Archive for Holidays
Easter Candy
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[2010 Update: I can't believe how many different Easter candies show up every year. I've added quite a few this year. I even added a category for pre-filled plastic eggs.
Some items to note: 1) Cadbury's Creme Eggs don't have gluten listed in their ingredients this year. Yay! 2) The original Reese's peanut butter eggs and even the small size do not have gluten in the ingredients. However, there is wheat flour in the the Reese's miniature candies that are foil-wrapped, including the mini Reester Bunnies. Boo!
I've done my best to make accurate updates, and will continue to do so as I find more this month. If you happen to find a mistake, or question the gluten safety of the candy, please add a comment below so everyone can read and benefit from the discussion. Thanks, and have a Happy Easter!]
So I’ve been shopping at our local discount and grocery stores for gluten-free Easter candy. You’ll find my list of Safe and Unsafe Candy below. My determination of “Safe Gluten-Free Candy” and “Unsafe Candy” is based solely on me reading package labels at the stores in my area. After each “unsafe” candy, I have noted why I chose to consider it unsafe. Whether it has gluten in the ingredients or the possibility of trace amounts due to cross-contamination, you can decide for yourself. Please keep in mind that products do vary their packaging and labeling, so it’s always best if you read the labels yourself. However, I know sometimes that isn’t always possible, especially this time of year when our kids are going to community egg hunts. So, here’s what I found in our stores. I hope it helps and gives you peace of mind while you enjoy the “Safe” Easter candies.
Safe Gluten-Free Candy
Jelly Beans
- Gimbal’s Jelly Beans
- Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (including original and sour flavors)
- Just Born Jelly Beans (including original fruit flavored, licorice flavored (black), berry flavored, and spice flavored)
- Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans (including fruit smoothie flavors)
- Lifesaver Jellybeans
- Mike and Ike Jelly Beans
- Nerds Bumpy Jelly Beans (Wonka) (Be careful. This had cross-contamination warnings on the packages I found last year.)
- Russel Stover Pectin Jelly Beans
- Spree Jelly Beans (Cherry, Lemon and Green Apple)
- Starburst Jellybeans (original, tropical, and red fruits)
- SweeTart Jelly Beans (Be careful. This had cross-contamination warnings on the packages I found last year.)
- Teenee Beanee Jelly Beans (including Island Breeze, Americana Medley, and Country Retreat flavored packages)
Plastic Eggs Pre-filled with Candy
- Bee Flowers and Fairies Egg Hunt (includes Smarties, Super Bubble bubble gum, Taffy Werks, Jelly Bean Werks, and Lemonheads)
- Bee Sport Ball Eggs (includes Smarties, Super Bubble bubble gum, Taffy Werks, Jelly Bean Werks, and Lemonheads)
- Bee Noah’s Ark Easter Egg Hunt (includes Smarties, Super Bubble bubble gum, Taffy Werks, Jelly Bean Werks, and Lemonheads)
- Bug Collector Candy Filled Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Mmmm…Cupcakes Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Red Hots, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Peace and Love Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Red Hots, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Dress Up Candy Filled Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Farm Friends Candy Filled Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Game Time Candy Filled Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Red Hots, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Nighttime Candy Filled Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Outdoor Adventure Candy Filled Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Pet Shop Candy Filled Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Rainforest Candy Filled Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Speedster Cars Candy Filled Egg Hunt (includes Ferrara Pan jellybeans, Tropical Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Jaw Busters)
- Wonka Egg Hunt with a Golden Egg (includes Nerds, Laffy Taffy, and SweeTarts)
- Wonka Egg Hunt Zero Gravity (includes Nerds, Laffy Taffy, and SweeTarts)
- Wonka Egg Hunt Hard 2 Find (includes Nerds, Runts, and SweeTarts)
Other Easter Candy
- Almond Joy Eggs
- Andes Creme de Menthe Thins
- Brach’s Jelly Bean Nougats
- For Butterfinger candy, look under Nestle
- Cadbury Caramello Bunnies (as found Mar. 2009)
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bunny
- Cadbury hollow milk chocolate egg filled with Cadbury mini-eggs
- Cadbury mini-chocolate eggs – Royal Dark and Dairy Milk Chocolate
- Cadbury Creme Eggs — This year, the regular and mini eggs I found did not have gluten listed in the ingredients. (Last year “Glucose (wheat)” was listed in the ingredients. Many Celiacs consider the glucose, even from wheat, to be gluten-free due to all the processing.)
