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3 ingredients, 30 minutes or less and you are on your way to experiencing a treat, true treat!
This time of year, I can't help but feel upset when I see the Halloween candy aisles at conventional grocery stores. Halloween isn't a healthy holiday by any means, from a religious (I'm Christian orthodox) to health perspectives. On the matter of health, there’s no reason to throw all caution to the wind and litter the neighborhood with these toxic “treats” once a year.
Now that more companies are making better candy options (with ingredients I can actually recognize), I’ve been able to find some favorites that my kids love and I can live with. Mixing these in (sparingly) with plenty of non-candy alternatives makes for a fun, creative, and healthy Halloween that I think is better than the original tradition!
MAKE YOUR OWN CANDY BARS REESE'S!
Making your own may sound crazy, but it's easy, inexpensive and a family fun project to do along with carving pumpkins. Fun for sure.
I usually make my own candy or chocolate when we are going to have it, but that won’t fly for trick-or-treating. If you’re looking for healthier store-bought candy, here are the ones that passed the test for us including non-candy treat options.
VERY SIMILAR A HEALTHY RECIPE:
ALTERNATIVE TREATS:
Check out these better choices:
Most Halloween candy does not have the ingredients listed on the package because it comes in smaller sized versions sold in multi-packs, so here’s a reminder list of the chemicals lurking in most conventional candy:
Artificial Colors – Made from petroleum, these dyes are linked to hyperactivity in children and some cancers.
Artificial Flavors – Made from cheap toxic chemicals that came from petroleum along with solvents, emulsifiers, flavor modifiers, preservatives that aren’t labeled, so you don’t know what you’re really ingesting. Here is the link, check it out.
Caramel Color – The most common form is made from ammonia and contains the chemical 4-MEI which is classified as a possible carcinogen. Scary, but this nasty ingredient is everywhere from soda to bread, etc. See here for more information on it.
Vanillin – This artificial vanilla flavor is made from wood or petrochemicals.
PGPR E476 (polyglycerol polyricinoleate) – A super cheap emulsifier used to replace the much more expensive cocoa butter. See here for more about PGPR E476.
TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) – The preservative TBHQ derived from petroleum that’s linked to asthma, allergies, and dermatitis.
DATEM (diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono- and diglycerides)– A dough conditioner usually derived from GMOs that can be a hidden form of harmful trans fat. I hate this ingredient, hidden in bread, cookies, etc. Its so hard to deny children who want to have a hot dog or hamburger with friends, BUT it's poison they are wanting to eat!
BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) – A preservative banned and heavily restricted in other countries because it is linked to cancer. It's mostly used in cosmetics, which is dangerous as well but in food, specially candies geared for our children, it is detrimental for our future!
I deeply hope with this post, if even one mom reads, and even one child can be saved from toxic chemicals, it is for this reason that I have created this blog.
Please consider making better choices when shopping (see list above) or make candy yourself.
Let's get started...
NOTES ON INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE REESE'S CANDY BARS
Peanut butter - here is my advice to you on how to buy peanut butter for your general consumption. Flip over all the major brands of nut butter and read the ingredients. It’s common to find hydrogenated oils (soybean and cottonseed) or palm oil added, which is used to keep it from separating and keeps it fresh without refrigeration, thus extending its shelf life. This may be more convenient, but those heavily processed and refined oils are not good for your health. Also buy organic if you can. It’s very important to choose organic nut butter because conventional nuts and peanuts are known to be heavily treated with synthetic pesticides and fungicides.
Chocolate - use any chocolate chips or chunks you have on hand, I used semisweet in the video.
Honey - in my household, I prefer to use raw local honey that is great to eat or cook with it.
Let's make them...
Prep time: 1 minute
Making time: 30 minutes
Total time: 31 minutes
Author: innichkachef.com
Ingredients for homemade Candy Bars Reese's
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (plus 1/2 cup for the topping)
8 oz creamy peanut butter (half of the jar)
2-3 tablespoons raw honey
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional, I didn't in the video, my peanut butter had salt)
Directions for Candy Bars Reese's
In a double boiler set up a bowl with 1 cup of chocolate chips. Make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Melt the chocolate chips.
Using a spatula spread melted chocolate over the silicone cups. You can also use the regular cupcake liners, mini or regular size, it's up to you. Place them (chocolate shells) in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
With an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk the peanut butter and honey.
Fill each chocolate cup/shell with the peanut butter mixture.
Melt the remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate and then pour over the cups filled with peanut butter. Place again in the fridge for 10 minutes.
Enjoy right away or attempt to keep for a week or so. lol.
I hope you'll make this recipe soon. If you do, please tag me #innichka_chef on Instagram, Facebook, Patreon or Pinterest.