Chocolate Almond Butter Bites with Sea Salt | A Healthy Halloween Treat

Halloween is just around the corner, and for many of us moms, it raises the same question every year: How can I make sure my family enjoys Halloween without filling everyone’s stomachs with so many toxic ingredients? 

Don’t skip the celebrations; just swap the junk with healthy Halloween snacks!

With very few exceptions, most store-bought Halloween treats are filled with the usual suspects: processed sugars, chemical food dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavors, to name a few. Refined sugars cause rapid spikes in blood sugar followed by sharp drops, taking everyone’s moods down with them. On a day when kids are already more amped up, this sugar-fueled rollercoaster can leave them feeling irritable and depleted. And that takes a toll on us parents, too!

So when you want something sweet that offers sustained energy while also nourishing your gut, skip the candy and make a batch of these chocolate almond butter bites. They’re a simple, no-bake treat with a creamy almond butter center and a chocolate shell that will have you (and your kids) forgetting all about the Reese’s Cups being handed out down the street!+

Why I Avoid Peanuts and Choose Almond Butter

We avoid peanuts, largely due to their susceptibility to molds that produce aflatoxins. These are toxins associated with liver damage, and they can increase the risk of liver cancer with long-term exposure. Many commercial brands also add extra sugar, hydrogenated oils, and other vegetable oils that can cause inflammation. 

Benefits of Almond Butter

Almond butter is a great alternative to peanut butter, and it has a long list of nutritional advantages beyond its rich, nutty taste! It’s an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, and calcium that support antioxidant protection, energy production, muscle function, and bone health. Using almond butter in this recipe also adds a boost of plant protein, fiber, and unsaturated fats. That means these little treats go beyond just satisfying your sweet tooth; they help you feel full and energized as you go about your evening plans.

However, not all almond butter is created equal. Look for raw, sprouted, and organic almond butter. Raw almond butter is made from unroasted almonds. Skipping the roasting step creates a milder flavor and keeps more of the almonds’ nutrients intact.

Sprouted varieties involve extra preparation, typically soaking and dehydrating before grinding. This extra step promotes better digestion, because sprouting the almonds breaks down their chemical compounds that allow your gut to easily absorb more of the nutrients. 

When it comes to choosing almond butter, I always look for organic ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and a simple ingredient list. Slow stone grinding, used by some producers, creates a silky texture that works beautifully in these bites. With these additional steps, premium almond butters do cost more. But in my opinion, it’s worth it. Here are a few brands to explore:

• JEM Organics
• Dastony
• Gopal’s Healthfoods
• Blue Mountain Organics
• Glaser Organic Farms
• Dr. Fuhrman
  

Maple Syrup for Antioxidant-Rich Sweetness

When it comes to sweeteners, maple syrup is a wonderful alternative to refined sugar. Not only is it minimally processed, but it has a lower glycemic index than sugar, which creates a slower, less sharp rise in blood sugar.

Instead of the empty calories that refined sugar adds to a recipe, maple syrup contains vitamins and minerals like riboflavin, calcium, potassium, and manganese. In fact, just one tablespoon of maple syrup contains about one-third of your daily manganese, which works alongside other minerals in your body to help build and maintain bone density. Maple syrup also contains dozens of antioxidants that help fight cell-damaging free radicals. And to top off its long list of benefits, it simply tastes fantastic!

Coconut Flour for Fiber

There are many gluten-free flour options on the market, but for this no-bake recipe, you can’t go wrong with coconut flour. It is high in fiber, which makes these chocolate almond butter bites a delicious and satisfying snack that supports digestion and helps stave off cravings. Coconut flour has a low glycemic index, so it helps prevent sharp blood sugar spikes you’d likely get from “regular” candy. It also adds minerals and plant-based protein to these tiny treats. 

Each ingredient in this healthy Halloween snack recipe was intentionally chosen to nourish your body while giving you something rich, chocolatey, and delicious to enjoy with your family. They’re fun and easy to make with kids, too. Just be ready for some messy hands once the chocolate gets melted!

How to Make Chocolate Almond Butter Bites with Sea Salt

Ingredients

• ¾ cup almond butter, stirred well
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup coconut flour
• 1 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips, for dipping
• 1-2 teaspoons coconut oil, to thin the melted chocolate
• Sea salt for topping
• Optional: 1 to 2 scoops Gut Punch for the entire batch
  

Optional Gut Support Add-In

Mix 1-2 scoops of Gut Punch into the filling as an easy bonus addition to your gut support routine. It contains bovine immunoglobulins and organic collagen peptides to strengthen your gut lining and support digestion and nutrient absorption. 

