These healthy Halloween treats have no corn syrup, no granulated sugar and no chemical dyes. Instead, they’re made with vegetable coloring and honey. I think that might make them a health food, right? These make the perfect Halloween indulgence or gift for neighbors and friends. Plus, they’re so simple to make! 
Homemade marshmallows are a simple treat to whip up in a matter of minutes. They do need to set up for several hours, but the actual mixing up time is less than thirty minutes. If you’ve never made homemade marshmallows before, please read this post first – Make Homemade Marshmallows.
This will give you all the information you need to make your first batch.
If you’d like more healthy holiday recipes, as well as crafts and traditions and fun, be sure to sign up to be the first to hear about the release of our next book, Homestead Holidays. We take you through the year and around the globe with feast and festival days from many cultures and religions. Celebrate the big days and the everyday with us!
Naturally Dyed Marshmallows for Healthy Halloween Treat
Once you’ve got the hang of making healthy marshmallows, you’ll quickly learn that there are SO many kinds you can make.
Here are just a few that could also be used as healthy Halloween treats:
- Rose Marshmallows by Joybilee Farm
- Dark Chocolate Marshmallows by Intoxicated on Life
- Strawberry Marshmallows by The Movement Menu
- Salted Caramel Coconut Marshmallows by All the Nourishing Things
- Wassail Apple Cider Marshmallows courtesy of us here at Homestead Lady
You’ll notice that several of these recipes feature colored marshmallows. How do you get that color without commercial, chemical dyes? You use the fruits and veggies, of course!
The following naturally dyed “pumpkin” marshmallow is colored with none other than butternut squash. Butternut squash is a dry, creamy, sweet winter squash that has a vibrant orange color. Our pumpkin marshmallows can really be made with any kind of winder squash. And you can see below that they are orange – a pleasant burnt-caramel kind of orange.
However, to get the orange color to pop, you really need butternut squash, or any other dry, bright winter squash. Hubbard, Cheese and Banana squash would probably also work.
Commercial Natural Dyes
Even so, if your end result with butternut squash isn’t a bright as you’d like, there are some healthy dye options that you can use. In our baked goods, there are two types of natural coloring agents we use. One is a TruColor powdered dye made from vegetables that works well in cookies and baked goods:
Green Halloween
For more ideas on going green with your Halloween celebrations, I recommend you read this article from The Mindful Mom Blographer – Zero Waste Halloween. She has a myriad of ideas from parties to costumes to what to pass out instead of candy.
If you need a few more healthy Halloween treat options here are several:
From Fit as a Mama Bear here are Chocolate Chip Healthy Rice Krispies Squares.
Another great one from Wholesome Yum is this recipe for Sugar Free Keto Peanut Butter Cups – just about my favorite treat ever.
If you have apple slices on your snack table, you must have this Greek Yogurt Pumpkin Spice Dip from The Artisan Life.
Ok, these snack ideas from A Modern Homestead are just plain cute – see those here.
Healthy Halloween Treats: Naturally Dyed Marshmallows Recipe
Use this recipe for a naturally dyed marshmallow that will be a healthy Halloween treat you can feel proud sharing with your kids and friends. This recipe has no corn syrup, no refined sugar and no chemical dyes.
Here’s a quick tutorial video to help you get an idea of the process of making marshmallows. You can watch this first and then read the recipe to make sure you understand the steps. Always feel free to reach out if something is unclear; simply use the comments section below the article.
- 1 cup fresh butternut squash puree*
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup organic beef gelatin
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 2 cups local honey
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 drops each red and yellow natural gel dye, optional
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Prepare an 9 x 11 casserole dish by placing a piece of parchment paper long enough to cover up the sides as well as the bottom. The parchment paper won't lie down until the marshmallow is weighing it down but once they're dry, the paper will just peel off the marshmallows.
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Put the gelatin and first 1/2 cup of water in the bottom of your mixer bowl. Slightly stir it to make sure all the gelatin is submerged in the water. This will cause the gelatin to "bloom" (or poof up a bit).
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Once gelatin has completely soaked into the water and has bloomed, add the squash and mix thoroughly in the bowl.
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Heat the honey, 2nd water and salt in a medium saucepan on medium heat until boiling.
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Gently boil honey while constantly stirring, until candy thermometer reaches 225F/107C degrees. The honey should bubble, froth and turn a deeper caramel color.
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Once temperature is reached, immediately remove from heat. Turn your mixer on low/medium (use the whisk attachment), and slowly mix honey mixture into squash mixture. Drizzle the honey down the inside of the bowl at a slow, steady rate.
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Mix to incorporate, stopping to scrape down sides a few times.
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Once honey and squash are mixed, put the collar on your mixing bowl (if you have one). Place a towel over the top of the bowl to prevent splashes.
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Turn the mixer to high and check it often until it turns into marshmallow fluff. The mixture will lighten in color and thicken. This can take anywhere from 8-20 minutes.
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If you decide you'd like to add some more color, do it now. Mix until incorporated.
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Spoon the marshmallow cream into your prepared dish with a greased scraper. Smooth the top and lightly cover the top with a piece of parchment paper. Don't let the paper touch the marshmallows or it will stick.
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For softer marshmallows, let them set up for 4-6 hours. For dryer marshmallows, let them set up for 8-24 hours.
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Use a greased pizza cutter for streamlined sizing OR you can use greased cookie cutters to cut your marshmallows. Once they're cut out, dust your marshmallows in powdered sugar. Other ideas include cinnamon, cocoa , coconut flour or roll them in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, cookie crumbs.
*To make butternut squash puree:
- Cut the ends off of one squash.
- Remove the skin with a sharp knife.
- Slice the squash in half and remove the seeds.
- Compost the debris.
- Place the halves of squash face down in a glass baking dish with one cup of water.
- Bake uncovered at 350F/177C for 30-40 minutes until the flesh is soft enough to easily pierce with a fork.
- Mash with a potato masher or use an immersion blender to puree the squash.
Naturally Dyed Marshmallow Notes
Be sure to set up all your equipment ahead of time – you’ll need to work fast once the honey mixture is hot.
As soon as you’re done with the mixing bowl, rinse and scrape the sides to remove any remaining honey or marshmallow cream. Both will harden in the air, making it difficult to wash anything they’re stuck onto.
You can also simply use the marshmallow cream to top desserts or drinks for Halloween party foods. Refrigerate any leftovers.
Now these are marshmallows I’d actually let my family eat! I’m not sure I could sell my husband on eating butternut squash puree in marshmallows, but I could always just use natural food coloring, instead.
Maybe don’t tell him it’s in there? 🙂 The natural food coloring works really well, though!
These are so cute! I love the idea of sneaking some squash in here, too. I wonder how they would taste in hot chocolate…too squashy? I definitely want to make these with my nieces and nephews!
I love them in hot chocolate! Of course, I love them in just about anything. 😉
Looks amazing, with Halloween coming up soon I am going to bookmark this recipe! All the ingredients are in the pantry already.
Yep, super easy! I hope you enjoy them!
I absolutely love these! I was just looking for a fun treat that I can make to send family back home this fall! I think these marshmallows would be the perfect surprise! 😀 Thank you so much for the fun idea!
Oh, I hope they love them!
Fantastic idea! I’m a fan of from-scratch healthy cooking and baking, and this is a great way to let the kids enjoy a “naughty” treat without chemical-laden dyes and commercial ingredients. I think this one is going on my must-have Halloween list! 🙂
So glad – I think you’ll be really happy with them! I’m getting ready to make our yearly batch this week – we’ll be lucky if they make it to Halloween without the kids (or me!) devouring them!