Trick or treat — emphasis on the treat.

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Halloween is right around the corner, and with it comes costumes to sew, candy to buy, baskets to fill, and most importantly, plenty of themed treats to snack on.

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But in a season that’s defined by how much sugar you can eat, you might find it hard to have fun and stay on top of your health goals.

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Luckily, there’s no shortage of healthy Halloween treats, and we’ve compiled the best of the best here. So in between your fun and festivities, take some time to try out a new recipe or two. Your Halloween spirit — and your blood sugar — will thank you for it. 

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1. Halloween Snack Mix

For a quick and easy Halloween treat that you can munch on well past October 31st, try making a simple snack mix. Combine heart healthy nuts (like cashews and walnuts), unbuttered popcorn, and a few kernels of candy corn into a themed bag. Mix and enjoy!

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2. Banana Mummy Pops

If you want to channel creepy Halloween vibes, try this fun take on banana pops. 

Skewer a few bananas with a lollipop stick, pour melted white chocolate in a criss-cross pattern (to represent bandages), and pop on two M&M candy eyes near the top of your mummy. Get the full recipe here.

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3. Pretzel Ghosts

Another treat that takes less than five minutes to make, these ghoulishly good pretzel sticks only require a few ingredients. Just microwave white candy melts with coconut oil, dip your sticks, and draw on some spooky faces. Full recipe here.

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4. Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough Balls

There’s no doubt these cookie balls are decadent, but they’re also packed with healthy ingredients like cashew butter, coconut flour, and dairy-free chocolate chips. Plus, the pumpkin can give you an added potassium boost.

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Get the full recipe from the Hungry Blonde blog.

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5. Chocolate Pumpkin Cups

If you comb through your child’s trick-or-treat bag looking for Reese’s peanut butter cups, try this take on the classic treat.

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This healthier homemade alternative uses coconut oil, organic pumpkin puree, and almond butter to make a delicious (and nutritious) option. Find the recipe at the Confessions of a Fit Foodie blog.

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6. Spooky Halloween Fruit Plate

For a whole food option, use cookie cutters to cut Halloween buzzwords like “boo,” “eek,” and “spooky” out of cantaloupe, honeydew, kiwi, and grapes. Add some candy eyeballs and assemble it on a fun fruit platter.

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Full recipe and assembly instructions here.

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7. Dark Chocolate Halloween Bark

A festive take on classic Christmas bark, this dessert uses dark chocolate and quinoa to make a nutty, crunchy snack.

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Simply pour melted dark chocolate onto a baking sheet, add toasted quinoa, and sprinkle candies over the chocolate before freezing for 15 minutes. Break up the bark with your hands and enjoy.

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Find the full recipe on the Nourish Nutrition blog.

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8. Mandarin Orange “Pumpkins”

Peeled mandarin oranges already look like pumpkins with their wedged sections and webbed skin. Just pop a celery stick in the middle and a mint leaf for garnish, and you’ve got a 15-second fruity snack that looks just like a pumpkin.

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See these cute treats on the This Healthy Table blog.

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9. Apple Monster Mouths

A great alternative to caramel apples, this healthy snack is assembled to look like a row of teeth coming from a monster’s mouth. Just add a layer of peanut butter between two green apple slices, and stick sunflower seeds in the peanut butter to create a layer of teeth.

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See more on the Meaningful Eats blog.

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10. Healthy Homemade Butterfingers

Yet another twist on a classic Halloween candy, these “Butterfingers” have the same crispy, crunchy texture of the brand-name candy bars with only 5 ingredients (dark chocolate chips, maple syrup, peanut butter, cream or tartar, and sea salt). Plus, they only take 30 minutes to make.

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Get the full recipe here.

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11. Sweet-and-Spicy Pepitas Popcorn Balls

Popcorn balls are a Halloween fan favorite, but the addition of caramel, pumpkin seeds, and cayenne pepper gives a grown-up twist you’ll love. Get the full Food Network recipe here.

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12. Paleo Pumpkin Roll

For a healthy spin on this fresh-out-of-the-oven treat, make this almond-based cake with a simple cashew cream — gluten free and dairy free.

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Find the full recipe on A Saucy Kitchen.

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13. Candy Corn Fruit Parfait 

Indulge in a guilt-free dessert featuring mandarin oranges, fresh pineapple, and homemade whipped cream, which make up all the layers of the classic candy corn. Suburbia Unwrapped gives the full recipe here.

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Conclusion

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As the costumes come out, the candy gets passed around, and the Halloween season gets in full swing, take full advantage of all the festivities — and stay on top of your health goals at the same time.

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Whether you want something simple or an elaborate option to take to your next Halloween party, these recipes are sure to please (and they won’t come back to haunt you).

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