October is here, and with it, Halloween parties! Everyone knows that means a chance to gobble up some festive goodies—but what if you or your friends have food allergies? You may not be able to eat just anything, but here are some great recipes that are free of ALL major allergens and absolutely, frightfully delightful!
Phantasmic Pumpkin Bread (Or Muffins)
(FREE of Dairy, Eggs, Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, Gluten, Wheat, and Soy)
Recipe:
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour = 350 grams any gluten-free flour or flour mix
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon; may substitute ½ tsp. ginger if allergic to cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
2 cups canned pumpkin (one 15 oz. can)
1 tsp. vanilla
Ener-G egg replacer equivalent to 2 eggs
1 tsp. xanthan or guar gum (only if using gluten-free flour)
Steps:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients using a whisk. Set aside.
- Combine pumpkin, water, oil, and vanilla in a separate bowl. Whisk to blend, and add in the Ener-G mixture (Ener-G powder + warm water – follow instructions on box). Whisk to blend.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until well-blended with an electric mixer. Do not over-beat.
- Pour batter into two greased floured bread pans; or one bread pan and two greased mini muffin pans; or two regular muffin pans lined with cupcake liners. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 15 minutes for bread, and 20-25 minutes for muffins.
Results:
Severed Shortbread Fingers
(FREE of Dairy, Eggs, Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, Gluten, Wheat, and Soy)
(Adapted from original recipe, found here: http://www.foodallergymama.com/2009/11/29/dairy-egg-and-nut-free-shortbread-cookies/)
Recipe:
1 cup dairy-free and soy-free margarine
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour = 350 grams of any gluten-free flour or flour mix
1 tsp. salt
1 jar strawberry jam/jelly
1/2 tsp. xanthan or guar gum (only if using gluten-free flour)
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 300° and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine the dairy-free margarine and sugar together until mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add the flour and salt, and mix the ingredients together until the dough is thoroughly blended.
- Take dough and form 4”-5” long strips for the ‘fingers.’ Place cookie on baking tray and squeeze areas just on either side of the center to make them a little thinner so your ‘joints’ stand out more. Then use a fork or butter knife to mark little knuckle lines on the first two ‘joints’ of the finger. On the other end, use your fingertip to press down on the dough and create a little dip for a nail bed. Repeat until you have no more dough.
- Place baking tray into the oven for 20-22 minutes or until ‘fingers’ turn very lightly golden on top and bottom; they shouldn’t be brown.
- Once cooled, and shortly before serving, take the jar of strawberry jam or jelly and scoop out a ½ cup. Mix this around until it is of a smooth consistency, and dip the joint-end of each ‘finger’ into the jam for a severed look. Take some more jam and create a bloody ‘nail’ on the other end of the finger. Place the rest of the jam into a bowl and serve with the fingers as a dip!
Results:
Blood-aid Brew
(FREE of Dairy, Eggs, Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, Gluten, Wheat, and Soy)
Recipe:
4 to 5 lemons; should be slightly squeezable to the touch, indicating they have plenty of juice
1 12 oz .glass per guest
1 lemon per glass
1 1/2 tbsp. of sugar per glass
Water
5 drops of red food coloring per glass
Steps:
- Cut one lemon in half and squeeze the juice from it, either by hand or with a lemon juicer/squeezer. Pour the juice into one 12 oz. glass. Repeat with as many lemons and glasses as you have.
- Add 1 or 1 ½ tablespoons of sugar per glass.
- Fill each glass to about an inch from the top with water. Mix water, sugar, and lemon juice and then refrigerate.
- Before serving, add 5 drops of red food coloring per glass and mix well.
- Serve!
Results:
Don’t let your Halloween frights include food allergies, when you have these ghoulish goodies right at your fingertips! And if these treats don’t tickle your taste-buds, you can find more allergy-free recipes at https://enjoylifefoods.com/project/scary-good-allergy-friendly-halloween-recipes/, http://www.godairyfree.org/news/nutrition-headlines/the-big-list-of-ghoulishly-good-dairy-free-halloween-recipes-updated, and http://dailyburn.com/life/recipes/halloween-gluten-free-recipes/!