Happy Halloween, my lovely friends!
These Easy Halloween Mummy Bites are a spooktacular treat! This no-bake recipe uses simple pantry staples to create a snack that’s not only frightfully adorable but also packs a healthy twist. These treats are the ultimate ghoulish goodies to savour this Halloween. Bonus: they’re gluten-free, dairy-free, and totally vegan!

I’m going to let you in on something: I absolutely love making no-bake recipes! There’s something incredibly satisfying about creating a sweet treat recipe that you can whip up on a whim when you’re craving something sweet. Especially when you use natural, wholesome ingredients that are good for your health and well-being. That’s what Pure Sprinkles is about after all :).

I wanted to experiment with new ingredients while keeping things super easy because Halloween is a time for spooky movies, costumes, and fun, not spending hours in the kitchen. So, here’s a quick and simple, no-bake recipe to enjoy this Halloween season.

For this year’s Halloween recipe, I decided to give my little creations a costume – yes, you heard it right! A costume made of velvety white ‘chocolate’ wrapped around airy brown rice crispies, creamy cashew butter, and a spoonful of coconut oil. Sweetened naturally with maple syrup and a hint of vanilla. The result? Adorable mummy bites! They’re frighteningly cute, aren’t they? I just couldn’t resist.

I also opted for using cashew butter instead of marshmallows to give them a fun healthy twist, that adds a lot of depth of flavour and a beautiful contrast in textures as well.

I’m also super excited to use Camino’s new Vegan White Baking Chips! I have been waiting for the perfect recipe to use them so I can show off these beauties! 

So what’s to love about these Easy Halloween Mummy Bites?

• Loads of fun to make (especially with little kids)

• No bake recipe (that can be made ahead of time)

• Vegan friendly   • Gluten-free   • Dairy-free

• They’re super adorable

• No refined sugar or additives

And while I usually say that decorating is optional, in this case, it’s a must. It’s how we bring these cute mummies to life – well, figuratively speaking. But trust me, the effort is totally worth it. Not only do these treats taste AMAZING, but they’re also a blast to make. You can even turn it into a no-bake Halloween party with friends and family, and it’s a fantastic way to involve the kids. Who knows, it might become a Halloween tradition! So grab a spooky movie, gather in the kitchen, and whip up these delightful treats. The best part? You can indulge a little, or a lot, guilt-free. Enjoy!

Sprinkles recipe fun facts:

• WHITE BAKING CHIPS – are made with cane sugar making a healthier alternative to traditional white chocolate and are also dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan.
• COCONUT OIL – has anti-viral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties and can also boost energy levels and metabolic rate as well. 
• BROWN RICE CRISPIES – are low in calories and provide a source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals while promoting digestive health and weight management.

Let’s get into the Halloween spirit, and make some spooktacular Easy Halloween Mummy Bites! 

Enjoy!

The post Easy Halloween Mummy Bites {gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan} first appeared on Pure Sprinkles.

A warm hello, dear friends!

I have a special treat for all of you to kick off the holiday season! I’ll give you a quick hint. It’s something sweet and festive. Any guesses? Well, if you guessed chocolate *ding ding ding* you are correct!

I love the holiday season, it’s my favourite time of the year. As I am sure many of you may have noticed, I’m quite keen on chocolate and have created quite a few chocolate treat recipes to date.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, my favourite chocolate brand and one that I have used for years is Camino. They are a Canadian company owned by La Siembra Co-operative based in Ottawa (Canada’s National Capital) and the Gatineau area. I did not know they were Canadian when I first started using their products, but was delighted when I found out, as I love supporting local Canadian companies. 

Their products are ones you can feel good about on many levels, from supporting and advocating fair trade practices to supporting small-scale farmers. They use only high-quality organic ingredients, which means you are getting top-grade products that are better for health and well-being. Their products are free of a slew of allergens and many of them are gluten-free, soy lecithin-free, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly. They also use cane sugar instead of regular white sugar and use minimal ingredients without additives and preservatives. 

Camino has recently launched their new limited edition festive chocolate bars for the holiday season. I was excited to learn about their new, first-ever holiday line, as it was something I’d hoped for as a long-standing customer of their products. Needless to say, I was thrilled when they kindly gifted me these chocolate bars to try out and create this review to share with all of you. So, a big thank you to Camino for this amazing opportunity!

The beauty of these festive bars is that there is something for everyone! There is dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate! All 3 bars are gluten-free and also soy lecithin-free. They are all certified organic and kosher. One of the bars is vegan-friendly as well.

I will be breaking down this review into a few different categories with various aspects of the 3 chocolate bars.

