in orange-dyed chocolate and decorating each one with an adorable lil' pumpkin face! (via Crowded Kitchen)

Salty Canary

Halloween Monster Popcorn

Colored with candy melts and filled with other sweets, this monster popcorn really pops once you add a generous sprinkle of salt. (via Salty Canary)

Fork and Beans

Bell Pepper Salad Cups

This time of year, our consumption of fresh vegetables is definitely lacking. Make up for it with a spirited presentation of salad. (via Fork and Beans)

Plain Chicken

Spider Hot Dogs

We've all seen mummy hot dogs. Take things to the next terrifying level with these truly disturbing tube steak spiders. (via Plain Chicken)

Cutefetti

Skeleton Snack Tray

Spend time on your costume, not cooking up a storm in your kitchen, by preparing a snack platter that requires no oven time. (via Cutefetti)

Feel Good Foodie

Halloween Fruit Kabobs

For a Halloween potluck idea that sits on the healthier side, these adorably ghoul-ish fruit kabobs are easy to make, easy to serve, and even easier to devour before or after the main course! (via Feel Good Foodie)

Chelsea's Messy Apron

Monstrous Meatball Sliders

Cheese fangs and olive eyeballs transform plain old meatball sliders into an on-point app. (via Chelsea's Messy Apron)

Lavender & Lovage

Mini Toad Holes

With a name like "toad in the hole," this dish was destined for October dining. (via Lavender & Lovage)

Noshing with the Nolands

Little Potato Halloween Monster Eyeballs

Kids and adults alike are pretty much obsessed with potatoes, especially when cheese is involved (even if it does look like the eyeballs). (via Noshing with the Nolands)

Takes Two Eggs

Mummy Homemade Black Sesame Pop Tarts

These "buttery, flakey, nutty, and sweet" homemade Pop Tarts will be the perfect food to finish off your spooky feast with. (via Takes Two Eggs)

Follow us on Pinterest for more terrifying Halloween tips.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Grace Lee and Meredith Holser.

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See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

Former Disney Channel star Dylan Sprouse and model Barbara Palvin are certainly living the sweet life after tying the knot in Palvin's native Hungary. The couple, who have been together for nearly five years, have always been pretty low-key — except for the occasional and undeniably adorable Instagram post (and a stunning wedding!). We are simply ~obsessed~ with this celebrity couple, especially after they pulled out all the stops for their couple's Halloween costume. Keep scrolling to see some of their best moments :').

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Halloween Couple's Costume!

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A post shared by Barbara Palvin (@realbarbarapalvin)

For Halloween Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin stunned as the Phantom and Christine from Phantom of the Opera. Dylan wore a mask and a black cape, while Barbara wore a beautiful white dress. While the costume is obviously a nod to the musical, it also totally reminds us of their day as bride and groom.

"In Sleep He Sang to Me," Barbara said in a post, quoting the musical's titular number. "@dylansprouse my forever Phantom."

Who did Dylan Sprouse marry?

www.instagram.com

On the couple's wedding day (July 15, 2023), Barbara wore a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown to celebrate her Hungarian nuptials, bringing together their nearest and dearest for an intimate(-ish) celebration. Barbara and Dylan tied the knot on her parent's property, which conveniently doubles as an event venue, with plans to host an larger wedding in California in the fall.

"This past weekend was supposed to be an intimate event, but we ended up having 115 guests in the end because there are a lot of people we care about, and we wanted them all to be there," Barbara told Vogue.

When did Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin get engaged?

www.instagram.com

Barbara Palvin on Instagram: "♥️"

After months of speculation surrounding the couple's engagement, Dylan and Barbara confirmed their engagement in conversation with Sprouse's twin brother, actor Cole Sprouse, for V Magazine in June, sharing that they got engaged last September.

"We didn't necessarily feel the need to be fully transparent with the public about that aspect of our engagement," Dylan said. "What we wanted to do with Stephen [Gan, V editor-in-chief] and the V team is make something that was kind of tongue-in-cheek about the nature of private versus public. We're playing with the idea of perception."

