Free of: dairy, nuts and gluten, plus the other top allergens. For those not following a gluten-free diet, a flour alternative is included.

Makes 16 cupcakes

Ingredients

Carrot Cupcakes

• 1 cup (250 mL) brown rice flour (superfine if possible)
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) tapioca starch
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) potato starch
• 1/4 tsp (1.25 mL) xanthan gum
• 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp (7.5 mL) ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp (1.25 mL) ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) salt
• 3/4 cup (175 mL) packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup (80 mL) white sugar
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) crushed pineapple with juice
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) grapeseed, coconut or canola oil
• 2 eggs [See "Recipe Notes” for egg substitute]
• 1 1/4 tsp (6.25 mL) vanilla extract
• 2 cups shredded carrots

Pineapple “Cream Cheese” Frosting

• 4 oz (113 g) dairy-free cream cheese alternative
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) palm shortening, coconut oil [see “Recipe Notes”] or dairy-free margarine
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) drained, crushed pineapple or 1 1/2 tsp (7.5 mL) pineapple juice
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) lemon juice
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups (250 mL+) sifted confectioners’ sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line 16 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together: brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt.
3. Using a hand blender, in a separate mixing bowl mix: brown sugar, white sugar, pineapple, oil and eggs. Or whisk for 1 minute.
4. Add dry ingredients to the mixing bowl, then stir with a wooden spoon just until the ingredients are combined. Stir in the shredded carrots.
5. Pour batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups; they should be 2/3 to 3/4 full.
6. Bake the cupcakes 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. To make the frosting, with a hand mixer, beat the shortening, oil, or margarine with the cream cheese alternative until soft and well-combined. Beat in the drained pineapple (or pineapple juice) and lemon juice, and slowly blend in 1 cup of the powdered sugar. If a sweeter icing is desired, beat in up to ½ cup of additional confectioners’ sugar. Chill the frosting in the refrigerator as the cupcakes cool.
8. Once thickened, give the frosting a quick whip. The consistency will be slightly softer than a buttercream. Frost cupcakes and serve.

Next: Recipe Notes

We’ve added some new favorites to our growing list this year. Trick or treat! – Allergic Living Staff

New Raves

Organic Lollipops from YummyEarth are free of gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts and tree nuts; the unique flavors like Hot Chili and Soup Apple appeal to goblins of all ages. Visit YummyEarth (U.S.) or Yummy Earth (Canada).

Spooky Spiders from Surf Sweets are 90% organic with no artificial colors or sweeteners and will have the monsters howling. No top allergens. Check out their website for great allergy friendly Halloween recipe ideas. Mummy Gummys, anyone?

The Spider Web from Ange Gardien. Get back at scary Mrs. Spider by taking a nice big bite of chocolatey goodness. No nuts, peanuts, dairy or egg.


Happy Halloween Lollies (right) from Amanda’s Own Confections are so good it’s scary! The chocolate lollipops are dairy-, tree nut-, peanut-, egg- and gluten-free.

Vermont Nut Free has beautiful peanut- and nut-free chocolates to ease sweet cravings this Halloween. Three-inch by three-inch Crispy Jack O’Lanterns would be a perfect way to show that the Great Pumpkin has visited. Individual Witch (and Ghost and Scarecrow) Shapes are a considerable 1.2 oz. and always popular.

Not everyone has a sweet tooth. Just say “No” to the candy hangover and give out fun, no-eat treats!

Hasbro’s individual Play-Doh Pots in Halloween colors (photo, right) are sure to amuse. Do contain wheat. Find in U.S.: Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us, Amazon.com.

Non-food ideas at Costco: Disney-themed Playing Cards or 50 Puzzle Erasers. Note: small parts; not suitable for young children.

Among Our Faves

Always read labels to make sure ingredients haven’t changed.

Amanda’s Own – See above, plus Happy Halloween Bag.
Free of: tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, gluten, dairy, sesame – click here

Ange Gardien Foods – Awesome chocolate bars and candies, with Halloween special treats.
Free of: tree nuts, peanuts, dairy and eggs – click here

Divvies – Delicious gourmet chocolate ghosts, bats and gorgeous Halloween jellybeans.
Free of: tree nuts, peanuts, eggs and dairy – click here

Gimbal’s Fine Candies – delicious gourmet jelly beans.
Free of: the top 8 allergens and no high-fructose corn syrup – click here

Hershey’s Twizzlers – A variety of great licorice products.
Free of: peanuts, tree nuts – click here

Indie Candy – The naturally gourmet sweets makers have a ghoulishly tasty product line. Ghost and bat lollipops and more.
Free of: Dairy, nuts, peanuts. No artificial colors or preservatives – click here

Nestlé Fav*Rites (Canada only) – Smarties, Kit Kat, Aero, Coffee Crisp and Kit Kat (snack sizes), peanut-free facility..
Free of: peanuts and tree nuts – click here

Pure Fun – Halloween lollipops, 6 flavors.
Free of: gluten and all top allergens – click here

Smarties (in U.S.; known as Rockets in Canada) – These melt-in-your-mouth candies are a Halloween tradition.
Free of: gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs and dairy – click here

Next: Yet more safe candies!

Updated for 2013 with files from Erin Stevenson, Website Coordinator

Available in the United States and Canada

Amanda’s Own Confections – This year offers an impressive selection, includng the stately Garden Bunny Box containing 17 individually-wrapped chocolate basket-holding bunnies. Also available are chocolate Passover and Easter lollipops. All products are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and nut- and peanut-free. Shop at www.amandasown.com or www.peanutfreeplanet.com.

Divvies – You may know them for their divine free-from cupcakes, but Divvies’ owners also produce gourmet candy and at this time of year, make that a high-caliber solid chocolate bunny who’s peanut-, tree nut-, milk-, egg-, and gluten-free. All your bases covered! Also available for your basket: delicious jelly beans in springtime pastels. Available at Whole Foods locations in the U.S. and Canada. For more stores visit www.divvies.com.

Gimbal’s Fine Candies – Liven up an Easter basket with jelly beans in 41 lip-smacking flavors – free of gluten and the Top 8 food allergens. Available at grocers throughout the U.S. and in Canada at select Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart and London Drugs stores. Also buy online at www.gimbalscandy.com or www.peanutfreeplanet.com.

Premium Chocolatiers – Just the thing for a teen or adult gift: Premium’s dozen Egg Truffles, fashioned from exquisite fudge that’s dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and egg-free. (They do contain soy.) Plus, for the younger set, there’s the big bunny holding a decorated egg, free-from foil-wrapped chocolate eggs, and a box of ganache-filled white rabbits. The company also offers a wide assortment of boxed chocolates and truffles suitable for kosher pareve diets. Order at www.premiumchocolatiers.com.

Next: More great Easter/Passover treats