10 Candy-Free Treats for Your Halloween Goody Bag Ideas
Halloween is a time of excitement, creativity, and, of course, trick or treating. For families with kids who have food allergies or dietary restrictions, Halloween can be stressful. The good news? You don’t have to fill your Halloween treat bags with candy to make them fun and festive! With candy-free and allergy-friendly alternatives, you can create the perfect goody bag that will be a hit with kids and parents alike.
My oldest son in my Mini Crayon Crew has a peanut allergy, so we always appreciate when neighbors go out of their way to provide allergy-safe treats for trick-or-treating. In this article, I share 10 bulk, candy-free treat ideas for Halloween that are safe, fun, and memorable. These non-food options are perfect for creating DIY Halloween treat bags, Halloween party gifts, and even Halloween treats for school events. Plus, they’re easy to order ahead of time and are available in bulk, ensuring you’re well-prepared for all those trick-or-treaters.
10 Top Halloween Party Gifts for Kids - Favorite Goodies From the Art 2 the Extreme® Mini Crayon Crew to Put in Your Treat Bags
1. Foam Airplane Gliders (bulk)
2. Mini Sushi Erasers (bulk)
3. Mini Fidget Cube Puzzle Toys (bulk)
4. Rock Crayon Favor Bags (bulk)
5. Halloween Rubber Rucks (bulk)
6. Pumpkin Rainbow Crayons (bulk options available)
7. Halloween Pumpkin Bricks, Toy Building Block Kits (bulk)
8. Watercolor Painting Book, Travel Painting Books (bulk)
9. Crayola Cosmic Dough & Crayola Pearl Dough (20 packs - bulk)
10. Pokemon Trick or Trade Halloween Trading Card Packs (bulk)
Above are my favorite "go to" picks for easy and unique, non-edible and candy alternatives for trick or treat goodies and Boo basket gifts for kids that we incorporate into our trick-or-treating festivities.
What to give kids instead of candy?
Sure boxes of raisins, mini bags of popcorn, pretzels, and bags of apple slices make for healthier trick-or-treat goodies, but if you are wondering what can you give out on Halloween that is not candy (or food), here are some sweet suggestions!
Glow-in-the-Dark Toys
Kids love anything that glows in the dark, and these small trinkets are a great addition to your candy-free Halloween treat bags. You can find glow-in-the-dark bracelets, rings, and even small plastic toys that light up the night. They’re perfect for trick or treating since they also make kids more visible in the dark.
Why they’re great: They’re fun, safe, and come in bulk packs. Just pop a few into brown paper bags or spooky jack-o-lantern treat boxes for a fun glow.
Mini Activity Books and Crayons
Give kids something to do beyond Halloween night with mini activity books and rainbow crayon gift sets. You can find themed coloring books featuring jack-o-lanterns, witches, and ghosts, or get creative and design your own simple print Halloween activity sheets. Pair these with small packs of pumpkin crayons, and you’ve got an engaging, fun, and candy-free option.
Shop personalized crayons for your boo basket ideas!
Tip: You can wrap the crayons in Halloween-themed paper or toilet paper rolls to add some extra craftiness to your DIY Halloween treat bags.
Shop the 2024 Slumberkins Halloween Collection
(Our favorite cuddly gift to give!)
Halloween Goody Bag Ideas
Temporary Tattoos
Temporary tattoos are a favorite non-food alternative to candy. They’re easy to apply, safe for most skin types, and can be found in a variety of Halloween-themed designs like creepy spiders, ghosts, and bats.
Halloween treat bag tip: Fold a few temporary tattoos into some colorful tissue paper or place them in small envelopes for that extra “surprise” element in your treat bag. These are perfect for Halloween party favors or trick or treaters looking for something different than candy corn.
Halloween Stickers
Stickers are a simple, cost-effective, and super cute addition to your Halloween gifts. Look for themed sticker sets that include monsters, pumpkins, black cats, and skeletons. You can even customize some sticker sheets or order them in bulk to save money.
Bag idea: Attach the sticker sheets to a Halloween-themed card or simply print out some DIY Halloween labels, and you’ve got yourself a fun, creative, and easy-to-assemble goody bag!
