Boo! Halloween is here, and so is all the sugar. One could argue that it’s one of the “sweetest” times of the year — you can’t go to the grocery store without seeing shelves lined with Halloween treats. And, while these treats are seasonally cute, the ingredient lists are sure to give you a fright! Traditional Halloween candy is often loaded with artificial flavors, dyes, and of course, sugar.

But it’s not all doom and gloom! Enjoying Halloween with a healthy twist is possible. Swap out artificial, sugar-loaded Halloween candy with better-for-you options like Hail Merry’s Tarts and Bites. 

With easy-to-whip-up recipes below, you’ll be enjoying a seasonally delicious treat that’s actually good for you. Filled with whole food ingredients, like organic coconut oil, cashews, and almond flour, plus naturally sweetened with organic maple syrup, these better-for-you options are something the whole family can enjoy.

So, skip the sugary scare factor this Halloween and try these freakishly delicious vegan and gluten-free recipes instead. 

*Better For You Recommended Ingredients

Before diving into the recipes, you’ll see an asterisk next to certain ingredients listed in each recipe. Refer to this list for a healthier recommendation. Using these recommended ingredients will help you avoid those yucky artificial colors and flavors commonly found in store-bought Halloween candy!

• Simple Mills Organic Vanilla Frosting
• Miss Jones Vegan Organic Frosting 

Spooky Tarts: Three Ways

Spider Web Spooky Tarts

Ingredients:

• 1 Hail Merry Tart of choice (we used Hail Merry’s Meyer Lemon Tarts)
• *Vegan white chocolate chips
• Natural food dye: Blue, green, and red
• Icing piping bag (Small piping bag tip is optional)

Directions:

1. Start by adding about ¼ cup of the vegan white chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 15 seconds. Remove and stir, adding back to the microwave and microwaving for 10-second increments until completely melted. Set aside.
2. Next, make your natural back food dye by mixing equal parts of the blue, green, and red food dye to a mixing bowl (start with just a few drops of each) and mix well. You may have to adjust the color by adding a drop of each color at one time and stirring until your desired shade of black is reached.
3. Add a small amount of the black food dye to the melted white chocolate and then add to the piping bag.
4. Using the piping bag, create a spider web design.
5. Enjoy right away or store in the fridge until ready to eat!

 

Monster Spooky Tart

Ingredients:

• 1 Hail Merry Tart of choice (we used Hail Merry’s Chocolate Almond Butter Tarts)
• *Vegan white chocolate chips
• *Natural food dye: Blue, green, and red
• Icing piping bag (Small piping bag tip is optional. You can also just cut a small tip off the bag)
• Edible googley eyes

Directions:

1. Start by adding about ¼ cup of the vegan white chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 15 seconds. Remove and stir, adding back to the microwave and microwaving for 10-second increments until completely melted. Set aside.
2. Next, make your natural back food dye by mixing equal parts of the blue, green, and red food dye to a mixing bowl (start with just a few drops of each) and mix well. You may have to adjust the color by adding a drop of each color at one time and stirring until your desired shade of black is reached.
3. Add a small amount of the black food dye to the melted white chocolate and then add to the piping bag.
4. Using the piping bag, create a mouth and add two dots for the eyes. Stick the edible googley eyes over the two dots.
5. Enjoy right away or store in the fridge until ready to eat!

 

Icing & Sprinkles Spooky Tart

Ingredients:

• 1 Hail Merry tart of choice (we used Hail Merry’s Dark Chocolate Tarts)
• *Vegan frosting
• *Natural decorating sugar or sprinkles

Directions:

1. Simply add vegan frosting to the center of the Hail Marry Tart.
2. Top with desired toppings.

 

Spook-tacular Cookie Dough Pops

Ingredients:

• Hail Merry Coconut Cookie Dough Bites (we used a mix of chocolate chip cookie dough, caramel sea salt, and dark chocolate)
• *Vegan white chocolate chips
• *Vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips
• *Natural decorating sugar
• *Natural food dye
• Cake pop sticks
• Edible googley eyes

Directions:

For a Ghost or Monster Cookie Dough Pop

1. Start by adding about ½  to 1 cup of the vegan white chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 15 seconds. Remove and stir, adding back to the microwave and microwaving for 10-second increments until completely melted. Set aside.
2. Next dip the Hail Merry bites into the melted white chocolate, being sure to completely coat the bites.  Place on a plate and set in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to harden.
3. Remove from the fridge and using melted semi-sweet chocolate, create eyes and a mouth using a toothpick. Option to add edible googley eyes here as well!
4. Add a cake pop stick to the bite and enjoy right away or store in the fridge until ready to eat.

For Sprinkle Coated Cookie Dough Pops

1. Start by adding about ½  to 1 cup of the vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 15 seconds. Remove and stir, adding back to the microwave and microwaving for 10-second increments until completely melted. Set aside.
2. Next dip the Hail Merry bites into the melted chocolate, being sure to complete coat the bites, and then sprinkle with the natural decorating sugar or sprinkles.
3. Place on a plate and then set in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to harden.
4. Add a cake pop stick to the bites and enjoy right away or store in the fridge until ready to eat.

 

Monster Mash Cookie Dough Bites

Ingredients:

• Hail Merry Coconut Cookie Dough Bites (we used a mix of chocolate chip cookie dough, caramel sea salt, and dark chocolate)
• *Vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips
• *Natural decorating sugar

Directions:

1. Start by adding about ½  to 1 cup of the vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 15 seconds. Remove and stir, adding back to the microwave and microwaving for 10-second increments until completely melted. Set aside.
2. Next dip half of each Hail Merry bites into the melted chocolate and then sprinkle with natural decorating sugar or sprinkles.
3. Place on a plate and set in the fridge for about 10 minutes to harden.
4. Enjoy right away or store in the fridge until ready to eat!

If you give these treats a try, don't forget to share your creations with us on social by tagging @hailmerrysnacks and using #cleanhalloween.