- Cadbury Caramel Eggs — This year, the regular and mini eggs I found did not have gluten listed in the ingredients. (Last year “Glucose (wheat)” was listed in the ingredients. Many Celiacs consider the glucose, even from wheat, to be gluten-free due to all the processing.)
- Cadbury Orange Creme Eggs
- Carousel Bubble Gum Eggs
- Carousel Easter Egg Surprise Lollipops (as found Mar. 2009)
- Charms Blow Pops and Blow Pop Minis
- Cry Baby Eggs
- Dairy Good Easter bunnies (chocolate flavored, foil-wrapped)
- Dairy Good Easter eggs (chocolate eggs)
- Dairy Good Chocolate and White Chocolate Crosses
- Disney Princess plastic eggs with candy and stickers inside
- Dove Chocolate Eggs (including milk chocolate, milk chocolate almond, peanut butter, and dark chocolate varieties)
- Dove Fairy Bunny hollow milk chocolate
- Dove Solid Chocolate Bunnies (both milk chocolate and dark chocolate varieties)
- Dove Truffle Eggs
- Dubble Bubble Eggs (egg-shaped bubble gum) and Speckled Bubble Gum
- Easter Bunny Egg-head family filled with Power Candy
- Farley’s Kiddie Mix includes Now & Laters, Jawbreakers, Super Bubble bubble gum, Tootsie Roll Midgees, Sassy Tarts and Smarties
- Florida Natural Healthy Treats fruit snacks eggs (as found Mar. 2009)
- Frankford Marshmallow Chicks and Bunnies
- Fun Dip (Wonka)
- Gimbal’s candies, all varieties (see allergen statement)
- Hershey’s milk chocolate eggs
- Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate eggs
- Hershey’s milk chocolate hollow egg with candy-coated milk chocolate eggs inside
- Hershey’s milk chocolate hollow Bunny
- Hershey’s candy-coated milk chocolate eggs
- Hershey’s Bliss milk chocolate eggs with a meltaway center
- Hershey’s Bliss dark chocolate eggs
- Hershey’s Bliss Hollow Milk Chocolate Bunny
- Hershey’s Solid Milk Chocolate Speedy Bunny and Princess Bunny
- Hershey’s Kisses
- Hershey’s Kisses filled with Caramel
- Hershey’s Kisses with Almond
- Hershey’s Marshmallow Eggs
- Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bunnies, Springtime Flowers, and Crosses
- Lifesaver hard candies – Original and Pastels
- Lifesaver Eggsortment (including jellybeans, gummies and pops)
- Lifesaver Gummies – Original, and Bunnies and Eggs
- Lindt white and dark chocolate bunnies as well as Lindt Chocolate Carrots did not have any gluten listed in the ingredients, but are at risk of cross-contamination. (See Lindt listing below.)
- Melster Chocolate Flavored Marshmallow Bunnies
- M&M’s — original, peanut, Speck-tacular Eggs, and Bunny Mix
- Mounds Eggs (as found Mar. 2009)
- Nestle’s Nest Eggs (Nestle’s Crunch Nest Eggs are not gluten-free.)
- Nestle’s milk chocolate Nest Eggs
- Nestle’s creamy caramel Nest Eggs
- Nestle’s Butterfinger chocolate Nest Eggs
- Nestle’s Butterfinger Creme Eggs
- Palmer’s Bunny Bites foil-wrapped eggs (includes both soft caramel and peanut butter flavors)
- Palmer’s Baby Binks hollow milk chocolate bunny
- Palmer’s Bunnyettes (milk chocolate)
- Palmer’s Butter Cream Flavored eggs
- Palmer’s Carrot Patch Pete (solid milk chocolate bunny)
- Palmer’s Fudge Filled Big Ears (foil-wrapped bunnies with big ears)
- Palmer’s Hollow Bunnies (milk flavored and milk chocolate flavored)
- Palmer’s Little Beauty milk chocolate bunny
- Palmer’s Milk Chocolate Flavored and premium milk chocolate eggs
- Palmer’s Peanut Butter Filled chocolate eggs
- Palmer Poppin’ Rockin’ Egg (hollow egg filled with Pop Rocks)
- Palmer’s Soft Caramel Cups
- Palmer’s Super Sports Balls
- Palmer’s Quax hollow milk flavored candy duck (“The Yummy Ducky”) — Be careful with this one. In one store, this statement was included on the boxes: “Manufactured on equipment which processes wheat, peanut butter and other tree nuts.” In other stores, this statement was not on the boxes. Made in different facilities?
