9 Healthy Halloween Recipes

Before indulging in Halloween candy and devilish treats, make room at your table for these healthy dishes to fuel a night of trick-or-treating.

Written by Sunset Staff May 11, 2017

Healthy Halloween? I know that sounds like the worst case of Halloween party-pooping ever, but hear us out: These recipes are truly delicious. Empanadas, hand pies, even cupcakes are included in this roundup of tasty and satisfying treats to bring to a party or give to the kids to cushion the sugar blow that’s about to come.

Wait, back it up … cupcakes? Well, notice that these dishes are filed under the heading “Healthy Halloween,” not “Recipes for Year-Round Health Nuts.” But all joking aside, these red-velvet cupcakes do actually have a secret nutritious weapon: They get their red coloring from beets. But just tell everyone it’s good old Red Dye #3 and no one will ever suspect they’re eating health food.

1 of 9Thomas J. Story

Bell Pepper Jack-o-Lanterns with Vegetables and Dip

Give your Halloween party some personality with these carved edible “bowls.” Make them as goofy or as scary as you like, depending on your mood! Not only do these jack o’lantern snacks add a festive touch, they will make sure kids and adults alike will continue to snack on vegetables in between bites of Halloween candy. This healthy Halloween snack is a must.

Recipe: Bell Pepper Jack-o-Lanterns with Vegetables and Dip

2 of 9Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Red Pepper-Potato Dip with Crudites

With its red hue, this healthy Halloween appetizer gives crudites and dip a Gothic edge.

Recipe: Red Pepper-Potato Dip with Crudites

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3 of 9Annabelle Breakey

Pumpkin Soup with Pumpkin Seed–Mint Pesto

This elegant yet adorable fall soup is oh-so-Halloween, from the clever use of mini gourds as bowls to the healthy harvest flavors.

Recipe: Pumpkin Soup with Pumpkin Seed-Mint Pesto

Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Bowls

4 of 9Erin Kunkel

Spinach Jack-o’-Lantern Hand Pies

Turns out that spinach wrapped in pie dough passes the picky-eater test! For these Halloween riffs on the classic calzone, use 4- by 5-in. pumpkin-shaped cookie cutters (find at cooking or craft stores and online). Or cut out a pumpkin-shaped template from paper, set it on the dough, and cut around it with a thin, sharp knife.

Recipe: Spinach Jack-o’-Lantern Hand Pies

5 of 9Erin Kunkel

Chicken Curry Moon Pies

Toasting the cumin brings out its flavor, and a bit of Madras curry powder makes this a savory pie that’s as appealing to grown-ups as it is to kids.

Recipe: Chicken Curry Moon Pies

6 of 9Erin Kunkel

Halloween Ham and Cheese Hand Pies

This is an adaptable little recipe. We love the warm, spicy flavor of brown mustard, but feel free to use your family’s favorite mustard. You can also customize the filling by using any kind of thinly sliced cheese and/or meat that you or your kids prefer.

Recipe: Halloween Ham and Cheese Hand Pies

7 of 9Annabelle Breakey

Pumpkin Curry Empanadas

Snack on these handheld pies before going trick-or-treating snack, or eat a couple for a vegetarian Halloween meal.

Recipe: Pumpkin Curry Empanadas

8 of 9Erin Kunkel

Pie-Spiced Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds

The warm spices of holiday pies are mixed with seeds and a touch of salt for a sweet and savory snack to eat by the handful. It can be shared with any trick-or-treaters on the Halloween trail, since it won’t set off peanut allergies.

Recipe: Pie-Spiced Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds

9 of 9Antonis Achilleos

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream

Cupcakes only a vampire could love? Hardly! These healthy Halloween treats get their color not from the usual food coloring but from puréed roasted beets, so kids (and Dracula) can get a dose of veggies without even knowing it.

Recipe: Red Velvet Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream

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