How to Have a Safe Gluten Free Halloween

Halloween season is upon us and that means ghosts, goblins, and gluten. Before you head out trick-or-treating this year, take the time to familiarize yourself with safe and unsafe candy for celiac disease.

Whether you go all out on Halloween or stick to pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating, here are some simple tips for a safe, gluten-free Halloween.

Safe and Unsafe Halloween Candy

Here’s a quick list of some of the safest gluten-free candy options:

• Schär Gluten-Free Twin Bars
• Jelly Belly beans
• Jelly Belly Candy Corn
• AERO Milk Chocolate Bar
• Reese’s Pieces
• 3 Musketeers Bars
• Snickers Bars
• SweeTARTS Original
• Butterfinger (original only)
• Oh, Henry!
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• Kinder  Chocolate
• Wonka Pixy Stix
• Jolly Ranchers
• Laffy Taffy
• Maynards Fuzzy Peaches
• DOTS
• Double Bubble
• Junior Mints
• Razzles
• Tootsie Rolls
• Skittles
• Life Savers
• NECCO Wafers

Though not exhaustive, here is a list of potential gluten-containing candies to avoid:

• Smarties
• Pretzel M&Ms
• Original Milky Way
• Butterfinger Crisp
• Coffee Crisp
• Kit Kat
• Mr. Big Bar
• SweeTARTS Rope Bites
• Twizzlers
• Chocolate malt balls
• Twix Bars
• 5th Avenue bars
• Take 5 Bars
• Whoppers
• Wonka bars
• Nerds

While trick-or-treating may be the entire point of Halloween for some, it doesn’t have to be. Instead of focusing on what your child can’t have, divert the focus to other reasons to love the holiday. Spend time carving pumpkins as a family, baking sweet treats, and telling ghost stories. Create Halloween traditions that don’t revolve around candy, so your kids spend less time worried about what they’re missing.

Make a Plan for Trick-or-Treating

Many children with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity struggle with feelings of isolation when it comes to holidays which focus primarily on food. While Halloween is a holiday that has a lot to offer, the main event is the door-to-door candy collecting known as trick-or-treating. If your kids are young enough not to notice that their goody bag disappeared the moment they walked through the door, you can take control directly and dole out the treats as you see fit.

For older children who know their dietary limitations, have a conversation to make sure your child understands the risks – especially if they are trick-or-treating without you. Once your child returns home with their candy, go through it together to remove the unsafe options. If your children are old enough, they may be able to do this themselves.

If your kids are old enough to know certain foods are off-limits but too young to understand why, you might have to take a combined approach. Some parents trade their child’s candy haul for a prepared assortment of safe candy their kids picked out before Halloween. Others take control of the candy entirely and give their child one piece a day. What works for some families might not work for you, so have a conversation with your partner and your kids to come up with a plan before Halloween.

Try These 3 Gluten-Free Halloween Goodies

Whether you’re throwing a Halloween party for friends or just getting your family in the spooky spirit, these Halloween goodies are sure to satisfy. Whip up a batch of caramel apple nachos to nibble on or some mummified marshmallows to hand out to trick-or-treaters.

1. Caramel Apple Nachos

Servings: 4

Caramel Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 cup white sugar
• ¼ cup water
• 6 tablespoons butter, chopped
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch salt

Other Ingredients:

• 2 apples, cored and sliced thin
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
• ¼ cup chopped nuts

Instructions:

1. Prepare the caramel sauce by whisking together the sugar and water in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
2. Warm over medium heat and cook until the sugar dissolves and starts to bubble about 3-4 minutes.
3. Allow the sugar to keep bubbling (do not stir) – simply swirl the pan until the mixture thickens and darkens to a caramel colour, about 8 to 12 minutes.
4. Whisk in the butter until completely melted then remove from heat.
5. Slowly pour in the cream, whisking continuously, then whisk in the vanilla and salt.
6. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes then pour into a jar and cool completely.
7. Once the caramel has cooled, arrange the apple slices on a serving tray.

8. Drizzle with 1 cup caramel sauce (or as desired) then sprinkle with chocolate chips and chopped nuts as desired.

   2. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Servings: About 2 dozen

Ingredients:

• 2 cups gluten-free flour blend
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
• 1 ½ cups mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment.
2. Whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the white sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil.
4. Beat with the paddle attachment until well combined.
5. Add the egg and vanilla extract then blend in the pumpkin puree.
6. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture a little at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
7. Fold in the mini chocolate chips by hand then drop in 2-tablespoon dollops onto the cookie sheets.
8. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes until the cookies are nearly set.

9. Cool for several minutes on the trays then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

   3. Mummified Marshmallows

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

• 12 large marshmallows
• 2 cups white candy melts
• 24 candy eyes
• 12 paper straws

Instructions:

1. Place the candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each, until the candy is smoothly melted.
3. Skewer each marshmallow with a straw and place them on a cooling rack over a parchment-lined tray.
4. Pour the melted candy into a sandwich bag and snip off a corner.
5. Drizzle the melted candy over the marshmallows side to side then add a few diagonal lines to create the texture of a mummy wrap.
6. Add two candy eyes to each marshmallow and cool until set.

Halloween is a time for tricks and treats, but the last thing you want is to get surprised by gluten lurking in a piece of candy or a spooky snack. Take the time to talk to your kids about Halloween safety and put some of these tips to work to have a safe and satisfying holiday for the whole family.