- Peeps (all shapes and colors) — “Gluten Free”
- Peeps milk chocolate covered marshmallow
- PEZ candy
- Pixy Stix Green Grass (Wonka)
- Giant Pixy Stix (Wonka)
- Pop Rocks in plastic egg
- Reese’s Easter Assortment Eggs (including peanut butter eggs, white peanut butter eggs, and miniatures) – This does not include the foil-wrapped mini eggs, which do have gluten.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup minatures
- Reese’s Pieces Pastel Eggs
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs – large and small size, but not the foil-wrapped mini eggs (see Unsafe list below)
- Reese’s Reester Bunny — large size only, but not the mini-sized (see Unsafe list below)
- Ring pops
- Sixlets
- Skittles eggs and fun-size
- Smarties candy rolls “Contain none of the following: gluten (from wheat, barley, oats and rye), milk, egg, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, or soybeans.”
- Snickers mini’s
- Sour Patch Bunnies
- Starburst fruit chews – funsize
- Swedish Fish Eggs soft and chewy candy
- Sunny Seed Drops chocolate covered sunflower seeds
- Tootsie Rolls (including midgees and fruit rolls)
- Tootsie Pops
- Wonka Everlasting Gobstopper Eggbreakers
- Wonka Giant Pixy Stix
- Wonka Hoppin’ Nerds
- Wonka Runts Freckled Eggs
- York Peppermint Patties
- Zachary real chocolate Marshmallow Eggs
- Zachary solid milk chocolate Bunnies
- Zipperz Lollipops (as found Mar. 2009)
Unsafe Candy (may contain gluten)
Jelly Beans
- Brach’s Jelly Bird Eggs (includes classic, black, orchard fruit, and premium tiny jelly-bird eggs) — “Packaged on equipment that also packages products containing traces of milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, and/or soy protein.”
- Brach’s Hawaiian Punch Jelly Beans — “Packaged on equipment that also packages products containing traces of milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, and/or soy protein.”
- Sour Patch Jelly Beans — “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, wheat, milk, soy, cashew nuts.”
Other Easter Candy
- Brach’s Chocolate Bunnies — “malt extract” is listed in the ingredients. “Manufactured on equipment that also manufactures products containing peanuts, tree nuts and wheat.”
- Cadbury Creme Eggs — “Glucose (wheat)” is listed in the ingredients, but many Celiacs consider the glucose to be gluten-free due to all the processing.
- Cadbury Caramel Eggs — “Glucose (wheat)” is listed in the ingredients, but many Celiacs consider the glucose to be gluten-free due to all the processing.
- Child’s Play Easter Mix — “Packed on equipment that also manufactures products containing peanuts, tree nuts and wheat.” (as found Mar. 2009)
- Chick Feed sunflower seeds “May contain wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts.”
- Ferrero Rocher candy — “wheat flour” in ingredients
- Frankford Cookies and Creme Eggs — “wheat flour” in ingredients
- Frankford Crispy Eggs (milk chocolate flavored) — “malt extract, milk and soy” listed in ingredients. “Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts and wheat.”
- Frankford solid milk chocolate bunny — “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and wheat.”
- Galerie Edible Easter Grass (imported from Germany) — “May contain wheat.” on label
- Hershey’s miniatures — “malt” listed in ingredients. “Allergy Information: May contain wheat.”
- Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme eggs — “wheat flour” in ingredients
- Kit Kat Bunny Ears and Kit Kat minis — “wheat flour” in ingredients
- Lindt Chocolate — Lindt US website addresses the question of gluten with this note: “Unfortunately, at this time we cannot guarantee that Lindt chocolate is gluten free. Our white and extra dark (70% cocoa and above) chocolate products by nature do not contain barley malt. However, because they run on the same production lines as other products there is a chance of cross contamination.”
