Spiced Almond Candy Recipe: A Healthier Halloween Treat
From creative botanical costumes to herbal treats, we love to do Halloween with our share of plant-based flair! Candy is at the heart of this holiday, with trick-or-treaters collecting pounds of candy as they roam through neighborhoods and knock on doors.
In the 1800s, taffy pulls were popular with children at American Halloween parties, and in Europe, would-be pranksters going door to door in costumes were appeased with candy, hence the term “trick or treat” (Martin, 2021). Trick-or-treating spread widely in the U.S. after World War II, with the rise of suburban neighborhoods, and prewrapped candy was an easier option for handing out than homemade treats (Martin, 2021).
But we’re herbalists here. And if you’re anything like us (well, you’re here!), chances are if you’re planning to host a Halloween party, you like giving classic treats a little twist by adding extra herbs and using natural sweeteners. How about an herbal take on coconut-almond candies draped in chocolate?!
Our Spiced Coconut-Almond Herbal Joy Recipe is an autumn-inspired twist with toasted coconut, medjool dates, almonds, vanilla, and warming spices, sweetened with maple syrup, and coated in rich dark chocolate. Add optional ginger and turmeric for an extra botanical touch!
There’s a little spice, but a lot of goodness in these delightful treats. Cinnamon has been studied for its potential role in blood sugar regulation, cardamom is traditionally used to support digestion, nutmeg brings warming aromatics, and vanilla adds comforting depth to the flavor. If you add the optional herbs to your recipe, you’ll also be getting digestive support from ginger and anti-inflammatory properties from turmeric. Who could ask for a better well-balanced treat?
Spiced Almond Candy Recipe
This tasty recipe is an autumn-inspired twist with toasted coconut, medjool dates, almonds, vanilla, and warming spices, all coated in rich dark chocolate. Yields 16–20 candies.
Coconut Filling Optional Botanicals Chocolate Coating Tip: If the filling is too moist, add a little extra shredded coconut. If it’s too firm, a small amount of coconut oil or maple syrup can help bring it together.
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
½ cup raw almonds, divided
5 soft medjool dates, pitted
⅓ cup pure maple syrup
⅓ cup melted coconut oil
½ tsp almond extract
Seeds from 1 vanilla bean
½ teaspoon cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) bark, powdered
¼ teaspoon cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) seed, powdered
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) seed, powdered
Pinch of sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome
¼ teaspoon freshly grated turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome (or ⅛ tsp powdered)
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 teaspoon coconut oil
Flaky sea salt, optional
In Closing,
If you’re handing out candy this Halloween, you’ll be the new favorite house on the block with these Spiced Coconut-Almond Herbal Joy candies. With real ingredients to enhance their taste and natural sweeteners for a guilt-free treat, you can enjoy the sweet festive moments of offering wholesome candies to trick-or-treaters.
REFERENCES
Martin, E. (2021). The history of trick-or-treating, and how it became a halloween tradition. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/the-history-of-trick-or-treating-and-how-it-became-a-halloween-tradition
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