Directions

1. Combine the almond butter and maple syrup in a mixing bowl. Stir in the coconut flour and optional Gut Punch. Let sit for a few minutes to thicken.
2. Roll into small balls. If the extra powder from the Gut Punch makes the dough too dry, add a little more almond butter.
3. Place on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes, or until firm.
4. Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil over low heat until the mixture is thin enough for dipping. 
5. Dip the chilled balls, return them to the tray, and sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
6. Refrigerate until the chocolate sets, and keep refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to eat. 
   

More Healthy Halloween Candy

If you like to celebrate the spooky season with sweets, remember this: your treats can be both delicious and nourishing. Here are a couple more of our favorite candy swaps to feed your gut and your sweet tooth. 

Guilt-Free Snickers Fix

If you’re craving the sweet, nutty taste of a Snickers bar, give our Guilt-Free Snickers Fix a try! Naturally sweet with no added sugars, this is another simple, no-bake candy alternative that tastes great and uses ingredients that boost your gut, not tear it down. These stuffed dates are a wholesome treat featuring all the familiar flavors, like rich caramel from the dates, nuts, and chocolate, without the preservatives and other gut-disrupting ingredients found in most candy bars.

Ingredients (Makes 12)

• 12 Medjool dates, pitted
• 4–5 tbsp JEM raw almond butter
• 12 raw Brazil nuts (can sub raw almonds or pecans)
• 3 tbsp raw cacao nibs
• Sea salt, to sprinkle
• Ground cinnamon, to sprinkle
• ½ cup Enjoy Life dark chocolate chips, melted
• Optional: Shredded coconut, for garnish

Directions

1. Slice each date open lengthwise, without cutting all the way through.
2. Fill with about 1 tsp almond butter, 1 Brazil nut, and a sprinkle of cacao nibs, sea salt, and cinnamon.
3. Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm.
4. Dip or drizzle with melted chocolate.
5. Sprinkle with shredded coconut if using.
6. Refrigerate until the chocolate sets. Enjoy!

Healthy Gummies

When Halloween rolls around, the grocery shelves fill up with dozens of different types of gummy candies. They’re colorful, they’re fruity, and they’re just plain fun. So this year, give your kids some gummies! 

But not just any gummies. This healthy gummy recipe is a gut-loving alternative to store-bought gummy candies, using organic juice, natural sweetener, gelatin, and Acid-Kicking Minerals for an alkaline mineral boost and additional flavor. Try out one of the seven flavor variations below the recipe, or experiment with different flavor combinations to make your own!

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic juice (freshly squeezed preferred)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey
• 3 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin
• 1 scoop Alkamind Gut Punch
• 1 scoop Alkamind Acid-Kicking Minerals (Try all the flavors!)

Directions

1. Warm the juice in a saucepan over low heat. Do not boil.
2. Add the maple syrup or raw honey, stirring until dissolved.
3. Sprinkle the gelatin over the warm liquid while whisking constantly to prevent clumping.
4. Once the gelatin is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth, remove from the heat.
5. Add the Gut Punch and your Acid-Kicking Minerals, stirring well to combine.
6. Pour the mixture into silicone molds using a silicone dropper (or into a small glass dish if you don’t have molds).
7. Place in the fridge for 1–2 hours or until set.
8. Once firm, pop the gummies out of molds, or slice them into cubes if using a glass dish.
9. Be sure to keep refrigerated, and store them in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Flavor Variations to Try

• 
  Grapefruit + Strawberry Minerals
• Orange + Blood Orange Minerals
• Grape + Strawberry Minerals
• Mango + Blood Orange Minerals
• Pineapple + Lemon Minerals
• Black Cherry + Strawberry Minerals
• Apple Cider + Lemon Minerals

Why We Choose Healthy Halloween Treats

You might have heard this before from well-meaning friends or family members: “Halloween is only one night a year. Why not just enjoy the regular candy?” 

Here’s the thing: the choices we make matter when it comes to the foods we put into our bodies, and into our kids’ bodies. And if we can make our own treats that taste amazing and fill us up with real, wholesome ingredients, why wouldn’t we? 

Eating well can be as simple as finding creative ways to make our favorite treats using ingredients that nourish and sustain us. These chocolate almond butter bites, stuffed dates, and homemade gummies are proof that you can enjoy a sweet treat while being intentional about what goes into it. Plus, they’re fun to make with kids and delicious enough that nobody feels like they’re missing out! 

This Halloween, try making a batch to share at a gathering with friends or to enjoy with a cozy movie night at home. After all, Halloween is about making memories together and having some spooky fun, and finding healthier ways to enjoy your favorite treats is just one more way to make the most of the day!