It’s time once again to get ready for fall, and that means deciding which snack and treat recipes to prepare. We scoured the internet for the best parent and kid-approved selections, compiling a list with plenty of variety. Whether your family celebrates Halloween or just enjoys the festivities of autumn, there are plenty of options for you. So, get your kiddos ready and take a peek at our favorite fall and Halloween recipes this year:
Fall-themed treats:
Healthy Owl Crackers
A cross between an art project and a snack-making session, this easy-to-assemble fall recipe is cute, entertaining, and wholesome. Create your Healthy Owl Crackers just like the instructions say, or substitute any nuts, dried fruits, crackers, or healthy spreads your family likes to make yours unique. Depending upon how many owls you want to make (it’s always nice to share), you can tailor this creative snack-creating time to your household’s schedule and make an afternoon of it – or just an hour!
Autumn Leaf Fruit Salad with Edible Autumn Leaves:
This works for any meal or snack and makes an especially pretty dish if you’re having guests. The Autumn Leaf Fruit Salad with Edible Leaves can be set out in a bowl for before or after school, packed in zip locks to take to the park, or sent to school in an airtight container. Kids can help prepare the fruits while parents use leaf-shaped cookie cutters (yep, you’ll need some of those) to make the dazzling maple and oak leaf toppings. Best if kept refrigerated.
Kid-Friendly Pumpkin Energy Balls:
Pop these in lunchboxes, take them with you for after-school sports breaks, or set them out on the counter for tired kiddos to grab on their way out the door in the morning. Kid-friendly Pumpkin Energy Balls provide a quick pop of energy, are nut-free (appropriate for most schools), and are chock full of protein and vitamin A. One batch makes about 14 balls.
Caramel Apple Fondu
For a leisurely Saturday afternoon or a special Family Night treat, the Caramel Apple Fondue spread makes a creative and tasty project. Anyone who enjoys caramel apples will love this recipe – especially with all the fixings to make it extra awesome. (Just make sure everyone brushes their teeth or at least swishes with some water after this one – we don’t want to encourage cavities, and caramel is a sticky one!)
Pumpkin Pie Smoothies:
Can you think of a better use for pumpkin pie spice than a thick, nutrient-rich smoothie? We can’t either! Shugary Sweets makes a scrumptious Pumpkin Pie Smoothie for us with nothing but healthy ingredients to be served in the prettiest kid-friendly glasses you can find – or an insulated stay-cold thermos if you’re sending it to school. It’s meant to be served for breakfast, but we think it’s great for any time!
Crock Pot Cinnamon Apple Chex Mix:
Your house is gonna smell good when you get this fragrant fall treat cooking in the crockpot! Once done and cooled, you can set Crock Pot Cinnamon Apple Chex Mix out for guests, take it along for afternoon snacking or give it away in cute fall tins as gifts. Kids love it in their lunches, too. This recipe is written for the gluten-free, vegetarian crowd, but we think everyone will enjoy it regardless of diet preferences! The Crock Pot Ladies also recommend swapping out dried fruit and/or nuts as you wish to make your own unique mix.
Salted Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Bark
Impress friends and neighbors–or just your own kiddos–with this naturally delectable autumn treat. Healthy dark chocolate (choose one with the highest percentage of cocoa your kids will eat–hopefully at least 70%-for the antioxidants) and your leftover seeds from pumpkin carving (That’s right–don’t toss them out! They offer 12 grams of protein per cup!) blend together to make this inviting fall snack– Salted Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Bark. This recipe makes a 9 x 13 pan of bark to break apart as you wish.
Apple Cider Slushies:
Just in case you don’t think apple cider is delicious enough as is, brilliant minds take things up a notch with these amazing Apple Cider Slushies. Served with appetizers, snacks, or warm donuts, these icy treats make a definite impression on guests and family alike. Use the blog’s creator’s idea of hollowed-out apple cups for serving, or dig out your fancy holiday glassware for this delightful beverage.
Sweet Roasted Acorn Squash Flowers:
Your kids might think they don’t like squash–but they haven’t tried THESE yet! Calling for a super easy few minutes of prep followed by 30 minutes in the oven, the SuperHealthyKids site brings an exquisite dish to your autumn table. When sliced into their natural shape of flowers, Sweet Roasted Acorn Squash Flowers are superb for a side dish or a hot and nutritious appetizer. However you choose to serve these, make sure the kids help make them–they’ll usually grow more fond of squash if they make it themselves.
