Signed Up for Snacks? 19 Nut-Free Halloween Class Party Snacks Kids Really Gobble Up

You signed up for the Halloween class party snacks. Now you need something spooky, simple, nut-free and enough for 25 kids, without a sugar overload. These ideas are mostly fruit, veggies and cheese, and kids actually eat them. Every one is free of peanuts and tree nuts, and each comes with a make-ahead tip. Always check with the teacher about allergies and school food rules first..

Halloween class party snacks start with one big spooky platter

Want one tray that does it all? Put a few of the ideas below together on one big platter on an orange and black checked tablecloth. Peeled clementine pumpkins, banana ghosts, cheese brooms, a veggie skeleton and apple monster mouths look amazing side by side, and every one is nut-free. This is the tray that makes the room mom a hero.

You will need: Serves 25: 10 clementines, 5 bananas, 6 string cheese sticks, 12 pretzel sticks, chives, 2 cups baby carrots, celery and cucumber sticks, 1 cup hummus or ranch, 4 apples, 1/2 cup sunflower seed butter, mini marshmallows, 6 cups popcorn.

How to make it: Make the clementine pumpkins, cheese brooms and apple mouths using the recipes below. Build the veggie skeleton on one side of a large tray with the dip bowl as the skull. Fill the open spaces with the clementines, brooms and apple mouths. Add the banana ghosts last, just before serving, and set cups of popcorn around the tray.

Halloween class party snacks that look like pumpkins: clementines

This is the easiest spooky snack on the list, and kids think it is magic. Peel a clementine, push a tiny piece of celery into the top, and you have a little pumpkin. No cooking, no nuts and no mess. Peel them the morning of the party so they stay fresh, and pack them in a covered container. Would your kids eat the stem too?

You will need: Makes 25: 25 clementines or other easy peel mandarins, 3 celery stalks.

How to make it: Peel each clementine and remove any loose white strings. Cut the celery into thin sticks about 1 inch long. Push one stick into the top center of each clementine. Arrange on a tray, cover and keep cool until party time. Prep time about 25 minutes.

Banana ghosts

Banana ghosts are classic Halloween class party snacks for a reason. Cut bananas in half, stand them up and give each one two eyes and a surprised little mouth. Make them right before serving, or brush the cut ends with a little lemon or orange juice so they do not brown. Choose chocolate chips that are made in a nut-free facility.

You will need: Makes 26: 13 bananas, about 80 mini chocolate chips (nut-free facility), 2 tablespoons orange or lemon juice.

How to make it: Peel the bananas and cut each in half crosswise. Brush the cut ends with juice. Stand them cut side down on a tray. Press 2 mini chips in for eyes and 1 for a mouth, pointed side in. Serve within 1 hour. Prep time about 15 minutes.

String cheese witch brooms

Of all the Halloween class party snacks here, these witch brooms are almost too cute to eat. A pretzel stick is the handle, half a cheese stick is the broom, and a thin chive ties it together. They are full of protein and very kid friendly. Pick pretzels with no nut warning on the label. Who in your house would fly away on one of these?

You will need: Makes 24: 12 string cheese sticks, 24 thin pretzel sticks, 1 bunch fresh chives.

How to make it: Cut each cheese stick in half crosswise. Cut slits up from the bottom of each piece, about two thirds of the way, and fluff the strands to make bristles. Push a pretzel stick into the top. Tie a chive around the top and trim. Keep cold until serving. Prep time about 25 minutes.

Halloween class party snacks for veggie lovers: the skeleton tray

Kids who say they hate vegetables will reach for the skeleton. Use a small bowl of hummus or ranch as the skull, then build the spine, ribs, arms and legs with carrots, celery, cucumbers and peppers. It is a fun centerpiece, and it disappears fast. Hummus has sesame, so use ranch or a white bean dip if anyone in the class has a sesame allergy.

You will need: Serves 25: 1 small bowl hummus or ranch dip (2 cups), 2 black olive slices, 2 cups baby carrots, 4 celery stalks cut in sticks, 2 cucumbers cut in sticks, 2 red and 2 orange bell peppers in strips, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 cup cauliflower florets.

How to make it: Set the bowl of dip at the top of a large tray and add olive eyes. Lay cucumber sticks down the middle for the spine. Use pepper strips and carrots for ribs, celery for arms and legs, tomatoes for hands and cauliflower for feet. Cover and chill. Prep time about 30 minutes.

Apple monster mouths with sunflower butter

Monster mouths are a Halloween favorite, and this version of Halloween class party snacks is nut-free. Smooth sunflower seed butter is the glue, mini marshmallows make the teeth and a strawberry slice is the tongue. Squeeze a little lemon on the apples so they stay bright. Ask your teacher first, since some classrooms also limit seeds.

You will need: Makes 24: 6 red apples cored and each cut into 8 wedges, 1 cup sunflower seed butter, 1 bag mini marshmallows, 6 strawberries sliced, juice of 1 lemon.

