10 ways to cook - Homemade Sweets or candies Dairy free
All the sugar grown in the UK, is made from Sugar Beet. So technically it's a vegetable, which is why I think it fits with my 10 ways to cook - dairy free project. I know its a bit of a stretch, my only excuse is that Iv been craving sweet foods lately.
When you have food intolerances, you can't exactly go to your local shop for a chocolate bar or candy. Most larger supermarkets do have some in their Free From Range or Aisle. However it's a lot more fun to make your own.
With Halloween and Christmas just round the corner, why not made some as a gift for friends and family. Homemade gifts always show you care, because they take time and effort to make.
1. Fruit and Nuts
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best
Nut Brittle
Nut brittle recipes are unintentionally dairy free.
Candied Fruit
A great article showing you how to candy your own fruit. It takes time and patience but then the best things always do.
Chocolate covered Dates
Dates have a natural caramel like taste, which is why there called natures candy. I'm a date addict in the same way that some people are chocoholics. This recipe works for both
2. Soft Centres
Healthy Food.com.nz
Peppermint Creams
Homemade peppermint creams are normally made by mixing egg white, icing/powdered sugar with a little peppermint extract. This recipe is totally egg free, to make Vegan just use your normal dairy free milk.
Top Tip: Cover with a clean tea towel and leave out to dry out overnight on your kitchen counter.
I like to half dip mine in chocolate. You could also use different Extracts to make other flavours.
3. Chocolate Fudge 2 Ways
Vegan Baking.com
Easy Chocolate Fudge
Chocolate Fudge
Peanut Butter Maple Fudge
Most fudge recipes start with Sweetened condensed milk. Iv yet to find a Dairy Free version in the shops. However You could always make your own to make your own using this Vegan Condensed milk recipe.
4. Traditional Scottish Sweeties
Scottish Coconut Ice
You can use the same Vegan Condensed milk recipe to make Coconut Ice. I first made this recipe when I was at the Girl Guides, so I have fond memories of it. It was always a recipe you made rather than buying from the Sweetie Shops.
Scottish Macaroon
Another Traditional recipe. Scottish Macaroon uses mashed potato to form the sweet/candy. It's then covered in chocolate and sprinkled with toasted coconut. Don't be put off by this, you can't take the potato.
My Accidental Tablet
Should have been fudge
Scottish Tablet
The first record of Scottish Tablet is from the 18th Century. It is similar to fudge except that it has a grainier texture. Each region of Scotland has it's own recipe.
Most modern recipes today use Sweetened condensed milk, it was not always made this way. I was lucky to find a recipe, that doesn't require it. To make dairy free swap for your usual non dairy substitutes.
5. Tres Bon - International Candy Recipes
My Real food life.com
French Chocolate Bark
Chocolate Bark makes a lovely homemade pressie. Break the Bark by hand into Shards of chocolate. The more rustic the better.
Ina Garten's recipe calls for 2 types of chocolate, just use your favourite Dairy free chocolate Brand instead.
Top Tip: Do not put chocolate in the fridge to set. Leave at room temperature instead or in a cool area. The cold can sometimes cause the chocolate to develop cloudy patches. Okay to eat, just not very nice looking.
Turkish Delight
Traditional Turkish Delight doesn't contain gelatin. Food Producers cheat using it as ingredient to make sure their product is consistent. Personally I like the more rustic look, so can't wait to try this recipe and make my own.
Vegan Brigadeiro recipe
Usually made with condensed milk, you could make your own dairy free version using the link above. Or try this recipe which uses coconut milk instead.
6. Decadent Truffles
Hoda on Food.com
Chocolate Truffles
Easy Chocolate Truffles
TOP TIP: Instead separately melting the chocolate and heating the dairy free milk, I do them both together. By adding the milk along with the chocolate into a bain marie. A fancy french word for a glass bowl sitting over a pan of simmering water. (Make sure the water does not touch the bowl)
I find that doing it this way stops the chocolate from overheating and turning gritty.
Easy Date truffles
This recipes calls for grinding the dates. I find its alot easier to soak them in boiling water for 30 Min's, before draining and blitzing in my food processor. Keep the Date water as you might need a little to loosen the truffle mix.
TOP TIP: Keep the date water and use it to make some Coffee or Hot chocolate. It will give your drink a toffee like taste.
7. Kid friendly
Baking mad.com
Kids don't want to be different, they basically want to eat what there friends eat. So having a dairy intolerance's can cause a lot of stress. Mostly from the parent constantly being asked Why can't I eat that?
For me Chocolate Lollipops is the a great equaliser, The kids can eat the same thing. Get the kids to make their own pops. Perfect for rainy days and kids party entertainment.
Chocolate Lollipops
You could use silicon moulds to make lollipops, however I think free form ones are easier and more fun for kids.
Use bars of dairy free chocolate instead of chips, as I tend to get better results when melting them. You could always use the chocolate chips as a topping for your lollipops, making them even more chocolaty.
Any dairy free food can be used as a topping. From healthier fruit and nuts, to candy's.
8. Caramel
maggiehc
on group recipes.com
Vegan Caramel
Caramel Lollipops
Caramel Popcorn recipe
9. Marzipan
Candy.about.com
Vegan Marzipan
Raw marzipan
Marzipan Sweets are traditional at Christmas. It's also essential for making a homemade Christmas cake.
Use natural vegan food colourings and turn them into shape them into mini Fruits. Or roll into balls and cover in chocolate.
10. Liquorice or Licorice
Liquorice root
No matter how you say it or spell it, it's the same thing. Traditional liquorice is made without gelatin or other additives to give it texture. It gets it's name from the root that is used to flavour it.
Liquorice Recipe
Licorice Candy Recipe
Licorice Caramel candy recipe
Made some of the above vegan condensed milk and use dairy free butter to make these chewy licorice Candies.
TIP: Bassets Liquorice all sorts are dairy free but not vegan, as gelatin is one of the ingredients.
If you do want to buy, instead of making your own always check the ingredients. Most health food shops stock Panda Licorice, which as far as I know is totally dairy free and vegan.
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