No Tricks, Just (Local) Treats

While Halloween doesn’t have the same culinary standards as say, Thanksgiving, it’s still a holiday rooted in food tradition. Today, trick-or-treaters ascend on neighborhoods in pursuit of the best candy they can find. But before candy became the holiday staple in the mid-20th century, there were multiple other food traditions that marked the end of October. 

In medieval times, soul cakes – small round shortbread biscuits, usually decorated with a cross – were baked to celebrate All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day. In the 1800s, apple bobbing became a popular Halloween tradition, which is fitting as the holiday falls soon after the apple harvest ends for the year. To this day, barmbrack (a sweet yeasted loaf with raisins) is baked in Ireland each October. 

And it wasn’t until 1888 that the world’s most controversial candy – the candy corn – was born, leading to the candy-crazed holiday that we celebrate today. 

Eat, Drink, and Be Scary: Sweet Treats at Markets

Halloween in the United States has become known for highly processed and individually-wrapped candy. Our markets don’t sell products or beverages with high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, phosphoric acid, or artificial flavoring – knocking out fan favorites like candy corn, Sour Patch Kids, Reese’s Take 5, Nerds, and Baby Ruth bars out of our market booths. Not to mention they are all made by a select few very large corporations like Mars and Nestle, which don’t exactly support our local economy and food system. 

But have no fear: there are plenty of options to satisfy your spooky Halloween sweet tooth at our markets. And you’ll know that the colors and flavors are au naturale and Colorado-made.  

Pumpkin Pie: Why confine one of the greatest desserts to one holiday? Pumpkin pie should be for Halloween, too. Hinman’s Pie pumpkin pie is the perfect way to celebrate the fall season and pay homage to the lovely jack-o-lanterns sitting on your porch.

Chocolate: For chocoholics, we always recommend Bibamba Artisan Chocolate. This single origin chocolate is made from cocoa sourced from Patrick and Mara’s (Bibamba’s co-owners) farm in Cameroon. To commemorate the orange hues of Halloween, their Orange Spark flavor would be a perfect choice.

Ice Cream: If you scream for ice cream, you have to try the seasonal flavors from Pint’s Peak Ice Cream and Best One Yet. Pint’s Peak is serving pumpkin roll ice cream and, with owner Caitlin’s background as a pastry chef, we are sure the flavor swirls will be out of this world. Helen, the mastermind behind the vegan masterpieces of Best One Yet, is whipping up a trio of ghoulish flavors for the holiday: Monster Matcha, Candy Corn, and Swamp Slime. You’ll just have to come to market to see and taste how these candy favorites have been incorporated into ice creams.