Find the ingredients in Halloween candy a little spooky? You’re not alone. I’ve created loads of healthy Homemade Halloween Candy for your little ones to fill up on before they go trick or treating. Truth be told, big kids, aka adults, love these healthy Halloween treats too!
Trick or Treats
This healthy homemade candy will take the trick out of the treat. No refined sugar, artificial coloring, or toxic chemicals in these easy, wholesome recipes. These healthy Homemade Halloween Candy recipes are the perfect way to please palates in search of sweets this season!
Healthy Homemade Halloween Candy Recipes
Here are my favorite healthy Homemade Halloween Candy recipes!
Gummy Bears
Gluten-Free Candy Bars
Homemade Mounds
Peppermint Patties
Almond Joy Bars
Nut Butter Cups
Orange Coconut Clusters
Macadamia Caramel Clusters
Fudge Babies
Our Creepy Crawly Halloween Strategy
Our boys, now 11 and 13, started their Halloween candy careers when they were 7 and 9 years old. BTT (before trick-or-treating) we took them to a haunted house at the Waldorf school which distracted them from the unhealthy aspects of Halloween. Now our strategy is to let them trick-or-treat. We offer them money for their candy, paying by the piece, and they love it. They sell us about 80% of their haul and keep what they really like.
The Halloween Buy Back System
This works for me because the boys are in middle school, an age where they are increasingly out of the house with more freedom of choice to exercise regarding food. Selling the candy to us allows them to create their own boundaries with foods they know are seductive, yet devoid of nutrition.
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Your Halloween Plan
If you’re trying to maintain a healthy household, how do you deal with the onslaught of processed Halloween sugar that arrives each year? Do you let your children trick-or-treat? If you do, do you let them keep their candy? What about the Halloween fairy? Does she visit your house? Let’s all share our strategies (or lack thereof) for dealing with the season of sugar.
elana daley says
So glad you posted these recipes. I’m in charge of goodies for my son’s preschool class on Halloween. We have a child who has cancer and cannot have any refined sugar, but the md says honey or agave are okay. Now I can make fun treats and all the kids can enjoy themselves with healthier snacks! Will also use these recipes for their cooking classes.
Thank you so much. This means a lot to all of us.
Elana Daley
Elana says
Elana, thanks for another wonderful comment and for being a loyal reader here :-)
Maria says
I let my kids to trick-or-treat because I wasn’t allowed to celebrate Halloween at all as a kid…and I just don’t want them to miss out. But, they really only go trick-or-treating for the experience of it. In years past, I’ve taken the kids out early in the evening and then we’ve given the bulk of the candy they’ve received out to the later trick-or-treaters. That way, we really only buy candy for the early kids (usually organic lollipops) and we don’t end up with a boatload of sugary stuff at the end of the night. It’s kind of a win-win. Besides, my kids have just as much fun giving out the candy as they do collecting it.
Since last year there have been dentists in our area that have offered the candy buy-back for the troops. We might do that instead this year. My kids never turn down money!
Elana says
Maria, that’s wonderful! Thanks for sharing your strategy :-)
Judy says
My kids (all grown) didn’t have sugar problems. I did nothing. My oldest daughter preferred frozen peas to M-n-M’s. Then, when my oldest son came to live with us at 8. I pointed out to him he could eat it all at once and be sick, or he could eat a piece once a day or every other day or once a week, his choice. How long did he want that sack of candy to last? By acknowledging his ownership and his control, the candy became a non-issue. This worked with his younger brother and sister too. Most years they still had candy come the following Halloween when we went on the hunt for their pumpkins. They would laugh about having forgotten the candy, we would dump it in the trash and move on. (The candy was stored in a zip-lock bag to protect it.) My kids wanted fresh vegetables and fruit with whatever sweet treats I make instead of candy.
Elana says
Judy, that is fantastic!
Susie says
My kids will LOVE helping make these treats. It will help ease the pain of taking the candy haul to the orthodontist this year:-). Both of my daughters are excited about taking the candy they receive to the orthodontist who will weigh the candy and give them a Starbucks card for $10 dollars for 10 lbs of candy. From there, the orthodontist is going to package the candy and send it to the US Military serving overseas. My girls know there isn’t too many Paleo choices at Starbucks, but they love the idea of their own card to buy their treats(you can only get 2 frappachinos at Starbucks for $10)and spreading joy to the troops.
Elana says
That’s wonderful Susie!
LauraK says
My kids are 5.5 & 2.5 and the eldest is really into trick-or-treating. We have been doing the “Halloween Fairy” where she chooses a few special treats to save and leaves the rest out for the alleged fairy to take to children who do not get to trick-or-treat. The fairy, in turns, leaves a small gift. It worked great when she was 3.5 but last year I could tell she was a little sad about giving up the candy (not that she is deprived in any way with holidays and birthdays coming up!). So, the fairy is either going to have to up her game or we are going to have to pick a new strategy.
I like your plan of buying the candy – how much do you offer per piece?
Elana says
Laura, we give them 10 cents per piece :-)
tanya says
For the past three years we have let our daughters go out for a fun night of trick or treating, and when they are done for the night they hand over all but a few pieces in exchange for a trip to toys r us. we let them pick out a new toy or craft project within a reasonable price to enjoy. This lasts longer than a piece of candy and they have fun with something new!
Elana says
Tanya, that sounds great :-)
Debra says
Buying off the candy is a great idea! This is the first Halloween for my 5 yo daughter as a diabetic and I proposed the same idea to my husband about buying both our girls (age 5 & 3) candy for a set price then taking them to the store to spend their money.
Elana says
Thanks Debra!
Lea says
Great idea, Elana! I have been wondering how I would handle our first Halloween as a “paleo” family. It seems counter-productive to simply forbid my two boys (6 and 10) eating any candy. I will definitely try a couple of these recipes as alternatives but I love the idea of paying for the candy they get when trick-or-treating. It lets the kids feel more in control. And I know my boys will be thinking of the Yu-Gi-Oh cards they can buy, etc. :-)
Abel James says
Paleo halloween is definitely challenging, especially for the youngsters! I’ve decided not to take the easy way out and stock up on the usual gut-busters at CVS – we’ll be giving these recipes a shot. Might even sneak a few for myself… :)
Anke says
Thank you for this candy selling tip. We have St. Maarten here and New years Eve to collect candy in the neighborhood. I was thinking in an exchange-the-sugar-into-fruit something.
Elana says
That sounds great Anke!
liz says
elana-
these all look beautiful, and i’m dreaming of the almond joy bars right now…
anyway, just curious about which candy you do let your boys eat, i know one of them can’t have gluten, right? is there a mainstream brand that doesn’t pass gluten through the factory?
best,
liz
Elana says
Liz, the ingredients of various candy are changing all the time. That’s why I refer to these Gluten-Free Halloween Candy lists each year:
https://elanaspantry.com/gluten-free-candy-lists-for-halloween/
Enjoy!
Elana