Need to come up with ideas for class party healthy Halloween snacks? Here are 15 fun, easy Halloween treats.
Post updated September 26, 2022
Does the idea of healthy Halloween snacks for school parties make you feel like the Fun Police?
Believe me, I get it.
But over the years, I’ve either planned or helped with nearly two dozen school classroom parties, and while guidelines for parent involvement will vary from class to class, here are two things I’ve learned:
- Most kids are more interested in the fun than the food. They couldn’t care less whether it’s cupcakes or Craisins. They’re just happy to be having a party in their classroom.
- Many teachers are now requesting healthier options for class parties (my kids’ teachers did!).
Besides, if the Halloween class party is the day of Trick or Treat, it makes sense to save the sugar overload for later and serve some healthy snacks.
But first, ask these questions
If you’re planning food for any class party, be sure you ask the classroom teacher…
- Is the class nut-free? Ask whether the classroom allows any peanuts, tree nuts, or snacks made with peanut butter. Reactions can be severe, and teachers are used to this question, so don’t be shy!
- Are there other allergies? There may also be serious egg, soy or dairy allergies and even issues like celiac or dye sensitivities in the classroom. When planning treats, all kids in the group should feel included and safe. Many teachers send out notes about which snacks are discouraged due to choking hazards and the like, so watch closely in the class newsletter or handbooks.
- Do snacks need to be pre-packaged? Because of allergies, some classrooms require that all school snack items be individually pre-packaged, with clear labels. If that’s the case, the Clementine Pumpkins and Peach Fruit Cups from this list should still also work. Plus, small packages of kid-favorite snack items are often available this time of year in the same store section as the halloween candies. If you can’t find those, here are some other ideas from the lunch box aisle that will also work, depending on allergies and ages:
- Small bags of popcorn (such as Skinny Pop)
- Individual boxes of raisins
- Squeeze pouches (such as GoGo Squeez)
- Cheese crackers (such as Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies)
- Fruit leather (such as Stretch Island)
- Granola bars
- Individual bags of snack mix (such as Chex Mix)
- Small bags of chips such as PopCorners
- Yogurt tubes
- Cheese sticks
- For more salty snack and sweet treat ideas, check out this list of 20 Halloween Treats Free of the Top 8 Allergens
Consider these school party basics
Here are a few other reminders when planning classroom parties…
Go for snacks that can be served individually. Avoid shared trays or platters to cut back on spreading germs.
Don’t pull an all-nighter making fun treats. Some of the snacks below are simple, others are more involved. But keep in mind that kids are so happy to veer from the usual class routine, they’re usually not oohing and ahhing over the food. Spare yourself the exhaustion and keep it easy.
Be conscious of mess. Ask yourself whether the snack or activity will make for a lot of extra clean-up for the teacher and custodian (think sticky foods, anything involving shake-your-own sprinkles or glitter, and crafts that create millions of tiny scraps).
Save ingredient lists. If there are allergies in the classroom, run all the ingredient lists by the teacher, the parents/guardians of those with allergies, and possibly the school nurse to be sure what you’re serving is safe for everyone. Keep outer packaging of items until the day after the party is over in case anyone has questions.
More ideas for classroom Halloween parties
Here are non-edible treats and activities that were big hits in my kids’ classrooms over the years…
- Read a spooky (age-appropriate) book.
- Make a Spotify playlist of kids’ Halloween songs to play in the background on a speaker.
- Play games like Halloween Bingo. I picked up a set like this and used it for many years.
- Have a projector like this one for your house? Dim the lights and use it to cover the classroom walls with Halloween fun.
16 Healthy Halloween Snacks
Several of these easy healthy Halloween treats are ones I’ve made and served for a school Halloween party. They’re all fun, healthy, and feel extra special. The best part: They’re also totally doable.
