The GirlieGirl Guide to a Vegan Halloween Bonus Peanut Butter Cup Recipe

Halloween can be tough for vegan kiddies and grown-ups alike since much of the trick-or-treating candy given out at homes and schools is not vegan. Here are some quick tips to help make Halloween healthy and fun for all!

Invisible Ghost Organic Lollipop, $2.39 @naturalcandystore.com

• Consult the VegNews Official Guide to Halloween Candy. This is a trust-worthy and very vegan comprehensive list of commercial candies. Remember that ingredients can sometimes differ from what is advertised so double check labels before you buy. Let your kids know in advance what candies to pick if they have a choice. Otherwise, trade these for the non-vegan candies they have collected when they get home.   NaturalCandyStore.com is a treasure trove of a site where you can purchase healthier options – from organic to Kosher to fully vegan – that are as fun to look at and to eat as the mainstream brands!   We are all big fans of NoTrickTreats.com which offers fantastic lists of candy for kids (grown up or wee) who are kosher/ vegan/ raw/ no-sugar/ gluten-free/ etc.

Carrot Costume, $28.99 @amazon.com

• Host a Halloween party at home (be green, and make your invites online) and teach your guests how to make a few veganized favorites like caramel apples, rice crispy treats, and a decadent and delicious version of the peanut butter cup (see below).  Serve with hot apple cider and pumpkin spice soy milk.

Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients:
2 cups non-dairy, grain sweetened chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups creamy, unsweetened peanut butter
3-4 tablespoons brown rice syrup
Pinch sea salt

Directions:
Lightly oil a standard mini muffin tin or line the cups with foil candy papers. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler (place the chocolate chips in a glass bowl over a pan of boiling water and stir until chocolate melts.
Spoon melted chocolate to fill to one-third into each cup. Place tray in freezer while preparing peanut butter. Combine peanut butter, sweetener and salt in a sauce pan and cook over low heat until the mixture is soft and smooth.
Spoon peanut butter on top of each chocolate cup, filling nearly to the top. Top each cup with chocolate, filling the remainder of the cups. Place tray in the freezer until set.
Makes about 24 peanut butter cups.

recipe via award winning author and chef Christina Pirello

• Create a new holiday tradition by making it about something other than the candy. Host a doggie Halloween show with the neighbors and collect donations for your local shelter or rescue organization.

Whatever you decide to do, be safe and have fun!   And if you can’t be good, be careful!

Via Guest Blogger Kathryn Hostettler; a social worker and dog rescue volunteer with Rogers’ Rescues. Her favorite Halloween treat is anything chocolate.

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