It’s the spookiest time of year, so what better way to join in on the festivities than by making this healthy pretzel spider snack with California Figs, chocolate, and pretzels?
With only 7 ingredients, you can get creative and spark the true Halloween spirit, and with a lot less added sugar than your typical treats. This spider snack food art is a simple way to get family and friends of all ages in the kitchen with smiles on your faces.
Healthy Spider Snacks
When candy tries to take front and center stage, remember that there are so many other delicious and satisfying snacks and treats that can be as enjoyable!
These healthy spider snacks use California Figs as the main ingredient, giving them a boost of good nutrition. Figs are a good source of dietary fiber and provide calcium, iron, potassium and more. The pretzels, chocolate, marshmallows, and sprinkles have small amounts of added sugar, but still provide a sweet taste that is hard to pass up!
Dried Figs vs Fresh Figs
This recipe uses both dried figs and fresh figs, which have a similar nutrient profile. Dried figs have been dried so that they can be preserved for longer. Plus, they can take on different textures and be included in different types of recipes.
When you think figs, think California! California produces 98% of the nation’s fresh figs and 100% of the nation’s dried figs—they’re the best quality figs in the world. California Fresh Fig season is May through November, so when you see them, buy them. You don’t want to miss out!
Can’t find fresh figs? California Dried Figs are available year-round and a great substitute for most recipes.
Fig Benefits & Nutrition
Fresh figs are a delicious snack on their own. Just bite into them for a sweet and nutritious treat. California Figs outrank most fruits when comparing calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, manganese and other important nutritional components.
Just 3-5 dried (1/4 cup) or fresh (1/2 cup) California Figs count as one fruit serving. With about three-fourths of Americans not eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables daily (8-13 servings), California Figs are an easy way to add a serving of fruit to your daily routine.
Different Colors & Flavors of Figs
There are several varieties of figs that range from green to black, but they are all sweet and delicious. Here’s a quick guide to the flavor profile and availability of California Figs:
- Mission (dried/fresh) – Purple and black skin with deep earthy flavor like a Cabernet. Available mid-May through November.
- Brown Turkey (fresh only) – Light purple to black skin with robust flavor like a Pinot Noir. Available mid-May through November.
- Kadota (dried/fresh) – Creamy amber skin with a light flavor like a Sauvignon Blanc. Available mid-June through October.
- Sierra (dried/fresh) – Light-colored skin with a fresh, sweet flavor like a Riesling. Available June through November.
- Tiger (fresh only) – Light yellow color with unique dark green stripes and a bright red-purple interior fruit with fruity, raspberry, citrus flavor like a Sparkling Rosé. Available mid-July through November.
Try them all throughout the season to find your favorite!
Ingredients
- 24 California Fresh Figs
- 12 California Dried Figs
- 1 (10-ounce) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (for melting)
- 9 ounces pretzel sticks
- 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 teaspoons mini dark chocolate chips (for eyes)
- 5 teaspoons colored natural sprinkles of choice
Directions
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Wash the fresh figs with water and pat dry with a clean cloth. Set aside.
Place the chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir. Continue to microwave in 20 second increments, stirring between each, until the chocolate chips are completely melted.
Working one fig at a time, hold the fig by stem and dip halfway into the melted chocolate.
Make the spider legs: Break off a ¼ of each pretzel stick so the legs are not too long. Stick the pretzel sticks into the sides of the fig to create the legs, using about 3 or 4 on each side for the fresh figs, and 2-3 on each side for the dried figs.
Make the eyes: Slice a mini marshmallow in half. Place the sticky, cut-side onto the non-chocolate dipped part of the fig. Press a mini chocolate chip into each marshmallow, flat side outward, to make the center of each “eye.”
Add colorful sprinkles to the chocolate-covered portion of the spider. Set the fig spider on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining figs to create a colony of fig spiders.
Enjoy immediately, or store in the refrigerator for an hour or two before serving.
Nutrition
For nutrition information and recipes, visit CaliforniaFigs.com.
Looking for other Halloween inspiration other than these spider snacks?
Try making one of these other festive food art creations.