How to make it: Toss the apple wedges with lemon juice and pat dry. Spread sunflower butter on one side of each wedge. Press a row of marshmallows into the butter on half the wedges, add a strawberry slice as a tongue, and top with a second wedge, butter side down. Prep time about 30 minutes.

Mummy pita pizzas

If your party is around lunchtime, mummy pizzas are filling Halloween class party snacks. Mini pitas get pizza sauce, strips of mozzarella crisscrossed like bandages and two olive slices for eyes. Bake them in the morning and pack them warm in foil, or serve at room temperature. Check school rules first, since some classes only allow store-bought food. Pepperoni or plain for your crew?

You will need: Makes 24: 24 mini pita rounds, 1 1/2 cups pizza sauce, 12 slices mozzarella cut into thin strips, 24 black olives sliced.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lay the pitas on sheet pans and spread with sauce. Crisscross the cheese strips over the top like bandages, leaving a gap near the top for eyes. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until melted. Add 2 olive slices as eyes. Prep and bake time about 30 minutes.

Halloween class party snacks in a pumpkin: pepper jack-o-lanterns

Orange bell peppers make perfect little jack-o-lanterns. Carve simple faces, fill them with veggie sticks and set out a bowl of ranch. Each pepper holds sticks for several kids, and they look so cute on the table. Bonus: after the party, the peppers can be chopped into tomorrow’s dinner. What face would you carve?

You will need: Serves 25: 5 orange bell peppers, 2 cups baby carrots or carrot sticks, 4 celery stalks cut in sticks, 2 cucumbers cut in sticks, 2 cups ranch dip.

How to make it: Cut the tops off the peppers and pull out the seeds. With a small knife, cut out triangle eyes, a nose and a zigzag mouth. Stand the veggie sticks upright inside each pepper. Serve with ranch in small cups so no one double dips. Prep time about 25 minutes.

Frankenstein kiwi cups

Kiwis are already green and fuzzy, so they are just waiting to become Frankenstein. Cut them in half, set them in little cups and add candy eyes and blueberry hair. They are full of vitamin C and really fun to eat with a spoon. Use candy eyes that are free of nut warnings, or dots of plain yogurt instead.

You will need: Makes 24: 12 kiwis, 48 candy eyes or small dots of thick yogurt, 1 cup blueberries, 24 small clear cups, 24 small spoons.

How to make it: Cut the kiwis in half crosswise and trim a little skin off the top of each half so it sits flat like a flat head. Set each half in a cup, cut side facing out. Press on 2 candy eyes. Line a few blueberries along the top as hair. Serve with spoons. Prep time about 20 minutes.

Pumpkin yogurt dip with apples

This creamy dip tastes like pumpkin pie, but it is mostly yogurt and pumpkin. Serve it in a small hollowed pumpkin for a wow moment, with apple slices, pear slices and graham crackers for dipping. Spoon it into small cups for each child so there is no double dipping. Pick graham crackers with no nut warning on the label.

You will need: Serves 25: 2 cups plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree, 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 6 apples and 4 pears sliced, 1 box graham crackers.

How to make it: Whisk the yogurt, pumpkin, maple syrup and spice until smooth. Chill at least 1 hour. Toss the apple and pear slices with a little lemon juice. Serve the dip in a small hollowed pumpkin or in little cups, with fruit and graham crackers on the side. Note: honey is not safe for babies under 1. Prep time about 20 minutes.

Ghost quesadillas

A ghost shaped cookie cutter turns plain cheese quesadillas into a spooky lunch. Two black beans make the eyes. They are filling, mild and easy to eat with little hands. Make the quesadillas at home, cut the shapes, and pack them warm in foil. The scraps are your lunch. Would your class pick ghosts or bats?

You will need: Makes 24 ghosts: 16 flour tortillas (8 inch), 3 cups shredded mild cheddar or Monterey Jack, 1 tablespoon butter, 1/4 cup canned black beans rinsed, mild salsa for serving.

How to make it: Sprinkle cheese over 8 tortillas and top each with a second tortilla. Cook in a buttered skillet over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and melted. Cool 2 minutes, then press out 3 ghosts from each with a cookie cutter. Press on 2 bean eyes. Serve with salsa. Prep time about 35 minutes.

Spooky popcorn cups (nut-free mix)

Popcorn is a whole grain and very cheap, which makes it a great base for Halloween class party snacks. Toss it with pretzels, raisins and dried cranberries for sweet and salty crunch, then scoop it into little paper cups. Skip store-bought mixes that may contain nuts. One note: pediatricians advise skipping popcorn for children under 4, so save this one for older classes.

You will need: Serves 25: 16 cups air popped popcorn, 3 tablespoons melted butter or oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3 cups mini pretzels, 1 cup raisins, 1 cup dried cranberries, 25 small paper cups.

How to make it: Toss the warm popcorn with the butter and salt. Let it cool completely. Stir in the pretzels, raisins and cranberries. Scoop into paper cups or small bags and fold the tops. Prep time about 15 minutes.

