40+ Ideas for School Halloween Treats

Don’t miss a trick with these school-friendly treats to share on Halloween. School Halloween treats to fit your budget and your school’s guidelines — whether pre-packaged, nut free, gluten free, low fat, dairy-free, or even vegan.

A few years ago, the members of a parenting group I belong to were discussing a letter sent home regarding school Halloween treats. This particular school was concerned with fat count and all treats had to be within certain fat guidelines. Other schools have allergy restrictions or limits on sugar. Some schools require only pre-packaged food for insurance reasons. This feels like another parenting hoop to jump through; but with so many treat-filled holidays, it is understandable.

That year, I and most of the parents in my group were leaning toward clementine jack-o-lanterns. However, I wondered,

“What if everyone brought clementines as their Halloween party treat?”

That’s a LOT of sticky clementines. So, I searched the web and found some alternate ideas for school Halloween treats with slightly healthier ingredients. Not every one of these ideas is going to fit every dietary demand and some will be less expensive than others. Hopefully this round up will give us some ideas.

I’ve Begun Steering Away from Edible School Halloween Treats

A few years ago, we ordered seeds from Save Our Monarchs to pass out to school friends. (Just a note though. I ordered these in late September and they took longer than expected to arrive. I recommend ordering early or paying for expedited delivery.)

Other years we have purchased Halloween Comic Fest packs to pass out. Unfortunately, the teacher objected to Archie Comics as inappropriate and wouldn’t hand them out. So we haven’t tried that again. This year, Halloween Comic Fest has gone digital and I’m not sure there will even be packs available.

If The School Requires Pre-Packaged Halloween Treats:

Pre-packaged is a reality in many schools. My understanding is that this is an insurance regulation to protect against lawsuits in the case of food poisoning. I’m not a fan of this regulation since I think it focuses on a less likely short term risk without much thought to the long term issues with many pre-packaged foods. However, you can find pre-packaged treats that are also healthy. Definitely packaged foods make easy Halloween treats. Here is a link to 25 Healthy Snacks for Kids to Buy At The Store from Yummy Toddler Food.

Once you get your store-bought snacks home, let your kids make them “Halloween Treats” by coloring these Printable Halloween Treat Bag Toppers from Thrifty Little Mom. Maybe they can even toss in a Halloween Joke. Making Memories With Your Kids has joke printables here. The best part of this plan is that your kids should be able to do the decoration and assembly themselves. You can set them at the table with crayons, scissors, a stapler and supplies while you do the dishes (or read FamilyFunTwinCities, whatever).

---

Fruits and Veggies for School Halloween Treats?? (Maybe):

Okay, I’ve never actually heard of a school requiring fruits and veggies in place of candy Halloween treats, but it could happen, or maybe you just want to balance the sugar high with something substantial. Here are some of my favorites that I found around the web with links to how to do them. These could get pricey depending on where you shop. My neighborhood Aldi usually has good produce at good prices.

Clementine Jack-o’lanterns via MyFitFamily.com.

This was our choice a few years ago when we had a baby due a month later; I wanted super easy that year.

Dipped Ghost Pears via The Kitchn.com

Flip the pears over and they become the base for a sugar skull design.

Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails shows how to make Apple Teeth.

They use marshmallows for the teeth.  I’ve also seen almonds and candy corn would make great teeth.

Halloween Vegetable Cups via My Mommy Style.

I bet you can get everything you need to make these cute vegetable cups at the dollar store.  Than pick up a bag of carrots and a bag of celery and you can whip out a classroom size of these in an hour. (My image came from a now-defunct site, Passion for Parties. This year’s link makes these cups slightly differently – but it looks easier.)

---

Halloween Dessert Ideas For the Baker

Here are a couple desserts that can be made in small enough portions to share with a classful of kids.

VooDoo Doll Cookies

I wish I was a cookie baker. I’m not. I don’t mind mixing up the dough, but I hate rolling them out and cutting them over and over again. Luckily kids kind of like that part. If you are in the mood for cookie baking, Not Quite Nigella created these adorable VooDoo Doll Cookies. Follow her dough recipe, buy the packaged dough, or even find a healthier version — your call.

Mummy Cake Balls

If you enjoy making cakes and cake pops, Greens & Chocolate has this sweet recipe for Mummy Cake Balls that would be fun to serve up to a class.

Halloween Cupcakes

Cupcakes used to be the obvious bring-to-school treat. If you would like to go retro with cupcakes, try these Easy Owl Cupcakes from Lunds & Byerlys. Or just decorate with orange and brown sprinkles and candy eyeballs. Super easy!

More Recipes:

• Family Fun Idea: Bake These Easy Sugar Cookies
• Holiday Gingerbread Cutout Cookies

---

Traditional Halloween Treats:

Popcorn Balls

Are you old enough to remember getting real home-made popcorn balls for Halloween? There was a little old lady down the street who was a hold-out when I was a kid. The neighborhood knew her, so we were allowed to eat them. Honestly, I hated them — compared to candy.  If you want to try them, follow this easy Halloween Popcorn Pumpkin recipe from Somewhat Simple.

Pumpkin Seeds

Another traditional Halloween treat is pumpkin seeds. Unless you are lining your front porch with jack-o-lanterns, you probably couldn’t make a big enough batch for a whole class, but maybe as a small addition, to another treat. Ninja Mommers claims to have directions for roasting perfect pumpkin seeds.

Candy Apples

Dining with Alice offers step-by-step directions for making caramel apples. Alice includes a surprising twist with colorful surprise topping. This made me think of other fun twists – make them monsters by adding googly eyes or drizzle with melted chocolate or white chocolate.  I’m not sure how realistic this would be for a school treat, but it would be a popular one with the kids.

Halloween Rice Krispy Treats

Food Dolls has a pimped out recipe for Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats mixing sweet M&M candies and salty peanut butter cups and a bit of a s’mores feel with marshmallows and marshmallow fluff.

Halloween Monster Pretzels

I’m not sure if these count as traditional, but I love these little Halloween Pretzel Monsters by Twin Cities Frugal Hausfrau.

---

More Dietary Restrictions:

Below are three other dietary restrictions you may have to consider when preparing treats for your own kids or their classmates

Gluten Free Halloween Treats

These are so cute, I kind of want to make them for fun. Get directions at Gluten Free Fix.

Nut Free Halloween Treats

Nut Free is a reality for many schools.  If that is the only regulation your school has, your kid can bring candy! Here’s a list of peanut butter free and nut-free Halloween candy from Peanut Allergy.com.

Dairy Free Vegan Halloween Treats

I doubt any school will require vegan treats, but if you are vegan and its important to you to share a treat you would personally eat and give your kids, Fork and Beans shows you how to make Vegan Peeps in a cute little ghost shape, and if you are not vegan, these are still awesome.

Still want more ideas? Check out these articles from Non-Toy Gifts: HEALTHY HALLOWEEN TREATS FOR SCHOOL and 25 NON-CANDY HALLOWEEN TREATS.

We hope your little treaters can find something in this list with flavors they want to share and that the schools allow. Last resort if you can find anything to send for a treat, frost some box brownies with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with chocolate chips and have them ready when you child gets home from school. At least you’ll have a happy Halloween treat!