I love candy corn as much as the next girl, but sometimes you want something a little less sugar-saturated on Halloween. Maybe even – dare I say it? – a tiny bit healthy (and no, I’m not advising you to hand out boxes of raisins to trick o’ treaters instead of Snickers bars – I’m not that much of a Scrooge).
Presenting: a festive – and at least semi-good-for-you – twist on a seasonal favorite. The dark chocolate contains antioxidants that help to protect your skin from UV damage and fight free radicals, and the pumpkin seeds contain zinc and selenium to help boost your skin’s collagen production and protect against environmental pollution. To get even more skin protection (yes, even in the cool weather), don’t forget to moisturize with an SPF-containing product like Simple Skincare Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15.
A dessert that’s addictively delicious and phenomenal for your face? Win.
What You Need:
2 cups good-quality dark (or semi-sweet, if you prefer) chocolate chips
1 cup roasted, salted pumpkin seeds
1 handful dried cherries
¼ tsp cinnamon
½ teaspoon good-quality coarse sea salt
What You Do:
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second increments (stirring in between) until smooth, then stir in the dried cherries, the cinnamon and most of the pumpkin seeds (set about 2 tsp aside for later).
- Pour the mixture out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread it around with the back of the spoon so it forms a sheet approximately ¼” thick, then sprinkle the remaining pumpkin seeds and the sea salt on top.
- Refrigerate until the chocolate has set, break into pieces, and serve.
P.S. This also makes a fantastic hostess gift during the holiday season; just put a few pieces into a clear bag and tie with some twine or holiday-themed ribbon.
