Healthy Halloween Party Foods

Even though Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays, I enjoy the parties and seeing people (especially kids) dressed up.  We have been enjoying several Halloween parties this year and I'm constantly thinking of healthy and gluten-free foods to take that actually taste good and kids will eat.  This year I found three and added a little Halloween creepiness to some of them. 

I made two appetizers, one fruit and one vegetable.  I also made a dessert.  Here are my gluten-free Halloween party foods.  The great thing about these are you can make these foods for any party, just take away some of the extra creepiness.  Click on the links below for the recipes!  Happy Halloween!!

Spooky Apple Teeth

Creepy Spinach and Artichoke Finger Dip 

Primal Pumpkin Almond Butter Brownies

 

Spooky Apple Teeth

Spooky Apple Teeth

I think I got this idea from Pintrest.  I'm always thinking of healthy things to take to parties. I made these for a Halloween party and the kids loved them. These are easy to make.  

I used organic apples, organic apple butter, and different nuts for the teeth.  I used almonds, walnuts, and pistachios.  Pistachios seemed to be the easiest.  You could also use almond butter or peanut butter for the filling.

Here's my step-by-step guide to making these yummy and healthy treats.

Start by cutting the apples like this.

Then cut the mouth.

Once you have them all cut, rub a sliced lemon over the whole apple so it doesn't darken.

 

Spread some apple button in the "mouth" of the apples.

Add the nuts for the teeth and you're done!

Creepy Spinach and Artichoke Finger Dip

Creepy Spinach and Artichoke Finger Dip

I made this delicious dip for a Halloween party.  This is the Vitamix's Spinach and Artichoke Dip and came from here. As I was trying to think of ways to make it creepier I added some sliced carrots with almond slivers on top for finger nails.  This dip is yummy!  I plan on making this again for Christmas but without the fingers.

If you don't have a Vitamix, just use your blender or food processor.  Blend the first step tell pretty smooth and then pulse the second step.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120 g) light mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup (120 g) light sour cream
• 1 slice lemon, peeled, seeded
• 1 (10-ounce) package of frozen spinach, thawed, drained
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• 1/4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup (85 g) artichokes, canned and drained or frozen and thawed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C).
2. Place all ingredients, except artichoke hearts, into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
3. Select Variable 1.
4. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 4.
5. Blend for 15 seconds. Remove the lid plug.
6. Add artichokes through the lid plug opening.
7. Blend for an additional 5 seconds.
8. Pour into an oven-safe dish and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with crackers, pita bread, veggies, or pumpernickel bread.
   
   

Primal Pumpkin Almond Butter Brownies

Pumpkin Almond Butter Brownies

These are really good!  I got this recipe from This Primal Life. I made these for a Halloween party and when Blue Rock asked for dessert I gave him one of these brownies. They are really prefect for any party and are a nice healthier alternative to some of the real sugary desserts.  They are also gluten free! 

Primal Pumpkin Almond Butter Brownies

 
Ingredients:
1 cup almond butter
¾ cup mashed pumpkin or other squash, canned or steamed
1 egg
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp baking soda
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. Pour into a greased 8 x 8 in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Serves 8. You can add chocolate if you want. I did to the top of half the batch and those were even better! The consistency was really good. If you want to use less honey I read you can use as little as 2 Tbs. I just estimated 1/3 cup and poured it in.

Gluten Free Mini Apple Crisps with Hemp Hearts

Mini Apple Crisps with Hemp Hearts

We're trying to eat less gluten.  There are several studies done regarding auto-immune disorders and the benefits of eliminating gluten.  However, I love fruit crisps and most include flour.  Since fall is approaching, baking season has started.  I made these in individual ramekins.  See guideline below for serving sizes.  Here is my flour-free Mini Apple Crisps.  They are reasonably healthy thanks to the oats, hemp hearts, and apples.  My 3-year old loved it!

Gluten Free Mini Apple Crisps

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Servings	1	2	4
Apples, peeled	½ apple	1 apple	2 apples
Splenda or sugar (I used Splenda)	¼ tsp sweetener	½ tsp sweetener	1 tsp sweetener
Melted Butter	1 Tbs	2 Tbs	4 Tbs
Raw Hemp Hearts (or you can used chopped Walnuts)	1 Tbs	2 Tbs	4 Tbs
Brown Sugar	½ Tbs	1 Tbs	2 Tbs
Rolled Oats (gluten free if you’re avoiding gluten)	1 Tbs	2 Tbs	4 Tbs

In a small bowl, mix the apples and Splenda (or sugar).  Scoop apples in individual 6oz. ramekins.  In the same bowl you had the apples in, mix together the oats, melted butter, brown sugar, and hemp hearts.  Spread evenly over the apples in the ramekins.  Place ramekins on cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.  Serve with ice cream.