Halloween treat ideas from the Learning Tree Preschool and Childcare Center

Not all sweet treats have to be made from candy. Use these heathier alternatives at your next Halloween party:

• Strawberry ghosts: dip strawberry in melted white chocolate. With the pointy side up, create a face using black icing
• Goblin Mouths: using two slices of red apples as lips, marshmallows as teeth and sun butter to hold the teeth in place
• Witches Brew: using orange sherbet and lemon-lime flavored sparkling water. Add a little green food coloring or even some dry ice to make the brew extra special
• Tangerine Jack-o-Lanterns: On the outside of the tangerine skin, draw a little face. If you would like to make a pumpkin, keep the skin on the tangerine and add a green M&M for the stem
• Pumpkin Pretzels: dip pretzel in melted orange chocolate. Add a green M&M for a stem
• Hot Dog Mummies: Wrap a hot dog with a thin strip of crescent roll dough. Bake for 5 minutes. Add eyes with ketchup and pieces of black olives

Here are some helpful tips on how to engage your child in sensory activities using edible treats:

• Peeled grapes with raisin pupils not only make for a tasty treat, they also provide a great sensory activity
• Cooked spaghetti in a covered container can feel just like worms
•  Jell-O inside of a stalking can make for a spooky sensory activity

For older children ready for a really spooky treat, use hotdogs for fingers. Boil half a hotdog or Vienna sausage, cut slits halfway down the hotdog to make it look like a knuckle, then place a thin square shaped onion at the tip using a dab of ketchup. This scary treat is sure to even make adults think twice about eating it!