Spooktacularly Safe: Easy Gluten & Dairy-Free Halloween Mummy Pretzels for All Ages

These Gluten & Dairy Free Mummy Pretzels are a fun, easy, and kid-friendly Halloween treat that are as cute as they are delicious. This treat has no tricks, as it’s free of: gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts–making them top-8-free too. They’re also completely vegan!

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Why These Allergy-Friendly Mummy Pretzels are a Halloween Must-Have

There’s nothing quite like the joy of festive food during the holidays, and Halloween, with its playful spookiness, absolutely deserves treats that are both fun and inclusive. These Mummy Pretzels perfectly capture that spirit! They’re not just a delicious snack; they’re a celebration of safe eating, making Halloween enjoyable for everyone, especially those with dietary restrictions.

I originally whipped up these adorable mummy pretzels as a delightful after-school surprise for my own children, and their reactions were priceless. But their versatility goes far beyond a simple snack. Imagine them as a hands-on activity at a kid’s Halloween party – they’re incredibly easy to make, even for little hands, transforming into a fun food craft. For an adult gathering, they add a charmingly spooky touch to any spread, offering a thoughtful and delicious option for guests with allergies or dietary preferences. Whether it’s for a school event, a festive party, or a cozy family activity, these gluten and dairy-free mummy pretzels are guaranteed to be a hit!

Beyond their charming appearance, these pretzels represent an important aspect of holiday celebrations: inclusion. For families navigating food allergies, finding treats that are both safe and exciting can often be a challenge. This recipe removes that worry, ensuring that no one feels left out. It’s about creating happy memories where everyone can indulge in the Halloween spirit without a second thought about tricky ingredients. Plus, making them is a simple process that yields impressive results, adding a touch of homemade magic to your spooky festivities.

Unraveling the Mystery of Edible Eyeballs: Ingredients and Vegan Options

Edible candy eyeballs are an absolute game-changer for adding instant character to Halloween treats, and I use them in several of my spooky recipes. Naturally, as an allergy-aware parent, I frequently get asked about their ingredients. It’s crucial to know what’s in every component, especially for those managing multiple allergies.

The edible eyeballs I typically use, often found in the cake decorating aisle at major retailers like Walmart or conveniently purchased on Amazon, generally contain ingredients such as:

Dextrose, corn starch, dextrin, sugar, magnesium stearate, gum arabic, artificial flavor, confections’ glaze, carnauba wax, gelatin, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5.

It’s important to note that due to the inclusion of ‘confections’ glaze’ (which can contain shellac, an insect-derived product) and ‘gelatin’ (an animal-derived product), these specific Wilton eyeballs are **not considered vegan**. This is a critical distinction for strictly vegan diets.

For those following a strict vegan lifestyle, don’t despair! There are excellent vegan alternatives available. You can find specialized vegan eyeballs from various brands online. Alternatively, you can easily create the illusion of eyes by using a small dot of black edible gel or even melted vegan chocolate applied with a toothpick. This ensures that your mummy pretzels remain entirely vegan-friendly while still looking adorably spooky. Always remember to double-check labels, as ingredient formulations can vary between brands and over time.

The Quest for Dairy-Free & Vegan White Chocolate: A Dream Come True

For years, I patiently waited – literally YEARS – for a truly safe and delicious dairy-free white chocolate to become readily available. The versatility and creamy taste of white chocolate had me dreaming of covering countless treats, and now, finally, those dreams can come true! Being able to experiment with it for recipes like these mummy pretzels is incredibly exciting. Hooray for progress in allergy-friendly foods!

The market for dairy-free white chocolate has expanded wonderfully, offering several fantastic options for these mummy pretzels and beyond. Here’s a closer look at some of my top recommendations, each with its own unique characteristics:

