So easy and fun to make, there’s no excuse not to make a double batch and pass them out as part of your Halloween ghosting tradition.
What? You’ve never heard of “Ghosting” or being “Boo’d” at Halloween?
Well, let me just tell you all about this super fun “Ghosting” tradition. Not that there is much to tell — it’s so easy!
All you do is “ring & run” and anonymously leave behind a “ghost-it note” (as my daughter calls it) and homemade gluten-free crispy rice treats, marshmallow peeps, homemade brownies … on your neighbors’ doorsteps! (If you’re my neighbor, pretend you didn’t see this!).
I hope you love this tradition with with your kiddos — it’s so fun, especially when EVERYBOO-dy can eat the treats! (sorry, I had to!)
Consider that you, my friends, have now been virtually “ghosted” by me and pass on the fun (and the treats) to your neighbors!
These are definitely a neighborhood favorite.
But a few things to note when making these gluten free Pumpkin Crispy Rice Treats: they’re super cute and adorable and yummy, yes, but be sure to actually make them gluten free! And even vegan if you want to share them with as many kiddos (and grown-ups!) as possible!
For starters, Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free. That’s right, they are NOT gluten free in the U.S. That’s because malt flavoring is one of the ingredients and malt flavoring is made with barley (i.e. gluten).
I’ve linked to several other great choices for gluten free crispy (don’t use puffed!) rice cereals for you in the recipe, below.
Also, be sure the spearmint leaf candies are gluten free; again, I’ve linked to choices for you. And for marshmallows, there are vegan products now, too! There are even pumpkin flavored vegan marshmallows! And of course, vegan butter options abound.
Always check labels as ingredients change, and have a look at my gluten free Candy List and article on reading labels for updates and happier haunting.
Gluten Free Pumpkin Crispy Rice Treat Recipe
Gluten Free Pumpkin Crispy Rice Treat Recipe
Gluten Free Pumpkin Crispy Rice Treats make ordinary crispy rice treats look boring! These super adorable Halloween treats are fun to make, to share and to eat!
Ingredients
Spooky Pumpkin Crispy Rice Treats
- 3 Tbs. butter or non-dairy alternative (e.g. Earth Balance® Buttery Sticks)
- 12 oz large or 6 cups miniature marshmallows — fresh — (vegan marshmallow brands include Dandies Vegan Marshmallows®)
- 4 cups+ Gluten-Free Crispy Rice Cereal (like Erewhon® Crispy Brown Rice Cereal, Nature's Path, One Degree Organics Rice Crisps Cereal)
- orange colored sanding sugar (optional)
- Gluten-Free Spearmint Leaves Candy (e.g. Walgreens Spearmint Leaves or Nuts.com)
Instructions
Place butter in a large, deep pot over low heat on the stove-top. Stir just until melted with a large wooden spoon or silicone spatula. Overcooking the marshmallows will make them hard. Add the fresh marshmallows (they should be very soft and squishy) and stir constantly, until melted.
Remove from heat and slowly stir in the cereal. You may add more cereal to the mixture if it is too marshmallow-y, but add slowly because these treats should be more malleable than regular bar treats.
The mixture will begin to harden as it cools, so work quickly and if possible, have a partner or kid ready to help! Scoop out balls of equal size (expect anywhere from 12-14, depending on size), then roll the balls in orange sanding sugar while pressing and smoothing them into pumpkin shapes. An ice cream scoop is helpful here, since the mixture will be hot.
Using a sharp knife, cut the spearmint leaves into stems and slice thinly for leaves. Wet the ends lightly and press onto formed pumpkins. Decorate the faces, if you like, using frosting or other gluten-free candies. Seal in airtight containers if they’re not all eaten right away!
Notes
Dandies® also makes Pumpkin flavored vegan marshmallows for something different!
Gluten Free Spearmint Leaf Candies are also available on-line from Nuts.com; Walgreens.com; Amazon.com
More Gluten-Free Candy information available on my updated Gluten Free Candy Post!
Other Gluten Free Crispy Rice Cereals: Nature's Path; One Degree Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps;
Nutrition Information
Yield 14 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 106Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 7mgSodium 48mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 0gSugar 14gProtein 1g
Please keep in mind that nutrition information provided is per serving, which may vary. While we have taken care to provide you with the most accurate nutritional values possible, please note that this information may differ significantly depending on the exact ingredients and brands that you choose to use to make this recipe. Additionally, where options are given for ingredients, the resulting calculation may include all ingredient options instead of only one per line, skewing the totals significantly.
Happy Halloween!!
As a new member to your e-mail club, I appreciate the recipes and ideas shared. I read about a pumpkin spice marshmallow on the West Coast from a reader, and hope they make their way to the East Coast! Thanks for sharing…..
MaryAnne & anyone else looking for Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows? You can get them on-line and they’re even vegan! Go to Sweet & Sara’s!
MaryAnne – welcome!!! So glad to have you join our gluten-free club!
Hope you enjoy! Stop by on Facebook too!
Jules….I am a new member to your e-mail club. I like your blog, and appreciate the recipes and ideas. I hope we get the pumpkin spice marshmallows on the East Coast that one of your readers on the West Coast wrote about….Thanks!
YEA! I have “liked” you! I am excited for baking season and to make more O’Henry Bars and Scotcheroos!
Pick me! Pick me! 
I liked you the first time I met you, lol. On-line. I have a friend who is the Rice Krispy Treat QUEEN! I can’t eat hers now. It would be fun to bring in a batch of these and let everyone try them! And join them.