Candy Alternatives for Halloween

Published on September 9th, 2024
Updated on October 8th, 2025

HERE’S WHAT TO EAT AND PASS OUT FOR HALLOWEEN INSTEAD OF CANDY

Trick or treat…give us something good to eat! The haunted holiday of Halloween is synonymous with pumpkins, costumes, and candy.

While most trick-or-treaters expect to collect a sackful of chocolates, candy bars, and assorted Halloween-themed candies on October 31, not everyone hopes for Halloween candy. Fortunately, there are so many candy alternatives for Halloween, including small Halloween toys and non-candy foods (and even savory snacks), that can allow you to eat, drink, and be scary this Halloween – without gorging on the same old packaged candy and chocolate. 

What to Give Kids Instead of Candy?

Not all Halloween handouts have to be candy! Fun, inexpensive alternatives kids love include Halloween stickers, plastic spider rings, slime, vampire teeth, pencils, temporary tattoos, and glow-in-the-dark trinkets.

If you’d rather hand out edible treats, try healthier options like apples, oranges, or pumpkin-shaped pretzels. You can also go for sweet but festive picks, such as packaged Halloween cookies, cakes, or cupcakes.

Hosting a party? Serve pumpkin soup or a spooky punch, add a touch of dry ice (with care!) for a bubbling, misty cauldron effect.

Candy Alternatives for Halloween

Give ’em pumpkin to talk about with the most boo-tiful and delicious Halloween desserts, including pumpkin-shaped treats, Halloween colored bagels, and festive rice crispy treats. With desserts this cute, you may want to hand out tricks instead and keep these treats for yourself.

Halloween Cookies

Halloween is the perfect holiday for baking up Halloween cutout cookies and Halloween themed stuffed cookies. These Halloween cookies come in all spooky shapes, including giant cookie cakes, and sizes, ranging from cute cookie samplers to colossal cookie gifts.

Halloween Cupcakes

Have a Happy Halloween with creative and delicious cupcakes that take the cake this October. We have a frighteningly long list of Halloween cupcake flavors to impress every ghost and goblin.

Halloween Cakes

Let the ghoul times roll with Halloween-themed decorated cakes and cake jars. Serve up festive, dressed-up cakes like spooky layer cakes, creepy cake jars, and exploding Halloween cakes.

Halloween Snacks

Knock, Knock! Who’s there? No tricks, only the most fab-boo-lous Halloween snacks. Whether you need some finger foods, got the munchies, or are hosting a fabulous feast, you’ll have a hauntingly fun time with our Halloween party food.

Halloween Appetizers

Not all Halloween foods need to be sweet! If you’re having a Halloween party, there’s no shortage of delicious appetizers and small finger foods and side dishes that all your guests are sure to love.

Read More: Best Halloween Desserts That Are Scary Good

Hey, Boo! America’s best bakers, confectioners, sweet shops, and food makers are whipping up the best candy alternatives for Halloween and shipping them nationwide on Goldbelly!