**Nestle Toll House Allergen-Free White Morsels:** This was one of the earlier mainstream options. While I find its flavor to be acceptable in a pinch, it might not be my first choice for a standout taste. However, it’s widely available at stores like Walmart, making it a convenient option. It’s always wise to check their current ingredients here to ensure it meets your specific dietary needs.
**Enjoy Life White Chocolate Mini Chips:** Enjoy Life has long been a trusted brand in the allergy-friendly community, and their recent addition of white chocolate chips is exciting. I’ve heard great things about them and look forward to trying them in future recipes. You can find more information about them on their website here.
**Pascha White Chocolate:** Pascha offers high-quality vegan chocolate, including a white chocolate option. While it’s a bit more of an investment due to its premium nature, its rich flavor and clean ingredients are often worth it for special occasions or when you want the very best. You can explore their products on Amazon.
**No Whey White Chocolate Bars:** No Whey is another excellent brand dedicated to allergen-free chocolate. They offer white chocolate in bar form, which can be easily melted down for dipping. The only drawback for me personally is that they aren’t widely stocked in stores near my location, but they are accessible online here.
**Walmart Great Value Organic White Baking Chips:** I recently discovered Walmart’s own organic white baking chips under their Great Value brand, and I’ve been incredibly impressed. This isn’t a sponsored mention, but I truly appreciate their commitment to simple ingredients. The front label proudly states: “free from the 8 major food allergens and artificial colors & flavors.” More importantly, I find their taste to be exceptionally good and spot-on for what you’d expect from white chocolate. For those diligently checking labels, the ingredients list is refreshingly straightforward:
- Organic cane sugar, organic palm kernel oil, organic sunflower lecithin, organic vanilla extract.

When selecting your dairy-free white chocolate, remember that the melting properties can vary slightly between brands. Some might be thicker, while others melt more smoothly. You can always adjust the consistency by adding a tiny bit more coconut oil or safe shortening if needed. With these wonderful options, creating truly delicious and allergy-friendly mummy pretzels has never been easier or more satisfying. And as you can see, choosing any of these options ensures your Halloween treat is not only dairy-free but entirely vegan too!

Of course, if you don’t have any specific dietary restrictions, you are welcome to use any traditional white chocolate you prefer. The goal is always to enjoy the creative process and the delicious outcome!

Crafting Gluten-Free Mummy Pretzels: The Perfect Crunch

Just as with the white chocolate, the choice of pretzels is key to ensuring these mummy treats are truly inclusive. For those without a gluten allergy, any mini pretzels you enjoy will work perfectly. However, for my family, navigating a wheat allergy for my son and gluten intolerance for my husband means we always reach for reliable gluten-free options.

Our long-standing favorite gluten-free pretzel, and one I highly recommend, is from Snyders of Hanover. This is another unsponsored endorsement, born purely from years of satisfying crunchy snack experiences. They’ve consistently delivered on taste and texture, making them a staple in our pantry. According to the packaging I have, their ingredients typically include:

Corn starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, palm oil, cellulose gum, salt, dextrose, baking powder (sodium bicarbonate, corn starch monocalcium phosphate), sunflower lecithin, yeast, citric acid.

This blend of starches provides a satisfying crunch that closely mimics traditional pretzels, a crucial factor for a successful mummy pretzel experience! While Snyders is our go-to, the market for gluten-free pretzels has exploded with fantastic options. Brands like Glutino and Quinns also offer excellent choices that many people love. Each brand might have a slightly different texture or saltiness, so feel free to experiment to find the one that best suits your personal taste preference and dietary needs. When choosing, always check the label not just for “gluten-free” certification but also for any other allergens important to your household, like soy or corn, if those are concerns.

Making sure the pretzels hold up to dipping in white chocolate is important; mini pretzels work best as they are less likely to break. The robust nature of these gluten-free varieties ensures they remain intact, offering that delightful combination of sweet and salty crunch that makes mummy pretzels so irresistible. With a little care in selecting your ingredients, these treats will be a delicious and worry-free addition to your Halloween festivities.

Explore More Gluten & Dairy-Free Halloween Treats!

Do I have more allergy-friendly Halloween treats? Absolutely! It brings me so much joy to whip up spooky and safe treats for my food-allergic children. The delight on their faces is truly unforgettable, and I believe these special efforts make a lasting impression, making Halloween an even more magical and inclusive holiday for them. For instance, they still talk about the epic Halloween cake I made years ago!

