Deliciously Ella's healthy Hallowe'en treats

As Hallowe’en approaches, now seems the perfect time to share some of my favourite autumnal sweet recipes. When the weather gets colder and the days shorten, I find I need an afternoon pick-me-up, and these treats are so comforting and delicious that I’d love you to try them too. 

The pumpkin bread, especially, is ideal for this time of year. The mix of soft pumpkin sponge, sweetened with maple sauce, tastes unbelievable. The texture of the bread is also great, as the crust is wonderfully crunchy while the inside is deliciously soft. It makes a lovely breakfast on a cold morning, a sweet dessert or a perfect afternoon snack. I love having a slice of it spread with a little coconut oil and honey, or if I’m feeling extra indulgent I’ll add a layer of the caramel dipping sauce from my popcorn recipe – it’s absolute heaven.

Popcorn with caramel dipping sauce was designed for cold, snuggly evenings on the sofa watching a movie. It’s easy to make, fun to eat and perfectly sweet. The sauce is made with dates, maple syrup, coconut sugar, coconut oil and cinnamon, and you can add a little water to thin it down. It tastes pretty spectacular and I have a feeling that you’ll drizzle it on just about everything you eat – and of course devour it straight from the bowl with a spoon! 

I toss the popcorn in a little coconut oil and coconut sugar so that it has a subtle flavour of its own, but it’s the dip that really makes it come to life. It’s tempting to pour the sauce all over your bowl of popcorn, but this quickly turns it soggy – and everyone wants crunchy popcorn – so try to resist the temptation. 

If you’re looking for a good trick-or-treat sweet for next weekend, go for these little vanilla-infused almond butter chocolates – they’re a real winner. Cunningly, they really don’t look or taste healthy at all, especially with the big dollop of creamy nut butter in the middle of each bite. I like using almond butter in mine, but peanut butter tastes great too. I also add vanilla powder and salt to my recipes as they really enhance the existing chocolatey, nutty flavours. 

All three recipes are pretty easy to make and will absolutely sate any sweet tooth. Hopefully they’ll make your Hallowe’en extra delicious too!