Turn Halloween Inside Out

I am a firm believer of rolling up my sleeves and getting messy in the kitchen. I do not believe that allergy-friendly products should be "prepared as directed". The number one complaint that I hear from people with food allergies is that they feel their foods are limited. But I say it's not the foods that limit you, only your knowledge on how to use them. Let your mind wander like you used to when you were a kid. Cut foods up, pull them apart, put them into other foods that you usually don't. The worst that may happen? You have a recipe that doesn't look pretty or maybe even taste great. The best thing? You will find new ways to use the foods that you can have and have fun in the process.

Pull It Apart
This Halloween, I made a few simple creepy but adorable treats. All of us get a little unnerved when we see eyes staring up at us but what about if the eyes are coming from your cookies? With just a few ingredients, these cookies can be shared, packed into lunches, dunked in your favorite drink or served at this year's Halloween party. One thing is for sure- they won't take up a lot of your busy schedule and the kids can help you make them.

Watch how easy these are here ~

Scary Eye Cookies
(for EACH cookie)
1 Chocolate Vanilla Crème Cookie (or similar cookie to suit your allergy needs)
2 Jelly beans of the same color (I use Gimbals Candy or Surf Sweets)
Melted chocolate such as Enjoy Life Foods

Prep Time: 3 Minutes
No Bake Time: 2 Minutes

1. Gently separate the top of a cookie and set it aside 
2. Place two jellybeans on the edge of the vanilla cream as if looking out
3. Spread melted chocolate onto the back half of the removed top cookie
4. Gently place the top cookie back on, making sure the chocolate-covered side is in the back of the eyes
5. Using a toothpick, dip it into the melted chocolate and draw on the pupils of the eyes
6. Allow to cool completely

Serving size 1 Scary Eye Cookie

EYE dare you not to try these!

No, Pull ALL of It Apart
When I say pull your foods apart, I mean everything! Yes, having scary eyes peering out of a cookie is fun. But then I thought, why stop with that? What about opening up that snack and seeing eyeballs rolling around! Not just any eyeballs- eyeballs that you can eat (ewww, I never thought I would say that...). AND, eyeballs that are made of everyone's favorite part of the cookie- the cream filling! So I pulled apart the rest of those cookies and came up with Cookie Frosting Eyeballs. Just remember, don't throw away the cookies either. As I always say- waste nothing! I'll share a few tips for the remaining pieces following the recipe. Easy video tutorial here!

Cookie Frosting Eyeballs
Two vanilla cream cookies of your choice (such as Glutino Chocolate Vanilla Creme or Josef’s GlutenFree)
2 Jelly beans of the same color (I use Gimbals Candy or Surf Sweets)
Melted chocolate such as Enjoy Life Foods

Prep Time: 5 Minutes 
No Bake Time: 3 Minutes

1. Remove the cream filling from the cookie
2. Set the unused cookie aside*
3. Roll each cream filling into a ball
4. Insert one jellybean into the center
5. Using a toothpick, dip it into the melted chocolate and draw on the pupils of the eyes
6. Allow to cool completely 

Serving size 1 pair of eyeballs

*Those leftover cookie pieces- don’t throw them away! Use them for cookie crusts, toppings or make them into fast & easy bat wings! Just dab the corner with melted chocolate and let it cool

How do YOU use your foods?