• Packaging Design

• Description

• Taste & Flavour

• Texture

• Ways to use

So, let’s try out these lovely, festive treats, shall we?

REVIEW

PACKAGING DESIGN | ALL 3 BARS

As a Graphic Designer, I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention this aspect of these bars. Simply put, I love the designs! The winter forest wonderland theme gives a holiday feel without using traditional Christmas-themed graphics. The metallic finish on certain parts of the labels adds the razzle-dazzle feel of the holidays. As with all Camino chocolate bars, these too are packaged in environmentally conscious packaging. The wrappers are printed on acid-free paper using vegetable-based inks. The inner wrappers are biodegradable/compostable and made from wood pulp, and the outer wrappers are made of recyclable materials.

CRANBERRY, ORANGE, GINGER ZING | DARK CHOCOLATE

DESCRIPTION

This chocolate bar uses 65% dark chocolate with tiny pieces of tart cranberry and hints of bright orange, and a gentle hit of ginger.

TASTE & FLAVOUR

If you are a fan of dark chocolate, you will surely love this chocolate bar! The dark chocolate flavour is a beautiful balance between the bitter, earthy taste of the dark chocolate and the bright tart notes from the cranberry pieces and bright hint of citrus from the orange. Lastly, you get a little zing from the ginger, creating a harmonious blend of festive flavours.

• Gluten-free • Soy lecithin-free • Vegan-friendly • Dairy-free • Certified organic • Fairtrade certified • Certified kosher 

TEXTURE

It has a smooth texture without being too chalky, which can sometimes be the case with dark chocolate. The cranberry pieces are a pleasant surprise in each bite that creates a nice balance with the flavour and texture.

WAYS TO USE

Camino recommends enjoying this bar with a hot cup of tea or at the end of a nice meal. I think it would also be a welcome addition to your holiday baking: cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and endless possibilities.

CRISPY GINGERBREAD SPICE | MILK CHOCOLATE

DESCRIPTION

This chocolate bar uses 37% milk chocolate with airy cocoa crisps, creating a lovely crunchy texture. Paired with flavourful warming spices, it’s perfect for the holiday season.

TASTE & FLAVOUR

Say hello to this bar, my milk chocolate-loving friends! It’s one you are sure to enjoy. Along with the creaminess of the milk chocolate, the gingerbread spices are upfront and centre. You also get a scattering of ground hazelnuts throughout the bar adding to the crunch factor. Your taste buds are greeted with warming spices—ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. I definitely felt the hit of the ginger and cardamom most prominently, but the blend of spices works so well together. It feels warm and comforting, like eating a gingerbread cookie fresh out of the oven.

• Gluten-free • Soy lecithin-free • Certified organic • Fairtrade certified • Certified kosher 

TEXTURE

It has a lovely silky milk texture that melts in your mouth. It reminded me of hot chocolate, so luscious and creamy. Then you feel the contrast with the light cocoa crisps, and ground hazelnuts creating a delightful blend of creamy and crunchy.

WAYS TO USE

I think this bar would be a great addition for creating your holiday goodies like chocolate chip cookies, brownies, scones, cakes. There are so many other options.

WHITE COCOA CRUNCH | WHITE CHOCOLATE

DESCRIPTION

This white chocolate bar reimagines your childhood “Cookies & Cream” chocolate in a whole new way. The tiny whisps of cocoa and chocolate chips are enveloped in silky, white chocolate making for a delightful bite.

TASTE & FLAVOUR

Now for my white chocolate lovers, you are definitely in for a special treat with this bar. The white chocolate is not overly sweet (which I feel can often be the case with most white chocolate). It is just the right amount of sweetness and is wonderfully balanced with the cocoa bits and chocolate chips, creating a luscious white chocolate dream.

• Gluten-free • Soy lecithin-free • Certified organic • Fairtrade certified • Certified kosher 

TEXTURE

The white chocolate is silky smooth with the little cocoa bits that create a nice crunch. The contrast makes for a tasty bite of white chocolatey goodness.

WAYS TO USE

This bar can be thoroughly enjoyed on its own or added to your favourite holiday-baked treats such as cookies, no bake cheesecakes, and cupcakes, and so much more.

FINAL VERDICT

I honestly loved all 3 of them. Each has its own unique taste and characteristics, but all encompassed the feel of the festive season with its flavour. The Cranberry Orange Ginger Zing is great for anyone who likes dark chocolate paired with bright, fruity undertones. The Crispy Gingerbread Spice is lovely for anyone who likes creamy milk chocolate paired with warming spices. Lastly, the White Cocoa Crunch is the perfect match for anyone who wants velvety white chocolate with little chocolate bits to create a beautiful balance. So no matter your preference, you are sure to find a bar that you will fancy!

