3 Healthy pumpkin-inspired snacks every kid will love

These three treats all have a fun pumpkin theme but are so much better and healthier than eating a bunch of candy bars. Although Halloween and fall can be centered around lots of sugar, these fun treats are a great replacement or addition to the festivities.

Pumpkin patch dippers recipe

These miniature pumpkins are the perfect dipping tool for some delicious hummus. Pictured above is some roasted red pepper hummus, which goes fantastic with these pumpkin dippers. These adorable pumpkin dippers are easy to make and very healthy.

Yields 12

Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 large carrot
• 1 green onion
• 2 stems fresh parsley
• 12 toothpicks
• Roasted red pepper hummus or another dippable mixture

Directions:

1. Peel the carrot, and chop it into large coins.
2. Chop the green onion into small pieces to create the “pumpkin stems.”
3. Chop the parsley in a way to make it look like a large leaf.
4. Press a toothpick into the top of the carrot, and then place a chopped piece of parsley on top.
5. Slide the green onion on top of the parsley.
6. Dip the carrot pumpkins into some roasted red pepper hummus or a similar dip.

Jack-o’-lantern oranges recipe

These oranges are hollowed and decorated to look like jack-o’-lanterns. Inside is a delicious and healthy fruit salad. You can customize the fruit to your preferences and decorate the lanterns however you like.

Yields 8

Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 8 large navel oranges
• 16 miniature chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup blueberries
• 1 apple, stem and core removed, chopped

Directions:

1. Slice the tops off the oranges.
2. Using a knife, slice around the inside edges to hollow out the fruit. Remove the orange fruit center, and chop it into large orange pieces.
3. Toss the oranges with the blueberries and chopped apple.
4. Using a sharp knife, carve the orange however you like, making sure to only cut through to the inside layer and not all the way through the orange.
5. Press 1 miniature chocolate chip into the “eye socket” of each eye on the oranges.
6. Fill each orange with the fruit mixture.

Pumpkin patch pretzels recipe

The pretzels I used were homegrown organic twists, and the “chocolate” coating is made from cacao butter. These are super healthy and sure to be a hit with your kids.

Yields 24

Prep time: 30 minutes | Inactive time: 4 hours | Total time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup organic twist pretzels
• 1/4 cup cacao butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Pinch salt
• 1/3 cup powdered erythritol
• 1 teaspoon nonfat milk
• Orange food dye
• Green food dye

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the cacao butter. Add in the vanilla. In a bowl, stir together the salt, erythritol and nonfat milk.
2. Once the butter has melted, turn off the heat.
3. Whisk the dry ingredients into to the wet ones, slowly and constantly.
4. When the mixture is smooth, separate out a small amount, and dye it green.
5. Dye the rest of the mixture orange.
6. Place the mixtures in the fridge, and allow them to harden for 3 to 4 hours.
7. Once the mixtures are pretty hardened, melt the orange mixture for 15 seconds in the microwave.
8. Dip the pretzels into the melted orange mixture, and place them on parchment paper for them to harden.
9. Melt the green mixture for 10 seconds in the microwave, pour it into a frosting bag, and pipe it onto the tops of the orange pretzels.
10. Allow to completely harden before serving.

More Halloween treats

3 Homemade Halloween treat jars
Tricks for a healthier Halloween
5 Halloween treats that aren’t sweet