- Lindt Lindor Truffles Eggs — “malt powder” listed in ingredients
- Lindt Assorted Chocolates with smooth filling — “barley malt powder” listed in ingredients
- Lindt milk chocolate bunnies (Gold Bunny, wrapped in gold foil) — “barley malt extract” listed in ingredients
- Lindt Bugs & Bees — “wheat and barley malt powder” in the ingredients.
- Lindt mini eggs, mini lamb, lamb, and mini chicks — “barley malt powder” listed in ingredients
- Mayfair Kid’s Play basket stuffers (including Fuit Chews, Teaberry Gumballs, Spout Bubble Log, Atomic Fireballs, Super Bubble bubble gum, Easter Pops, Jawbreakers, Airheads, Lemonhead, and Smarties) — “Packed in a facility that processes peanuts, nuts, milk products, soy protein, wheat, eggs and sesame seeds.”
- Mighty Malts Speckled Malted Milk Eggs — “malted barley and wheat flour” are listed in the ingredients.
- Milky Way minis — “malted barley” in ingredients
- Milky Way Bunnies — surprisingly, no gluten was listed in the ingredients; “Allergy Information: May contain peanuts, tree nuts, egg and wheat.”
- Nestle Butterfinger Egg with pieces in chocolate (this does not include the foil-wrapped eggs or the fun-size butterfingers) — “Made on equipment that also processes nuts and wheat.”
- Nestle Crunch Nest Eggs — “Barley Malt” listed as an ingredient. “Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, nuts and wheat.”
- PAAS eggs — “malt” listed in ingredients
- Palmer’s Double Crisp chocolate candy (including Bunnies, Bunnyettes, Pops, Chick a Dees, Bunny Munny and Eggs) — “barley malt” listed in ingredients
- Palmer’s Lil’ Crispy chocolate bunny — “malt” listed in ingredients. “Manufactured on equipment which processes wheat, peanut butter, and tree nuts.”
- Palmer’s My Little Bunny — “barley malt” listed in ingredients; “Manufactured on equipment which processes wheat, peanut butter and tree nuts.”
- Palmer’s Cookies ‘n Creme Eggs — “bleached wheat flour” is listed in ingredients. “Manufactured on equipment which processes wheat, peanut butter, and tree nuts.”
- Palmer’s Crispy Peanut Butter flavored eggs — “malt” listed in ingredients.
- Palmer’s Eggbert Double Crisp — “Barley malt” listed in ingredients.
- Palmer’s Quax hollow milk flavored candy duck (“The Yummy Ducky”) — Be careful with this one. In one store, this statement was included on the boxes: “Manufactured on equipment which processes wheat, peanut butter and other tree nuts.” In other stores, this statement was not on the boxes. Made in different facilities?
- Peter Rabbit real milk chocolate bunny — “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and wheat.”
- Peter Rabbit hollow milk chocolate bunny — “Manufactured on shared equipment that processes peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, wheat and egg.”
- Reese’s milk chocolate and peanut butter eggs (mini eggs foil-wrapped individually) — “wheat flour” listed in the ingredients
- Reese’s mini-Reester Bunnies — “wheat flour” in ingredients
- Russel Stover chocolate candy — With the exception of the jelly beans, every RS product I looked at had a similar statement of cross-contamination: “Products have been produced on shared equipment with peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, and wheat.” Some of their products had additional allergens listed to those above.
- Snickers Eggs — “Allergy Information: May contain tree nuts, egg, and wheat.”
- Snickers Creme Sports Eggs — “Allergy Information: May contain tree nuts, egg, and wheat.”
- SpongeBob Squarepants Eggs plastic egg with sour candy and stickers — “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, almonds and wheat.”
- SpongeBob Squarepants gummy Krabby Patties — “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, almonds and wheat.”
- SweetTart Gummy Bunnies (Wonka) — “wheat” listed as an ingredient
- Trolli Gummi Bunnies — “Packaged on equipment that also packages products containing traces of milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, and/or soy protein.” (as found Mar. 2009)
- Twix — “Wheat Flour” listed in ingredients (as found Mar. 2009)
- Twizzlers Tweeters — “wheat” listed as an ingredient (as found Mar. 2009)
- Twizzlers Rainbow Twists — “wheat” listed as an ingredient
- Twizted Strawberry Blast pull-n-peel candy — “wheat” listed as an ingredient
- Twizzlers Strawberry Mini Bars — “wheat” listed as an ingredient
- Whitman’s Sampler — “Allergy Information: Products have been processed on shared equipment with tree nuts and wheat.”
