Is It Possible To Have A Healthy Halloween Candy? This Is It

Is It Possible To Have A Healthy Halloween Candy? This Is It

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With Halloween just around the corner, every store is filling up with candy. Since most of these choices are made with processed sugar, vegetable oil, and poor quality dairy, we’ve opted for a homemade version of healthy Halloween candy. Plus it makes a great treat if you are maintaining the effects of a cleanse. This is a great option to offer kids (of all ages) at home Halloween parties!

WHAT IS TAPIOCA FLOUR

Tapioca flour, extracted from the cassava plant, gives these candies their chewy texture, without adding fillers like cornstarch to the mix. Consider this a twist on the classic tootsie roll. Cornstarch isn’t a great option usually because it’s heavily processed. It’s also made from corn, which can be highly allergenic for some. Its main purpose in most dishes is as a thickener, and you’ll see it listed in many packaged candies. Tapioca starch does the job of thickening just as well, without being heavily processed and stripped of its nutrition.

HEALTHY OILS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We’ve chosen coconut oil for these candies, a vast improvement on the damaged, genetically-modified oils found in many candies. The type of saturated fat found in coconut oil helps convert bad cholesterol (LDL) to good cholesterol. This decreases the risk for heart disease. Coconut oil also acts as a natural antibiotic, since the lipids found in the oil attach to unwanted bacteria and destroy them. This can help fight kidney infections, the common cold, and UTIs. The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) found in coconut oil have also been linked to better cognative function and memory.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN CANDY SWEETENERS

We’ve chosen unprocessed sugar for these sweets. By switching out white sugar for coconut nectar or honey, you’ll get a dose of nutrients and less of a sugar crash with these sweet treats. Both honey and coconut nectar work well, but be sure to choose coconut nectar if you’re cleansing, and either leave out the oranges or substitute with limes. Because they’re less processed than white sugar, their micronutrients are intact which helps prevent an insulin response due to rapid increase in blood sugar.

Healthy Halloween Candy

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut nectar or honey (use coconut nectar, if you are cleansing)
1/3 cup raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon orange juice (or lime, if you are cleansing)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup tapioca powder

Directions:

Squeeze orange (or lime). Melt coconut oil. Mix all ingredients except tapioca flour in a medium bowl. Be patient with this step, it will take a few minutes to get out all the clumps.

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Very slowly add tapioca flour. Once the mixture is slightly firmer, start mixing with your hands. Add extremely slowly, as you may not need the entire amount to make it firm enough.

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Once tapioca starch is fully mixed in, you should have a firm but maleable ball. Let the mixture rest while you prepare the wrappers. Cut wax paper into strips 3 inches long and 1.5 inches wide (about 2 dozen).

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Place a small amount of dough in each wrapper (about half the size of your pinky finger). Fold each side of the wax paper in, and then twist the ends to secure the candy.

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We recommend storing in the fridge for firmer candies.

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