Explore Target themed Halloween Costumes for the Whole Family
Trading Cards
My boys love adding these Pokémon trading cards to their collection when new editions are released each fall. Trading cards are a fantastic addition to any candy-free Halloween treat bag! Kids love collecting and trading cards featuring their favorite characters, sports, or even spooky Halloween themes. Trading cards are compact, easy to find in bulk, and offer a fun, interactive way for kids to engage with their peers. Whether it's superhero cards, Pokémon, or even custom-made Halloween-themed cards, they add an element of surprise and excitement to trick-or-treat bags. Plus, trading cards are allergy-friendly and provide a lasting treat that goes beyond Halloween, making them a hit for both kids and parents looking for non-food alternatives. Simply slip a few cards into your Halloween treat bags or DIY boxes, and watch kids enjoy the fun of swapping and collecting long after the holiday is over!
Mini Notebooks
Kids love drawing and writing, and a mini notebook is the perfect size to fit into their trick-or-treat bags. You can find Halloween-themed notebooks in bulk, designed with pumpkins, skeletons, and bats, or customize your own with some simple card stock and Halloween stamps.
Pro tip: These are easy to pair with pencils or crayons, and they make for great Halloween party gifts or as non-food alternatives at school Halloween parties. Kiddos will love getting creative, and it’s a treat they can use long after Halloween eve.
Halloween-Themed Playdough
Who doesn’t love playdough? My favorite dough to buy in bulk is from Crayola! This squishy, moldable treat is a safe, fun, and allergy-friendly option for your Halloween treat bags. You can find small containers of Halloween-themed playdough in bulk or make your own using a simple recipe. Just wrap them up in paper and stick on some spooky labels, and you’ve got a fun goody bag filler.
If you are looking for a larger sensory dough kit or mini dough favors, you can find some of the cutest options on Etsy!
Halloween treat bag idea: Playdough is a great way to entertain children at a Halloween party or offer as a DIY craft activity. It’s also a perfect size to fill small Halloween treat boxes or bags.
Craft Kits
If you’re looking for a creative and fun candy-free alternative, paper sun catcher card stock craft kits are a great choice. These are great for trick-or-treaters or as a fun activity at a Halloween party.
Crafty Bag idea: Create mini craft kits for kids by putting together small foam pieces, googly eyes, and glue in individual Halloween treat bags. These are perfect for crafty kids and are super cute gifts that keep the fun going after Halloween.
Halloween-Themed Pencils and Erasers
Halloween-themed school supplies like pencils, erasers, and sharpeners are perfect for school Halloween parties, trick-or-treaters, or even as Halloween gifts for young learners. You can find them in bulk, featuring designs like jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, and bats.
As a former art teacher, I love how cute these mini Balloon Animal erasers for kids are as favors or classroom rewards!
Bag tip: Pair pencils with a small notebook, stickers, or temporary tattoos for the ultimate candy-free Halloween goody bag. These are functional, fun, and will be appreciated by kids and parents alike!
DIY Slime Kits for DIY Halloween Treat Bags
Slime is a huge hit with kids, and it’s a fantastic candy-free alternative for Halloween. You can either make small DIY slime kits or buy pre-packaged slime kits in bulk. Kids can enjoy creating and playing with slime in fun Halloween colors like orange, purple, and green.
Tip: Add slime to a small clear bag, wrap it with ribbons, and attach a Halloween tag or cute label. It’s a super fun addition to your treat bag that kids of all ages will love playing with.
Final Thoughts on Candy-Free Halloween Goody Bags
This Halloween, skip the candy and opt for fun, creative, and safe alternatives that will make your Halloween treat bags stand out. From glow-in-the-dark toys to DIY slime kits, these candy-free treats are perfect for all your Halloween needs, whether it’s for neighbors trick-or-treating, school parties, or Halloween events at home.
Make your Halloween treat bags as unique and exciting as the holiday itself by filling them with these safe, allergy-friendly goodies. Not only will the kids love them, but parents will appreciate the thoughtfulness of providing non-food alternatives.
More Halloween Party Inspiration
DIY Piñata Costume for Kids - So cute and will win all of the Halloween party contests.
Explore the Art 2 the Extreme® Pinterest page for cute Halloween costume ideas, crafty treat bag ideas, and
Check out more Halloween goodies and Halloween gift ideas from the Art 2 the Extreme® blog.
Mini Pumpkin Rainbow Crayons - The Perfect Boo Basket gift for your neighbor!
By focusing on candy-free alternatives, you're contributing to a safer, more inclusive Halloween for everyone. Learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project and kids with allergies.