Green Goblin Smoothies
I made these Green Goblin Smoothies for my sons’ parties many times. I brought my Vitamix blender to the classroom, and the kids took turns pressing the buttons (bonus: free entertainment!). Try this easy recipe on repeat: 2 bananas, 2 cups water, 1 cup pineapple (fresh, frozen, or canned in juice), and 2 large handfuls spinach. Use permanent marker to decorate plastic cups with spooky faces.
How to transport: Bring grocery bag of ingredients + grab your blender
Monster & Mummy Apples
These Mummy and Monster Apples make fun, silly snacks or favors for a Halloween class party. Get the details on how to make them in my post for the Stemilt blog. All you need is a bag each of red and green apples and some low-cost supplies from the craft store and the drug store.
Tip: The eyeballs will stick best if you scrub any wax off the apple first. Otherwise, you can attach them to the gauze instead (once it’s wrapped around the apples) with glue dots.
How to transport: Place prepped apples carefully in a large shallow box or bag. Or for older kids, bring the supplies to DIY as a classroom activity.
Eyeballs on a Stick
Thread grapes onto short skewers and serve them fresh or frozen, branded as “Eyeballs on a Stick” for maximum Halloween creepiness.
How to transport: Layer prepared sticks in a 9×13 pan (or larger) and cover with lid or plastic wrap/foil.
Boo-Nana Ghosts
You can make banana ghosts a couple ways: Cut a banana in half, press in two mini chocolate chips for eyes, and insert a lollipop stick (get those at Target, a craft store, or Amazon). Or you can insert the popsicle sticks, dip the banana halves in yogurt, roll in coconut, and freeze.
How to transport: Lay assembled ghosts in a sealed container with wax paper or parchment paper between layers. Keep cold by packing in a cooler with ice packs.
Apple Mummies
My kids were swiping these Apple Mummies off the cutting board as I was making them. The mummy “bandage” is melted white chocolate piped from a snipped baggie, and you can find candy eyes at your local crafts or grocery store (sub in chocolate chips, if you prefer). Get the how-to here.
How to transport: Lay mummies in a sealed container with wax paper or parchment paper between layers.
Kiwi Pops
Use lollipop or popsicle sticks for these easy Kiwi Pops. Peel kiwis, cut into thick slices, insert a stick in one end, then freeze for fun snacks that look like a creepy eye. You’ll get about 3-4 pops per kiwi.
How to transport: Lay pops in a sealed container with wax paper or parchment paper between layers. Keep cold by packing in a cooler with ice packs.
Popcorn Hands
These Popcorn Hands combine two of my favorites: salty crisp popcorn and sweet chewy candy corn. Be sure to use foodservice-grade clear plastic gloves (find them at a restaurant supply store or get them on Amazon). Drop a piece of candy corn into the tip of each glove finger, then fill with popcorn ensuring the fingers and the palm are well defined, then close with a ribbon or twist-tie. (Get my no-fail recipe for stovetop popcorn or buy it pre-popped at the grocery store.) These make a great choice to send in if you won’t be attending the party, too, since they transport very well!
How to transport: Lay prepped hands carefully in a large box or bag (paper bags protect from crushing a little better than plastic here).
Silly Apple Spirals
This is a great way to have some old-fashioned fun. I nabbed this idea from a classmate’s mom, who brought her apple peeler and a bag of apples to the classroom party years ago. Each child took a turn peeling an apple, and it was a big hit. It’s fun to see how much the kids enjoy making the spirals and eating them (and the peels–so be sure the apples are rinsed).
How to transport: Bring bags of well-rinsed apples + grab your apple peeler.
Clementine Pumpkins
What’s not to love about easy-to-peel clementines (or tangerine) pumpkins? You can draw Jack-o-Lantern faces on the outside of the orange peels with a Sharpie or let the kids decorate their own for a fast and easy but deliciously refreshing, kid-friendly classroom treat. This one is also fun to tuck in your kiddo’s lunch box during spooky season, even if it’s not class party day.
How to transport: Allow permanent marker faces on oranges to dry, then pile into a bag or box.