Barbara noted that the lovebirds wanted to announce the news "on our time," adding, "When some people leaked the information that we got engaged, our PR team was like, 'Hey, so you guys should do maybe a post about it or talk to this magazine or talk to that magazine…' That really annoyed me because I knew we were building this story up. So, I'm very happy that we ended up doing it our way."

When did Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse start dating?

Sean Zanni / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

According to People, the couple met back in 2017 after a party when the Suite Life On Deck star slid into the model’s DMs (and as they say, the rest is history). The duo made their relationship Instagram official back in 2018 with Barbara’s sweet birthday tribute for Dylan’s 26th birthday.

Let’s be real here for a second though, we all knew they were endgame the minute Dylan went above and beyond to support Barbara at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show that same year (remember this viral video?). Three days after the fashion show, the Hungarian model told Vogue Australia that she hadn’t had a boyfriend in six years, but had now found “the perfect guy” in Dylan (we aren’t crying, you are).

How old are Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse?

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Barbara Palvin was born on October 8, 1993, making her 31 years old. Dylan Sprouse was born on August 4, 1992, meaning he's 32 years old. So there's only a one-year age gap between them!

Stay up to date with all of Brit + Co's favorite celebrity relationships. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter!

This post has been updated.

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Elle & Dakota Fanning Will Collab On Apple's 'Margo's Got Money Troubles'

2017's The Beguiled gave us one of the best groups of people of all time: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Sofia Coppola, and Kirsten Dunst just to name a few. And we're finally getting an Elle and Nicole reunion thanks to Apple TV+! "THRILLED to bring @rufithorpe genius hysterical heart-wrenching heartwarming book to your TV screens alongside a dream group of people!" Elle says on Instagram. Rather than having to test the success of its pilot, the series has already been ordered — even though the book it's based on isn't even out yet! Here's everything you need to know about the series.

Dakota and Elle Fanning will produce the upcoming Apple TV+ show Margo's Got Money Troubles.
The series follows Margo, who signs up for OnlyFans after learning she's pregnant.
The cast includes Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman.

Who's in the Margo's Got Money Troubles cast?

Amy Sussman/Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Margo's Got Money Troubles Cast

We couldn't contain our excitement when we learned Margo's Got Money Troubles will star Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, but knowing Michelle Pfeiffer is also joining the cast is too much to bear! This is the first time the actress will collaborate with her husband, TV creator David E. Kelley, so we can't wait to see the magic they'll create (via Deadline).

Nick Offerman from The Last of Us and Parks and Rec will also star.

When is Margo's Got Money Troubles coming out?

Ron Lach/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles Release Date

We don't have an official release date for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV show yet. I'm thinking if the TV show is in the early stages of planning, we could see it in 2025! Check out all of this year's best New TV Shows to hold you over until then.

What is Margo's Got Money Troubles about?

Amazon

Margo's Got Money Troubles Plot

Margo Millet is the daughter of a Hooter's waitress named Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and an ex-wrestler (via Deadline). She's always had to make it on her own, even though she's not sure how. When she enrolls in her local junior college, she's totally unprepared to get swept up into a torrid love affair with her English professor — or to get pregnant.

Now at 20 years old, Margo needs an income and fast. She decides to experiment with OnlyFans and ends up taking some of her estranged father's advice from the world of wrestling to create a character users will fall in love with. You can order the book now!

What is Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's new TV show?

Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

Margo's Got Money Troubles is coming soon to Apple TV+ thanks to a bunch of different producers. A24 is backing the film, as well as Elle and Dakota Fanning’s production company Lewellen Pictures and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films, to name a few.

What else has Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in?

Focus Features

Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in 2017's The Beguiled. The movie follows John McBurney, an injured Union soldier, who winds up at a female Southern boarding school after deserting the Civil War. But soon, as the women help him, tensions turn to rivalries and friends turn to enemies.

Are you excited for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV reunion? Let us know what other New TV Shows you're watching in the comments.

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This post has been updated.

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