Alternative Halloween Treats

Host Bee on Friday, October 5th, 2007

Halloween Treats – Thinking Outside of the (Candy) Box!

Last year, my son’s teacher banned school treats that listed “sugar”as the first ingredient. This forced me to come up with some creative party ideas! Many children today also have allergies to various food ingredients such as peanuts. Here are some of my favorite ideas for alternative Halloween treats for school.

Apple Slices with Caramel Dip

At the grocery store, T. Marzetti brand caramel dip for apples is sold in small, individual sized containers. Slice some apples and you’ll be all set! (non-fat version of the dip is also available.)

Crispy Bats with Apple or Pumpkin Dip

Using a bat shaped cookie cutter (or any other fun shape), cut flour tortillas into bat shapes.
Spray both sides with cooking spray and bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
Cool completely, about 15 minutes. There are two types of dip that you can serve with the “bats,” but salsa would be fine, too!

Pumpkin Dip – In a small mixing bowl beat one 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese and 2 c. confectioners’ sugar. Gradually add one can (15 oz.) solid-pack pumpkin, 3 t. pumpkin pie spice, 1 t. vanilla extract and ½ t. ground ginger. Beat until smooth and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Yield: 3 ½ c. (“Taste of Home Halloween Party Favorites,” 2006)

Apple Dip – (THIS ONE HAS PEANUTS!) In a small bowl, combine ½ c. apple butter, 1/3 c. crunchy peanut butter, and 2 t. apple juice or apple cider. Mix well. Yield 4 servings. (Pillsbury, October 2005)

Pumpkin Cake

Bake a three dimensional pumpkin shaped cake using Williams-Sonoma’s bundt cake mold, The Great Pumpkin Pan! You can select a cake mix that is as sweet or as healthy as you’d like! ( Pumpkin Bundt Pan)

Witches Brooms

For this recipe you’ll need thin pretzel sticks (2 ¼ inch long), processed sharp Cheddar cheese spread and baked whole grain wheat crackers, like Triscuits.
For each “broom,” shape one teaspoon of cheese spread into a one inch ball and insert one pretzel stick.
Using a sharp knife, cut each cracker into long pieces and press the pieces into the cheese to resemble a broom.
Serve immediately with sliced apples (or refrigerate up to three hours).
Plan to have at least two “brooms” per child.

(Pillsbury, October 2005)

Pudding Graveyards

Choose a low fat or sugar free pudding mix.
Create individual “graveyards” by filling a clear plastic cup with layers of chocolate pudding and crushed oreos, ending with a layer of crushed oreos.
Decorate the cup with a big dollop of Cool Whip to resemble a ghost, and use mini-chocolate chips for ghostly eyes.
Add small candy corn or candy pumpkins for extra appeal, if you’d like!

Although sweet, this idea is not overly heavy on sugar or candy!

Pumpkin Mini-Bagels

Many bagel shops will bake mini, orange tinted bagels to serve in the classroom.
Have the bagels pre-sliced and serve with cream cheese and butter on the side!

Pumpkin Shaped Pizza Slices

Use a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter to create individually sized pumpkin shaped pizzas out of one or two large pizzas.

Hotdog Mummies

Using 1 can (11 oz.) Pillsbury refrigerated breadsticks and 12 large hotdogs, you can create an adorable “mummy” style treat!
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Unroll the dough and separate the 12 breadsticks.
With a knife or kitchen scissors, cut each breadstick lengthwise and crosswise into 4 pieces, for a total of 48 pieces of dough.
Wrap 4 pieces of dough around each hotdog to resemble “bandages,” stretching the dough slightly as you go.
Separate the dough to allow for a “face.”
Place hotdogs on a baking sheet, spray lightly with cooking spray and bake for 13 to 17 minutes until the dough is a light golden brown.
With mustard, add eyes and a smiling mouth!
I’ve cooked this recipe a number of times myself and it is much easier than it sounds!! (Pillsbury, October 2005)

I’ve cooked this recipe a number of times myself and it is much easier than it sounds!! (Pillsbury, October 2005)I hope that these ideas inspire you to try something new this Halloween! I know that short of serving the children a glass of water and saltines, there will always be an ingredient or two that someone will be allergic to or a bit of sugar. But that being said, even small steps toward healthier snacking is a step in the right direction!Don’t forget to check with your child’s teacher regarding specific food allergies in the class and just to be safe, send the ingredient list into school with the treats!

Best witches for a spooktackular Halloween!

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