Now if I had to pick a favourite which is certainly not easy, I would have to say the one that tugged my heartstrings just a little more is the White Cocoa Crunch.

I have a soft spot for white chocolate and have loved it since I was a child, particularly “Cookies & Cream”. This bar brought back all those lovely memories.  So, kudos to Camino for recreating my childhood chocolate dream. 

SWEET TREAT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

So, give them a try and see which one is your favourite. I am confident you are bound to find one (or all) that you’ll enjoy. They are also perfect as a gift topper, stocking stuffers and host gifts, or even a gift for yourself. So, go ahead, have some chocolate and kick off the holidays in a sweet way :).

Enjoy!

The post Camino’s Festive Chocolate Bars – Review first appeared on Pure Sprinkles.

Happy Halloween!

This recipe promises no tricks, just an absolute treat! It is easy to make with just a few ingredients and is perfect for little kiddies and all us kids at heart. They are not loaded with refined sugar and additives, so go ahead have an extra piece or two. Trust me, you will want to ;).

It’s been some time since I last posted, but I wanted to come back with something special, my first Halloween recipe. I decided to go with my all-time favourite Halloween treat – chocolate bars!

I’ve done a couple of chocolate recipes to date but not one with any crunch. I’ve always enjoyed chocolate bars with a bit of a bite and wanted to find a way to recreate that same texture without cookie wafers or nuts and came up with this recipe. A chocolate bar packed with little airy brown rice crispies enveloped in velvety chocolate—bliss.

I have always been a sucker for Halloween treats and find this time of year gives us the perfect excuse to indulge a little. It also brings back fond memories of trick or treating. Dressing up in costumes, running around the neighborhood plundering as many sweets as possible. Coming home to see the results was like opening a treasure chest full of gold—pure joy. Though those days in my life are gone, the memories will always remain. I wanted to find a new way to keep that fun alive; one such tradition is making these homemade treats.

So what’s to love about these crispy chocolate bars?

• Fun to make and great to activity to do with little kiddies

• Vegan friendly

• Gluten-free

• Dairy-free

• No refined sugar or additives

I love how easy this recipe is to make. Just melt the chocolate, add the crispies, mix and freeze, and boom, you are done! Could it be any easier?! If you decide to go the extra mile to coat and decorate them, it may take a little more time, but well worth it. Plus, chocolate making and decorating is a lot of fun. I certainly don’t profess to be a fancy decorator, but I certainly have a lot of fun with it and is guaranteed to bring out the kid in you. It’s also great way for those of you with little kiddies to get them involved and make it a fun family activity! Also, you can feel good about knowing what is going into it with only a few wholesome ingredients.

Sprinkles recipe fun facts:

• DAIRY-FREE CHOCOLATE CHIPS – are also gluten-free and use cane sugar instead of traditional white sugar.
• COCONUT OIL – has anti-viral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties and can also boost energy levels and metabolic rate as well. 
• BROWN RICE CRISPIES – high in fiber and provides fuel for energy with low calories.

So turn on your favourite Halloween movie, roll up your sleeves and let’s make us some chocolate goodies! 

Print

Crispy Chocolate Bars

These frightfully easy chocolate bars are the perfect treat with just 4 simple ingredients, for Halloween or any time you are craving something sweet!

Author Priscilla Sekaran

Ingredients

Crispy Chocolate Bars

• 1 ½ cups dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips* (you could also use a bar of dairy-free chocolate as well)
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1 cup brown rice crispies (puffed white rice or puffed quinoa will also work)
• pinch of sea salt

Chocolate Coating (Optional)

• 1-1½ cup dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips* (you could also use a bar of dairy-free chocolate as well)
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• pinch of sea salt

Halloween Decorating (Optional)

• ½ cup powdered sugar (refined sugar-free)
• 1-2 tsp almond milk (or any dairy-free milk of your choice)
• a handful of dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips

Equipment

• small-medium stainless steel bowl (or heatproof glass bowl)
• small saucepan
• silicone spatula (large metal spoon)
• measuring cups and spoons
• metal spoons
• parchment paper
• baking tray
• oven mitts
• ziplock bags

Instructions

CHOCOLATE MAKING

Melting the Chocolate (Double Boiler)

• Get a baking tray (that will fit into your freezer) and line with parchment paper, set aside.
• Fill your saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and place it on the stove. Place the stainless steel bowl on top of the saucepan — the two should sit tightly together. You don't want a gap, as heat will escape. You also want to make sure the bowl does not touch the water, as it may burn the chocolate. Turn up the heat to high.
• Once you hear the water start to boil, add the coconut oil.
• After the oil is melted down (after 1-2 minutes) add the chocolate chips. Stir the chocolate constantly with your silicone spatula or spoon to help melt the chocolate. Then add in pinch of sea salt.
• Once you see the chocolate starting to melt down to a liquid consistency, cut the heat and remove it from the double boiler. It's fine if it's not all melted down, the residual heat from the bowl will help melt it all down. Once melted down, the chocolate should be a nice liquid-syrup consistency with a nice glossy sheen that slowly drips off your spatula or spoon. Let it cool down for 2-3 minutes. Remove ¼ cup of the chocolate in a separate bowl and set aside.