- Whoppers Robin Eggs (includes mini-Robbin Eggs, too) — “barley malt and wheat flour” in ingredients
- Wonka’s eggs — “oat flour” listed as an ingredient; “Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, nuts and wheat.”
- Wonka Easter Nerds Rope — “Made in a facility that also processes wheat and egg.”
- Wonka Mix-Ups (including SweeTart chews, Laffy Taffy, SweeTarts, and Nerds) “Made in a facility that also processes wheat and egg.”
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Notable Links:
- More information about Jelly Belly candy.
- Information on allergen-free Easter candy can be found at Sure Foods Living.
- Gluten Free Is Life also has a list of Easter candy safe for the gluten-free diet.
- Check out the recipe for making Chocolate Eggs in a Cookie Basket.
- More gluten-free candy lists for Halloween Candy and Valentine Candy.
Gluten-Free Beignet Recipe
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This winter, our family went to the movie theater to watch Disney’s latest animated film “The Princess and the Frog.” We loved the movie. And, although I haven’t spent a lot of time in New Orleans, I was reminded of the fun times and good food I’ve had there in the past. In the movie, there were scenes where Tiana (“the princess”) makes or powders beignets (pronounced ben-YAYs), a kind of doughnut that was made famous by Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. While watching the scenes, I wondered about making these gluten free. Of course, I couldn’t find a gluten-free recipe, so I had to come up with my own.
I am so excited to share this recipe with you. I’ve never actually eaten a lot of beignets – only when I’ve been at the French Quarter in New Orleans. They really are a delicious treat. If you’re not familiar with them, I would describe them as a square doughnut, or bread dough deep fried into little square pillows, and topped with powdered sugar. They are so yummy! If you aren’t celebrating Mardi Gras with a Gluten-Free King Cake this year, then you should definitely indulge in these little gems.
Gluten-Free Beignet Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 Cup warm water
1/4 Cup sugar
2 tsp yeast
3/4 Cup almond milk (Regular milk should work, too.)
1/2 Cup butter, melted
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 Cups brown rice flour (I use Authentic Foods finely ground.)
1 Cup potato starch
1/2 Cup sweet rice flour
1 Tbsp xanthan gum
1/2 tsp salt
1 liter vegetable oil for frying beignets
powdered sugar for dusting the beignets after cooking
Directions:
You’ll need a large pot of vegetable oil to fry the beignets. Electric deep fryers are great for keeping the temperature consistent. However, you can use a pot of oil on the stove top, but you’ll need to watch the temperature closely. You should fry the beignets between 360° - 380° F.- Start by combining the yeast with the sugar and the warm water (110° - 115° F is recommended but I don’t usually check the temperature.) in a small bowl. Set it aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the brown rice flour, potato starch, sweet rice flour, xanthan gum, and salt. Add in the melted butter, milk, and eggs and mix thoroughly.- Now stir the yeast mixture into the flour mixture. The dough should start to pull together into a soft ball.
- Turn the dough out onto a sheet of parchment paper and top with plastic wrap. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until it’s about 1/8″ thick.
- Using a pizza cutter, cut the beignets into 2-1/2″ squares.
You should be able to make 24 – 30 beignets. - Fry the dough in the heated oil 1 – 3 beignets at a time. Don’t fry too many at once, as it can lower the temperature of the oil too fast. Thus, inhibiting the beignets to puff up like they should. Once the beignets start to brown, flip them over using a slotted spoon or tongs. Once the beignets have been lightly browned on both sides, carefully remove them from the oil and place on paper towels to absorb extra oil. The beignets should only take one or two minutes to brown on each side.
- Generously top each beignet with powdered sugar and serve while warm.
Additional Notes:
- These aren’t terribly sweet. Most of the sweetness comes from the powdered sugar, so you can easily adjust it to your liking. You can even drizzle a little honey on it, like my husband did, if you have a sweet tooth.
- In case you’re wondering: I didn’t find it necessary to wait and allow the dough to rise. I simply cut them out and fried them up.
