by Danielle Leavitt ’17

Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Fall leaves, apple cider, donuts…and Halloween! To those who eat gluten-free, Halloween may, at first glance, seem like a trick. With so many delectable candy options, how can one know which are gluten-free? You would be very surprised to find out that something that does not look like it has gluten in it— like Twizzlers, for example—actually contains gluten. To make things easier, I have found two lists with the latest updates on Halloween candy on reputable websites. However, remember to use these lists only as a guide as ingredients and formulas can change at any time, and as always, make sure to read labels.

Complete 2014 list of Gluten-Free Halloween Candy:

http://celiac.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2014-Halloween-Treat-List.compressed.pdf (Celiac.org)

Quick list of Gluten-Free Halloween Candy, including CVS brand items:

http://surefoodsliving.com/2014/10/gluten-free-halloween-candy-quick-list-2014/ (Surefoodsliving.com)

For the “stay at home trick-or-treater,” or for a festive Halloween party, here is a simple recipe for caramel apples that is easy to make, requires very little time, tastes amazing, and is, of course, gluten-free!

Ingredients

• 3 medium apples, washed, well dried
• 1 bag (14 oz.) Kraft Caramels* (Kraft Caramels are gluten-free)
• 2 tablespoons water
• Popsicle sticks

Directions

Insert one wooden Popsicle stick into stem end of each apple. Cover a large plate with waxed paper; spray with cooking spray.

Set aside. Place caramels in medium saucepan. Add water; cook on medium-low heat 3 minutes, or until caramels are completely melted; stirring constantly.

Dip apples into melted caramel until evenly coated, spooning caramel over apples if necessary. Allow excess caramel to drop off. Scrape bottoms of apples; place on prepared plate. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before serving. Store any leftover apples in refrigerator.

You can roll freshly dipped caramel apples in toppings like chopped peanuts if you’d like. Or melt 2 squares Baker’s Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate and drizzle the chocolate over freshly dipped apples before setting them aside to cool.

Halloween can truly be a frightening holiday, but with gluten-free candy guidelines and great make at home gluten-free Halloween recipes, you will still have a ghoulish time!!