There are a growing number of people who suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance. They aren’t always able to enjoy the treats and goodies during Halloween. If you or someone in your family has to deal with celiac, you may be looking for gluten-free Halloween treats they can enjoy. One problem for anyone with gluten intolerance is that gluten can be found in nearly any kind of commercially prepared foods. Even foods that seem like they shouldn’t contain gluten actually do. So what are you to do when your loved one wants something like a Halloween treat but you know allowing them to could mean pain for them?
Popcorn balls are a great option for children who need a gluten free diet. These are easy to make and any recipe for popcorn balls will work. The basic recipe will include brown sugar, light corn syrup, butter, water, salt, vanilla extract and air-popped popcorn. You can either put yellow and red food coloring in with the sugar mixture or use orange tinted icing to create a jack-o-lantern. Since commercial frosting’s can contain gluten, you may want to make your own to ensure gluten isn’t a problem.
Candied Pecans are easy to make and have very few ingredients. You will need:
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
1 pound pecan halves
1 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Start by preheating the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a cookie or baking sheet. Whip together the egg white and water in a medium size bowl until it is frothy. In a different bowl, combine the sugar, salt and cinnamon. Pour the pecans into the egg mixture and stir to coat them evenly. Next, remove them from the egg whites and then into the sugar mixture. Spread the nuts out on the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Be careful to stay near the oven so the pecans don’t burn.
If you would rather not make gluten free treats, there are plenty of candies on the market that don’t have gluten in them. Here is a list of ten you may want to consider giving to your own child as well as giving them to trick-or-treaters that visit your home:
- Pixy Stix
- Nerds
- Super Bubble Gum
- Lemonheads
- Brach’s Candy Corn
- Dum Dum Lollipops
- Jelly Belly jelly beans
- Skittles
- Lifesavers Hard Candy
- York Peppermint Patties
Having celiac disease is difficult for anyone but especially for children. They may feel out of place when their friends can eat any candy they receive during Halloween. Consider making your own gluten free Halloween treats or purchase some of the candy in the list above so your child doesn’t feel left out of the holiday fun.
Enjoy
Chef Murph
