Eco-Treats That Won't Trick the Earth

Eco-Treats That Won't Trick the Earth:
On Halloween, the candies you hand out should be eco-friendly—but let's face it: Virtuous confections can be hard to stomach. Leaden banana bread. Spirulina fudge balls. "Cho-kale-let" cake. To save well-intentioned treat-givers from getting their houses TP'd, we asked candy experts to recommend sweets that'll spare the planet but still thrill the kids.

ANNE SHAEFFER, a classically trained pastry chef in Chicago, started Sulpice Chocolat in 2009. Last year, her company was the official chocolatier of the Grammys; attendees got Shaeffer's hand-painted bars in their gift bags.

"One of my favorite vegan candies is the Blueberry Licorice from PANDA. From first smell to last bite, you can tell that these little chews are made from real blueberry puree. The taste reminds me of a perfectly balanced jam—tart but not too sweet. And they have the familiar chewy texture of licorice without being tough." About $4 for 7 ounces

As the cofounder of Choclatique, Los Angeles-based ED ENGORON has traveled to more than 130 countries in search of the world's best artisan sweets. Engoron, who studied at Le Cordon Bleu, is also a chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and food consultant.

"The colorful Organic Sunny Fruit Slices from solar-powered SUNRIDGE FARMS (sold in bulk at many markets) are jelly candies with a great mix of fruit flavors—cherry, grapefruit, lemon, orange, grape, and strawberry. They're made with organic, all-natural evaporated cane juice, tapioca syrup, and grape juice concentrate." About $7 for 10 ounces

SUE GILLERLAIN, formerly the executive editor of Professional Candy Buyer magazine, is now the spokesperson for Candy.com, an online store that sells more than 5,000 kinds of candy from its Massachusetts headquarters.

"Ever since VERMINTS' PepperMint Breath Mints came to market eight years ago, I've been hooked. The flavor is full-bodied but not make-you-wince overpowering. What I like most is that they're neither chalky nor Tic Tac smooth—the texture lies somewhere between. They're certified organic, gluten-free, nut-free, and have earned the Non-GMO Project seal." About $3 for 1.41 ounces

REBECCA ZOROWITZ co-owns, with her mother, Ooh La La Candy, a candy-repackaging company in New York City known especially for its treat-filled "cupcakes."

"DAGOBA makes succulent chocolate bars that have surprising bursts of flavor and depth. Flavors include exotic options like chai, lavender blueberry, and lemon ginger. Its products are made from organic, sustainably grown ingredients and come in wrappers made from 50% recycled materials. Dagoba donates part of its profits to tree-planting projects in Costa Rica." $3.45 for 2 ounces

SAM GOLD founded Yumvelope, an Illinois-based service that mails subscribers a monthly selection of natural desserts, snacks, and drinks.

"SURF SWEETS makes organic Gummy Worms, my go-to treat when I need a sweet fix. For those of us used to bland gummies, these make a particularly satisfying guilty pleasure. Surf Sweets supports the Ocean Project, sponsors Climate Cycle, and partners with Green Halloween." About $2 for 2.75 ounces
--text by Avital Andrews / photos by Lori Eanes