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20 Nut-Free Halloween Treats Your Kids Will Love

By Cooking Light
August 13, 2018
Photo: Romulo Yanes
Don't let Halloween drive you nuts this year. These nut free snacks and sweets are sure to make kids (or adults!) with peanut or tree nut allergies smile. We've included ghoulishly delightful recipes for nut free cookies, cakes, fudge, candy apples, and more—plus helpful tips for nut-free ingredient swaps.
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20 Nut-Free Halloween Treats Your Kids Will Love

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Date-Caramel Apple Pops

Jamie Vespa
View Recipe: Date Caramel Apple Pops

Our plant-based riff on traditional caramel apples acquires its sweetness from fiber-rich dates, which help slash calories in half. Cacao nibs stand in for nuts to lend a pleasing crunch. Serve these kid-friendly pops at Halloween parties or any fall festivity for a healthier alternative to candy and cakes.

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Pumpkin Spice Fudge

Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Fudge

We turned the classic pumpkin pie (and the trendiest of fall spice blends) into a tasty confection. Fudge doesn't require the tempering, rolling, and shaping of other made-from-scratch candies. If you don't have a candy thermometer, do the cold water test: Drop a small amount of the cooked sugar mixture in cold water. If it forms a soft ball, the mixture is ready for pouring into the prepared pan.

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Peel 'N' Pop Pumpkins

Cooking Light
View Recipe: Peel 'N' Pop Pumpkins

These pint-sized tangerine pumpkins are a healthy (and adorable) alternative to candy. Serve a platter at your next Halloween party with a bowl of homemade hummus for the celery “stems.” Nut-free shopping tip: Always check package labels before you purchase any ingredients. The U.S. Food Allergy Labeling and Customer Protection Act (FALCPA) requires any major food allergens (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and soy) to be listed on all packaged food labels, whether in the ingredient list or in an accompanying statement.

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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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Bittersweet Chocolate Cookies

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Bittersweet Chocolate Cookies

Break out the Halloween cookie cutters and let your kids get creative with these easy shaped cookies. Make sure to chill the dough until completely firm—this crucial step helps it stay together better when cutting out the shapes.

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Candied Apple Popcorn Balls

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Candied Apple Popcorn Balls

Popcorn is usually a safe bet for nut-free diets and takes well to a plethora of tasty mix-ins and toppings. Melted cinnamon candies lend a striking pink hue to these gooey little treats that are sure to dazzle party guests.

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Spiced Apple Chips

Photo: Grace Elkus
View Recipe: Spiced Apple Chips

Pick your poison: these sliced and baked paper-thin apple crisps offer two flavor twists, pumpkin or chai spice. Store in an airtight container or pack a few into your kid’s lunchbox for smart snacking.

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Spiced Caramel Bundt Cake

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

Three gluten-free flours combine for one unbelievably moist, fall-inspired Bundt cake that’s perfect for a Halloween gathering with guests who have multiple food allergies. Did we also mention it’s nut-free?

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White Chocolate-Pumpkin Pie Caramel Apples

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: White Chocolate-Pumpkin Pie Caramel Apples

Caramel apples are easy to make and invite endless potential for sweet, salty, tangy, and crunchy nut-free toppings. For these show-stopping apples, we infuse caramel with pumpkin pie spice for a Halloween twist.

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Pumpkin-Sunflower Seed Butter Pancakes

Photo: Rebecca Longshore
View Recipe: Pumpkin-Sunflower Seed Butter Pancakes

Yes, this recipe calls for almond butter, but we’ve found the perfect nut-free ingredient swap—sunflower seed butter. With a similar flavor and texture to peanut and almond butter, sunflower seed butter can easily be made from scratch or found at your local grocery store.

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Pumpkin Frozen Yogurt

Sara Tane
View Recipe: Pumpkin Frozen Yogurt

Greek yogurt, cream cheese, and canned pumpkin combine for a simple, crowd-pleasing frozen treat that only takes 10 minutes to prep. The best part? No ice cream machine necessary.

 

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Chocolate Butterscotch Chewy Crispy Bars

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Chocolate Butterscotch Chewy Crispy Bars

With the help of a microwave, these swirled chocolate and butterscotch crispy rice bars are a breeze to make. For the rice cereal, we recommend Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs, which are packed with nut-free nutrition.

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Pumpkinseed, Date, and Tahini Bars

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Pumpkinseed, Date, and Tahini Bars

This super simple snack expertly uses two key ingredients that should be in every nut-free arsenal—crunchy pumpkin seeds and creamy tahini. Want to know an easy way to roast pumpkin seeds? Watch this simple how-to video.

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Crunchy-Chewy Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Crunchy-Chewy Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Every cook needs a go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe for all occasions, celebrations, and holidays. These crispy-chewy, whole-grain beauties are finished with sprinkling of sea salt over top.

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Carrot Hummus with Cumin and Almonds

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Carrot Hummus with Cumin and Almonds

Thanks to a bright-orange hue from fresh carrots, this twist on classic hummus screams Halloween. Keep it nut-free without losing the crunch by swapping the almonds for pumpkinseeds. Serve with pita chips and you’ve yourself got a perfect party app.

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Chocolate Spider Cupcakes

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Chocolate Spider Cupcakes

Soft and warm cupcakes straight from the oven may smell heavenly, but they are nearly impossible to decorate. Make sure your batch is sufficiently cooled beforehand. If needed, you can make the frosting kid-friendly by swapping the bourbon for water.

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Fresh Ginger Cake with Candied Citrus Glaze

Photo: Nigel Cox
View Recipe: Fresh Ginger Cake with Candied Citrus Glaze

Candied kumquats replace chopped nuts as a typical topper in this stunning pound cake worthy of a special celebration. Tangy, sweet, and spicy all at once, this impeccably balanced cake will dazzle your taste buds.

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Pumpkin Pie Shake

Howard Puckett
View Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Shake

This simple shake has all the flavors of pumpkin pie, but requires a quarter of the work. Kids will be all over this fun, fall-inspired indulgence.

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Caramel Popcorn

Photo: Karry Hosford
View Recipe: Caramel Popcorn

These simple, caramel-drizzled goodies make a perfect treat for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. Make a double batch and pre-portion into individual plastic bags.  

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Honey-Orange and Chocolate Marshmallows

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipes: Honey-Orange Marshmallows

When it comes to freshness and flavor, homemade marshmallows always win over store-bought. Roast this decadently gooey marshmallow duo on skewers or make s'mores with chocolate and graham crackers.

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