Teal Pumpkin Crispy Treats

It’s important to have “safe treats” around Halloween time, particularly for kids with food allergies.  These Teal Pumpkin Crispy Treats are a great alternative for a Halloween snack, no oven or stovetop required– plus, they’re dairy free, egg free, wheat free, gluten free, and nut free!  These treats also help support the Teal Pumpkin Project™ by FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education).  FARE encourages households to take part in this nation-wide campaign to raise awareness of food allergies and promote inclusion, particularly around Halloween.  Join the Teal Pumpkin Project™ by FARE  and take the pledge today!

Teal Pumpkin Crispy Treats

Ingredients:
1 (10 oz) bag of marshmallows
1/4 cup SunButter Sunflower Seed Spread
3 Tablespoons cooking oil
Blue and green food coloring
5 cups of gluten-free crispy rice cereal
Pumpkin shaped cookie cutter
1/2 cup allergy-friendly chocolate chips

Directions:
1.  In a large microwavable bowl, add marshmallows and oil; toss to coat.
2.  Add SunButter Sunflower Seed Spread and microwave for 45 seconds, mix well, and microwave for another 45 seconds.
3.  Add 4-6 drops of blue food coloring, and one drop of green and mix well.
4.  Microwave another 20-30 seconds.
5.  Add crispy rice cereal and mix well.  If mixture becomes too hard to mix, microwave again for 20-30 seconds to soften it up.
6.  Press mixture into a parchment paper lined cookie sheet using an oiled spatula.  Make sure to press firmly until it’s approximately 1/2 – 3/4″ thick.  Allow mixture to cool slightly, approximately 5 minutes.
7.  Using a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter, press firmly, creating pumpkin shaped treats.
8.  Empty chocolate chips into a small microwavable bowl.  Cook for 45 seconds in microwave and mix well. Cook for another 30 seconds and mix. Repeat this process until chocolate is melted, being sure not to over cook!
9.  Allow the chocolate to cool slightly, and then pour mixture into a sandwich size baggie and snip the corner off.
10.  Pipe chocolate eyes, mouth, and stem onto your pumpkins.  OR using a small paint brush, dip the brush into the chocolate and paint your pumpkins faces (the kids could help with this).

Elizabeth DiBurro is a food allergy mom and is the author of EBL (Easy Breezy Life) Food Allergies.  She shares allergy friendly recipes, parenting inspiration, and tips for living with food allergies and eosinophilic esophagitis – EoE.