Article: Honey vs. Candy - Healthier Halloween Treat Ideas
Honey vs. Candy - Healthier Halloween Treat Ideas
Halloween typically means a lot of candy, and we're not here to take that away from anyone. Buttttt if you'd like a few treats on the table that lean on honey instead of a bag of wrapped sweets, we've got some ideas.
First, a disclaimer. Honey is still a sweetener, and sugar is sugar, so we're not claiming these treats are "healthy." What we like about cooking with honey is that it's a single ingredient straight from nature, and because it tastes so rich, a little goes a long way. These treats also come with real food in them, like fruit, yogurt, seeds, and nuts, which most candy doesn't.
Honey roasted pumpkin seeds
If you're carving pumpkins, don't toss the seeds!!
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds, rinsed and patted very dry
- 1 tablespoon CVA liquid honey
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Toss everything together and spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 325°F for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once or twice, until golden and crisp. Let them cool completely so they crunch up.
Honey yogurt bark
Easy to make ahead, and kids love breaking it into pieces.
- 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 2 to 3 tablespoons CVA raw honey
- Toppings: berries, chopped apple, granola, or a few mini chocolate chips
Stir the honey into the yogurt and spread it about 1/2 inch thick on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Scatter the toppings over the top, then freeze for 2 to 3 hours, until firm. Break into pieces and keep frozen until serving.
Apple monster mouths
Always a fun one for a party table.
- Apples, cut into wedges
- Nut butter (or sunflower seed butter)
- A drizzle of CVA raw honey
- Sliced almonds, for teeth
- Strawberry slices, for tongues (optional)
Mix a little honey into the nut butter and spread it on one wedge. Press sliced almonds along the edge for teeth, add a strawberry slice if you like, and top with a second wedge. If you're serving a group, use sunflower seed butter so there's a nut-free option.
Honey spice popcorn
- 8 cups popped popcorn
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- A pinch of salt
Warm the honey and butter in a small saucepan until melted, then stir in the cinnamon and salt. Pour over the popcorn and toss well. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring once. Let it cool and crisp up before serving. Popcorn isn't a good fit for kids under 4, so skip it for the littlest trick-or-treaters.
A few tips
- Honey should not be given to babies under 1 year old.
- You can use raw or liquid honey in any of these. For the baked recipes, liquid honey makes the most sense since it's getting cooked anyway. For the no-bake treats, raw honey is great because it's never been heated or filtered, so it retains all of the natural health benefits.