If you’re looking to expand your repertoire of delicious and worry-free Halloween goodies, be sure to check out these fantastic allergy-friendly Halloween treats:

Allergy Friendly Halloween Cake: A show-stopping centerpiece that’s safe for many allergies, perfect for a memorable party.
Venus Fly Trap Cupcakes: Unique and creative cupcakes that will surely spark conversation and delight.
Egg Free Ghost Meringues: Light, airy, and hauntingly delicious treats that are surprisingly simple to make without eggs.
Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bats: Rich chocolate cookies cut into festive bat shapes, perfect for decorating.
Monster Eye Balls (Totally Store Bought!): A genius shortcut for quick and impressive monster-themed treats using readily available items.
Top 8 Free Halloween Candy + Trick Or Treating Tips: Essential guide for navigating trick-or-treating safely and discovering allergy-friendly candy options.
Frankenstein Krispies: A fun and colorful twist on a classic treat, made safe for allergies.
Spider Sugar Cookies Bars: Easy-to-make cookie bars decorated to look like creepy crawly spiders, perfect for a crowd.

Each of these recipes is designed with inclusivity in mind, ensuring that Halloween remains a joyful and delicious occasion for every child, regardless of their food allergies. Happy haunting and happy baking!

Gluten & Dairy Free Halloween Mummy Pretzels

Yield:
24 pretzels

Prep Time:
5 minutes

Cook Time:
10 minutes

Additional Time:
30 minutes

Total Time:
45 minutes

These Gluten & Dairy Free Mummy Pretzels are a fun, easy and kid-friendly Halloween treat that are as cute as they are delicious. This treat has no tricks as it’s free of: gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanuts and tree nuts–which makes them top-8-free too. They’re also vegan!

Ingredients

Mini gluten-free pretzels (see post for brands)
1 and 1/4 cup dairy-free white chocolate chips, divided (see post for brands)
1 Tablespoon coconut oil or safe shortening

SUPPLIES:

Edible Candy Eye Balls (or vegan alternative, see post)
Plastic baggie
Parchment paper

Instructions

Line a baking tray with parchment paper. This will prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
In a microwavable bowl, place only 1 cup of the dairy-free white chocolate chips and the tablespoon of coconut oil. The coconut oil helps achieve a smooth, dippable consistency.
Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stopping to stir after each interval until the chocolate chips are completely melted and smooth. Be careful not to overheat to prevent seizing.
Place one pretzel at a time in the melted white chocolate. Use a fork to scoop out the pretzel, gently knocking off any excess chocolate to avoid thick drips. Set the wet pretzel on the parchment paper-lined tray.
Immediately place two edible eyeballs on top of each dipped pretzel, near the top. They may slide around a bit, so you might need to gently re-stabilize them with a toothpick or your finger before the chocolate sets.
Continue dipping all of the pretzels and adding eyeballs until all are done.
Allow the dipped pretzels to set for 5-10 minutes at room temperature, or a few minutes in the fridge, until the chocolate is firm enough to handle.
Add the remaining 1/4 cup of dairy-free white chocolate chips to the microwaveable bowl. This step isn’t strictly necessary, but I’ve found that adding more chips results in a slightly thicker mixture, making the mummy stripes stand out better and giving them a more defined texture.
Put the bowl back in the microwave and melt the additional chips as before, in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
While the chocolate mixture is still melted but not super hot, transfer it into a plastic baggie. Snip a very tiny corner off of the bag – this creates a fine tip for piping the mummy “bandages.”
Squeeze random lines across the top of your pretzels, crisscrossing them over the eyeballs, to create the iconic mummy “stripes.” Be creative with your patterns!
Allow the pretzels to set completely before removing them from the parchment paper and serving. This can take about 30 minutes at room temperature or 10-15 minutes in the refrigerator. Keep them chilled or at room temperature, covered or uncovered, and enjoy them within a day for best freshness.

Notes

If you have questions about the ingredients or specific store-bought products mentioned, please refer to the detailed paragraphs above the recipe for more insights and recommendations.

*Our family’s allergies, while severe and frequently re-tested, allow us to rely strictly on what is stated on product labels. I personally do not contact companies to inquire about ingredient derivations or potential cross-contact issues. If your allergies necessitate these extra precautions, please conduct your own research. I cannot guarantee the safety of any ingredient for all individuals; only you can determine what is safe for your specific needs. My intention is simply to share what works effectively for our family.

**If you are preparing these treats for someone with food allergies, and you do not personally manage food allergies, I HIGHLY recommend having them verify every single brand and ingredient you plan to use. This ensures they are comfortable with each component of the recipe. Additionally, it’s crucial to discuss and implement measures to prevent cross-contamination in your kitchen.

This recipe was inspired and adapted from Bread With a Side of Butter’s Halloween Mummy Pretzels.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 26Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 16mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g

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