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(No, the above photo is not of a healthy Easter candy. But I must confess I miss them.)
With Easter just around the corner, thoughts are turning towards spring, and well–towards chocolate.
Of course, Easter means much more than treats and chocolate and bunnies, but I have nothing against a few treats and some fun to come alongside the traditional reason for celebrating Easter–Christ’s Resurrection.
In our home, Easter treats have gone through quite a transformation themselves over the years.
And since my childhood days, well–things have really changed. We’ve gone from sugar laden indulgences to more healthy Easter candies.
When I was a little girl, my mother really overdid it.
Gift-giving was clearly her love language and well–let’s just say that I got waaaay too much gifting in the chocolate department at Easter (one of my favorite were the teeny Cadbury eggs, pictured above 
.)
I’d come downstairs in the morning and we’d have a quick little hunt for a not-so-little Easter basket.
Stuffed with all kinds of candies and even a large hollowed out egg with my name written on the side in white chocolate. (Note: my family didn’t have much money at all so this just shows the kind of importance that was placed on gifting from my mom at holidays.)
Things are different now.
Before my sugar free days, my idea of healthy candy indulgence was Jelly Bellies and Twizzlers (because they were fat free and I loved them.)
Now we’re sugar free and well, candy options are a bit more limited.
You can, of course, try those sugar-free options at the grocery store, but their ingredients are pretty suspect and the sugar alcohols that they use have undesirable effects. (Not that we’ve had that happen – ahem.)
We don’t really do that much in the way of candy festivities in our home these days, but I hope to do something fun with my kiddos this year.
So I thought I’d put together a round up of some great Healthy Easter Candies (and other ideas) from around the blogosphere, and I’ve included in the mix a few of my own Healthy Easter treats.
Hoping this helps you add a little fun to your Easter celebration this year.
Oh – and if you are on a special diet and need some ideas for ways to substitute one or some of the ingredients in these recipes, check out my post on More Easter Recipes and Ingredient Substitutions. I think you’ll find the help you need there.
You’re gonna be amazed at some of the genius in these posts! I am going to have to try some or all of these in the near future!
Healthy Cadbury Eggs from Healthy Indulgences
(I never really liked the Creme Eggs, but these look like fun!)
Healthy Peppermint Patties by Whole Lifestyle Nutrition
(I tried to make Healthy Mint Patties once and they flopped, so I’ll be trying this recipe soon!)
Healthy Mounds Bars by Tessa the Domestic Diva
(I made these today. I had to increase the sweetener and used my Homemade Chocolate / Carob Chips for the topping. Very yummy!)
Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Easter Ovoids from Diet Dessert N Dogs
(My son can’t have cashews, but I’ll be trying these with other “safe” nuts.)
Sweet Potato Truffles from Diet Dessert N Dogs (ingenius, huh? My son is begging me to make these.)
Coconut Honey Candy from GNOWFGLINS
A simple to whip together treat!
Natural Dye for Easter Eggs by This Chick Cooks
I am puzzled by the blue. Read my post on Natural Blue Food Coloring and you may see why.
Healthy Marshmallow Peeps also by This Chick Cooks
(I’m going to try these with a “healthier for me” sugar alternative)
Lemon Coconut Hemp Seed Bites from The Veggie Nook
A fresh move away from traditional chocolate goodies.
Easter Egg Chocolate Cake Pops from Healthy Blender Recipes
(really from The Freedom Chef)
Candy Bars from Elana’s Pantry
Chocolate Peanut Butter Delights from Passionate Homemaking
(I would sub another nut or seed butter and use a Healthier Powdered Sweetener)
Coconut Orange White Fudge by The Nourishing Gourmet
(Money Saving Tip: Use my Homemade Coconut Butter for this recipe!)
And now, some of my own Healthy Easter Recipes / Tips:
Healthy “Almost Reese’s” Candy by Me (Just trade the heart shape for an egg shape for Easter!)
Healthy Almond Joy Bars (always a favorite !)
Chocolate / Carob Coconut Nests (gotta love the smile)
Naturally Colored Dairy-Free Easter Fudge
Natural Blue Food Coloring (from an unexpected source)
Candy Alternatives: Instead of loads of chocolate, how about filling plastic eggs with:
- Toys
- Trinkets
- Dried Fruit
- Coins
- Stickers. Those “cheapo” catalogs of trinkets are tempting, but I’d rather not get a bunch of junk just to stuff eggs with. It just makes more environmental waste–or more clutter. (Something I surely don’t need anymore of .)
When we were still eating some sugar I would put individually wrapped Life Saver Candies in my kids’ eggs, interspersed with mainly trinkets. We bought super balls, cute erasers, small whistles, small noisemakers. Anything tiny that would fit in a plastic egg that I thought they’d enjoy.
And finally, to make sure to include the real meaning of Easter in your celebration, read my post on Resurrection Eggs. Adding these eggs to the mix of trinket and candy-filled eggs makes the day really special.
Do you have a special Easter tradition?
Which of the above treats would you most like to make this year?
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomadic_lass/5516290518/
Shared at Skip to My Lou.
For our egg hunt this past weekend, I filled eggs with homemade play dough, and homemade crayon shapes made from melting crayons in a silicone candy mold.
Such great ideas! Love it! I’ve been thinking about melting crayons. Maybe my marker-addicted son will use our crayons if we do that:-)!
There are so many great shapes to choose from I bet you could find a pleaser. I made crayon dinosaurs.
annathema recently posted..Hocoblogs, community of action!
You used cookie cutters for them then?
chocolate candy molds, the flexible silicone kind
annathema recently posted..Hocoblogs, community of action!
