October 19, 2023
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As a child, I would dread the houses that opted for healthier trick-or-treat handouts. Now, nutrition labels and sugar- and additive-laden treats give me the biggest scare on Halloween.
Still, I’d prefer to keep my status as the “cool aunt”—so I’m not about to show up with apples or trail mix for my nieces and nephews. Halloween is, after all, about having fun; and let’s face it, most candy alternatives are not very fun for kids.
That’s why I can’t gatekeep the genius solution I’ve found to all my Halloween scares: UNREAL.
This year I’m not sacrificing fun, and I’m also not risking a sugar crash. UNREAL’s Halloween treats have significantly less sugar than conventional candy, but maintain the nostalgic taste kids and parents (and, yes, aunts like me) love.
No kids want to get tricked by a healthier alternative, but these treats are the best of both worlds.
The problem with conventional Halloween candy
What about the other better-for-you alternatives?
We all know sugar isn’t great for you. So it’s no surprise healthier alternatives have been hitting the shelves (and flying off of them) in recent years.
I love to see better-for-you chocolates, candies, and snacks—but the truth is many of these options contain ingredients that could still leave you feeling not so great.
For example, sugar alcohols like xylitol and mannitol have been frequently linked with digestive problems (sounds more like a trick than a treat, right?).
What’s more, most better-for-you candy doesn’t taste the same as the treats it’s imitating. In other words: It’s not a true alternative.
These bland options take the fun out of candy and out of Halloween, leaving you unsatisfied and craving the “real” thing. And any expert will tell you depriving yourself of that satisfaction could lead to poor dietary choices in the long run.
What’s great about UNREAL
So, it’s not about denying yourself (or your child) the joy of a Halloween treat. Instead, UNREAL snacks are a healthier evolution of the candy you know and love.
In fact, the entire idea was born out of two children’s frustration with their Halloween candy being taken away from them (and a determination to create better-for-you treats kids would actually enjoy).
UNREAL uses up to 51% less sugar than conventional candy brands, and the ingredients are vegan, non-GMO, fair-trade, and gluten-free. Plus, UNREAL uses no sugar alcohols, corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners.
Rather than relying on artificial add-ins, the brand simply uses less sugar and leans into high quality ingredients.
UNREAL’s Halloween offerings include reimagined versions of all my personal favorites, with peanut butter cups, almond butter cups, caramel peanut nougat bars, coconut bars, and chocolate gems.
I’m a harsh critic, specifically when it comes to chocolate and peanut butter—but UNREAL’s peanut butter cups are creamier than the cups I grew up hoarding in my Halloween bucket (and there’s no wasteful liner on the chocolate).
The cups maintain that classic peanut butter flavor, without any chalkiness or excessive sweetness. Instead, it tastes like real peanut butter and real chocolate (which, in my opinion, is exactly what a chocolate peanut butter cup should taste like).
UNREAL even forgoes food dyes in its products. The candy-coated gems get their fun, traditional colors from spirulina, turmeric, red radish, and beets.
But the coconut bar is what really blew me away. It only has three ingredients (organic coconut, organic cassava syrup, and dark chocolate), with just 3 grams of sugar per serving. If this is what better-for-you candy tastes like, the future of Halloween is bright.
UNREAL’s Halloween candies are also individually wrapped, so they’re the perfect trick-or-treat handouts. And if you sneak a few for yourself (which I’ve clearly already been doing), you’ll feel way better than if you were loading up with traditional candy.
And it’s not just for Halloween
Of course, Halloween isn’t the only time we like to have a healthier treat on hand. UNREAL makes the perfect cupboard essential to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Don’t believe me? Check out my full UNREAL taste test below to see why I plan to stay stocked up on UNREAL well past the holidays.
My official UNREAL taste test
UNREAL dark chocolate peanut butter cups
I’ve tried a lot of peanut butter cups over the years, but this version easily stands out as one of the best that I’ve ever tasted. It literally melts in your mouth; the peanut butter filling is silky smooth (rather than chalky), and the dark chocolate has a strong cocoa flavor that isn’t overwhelmed by sugar. It’s the perfect combo—and I’ll definitely be stealing a few of these from my nieces and nephews.
UNREAL coconut bars
These 3-ingredient coconut bars are a standout in UNREAL’s lineup. Each bar has just 70 calories, but it still tastes like a satisfying treat. The shredded interior has a strong nutty coconut flavor that’s complemented by a very thin dark chocolate shell. I’ll be stocking up on these long past Halloween.
UNREAL dark chocolate peanut gems
The candy coating on these peanut gems is slightly thicker, adding a sweet aftertaste that lingers alongside the peanut flavor. Like the rest of UNREAL’s goods, it just the right amount of sweet to feel indulgent—though these are the sweetest of the bunch (and have the most sugar).
UNREAL dark chocolate caramel peanut nougat bars
Somehow these nougat bars only have 6 grams of sugar per serving–yet they still have that signature gooey pull of caramel. I love that you can actually taste the nuts, even though they’re covered in layers of caramel and chocolate.
UNREAL dark chocolate crispy quinoa gems
Quinoa gets a sweet makeover in these candy gems, which make an audible crunching noise when you bite into them. The best part? Just one serving is 36 delicious pieces.
UNREAL dark chocolate almond butter cups
I’m torn between declaring these or the peanut butter cups a favorite—and it all comes down to the filling. Where the peanut butter is smooth, the almond butter is thick with a rich flavor—and they have an extra gram of dietary fiber (compared to the peanut butter option).
The takeaway