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Why You Should Make Your Own Halloween Candy
ANARGUMENT FOR HEALTHY(ER) SWEETS
The approach of Halloween almost always signals a trip to the nearest big-box store for an industrial-sized bag of candy to hand out to trick-or- treaters and fill party bowls. Attempts to opt out for your health can earn you dirty looks, concerned questions, and a less-than-stellar reputation as “that one house that hands out toothbrushes/apples/Tic Tacs” until you move. It can also be sad to dismiss tradition, particularly if you’d love some candy, too. So, what is a health-conscious cook to do? Well, one way to mix up your candy routine is by making your own. Though it won’t be healthy exactly , taking control of the food you eat has plenty of benefits. For one, homemade candy doesn’t need to have a long shelf life, so you can avoid the many preservatives in store-bought candy. You can also screen the other ingredients, choosing organic and local options to boost your vitamin intake. If you’re adventurous, try swapping in honey or maple syrup for sugar or experimenting with carob instead of chocolate. You can even integrate fruits and vegetables to reap their health benefits: Try dehydrated berries in chocolate bars or use vegetable juice to dye your taffy. While you’re at it, why not attempt your dream candy? If there’s a flavor combination you’ve always wished for, now is the time to make it happen. Just remember that innovation takes patience; you may need to give the recipe a few tries before it comes out just right. Even your waistline can benefit from turning your kitchen into a candy factory, provided you don’t eat all of your creations. In fact, every step — and pot lifted and pan scrubbed — in the kitchen burns calories and leads to better fitness. Making your own Halloween candy does come with one big caveat: For many trick-or-treaters, hand-wrapped sweets aren’t always parent- approved. Tales of hidden razor blades have led many parents to inspect their kids’ Halloween candy and toss anything not industrially sealed. Still, if you know your neighbors well, you can certainly hand out your homemade goodies — and they’re sure to be a hit at Halloween parties.
AUTUMN CANDY CARVE COSTUME
SCARECROW HALLOWEEN OCTOBER ORANGE
PUMPKIN FOOTBALL HARVEST LEAVES
Miso Caramel Apples
This silky caramel recipe is spiked with miso for a complex, rich snack that won’t hurt your teeth. INGREDIENTS
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4 Granny Smith apples 1/2 cup raw pistachios 1 1/2 tsp plus 1 cup sugar
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4 Popsicle sticks
2 tbsp light corn syrup 1/4 cup heavy cream
3 tbsp sesame seeds
1/4 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp white miso, divided
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a food processor, pulse pistachios and 1 1/2 tsp sugar. Add sesame seeds and 1 tbsp miso, pulsing until miso is fully broken up. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes and let cool. 3. Meanwhile, insert a Popsicle stick into the center of each apple. 4. In a saucepan, bring corn syrup, 1 cup sugar, and 2 tbsp water to a boil. Boil for 5–7 minutes, swirling infrequently, until caramel is a light amber color. 5. Add cream and salt to caramel, whisking to combine. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and quickly whisk in remaining miso. 6. To assemble, first roll apple in caramel, then in pistachio mixture, before resting on greased baking sheet. 7. Let cool 30 minutes and serve.
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