Mini Monster Sammies
If you need a heartier snack, these cute little sandwiches provide some protein for fullness with whole grains and cheese, and are just the right size for little hands. Here’s how to make them.
How to transport: Stack assembled sammies carefully in a sealed container with wax paper or parchment paper between layers.
Peach Jack-o-Lantern Fruit Cups
Need a last minute Halloween party snack? Pick up some peach (or mandarin orange) fruit cups at the grocery store, grab a Sharpie, and decorate with Jack-o-Lantern faces for a quick and cute party favor. Or place some markers on the tables and let kids draw their own spooky faces or messages on the cups. These work well as both an in-class party treat and a take-home favor. Keep in mind that fruit cups can sometimes be challenging for the tiniest hands to open.
How to transport: Be sure marker is dry on cups, then load into a box or bag.
Veggie Skeleton Kits
You’ve probably seen these skeletons online, and they’re usually arranged as a group snack tray. Tailor this cute idea for the classroom by making bag-o-bones kits for each kid. Pack baggies with veggies such as cut carrots, celery sticks, cucumber rounds, cauliflower florets, and bell pepper slices, then give each kid a little cup with dip for the skull.
How to transport: Place prepped baggies into a box or bag. Pack paper plates, paper cups, and dip separately. Include a photo or drawing for an example, if you think the kids could use a hint. (Here are the compostable dip cups shown above.)
Spooky Graveyard Ghost Cups
These spooky treats come courtesy of Holley Grainger Nutrition. It’s a sweet treat that looks like pudding but is actually made with Greek yogurt and cocoa powder. Find the full recipe on her site. Kids can use spoons or wooden ice cream tasters as “shovels” to dig up the grave.
How to transport: Pack components separately and assemble cups on site.
Bat Cheese on Full Moon Crackers
This is a fun Halloween snack from School Bites. Use this small cookie cutter to make the bat-shaped cheese slices, then pair them with any round cracker (there are many gluten-free options available too). These are super spooky on black napkins, if you have some!
How to transport: Pack cheese bats in a sealed container. Assemble crackers with cheese on site.
Candy Corn Parfaits
A class parent made these sweet treats one year using the idea from Chocolate Slopes. They’re layers of pineapple and mandarin oranges topped with whipped cream (for a dairy-free option, use mini marshmallows).
Alternate idea: Decorate cups with spooky faces using a marker and fill them with green grapes.
How to transport: Bring components, and assemble parfaits on site.
Jack-o-Lantern Cheese Bites
These tasty treats are rich in protein and calcium, and have zero sugar. For a complete snack, serve them with crackers and some fresh fruit. Get the details on how to make them from 360 Nutrition.
How to transport: Lay cheese shapes in a sealed container with wax paper or parchment paper between layers. Carry in a cooler with an ice pack.
More thoughts for your Halloween season
Here’s How I Handled Halloween Candy Craziness in my house when my kids were younger.
Here’s Why You Should Stop Throwing Away Your Kid’s Halloween Candy, in a post I wrote for Parents magazine.
And if you’re still not convinced, here’s How to Stop Freaking Out About Halloween Candy, my guest appearance on the Comfort Food podcast.
For more ideas, visit my Healthy Halloween Snacks Pinterest board.
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These are awesome tips. Thanks for pulling them all together. Pinning NOW 🙂 I’m teaching a nutrition class to a bunch of 3 – 5 year olds tomorrow and plan on creating a vegetable skeleton w/ dip. Should be crazy!
Hi Sally!
I’m a clinical dietitian, creatively challenged, so I googled “healthy Halloween treats” for my ten-year-old daughter’s class party. I was delighted by your jack o’ lantern clementines. Only later did I look more closely at your blog and realize who you are! I always enjoyed your writing at Penn State, and once even had the pleasure of meeting you (at Claire Lauber Hackett’s wedding). So thrilled to see your work here, it’s inspiring – I will share with all my RD friends and fellow moms!
All the best,
Susan
Susan–thank you so much for commenting, and wow, what a small world! 🙂 Glad you found me!