Apple Nachos:
Apple Nachos take healthy fresh apples sliced thin for the bottom layer and top them with nutritious coconut, dark chocolate chips, and melted almond butter. This is the perfect dessert after a healthy autumn meal, especially if you use the apples you picked yourself on your trip to the orchard. (And if you happen to have leftover toppings from Caramel Apple Fondue night, you can use them up with this nifty concoction–sans the caramel, so it’s healthier– and folks will be none the wiser!)
Halloween treats:
“Candy Corn” Pops with Fruity Dipping Sauce:
What’s Halloween without candy corn? Not much, we think! This fruity treat with a twist on the tri-colored candy is a hit with kids and health-conscious parents alike! Not only is it colorful and fun to make, but it also brings a dash of potassium, bromelain, and vitamins A and C (among many others!) to your table. Set these out as the perfect autumn afterschool snack, Halloween goodies, or even a dessert. You can always let the kiddos help you make it–even toddlers can help with this one! Get the recipe from Feasting on Fruit blog.
Silly Apple Bites:
Kids love to get silly, and they’ll be in good company when you make these adorable Silly Apple Bites. Easy to prep and put together, every bite is nutritious, and the cute smiling apple faces are ideal for any non-scary Halloween festivities. The really cool part? Even the googly eyes are homemade–and vegan to boot!
Spider Sliders:
These adorable critters make a yummy appetizer, creative Halloween treat, or a weekend meal at home. Packed with protein (meat and cheese) and vitamin A (sweet potato fries for the legs), they’re also highly nutritious. This Taste of Home recipe makes enough for 12 servings–so double it if it’s for a party.
Not into meat, or just prefer a cold sandwich instead? Give these PB&J Spider Sammies a whirl!
Easy Clementine Pumpkins:
Keep snack time simple with these adorable clementine pumpkins this fall, an easy-peasy Halloween snack that kids, even toddlers, can help you make. With their lovely fall color, clementines are usually in stores just in time for October 31st! (If not, you can make them with tangerines, just make sure you serve them fresh.) They also tend to be an allergy-safe choice for sensitive kiddos. Put them out on the table after school or serve them at a Halloween shindig–they work almost anywhere!
Pumpkin Pie Spice Rice Krispie Treats:
The creators at Strength and Sunshine kicked super-sugary marshmallows to the curb for this iconic recipe and replaced it with everyone’s favorite fall flavor – you guessed it, pumpkin spice! These Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats are healthy, vegan, allergy-free, and gluten-free to boot! Using pure pumpkin puree, brown rice syrup, and other natural ingredients, you’ll feel good about serving this dessert/snack to your kids and their friends this fall/Halloween. (To make it more “Halloween-ish,” sprinkle the top with orange and black mini-M&Ms; they’re usually in stores seasonally.)
Cheesy Witches’ Broom Breadsticks:
These flavorsome cheesy witches’ broomsticks can be made with chunks of almost any cheese, but the mozzarella cheese sticks pictured above get the best results. Put them out for an appetizer, or bring them to a get-together in any kid-friendly setting! Cute and healthy, your kids will love to munch these anytime.
Mini Halloween Quesadillas:
Another simple choice, these mini Halloween quesadillas make an outstanding kids’ meal (especially if you’ve got the sides to go with it, i.e. avocado slices, sour cream, mild or homemade salsa, etc). Just have your littles choose their cheese slices, get out your tortillas, and follow the easy directions on the site! You can just use black olive slices and a dab of sour cream if you don’t want candy googly eyes. They taste better with quesadillas anyway!
Meatball Mummies:
These savory mummy meatballs are nourishing enough for a meal or the snack table at your Halloween gathering. Served warm and made with your choice of meatballs (ground beef, turkey, or even vegan) and quick-baking strips of crescent rolls, they can be dipped in marinara and freshly grated parmesan and eaten with forks – or just pop them into hungry mouths!
Grilled Cheese Ghosts:
Slightly reminiscent of our mini-quesadillas, this recipe is for families who love a warm, gooey grilled cheese on a crisp fall day. (And what family doesn’t?) You’ll be dipping your Grilled Cheese Ghosts in your cup of soup (or homemade ketchup) —or toss a slice of ham on it —for some healthy Halloween munching in no time!
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