Nut-Free Halloween "Haunted House" Mini Cakes, Plus Halloween Candy Ideas

Hi everyone -- it's been a busy couple of weeks, with my daughter's first overnight field trip to the state capitol and her lead role in her jr. high musical, my younger daughter's numerous after-school activities and of course, all the usual back to school stuff. I'm sure you all can relate--hey, it's October already!

Since Halloween is coming up quickly, I wanted to share a post from the archives about a reader-favorite edible nut-free Halloween haunted house project. Click this link to learn how you can create a mini "haunted house" out of a delicious pumpkin cake  -- nut free, of course.

Nut-free candy corn is always a big request this time of year and I've got a post devoted to that, (click here), but I wanted to share a new find at the supermarket. Starburst brand makes fruit-flavored candy corn. I've dealt with them in the past and it seems they will label for "may contains" but of course, if you have questions, call them.

I always like to share new finds, so here's what the bag looks like:

 

I found these candies at SuperTarget in the Halloween section and also at my local supermarket.

 

 

Another great source of peanut-free, tree nut-free, gluten-free candy is Tootsie Roll. Here's a post I wrote about them last year. They make many candies that have the "nut-free" symbol on them.

 

If you are looking for a candy that is not only free of allergens but also artificial flavors and colors, please check out Surf Sweets organic gummies. They're a longtime site sponsor and they make amazing candy. Check out "Spooky Spiders" (pictured to the right of this blog) and they make other seasonal candies, too. Available at Whole Foods and natural foods stores as well as other stores where they sell organic goodies.

 

Of course, you should always check any food to make sure it is right for your exact situation.

 

That brings up another good point. This blog is more than 5 years old and so, if you see a food from a post that is several years old, please always re-check it. Unfortunately, things can change; I make a good effort to stay on top of changes, but something can slip past me. Also, if I'm talking about a specific food, I try to give info that is very specific to that food and where/how it's manufactured. The larger food companies may have dozens of manufacturing facilities that affect the allergenic qualities of a food. One type of food from a company or brand may be made in a nut-free facility, while other foods from that company may not be. Confusing, I know, so it pays to check labels and call companies or e-mail them if you need more answers.

 

Has anyone found any new nut-allergy "safe" candies on the shelves this Halloween season? Let us know.

 

Also, be sure to check my Pinterest boards for nut-free Halloween treats and ideas. A direct link to my Pinterest boards is available just by clicking the "P" button to the right of this post. I'm adding to those boards regularly and it's a nice convenient place to find good stuff. Hope to see the Pinners there!

 

Food Allergy-Friendly Supermarket Easter Candy Finds

Easter is this Sunday and for those of you who are looking for allergy-friendly candy, you'll be glad to know that there are more choices in stores than I've seen in past years. For this post, I've chosen only to feature the candies marked as 100% nut-free and allergy-friendly for many food allergies, just because right now there isn't a lot of time to second-guess manufacturing processes, etc. And luckily, for the following candies, we don't have to. Plus, the following candies are all gluten-free.

First up, one of my favorite gummy candies is Surf Sweets (pictured). Free of GMOs, organic, and free of the top 8 food allergens. You can find these at Whole Foods and other specialty food stores. Go to their web site to find stores. My kids clamor for these--they are really tasty! Adults love them, too.

While you are at Whole Foods, go to the candy bar aisle and pick up Boom Choco Boom Bars from Enjoy Life Foods for the chocolate lovers on your list. This is dairy-free, nut-free chocolate that tastes great AND is it free of the top 8 allergens. The candy is made in a dedicated, free-from facility.

What would Easter be without jelly beans? Recently, we featured Gimbal's jelly beans in Allergic Living magazine and I am a huge fan! You can find them at Wal-Mart and some other supermarkets. Fun, colorful, tasty and free of the top 8 allergens, these are made with natural ingredients and come in 41 delicious flavors.

Divvies nut-free, egg-free, dairy-free (and gluten-free) candies are another Easter staple and best of all, they are now available in select supermarkets and specialty food stores including Wegman's. Go to the Divvies web site for a store locator; you can also order online. You can find so many good things at Divvies including chocolate bunnies and rock candy.

Finally, if you are still poking around Whole Foods, don't miss Yummy Earth organic gummy candies and lollipops. These are free of high-fructose corn syrup and free of the top 8 allergens. Right now, Whole Foods has mini packs of the gummy bears (at our store, they were on sale this past weekend!), perfect for the Easter basket.

Food Allergy Friendly, Organic AND Delicious? Surf Sweets Gummy Candies!

I've talked about Surf Sweets nut-free gummy candies on my blog in the past, but now I'd like to welcome this dynamic allergy-friendly candy company as a new ad sponsor for this site! Very exciting because this company was a total "find" for me when we first began searching around for nut-free candy. For some reason, "nut-free" gummy candies are some of the most difficult to locate. And everyone knows how much kids love gummy bears, gummy worms, etc.

Surf Sweets also warm a health-minded mom's heart because they are all-natural and organic. So you don't even have to feel guilty about these, in addition to being nut-free. Talk about serendipity.

Back-to-school time is here and many parents are looking for allergy-safe snacks, so these are a nice little candy to share with friends, teachers and family looking for safe foods. Plus, with Halloween already in the air (can you BELIEVE this already) these little candies are definitely going to come in handy. I remember one school party where my daughter could not have the "spooky Halloween drink" because it was filled with gummy worm candies that had a nut allergy warning. Surf Sweets gummy worms would be perfect for this--so be sure to send some to school. (But don't let the parents eat them all. I've heard from many adults who love them, too.)

Right now, if you pick up some packs of Surf Sweets Sour Berry Bears and Gummy Bears, a portion of the proceeds benefits Climate Cycle – a great local organization that partners with schools to provide education and funding for green projects (bike clubs, solar panel installations, agriculture, etc.).

You can find Surf Sweets at Whole Foods Stores (check the candy aisle) as well as in specialty food shops. Check the company web site and click the "Where to Buy" button. They are also available to order from Amazon.com and Peanut-Free Planet, among other online retailers. Sweet!

Organic, Allergy-Free Halloween Candy and Recipes from Surf Sweets!

For kids with nut allergies, candy like gummy worms and jelly beans are usually off-limits due to cross-contact warnings on the package. That's a bummer because so many Halloween-themed recipes this time of year make use of these two popular candies.

Well, I was really happy to learn about a relatively new (founded in 2008) Chicago-area candy company that makes gummy worms and jelly beans that are free of the top 8 allergens--Surf Sweets! The best part, besides being allergy-free, is that these candies are also naturally sweetened and made with natural, organic ingredients. Plus they are free from artificial colors and flavors! Awesome. Also, Surf Sweets are made in the U.S. in a dedicated, nut-free facility. Even better.

According to their press release, Surf Sweets are available in mainstream grocery stores across the U.S. and Canada and they are also found in natural foods stores and at online retailers including Peanut-Free Planet.

To get some ideas about Halloween-themed treats you can make using Surf Sweets, check their website for a video demonstrating how to make Popcorn Candy Worm Cake, Mummy Gummys and Witch's Cauldrons. Room Moms and Treat Moms, take note.

I know I'll be sending some of these to the class Halloween party. Not only are they safe for nut allergies, but they are also good for the other students in my daughter's class who have multiple food allergies, including dairy.

Anyone else found some good allergy-free candies for Halloween that they care to share with us? Let me know.