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These Gluten-Free Halloween Treats Are so Tasty, You Won't Even Miss the Candy

By Cooking Light
May 25, 2017
Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
We’ve gathered up the best gluten-free Halloween snacks and sweets—from marshmallow treats to spicy-sweet pumpkinseeds—so you can eat, drink, and be scary this season.
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These Gluten-Free Halloween Treats Are so Tasty, You Won't Even Miss the Candy

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Gluten-Free Halloween Treats to Make

Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Butterscotch Crispy Rice Bars

Enjoying a gluten-free Halloween can seem difficult, especially when popular candy, chocolate bars, and more can be sneaky sources of gluten. However, the easiest way to protect yourself and your kids during the spooky season is to step into the kitchen. These frightfully-good gluten-free cookies, bars, cakes, and more are guaranteed to make your Halloween the most delicious one yet. First up, these stunning Butterscotch Crispy Rice Bars. Nut butter gives the low-sugar, festively decorated Halloween treats 2g protein per serving.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Apple Wedges

Photo: Kelsey Hansen
View Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Apple Wedges

We make the classic candied apple snack-size by cutting into wedges before drizzling with all the goodies. Not only is the treat easier to eat, but you get more chocolate and peanut butter in each bite. Peanut butter powder adds an intense peanut butter flavor to the white chocolate drizzle; you can find it at most supermarkets. You can also use the powder as part of a breading for baked chicken or fish, stir it into a smoothie for a protein boost, or use as a coating for peanut-flavored truffles.  

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Spiced Caramel Bundt Cake

Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Spiced Caramel Bundt Cake

We combine three gluten-free flours—tapioca, brown rice, and sorghum—with applesauce to work wonders in this unbelievably moist ginger- and nutmeg-spiced cake.

 

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Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites

Katherine Flynn
View Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites

While the flaxseeds in this recipe are naturally gluten-free, the oats are not. Make sure to use a gluten-free variety, such as Bob’s Red Mill.

 

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Spicy Dark Chocolate and Tahini Bark

Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Spicy Dark Chocolate and Tahini Bark

This decadently swirled bark will keep you from raiding your kids’ stash of Halloween candy.

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Pumpkin Flan

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Pumpkin Flan

Flan, a custard-based and caramel-topped dessert, is a stunning, gluten-free treat that’s sure to impress guests. Here, pumpkin pie spice and canned pumpkin give the classic recipe a touch of autumn.

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Salted Caramel Brownies

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Salted Caramel Brownies
Every celebration calls for a decadent brownie, and whether you’re gluten-free or not, this show-stopping recipe should be in your arsenal. Two layers of bittersweet chocolate and a luscious caramel sauce and make this the ultimate salty-sweet indulgence.

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Everything Brittle

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Everything Brittle

This brittle is sweet and mildly bitter all at once—owing to the caramel flavor of the cooked sugar. We added everything you’d find on the iconic bagel of the same name except garlic and onion flakes for a nutty-savory-sweet treat. Brittle is very susceptible to moisture, so wrap it up in parchment paper and pack into an airtight container. Store the container in a cool, dry place. This is a decidedly grown-up sweet treat, but you can make it kid-friendly by omitting the poppy seeds and black sesame seeds and stirring in a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

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Peanut Butter Caramel Corn

Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Peanut Butter Caramel Corn

Always check the label on your peanut butter jar, as several brands will warn of gluten cross-contamination. This means that gluten ingredients were present in the same facility where the peanut butter was made.

 

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Chocolate-Hazelnut Meringues

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut Meringues

Make these ghoulish, egg white-based treats for your next Halloween gathering up to two days in advance, and keep fresh in an airtight container at room temperature. Some varieties of semi-sweet chocolate may contain gluten, so make sure to check the label first.

 

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Devil Eggs

Cooking Light
View Recipe: Devil Eggs

These deviled eggs live up to their name thanks to the edible eye and horn garnishes. You could also skip the horns and use a single olive slice for a fleet of Cyclops eggs, or do a mix of both. We use pimientos again in this pimiento cheese-style filling; the sharp cheddar cheese gives the yolk mixture a Halloween-orange hue. 

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Marshmallow Popcorn Treats With Dark Chocolate Drizzle

Photo: Jason Varney
View Recipe: Marshmallow Popcorn Treats With Dark Chocolate Drizzle

Store-bought coated and flavored popcorn may contain gluten, so why not make your own from scratch? Choose plain, unbuttered popcorn and check the label on the chocolate to make sure there are no traces of gluten.

 

 

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Candied Hazelnuts

Photo: Greg Dupree
View Recipe: Candied Hazelnuts

The easiest way to candy nuts is to toss them with an egg white-sugar mixture, then gently bake them until the sugar melts and the egg whites dry out, forming a crispy candy shell around each nut. The whites serve as an adhesive so the sugar and any flavorings can cling to the nuts. There are other, trickier methods, but this one gives you sure fire results. You can play with spices and sweeteners; try maple sugar or granulated honey. The choice of nut is up to you. A crunchy sugar coating goes hand in hand with any nut, but pecans and walnuts really rise to the occasion: Their craggy surfaces are perfect for catching the egg mixture. Candied nuts are pretty durable, so make a big batch, and store them in a cool, dry place for up to one week. 

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Spiced Apple Chips

Photo: Grace Elkus
View Recipe: Spiced Apple Chips

These cinnamon- and cardamom-spiced apple chips are delicious on their own, but they would also make a perfect topper for gluten-free hot cereal.

 

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Sweet and Spicy Pumpkinseeds

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Pumpkinseeds

As long as you avoid packaged varieties with added flavorings, pumpkin seeds are a welcome addition to any gluten-free diet and are packed with valuable nutrients.

 

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Chocolate-Almond Pretzels

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chocolate-Almond Pretzels

While gluten-free pretzels often substitute ingredients such as potato starch for wheat, the flavor remains the same. Here, a drizzle of melted chocolate and chopped almonds elevates plain pretzels for an everyday or party-perfect snack.

 

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Spicy Almond-Pumpkinseed Snack Mix

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Spicy Almond-Pumpkinseed Snack Mix

This snack mix is a great choice for an office pick-me-up. It stores well for up to a week in an airtight container.

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Berry-and-Beet Green Smoothie

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Berry-and-Beet Green Smoothie

This blood-red beet and berry-packed smoothie sets the Halloween tone perfectly. Frozen berries are available year-round at grocery stores, or you can plan ahead and freeze batches during the summer.

 

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