Spiderweb chips and salsa

Turn a bowl of salsa into a spooky spiderweb with a little sour cream. Pipe circles on top, then drag a toothpick from the middle out to make the web. Serve with tortilla chips and a few chips standing up for a creepy look. It is savory, mild and always popular. Mild or medium salsa for your class?

You will need: Serves 25: 3 cups mild salsa, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 large bags tortilla chips, 1 zip top bag for piping.

How to make it: Spread the salsa in a wide shallow bowl. Spoon the sour cream into a zip top bag and snip a tiny corner. Pipe 4 rings of sour cream on the salsa. Drag a toothpick from the center to the edge 8 times to make a web. Serve with chips in small paper cups so no one double dips. Prep time about 10 minutes.

Halloween class party snacks that crunch: pretzel and cheese bones

Pretzel sticks with a little mozzarella ball on each end look just like cartoon bones. They take two ingredients and a few minutes, and kids love building their own. Stack them in a cup or pile them on a black plate for a spooky look. Do you think your kids would eat them or play with them first?

You will need: Makes 25: 25 thin pretzel sticks, 50 small fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine), patted dry.

How to make it: Gently push one mozzarella ball onto each end of a pretzel stick. Lay them on a plate or tray in a pile. Cover and keep cold until serving, and serve within 1 hour so the pretzels stay crisp. Prep time about 15 minutes.

Spider crackers

These little spiders are crunchy, creamy and silly. Sandwich two round crackers with cream cheese, poke in pretzel stick legs and add raisin eyes. They are fun for kids to make together if your school allows a snack building station. Pick crackers with no nut warning on the label.

You will need: Makes 24: 48 round butter crackers, 1 cup soft cream cheese, 1 bag thin pretzel sticks broken in half (about 192 pieces), 48 raisins.

How to make it: Spread cream cheese on 24 crackers. Press 4 pretzel halves into the cream cheese on each side so the legs stick out. Top with a second cracker. Dab a tiny bit of cream cheese on top and press on 2 raisins for eyes. Serve within 2 hours. Prep time about 30 minutes.

Monster eyeball cups

Grapes and mozzarella in a cup look like a pile of monster eyeballs, especially with a halved blueberry on top as a pupil. Cups are easier and safer than skewers for little kids. Always cut grapes in half for young children, and into quarters for toddlers. Which color grapes would your kids pick: green or red?

You will need: Makes 25: 4 pounds seedless red and green grapes, 50 small mozzarella balls, 13 blueberries halved, 25 small clear cups.

How to make it: Cut the grapes in half lengthwise. Divide the grapes and most of the mozzarella among the cups. Top each cup with 1 mozzarella ball and press half a blueberry on top as the pupil. Cover and keep cold. Prep time about 30 minutes.

Monster fruit cups (store-bought shortcut)

Short on time? Buy a big tub of cut fruit or a party pack of fruit cups from the store and dress them up. A few candy eyes or a Halloween sticker on each lid turns plain fruit into monsters. Many schools ask for store-bought, sealed food anyway, so this one is easy to approve. For more spooky family food, see our spooky Halloween dinner ideas.

You will need: Serves 25: 25 store-bought fruit cups or 1 large tub cut melon and grapes (about 6 pounds), 25 clear cups with lids, Halloween stickers or candy eyes free of nut warnings, small spoons.

How to make it: If using a tub, cut any grapes in half and divide the fruit into clear cups. Snap on the lids. Add a sticker face to each lid, or press candy eyes onto a melon piece on top. Keep cold until serving. Prep time about 15 minutes.

Bento snack boxes

Snack boxes are smart Halloween class party snacks, because every child gets their own and nothing is shared from one bowl. Fill each with pretzels, veggies, a little dip and a few crackers. Add a small Halloween pick or sticker on the lid. Label the box with what is inside so parents with allergies can check at a glance.

You will need: Makes 25: 25 small snack boxes with lids, 2 bags mini pretzels, 2 pounds baby carrots, 6 celery stalks in sticks, 25 small cups hummus or ranch, 1 box crackers (no nut warning), 25 Halloween stickers.

How to make it: Line up the boxes. Add a cup of dip to each. Fill the other sections with pretzels, carrots, celery and crackers. Snap the lids shut, add a sticker and a simple ingredient label, and keep cold. Prep time about 40 minutes.

Halloween class party snacks checklist: veggie cups and water

Our last tip is the most important one. Individual veggie cups with dip on the bottom keep things clean and safe. Then run through a quick checklist: ask the teacher about allergies and school rules, label every dish with its ingredients, bring hand wipes, and serve water instead of soda. Which of these Halloween class party snacks will you bring this year?

You will need: Makes 25: 25 clear cups, 3 cups hummus or ranch, 2 pounds carrots cut in sticks, 6 celery stalks in sticks, 2 cucumbers in sticks, 25 small water bottles, 1 pack hand wipes, ingredient labels.

How to make it: Spoon 2 tablespoons of dip into the bottom of each cup. Stand a mix of veggie sticks upright in the dip. Cover and chill. Pack the water bottles, wipes and labels in a separate bag. Write each dish’s ingredients on a label and tape it to the tray. Prep time about 35 minutes.