Halloween candy has not always come in a wrapper. In the early 1900s, the treats handed out at American front doors were often homemade: popcorn balls, cookies, apples, nuts, and fudge. Factory made, individually wrapped candy took over by the middle of the century, and within a few decades the grocery store bag of miniature bars had become the standard.
That shift made Halloween convenient, but it also made it predictable. If you are looking for something with more character this year, whether for a party, a host gift, or your own October evenings, European confectionery offers some very good ideas.
How Halloween Looks in France and Belgium
In France, Halloween is a fairly recent arrival. It began gaining attention in the late 1990s, and many French families still think of this time of year in terms of La Toussaint, or All Saints’ Day, on November 1. It is a quieter holiday, centered on family and remembrance. Belgium observes it as well.
What both countries have always had in abundance is exceptional confectionery. Belgian chocolate shops, French confiseries, and pastry counters stocked with meringues and candied fruit have been part of the autumn and winter season for generations. Borrowing from that tradition is an easy way to make your Halloween feel a little more special.
Imported Leonidas Belgian Chocolates
Leonidas traces its story to 1913, when confectioner Leonidas Kestekides was awarded a gold medal at the World’s Fair in Ghent and opened his first tearoom in that city. More than a century later, Leonidas is one of Belgium’s best known chocolate makers, and its specialty is still the praline: a chocolate shell filled with ganache, caramel, cream, or nut paste.
Le Macaron Doylestown is the only retailer of imported Leonidas chocolates in Bucks County. You can choose pieces individually, which makes it easy to build a small box for a party host, fill a candy dish for adult guests, or put together a mix of dark, milk, and nut filled chocolates for your own household. You will also find Ghyslain chocolates, recognizable by their hand painted finishes and filled with a variety of ganache and caramel.
French Meringues
The meringue is one of the simplest recipes in French pastry: egg whites and sugar, whipped until glossy and baked at a low temperature until crisp on the outside and light on the inside. Recipes for meringue were appearing in French cookbooks by the end of the 1600s, and the method has changed very little since.
Our meringues come in bags of six, which makes them easy to hand out, tuck into a lunch, or set out in a bowl at a Halloween gathering. They are also a good choice if someone in your life avoids gluten.
French Candied Fruit
Candying fruit is a preservation method that goes back centuries. Cooks slowly replaced the water in whole fruits and peels with sugar syrup, which allowed summer fruit to last well into the colder months. The town of Apt in Provence has long called itself the world capital of candied fruit, and fruits confits remain a traditional part of French holiday tables.
Candied fruit brings natural color and a pleasantly chewy texture to a Halloween spread. It is also a nice option for guests who prefer something other than chocolate.
Macarons in Seasonal Colors
With more than 20 flavors in our case, macarons are an easy way to bring color to a Halloween table. Choose orange, deep purple, and dark chocolate shells for a seasonal look, or ask our team which current flavors best fit the theme. Our macarons are made with gluten free ingredients, so they work well when you are shopping for a mixed group.
Ideas for Using European Treats This Halloween
- An adult Halloween party. Set out a board of Leonidas chocolates, macarons, and candied fruit instead of a bowl of mini candy bars. It looks intentional and gives guests something to talk about.
- A treat for yourself. Pair a chocolate or two with a drink from our fall coffee menu, which includes nine seasonal lattes served hot or iced.
- A host or neighbor gift. A small box of chocolates or a bag of meringues is a thoughtful thank you for whoever is hosting the costume party.
- Teachers and coworkers. A few individually chosen chocolates make a kind October gesture without much fuss.
- Guests who avoid gluten. Meringues, French candied fruit, our macarons, and many of our Belgian chocolates are gluten free choices. If a guest has a serious allergy, ask our team about ingredients before you buy.
Whether you are coming from New Hope, Newtown, Buckingham, Warrington, or right here in Doylestown, stop in and put together a Halloween selection that feels a little different from the candy aisle.
Visit us at 4 W. Oakland Avenue in the heart of Doylestown’s Main Street District and discover one of Bucks County’s most special chocolate finds.
