The Best Halloween Treat Recipes for Diabetes

If you have diabetes, prediabetes or want to lose weight, Halloween is spooky season for more reasons than ghosts and goblins. With plastic pumpkins overflowing with sugary candy sitting on every porch, Halloween can be a minefield to navigate for people who are concerned about their metabolic health.

But Halloween doesn’t have to be about just the tricks. If you’re willing to be creative, there’s no reason you can’t indulge in a sugar-free smorgasbord of tasty low-carb treats, perfect for the Samhain snacking board. Here’s three great recipes for crafting Halloween treats for people with diabetes, as well as guidance on how to make a Halloween snack board.

3 Halloween Treat Recipes For People With Diabetes

Spooky Sugar-Free Halloween Chocolates

Prep Time: ~1 minute

Total Time: ~20 minutes

Nutritional Info:

• Serving Size: 1 chocolate
• Carbohydrates: 5 grams
• Protein: 1 grams
• Fat: 8 grams
• Calories: 88

Makes sixteen servings.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate bar, chopped
• ¼ cup Virta-friendly sweetener
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

‍Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a glass mixing bowl and microwave for 30 seconds.
2. Remove, then stir vigorously.
3. Microwave for another 30 seconds.
4. Stir until smooth.
5. Pour into Halloween-themed chocolate molds (like pumpkins, witches, skulls, etc.) or regular sized muffin cups.
6. Freeze for 20 minutes.
7. Remove from the freezer and store in the fridge until ready to enjoy.

“Bloody” Strawberry Pretzel Layer Cake

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Prep Time: ~20 minutes

Total Time: ~40 minutes

Nutritional Info:

• Serving Size: 1 piece
• Carbohydrates: 6 grams
• Protein: 4 grams
• Fat: 22 grams
• Calories: 230

Makes twenty four servings.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups pecans, chopped (for crust)
• 1.5 cups almond flour (for crust)
• 1 teaspoon salt (for crust)
• 2 teaspoons Virta-friendly sweetener (for crust)
• 16 fluid ounces cream cheese, softened (for filling)
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream (for filling)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for filling)
• 2 teaspoons Virta-friendly sweetener (for filling)
• 1 large box sugar-free strawberry gelatin (for gelatin layer)
• 2 cups boiling water (for gelatin layer)
• 1 cup cold water (for gelatin layer)
• 14 ounces frozen sliced strawberries (for gelatin layer)

‍Instructions:

1. For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350º F.
2. Mix together all ingredients and spread into a 9×13 baking dish.
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the crust has a nice brown color around the edges.
4. Remove from oven and set aside.
5. For the Cream Cheese Layer: Blend all ingredients together thoroughly.
6. Spread cream cheese mixture over the nut crust, making sure to spread it completely to the edges.
7. Set aside.
8. For the Strawberry Gelatin Layer: Make strawberry gelatin using 2 cups of boiling water.
9. Add sliced, frozen strawberries to the hot gelatin.
10. Add 1 cup cold water to make 3 cups of liquid total.
11. Pour the gelatin mixture over the cream cheese layer.
12.  Chill in the refrigerator until set.

Spiderweb Glazed Halloween Bundt Cake

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Prep Time: ~15 minutes

Total Time: ~70 minutes

Nutritional Info:

• Serving Size: 1 slice
• Carbohydrates: 6 grams
• Protein: 9 grams
• Fat: 23 grams
• Calories: 314

Makes sixteen servings.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups almond flour
• ⅓ cup coconut flour
• ¼ cup unflavored whey protein powder
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 14 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Halloween-themed food coloring (orange, green, purple)
• 8 large eggs (six whole, two yolks)
• 1 cup liquid sucralose
• ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter (for glaze)
• ½ cup liquid sucralose (for glaze)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for glaze)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (for glaze)
• ½ cup heavy cream (for glaze)
• ¼ teaspoons Xanthan gum (for glaze)
• Halloween-themed food coloring (orange, green, purple) (for glaze)

‍Instructions:

1. For cake: Preheat the oven to 325F. Grease a large bundt pan very well with butter (important – this affects the flavor of the cake).
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, protein powder, baking powder, salt, and optional cinnamon, and then set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
4. Beat the eggs into the butter mixture, two at a time, finishing with the 2 egg yolks.
5. Beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture in 4 equal portions.
6. Beat the sucralose syrup, in ¼ cup portions.
7. Beat in the almond milk and food coloring. Then, stir in the chopped pecans if using (optional).
8. Scoop the batter into the butter-greased bundt pan, using a spatula or spoon to smooth the top.
9. Bake for 55 minutes, until the cake is golden brown and the top is firm but bouncy to the touch. The edges of the cake should also be slightly pulled away from the pan. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
10. Let cool for 1-2 hours.
11. Place a cutting board on top of the cake pan, then quickly flip over while tightly holding the pan to the board. Tap the cake pan hard with the butt of a metal utensil to release the cake, and slowly and carefully lift the pan straight up and away.
12. For glaze: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter.
13. Once butter is melted and starts to brown, add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, whisking frequently until well incorporated.
14. Then add the liquid sucralose syrup, stirring well.
15. Increase the heat to high to simmer the mixture, being careful not to let it boil over. Let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly to stop the liquid from burning or sticking to the pan.
16. Remove the pan from the heat, and then sprinkle with ¼ tsp xanthan gum and food coloring, while whisking vigorously to combine. Let sit for 20 minutes to thicken. The mixture will take some time - try to be patient! 
17. Once thickened, drizzle over cooled bundt cake in a spider web pattern and serve!

DIY Keto and Diabetes-Friendly Halloween Snack Board

If desserts aren't your thing, putting together a great diabetes and keto-friendly Halloween party platter is simple. Consider items like:

• Vegetables and cream cheese or full-fat greek yogurt  for dip
• Pork rinds or beef jerky
• Cheese cubes and pepperoni
• Cheese “chips” or puffs
• Guacamole
• Plain or salted nuts
• Hard boiled or deviled eggs
• Olives
• Seaweed snacks

The Takeaway

Need other ideas? We've got plenty! Living a healthy metabolic lifestyle doesn’t have to mean turning your back on holidays like Halloween. If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and want to live a healthier lifestyle, Virta Health may be able to help. By making healthy lifestyle changes in a medical setting with supportive resources like 1:1 virtual coaching, you can regain control of your health and feel like yourself again. See if you’re eligible for Virta Health here.