Love this list!! So many fun–and still healthy–ideas. And thanks for including my ovoids (hee hee) and truffles!
Happy Easter to you and yours–hope it’s a great, HEALTHY holiday for you! xo
Ricki recently posted..Wellness Weekend: March 29-April 2, 2012
You’re so welcome! It was hard to know which of your wonderful creations to highlight! I hope so for you as well. Blessings!
wow, you are making my mouth water just looking at these treats and healthy to boot, what could be better?
Thanks for the compliment, Crystal!
Thanks for posting these! I MISS my Cadbury mini eggs, those are my all time favorite candy! But, I’m dairy free while nursing my son so none of those for me this year! I’ll have to try one of the treats you mentioned instead.
I was dairy free (and egg and peanut free) while nursing as well. And those were my favorites. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to replicate those but these treats look pretty good to me! I’m hoping to try the peppermint patties and homemade peeps.
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All those treats look delicious! I really do miss some of the sugary confections and will have to admit that I do buy a few things for my son since Easter only comes once a year, but I really limit it to a small amount. We always had peeps, jelly beans and a chocolate cross in our baskets as kids and it was definitely a sugar palooza.
Thanks for featuring my eggs and peeps. I don’t know if I could qualify the peeps as healthy, but I am sure they’re a step up from the ones you get at the store
Have a good one, Adrienne.
Well, in that sense, I guess you might be right, Katie….I will probably try the peeps with another sugar.
. I was so happy to feature them!
Thanks for linking to my Easter candy! The rest of your picks look scrumptious — I hadn’t seen a lot of them. This is a great round-up!
You’re welcome, Wardeh!
That’s a great story about your journey with easter gifting. And what an incredible line-up of treats! I have no appetite atm, and I still want to look at all of them!
Ela recently posted..HAWMC #2: Words that Inspire
Sweet comment, as always, Ela! I’m not hungry either but I’d love to poke around in the kitchen with them too
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really great roundup, thanks Adrienne!
You’re welcome!
Wow, healthy Easter candies!!
I love this post.
Hmmm… Healthy mounds bars or coconut honey candy?
p.s. – I always make natural Easter egg dyes. I use spinach, red onion peels, coffee, red wine and beets.
Thanks for featuring my lemon coconut hemp seed bites! This is a really great round up
So many ideas, I wish I had time to make them all!
You’re welcome! Love your blog! Glad I found you!
Great ideas! The other day it occurred to me that there are a lot of healthy treats that my kids like but I don’t buy due to the expense. Some of those will be making an appearance in their Easter baskets (apple “chips,” fruit squeeze pouches, all fruit “roll-ups, etc.) When we visit the local healthy market, they always beg me for those treats so I’m hoping they’ll be excited to see them in their baskets.
Julie recently posted..The Chicken Nugget Fascination: How About Quinoa Nuggets?
Fantastic round up!! I NEED to make Tessa’s coconut bars! And Ricki’s sweet potato truffle – wow, so smart!
Hugs,
–Amber
Amber recently posted..Veggie and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers
Thank-you SO much for this list!!!! I really appreciate you taking the time to do this!
Mrs. Z recently posted..So wrong on SO many levels…
I might consider making some cute, natural konnyaku with yacon to sweeten for the holidays~ ;p
Great collection! Thanks so much for putting this together. Every holiday I end up with a candy overload :/ Some of the smaller ideas would be perfect with some waxed paper in a paper Easter basket!
Kayla recently posted..Paper Basket [Free Printable + Cutting File]
Thanks so much for this list! For some reason, the link for the Mounds Bars didn’t work for me, so I went hunting and found them here. http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2012/02/coconut-secret-barshomemade-healthy.html Hope that helps someone else!
Thanks! I was having issues w/ it yesterday and thought I’d fixed it! It should be working now!
I love your idea of filling eggs w/ toys and fruit and other things instead of candy! I recently and am still working on going vegan and would love for my kids to eat healthy, not saying they have to go vegan but all the junk food is for special times! What a great idea, I’ll have to implement that in the future when hubby and I have kids!
Great post!
Bridget Hedger recently posted..Spicy Mexican Quinoa Soup
Thanks for the kind words, Bridget! I look forward to seeing you around again!
These look so delicious….but my hubby has Reeses eggs in the fridge and now I want one NOW! LOL!
Erin recently posted..Resources for a Natural Pregnancy {A Natural Phenomenon}
Eek!!! Run away!
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Although my family has not taken the plunge to eliminate sugar from our diets (though with 2 ADHD boys, I really need to consider it!), I really thought that these ideas looked delicious! I think that these are cost effective alternatives and the fact that they are healthy makes them look even better! Great post!
Alicia recently posted..A Card for Emily
I really struggle to bake for our gluten-free teenager. I am so thrilled to find your site! Thank you!
I hope to be of some help! Welcome!
This is such a great resource of links to healthier treats for Easter, as well as any other time too! Thank you for sharing it, and your other posts, with the Gallery of Favorites.
So many healthier alternatives!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Jill recently posted..Fabric bukuro
Thank you for featuring my post in the round up! What a beautiful blog you have here. Adding you to the blog roll.
You are so kind! I love yours – really! A friend introduce me. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
I used Katie’s egg dye tricks last year, and it worked great! The blue was very strong….no baking soda though…
Glad you liked the the mounds!
What a great list! I can’t wait to try some of these.
Sherri recently posted..Italian Easter Bread
It’s nice to know all the things we can make at home! I’ve managed to steer clear of buying Easter candy this year. But my husband already stocked up on jelly beans.
Julia recently posted..Kalonji Seed Bread: Exploring Spices of the World
Hah – those were my nemesis in my pre sugar free days.