CRISPY CHOCOLATE BARS

• Slowly add the brown rice crispies into the melted chocolate bowl and fold in gently until everything is well incorporated and all crispies are covered with chocolate.
• Transfer the mixture onto the baking tray with parchment paper and press down on the tray with a spoon or spatula to bring everything together and press the edges to form a rectangle or square.
• Add the reserved melted chocolate over the mixture and use the back of your spoon or spatula to smooth over the mixture. This will help fill all the nooks and crannies with chocolate and ensure the mixture stays together, and doesn't crumble. Once you are done, place the tray in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.
• NOTE: When I created these bars, I personally liked that the pieces were not uniform and each one was a different size and shape. However, if you prefer them to be more uniform, you can just score the bars with a knife to the desired shape and size you want before placing them in the freezer.
• After they are set, remove them from the freezer and let them rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. Then with a knife gently press into the block to break up the pieces. As you press down they will naturally break off into pieces. Alternatively, if you scored them before placing them in the freezer you will have your uniform pieces. You now have some yummy crispy chocolate bars, ready to enjoy! However if you want to take them a step further to give them a real store-bought chocolate bar feel, continue on for the next steps.

CHOCOLATE COATING (OPTIONAL)

• Repeat the steps of the chocolate melting process. Once the chocolate has melted and has cooled down for 2-3 minutes (We don't have it too hot, as it may melt the frozen chocolate bar pieces) gently place each bar piece one at a time into the melted chocolate. Move them around, spoon the chocolate over the piece until all sides are covered. Gently take them out and place them on the baking sheet.
• Repeat until all Crispy Chocolate Bars are coated with the chocolate and place them back in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to set.
• Once everything is set, take them out and leave them at room temperature for about 5 minutes and eat!

DECORATING (OPTIONAL)

• If you want to take these Crispy Chocolate Bars a step further and really get into the festive spirit, here are a few options to try out after coating your crispy chocolate bars:

  • CHOCOLATES: Take the remaining melted chocolate and drizzle on top of the Crispy Chocolate Bars. This will create a nice decorative finish to the bars.

  • SPRINKLES: add fun colourful sprinkles to brighten them up and add a splash of fun

  • NUTS: use some chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pistachios for some added crunch.

  • ICING: create some pretty, dairy-free icing with ½ cup of powdered sugar and 1 tsp of dairy-free milk (white). Add the milk slowly as it is easy to add too much and tricky to adjust after. Add the mixture into a ziplock bag, close and push the mixture to the edge and make a small cut at the corner of the bag. You now have your own do-it-yourself piping bag! (If you have a piping bag you can use that as well). Be sure to practice on the parchment paper as the flow may come out too fast. Now is the fun part go ahead and decorate whatever design you'd like! You can even add some natural food colouring if you want to jazz them up even more.

  Honestly, the possibilities are endless. Just have fun with it and bring out your inner artist!

Notes

* This recipe makes 15 chocolate bar pieces.

** I used Camino Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips as they are the ones I personally love but feel free to use whatever ones you like.

*** Store in the freezer for a week in an airtight container or tin. Store in the freezer for 1-2 months in an airtight container, but that is if they last that long.

**** I added chocolate chips to create eyes but you could also use candy eyes if you wanted as well.

NOTE: Sometimes the chocolate may start to thicken up if too much time has passed, not to fret. Just place the bowl back on the double boiler, and melt the chocolate down again. 

MELTED CHOCOLATE: You may have some leftover melted chocolate after everything is said and done. You could just eat the rest with the spoon, that is a totally fine option. However, to ensure you use every last drop, I have a suggestion. Heat up a cup of dairy-free milk (or milk of choice) and add the chocolate, mix it up and bring it to a low boil, cut the heat and pour into your favourite mug, you now have yourself a mug of hot chocolate! 

ANOTHER OPTION: Alternatively, when you create the mixture instead of creating a block to make the bars you could just scoop out clusters with a spoon and spread them across the tray if you prefer smaller round bite-size pieces.

Enjoy!

The post Crispy Chocolate Bars {gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan-friendly} first appeared on Pure Sprinkles.