- This dough wasn’t very sticky, so you might be able to roll out the dough without using the parchment paper and plastic wrap, but I find it convenient. A little dusting of potato starch on the counter and rolling pin should work fine.
- Just roll out the dough once. I tried to re-roll the dough (balled it up and rolled it out again) to cut perfect squares. As a result, the dough fried up flat and a little tougher.
- Watch the temperature of the oil while frying. If it’s too low, the beignets won’t puff up. If it’s too high, the center won’t cook through and will be a little gummy. If you’re having trouble, try putting two pieces of dough into the oil at a time when it’s at 380° F.
- Although I don’t believe it’s traditional, I think these would be nice with a little cinnamon mixed into the dough. I might try that next time.
- In order to save time for breakfast, the traditional meal time to eat these, make up the dough the night before and keep the dough in the refrigerator. In the morning, roll it out, cut it and fry.
Notable Links
- I did eventually find another recipe for gluten-free beignets. This one by Teri Gruss at About.com uses a cake mix for the flour.
- There are more tips for cooking beignets at Cafe Du Monde .
- I’m linking this to Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays because I only used 1/4 Cup sugar in the dough and I reduced the lactose content by using almond milk.
- For more gluten-free recipes, visit The Gluten-Free Homemaker at this week’s edition of “What Can I Eat That’s Gluten Free?“
- Know a fan of Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog”? Here are some coloring/activity pages my daughter has enjoyed.
Chocolate Macadamia Nut Candy
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This month I’ve been experimenting with chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. I made three different versions: Easy, Delicious, and Addictive! Plus, some heart-shaped ones for Valentine’s Day. Let me start with the easy recipe:
Easy Chocolate-Covered Macadamia Nuts
Ingredients:
Whole Raw Macadamia Nuts
Dark Cocoa Candy Melts
You’ll also need a Truffles Candy Mold
Directions:
Melt chocolate candy melts in the microwave. Start by melting at half power for about two minutes. Then, put in for another minute at a time to finish melting.- Fill about a third of each candy truffle mold with the melted chocolate. Push a nut into the melted chocolate in the mold. Then, finish filling the candy mold with more melted chocolate. Tap the mold on the counter to release any air bubbles.
- Place the mold in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Then, pull it out of the refrigerator, turn it upside down and pop the candies out.
Additional Notes:
- The candy melts are so easy to work with, and they make very pretty, shiny candies. However, it isn’t as tasty as using good chocolate. (That doesn’t mean they didn’t disappear as quickly as I made them.)
- For melting the candy melt discs, I used a plastic squeeze bottle
. It made it easy to melt the candy and fill the candy mold. You can keep the bottle in a bowl of warm water to keep the chocolate warm while you’re filling the candy molds with nuts. Or, just pop it back into the microwave for a minute or two, if necessary.
- You can, of course, melt the chocolate on the stove with a double boiler. Just be careful not to get any water into the chocolate, as it can make the chocolate seize.
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Delicious Chocolate-Covered Macadamia Nuts
For an even better tasting candy, instead of raw macadamia nuts, I used Elana’s recipe for candied macadamia nuts at Elana’s Pantry. It’s a pretty quick and easy recipe, and is a very tasty treat by itself. But, the sweetness of the agave nectar combined with the salt, and then roasted in the oven gives this chocolate candy another tasty layer which is delicious!
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Best Tasting, Addictive Chocolate-Covered Macadamia Nuts
For the best tasting chocolate covered macadamia nuts, use the candied macadamia nuts and use real dark chocolate! Using real chocolate just makes these even better. In order to get the best looking results, too, you’ll have to temper your chocolate. I’m still trying to perfect the tempering process, but even if it doesn’t work for you it will be delicious! It just may not be as pretty. Un-tempered chocolate also has a tendency to bloom at room temperature. So, if you don’t temper your chocolate, eat them right away or store in the refrigerator.
Valentine’s Day Treats
So, for Valentine’s Day, I made some of these with heart-shaped molds. I couldn’t find any candy molds that were deep enough to accommodate the macadamia nuts, so I used these silicone gelatin/ice cube molds
Related Links:
- Elana’s Pantry Candied Macadamia Nuts recipe and directions.
- Diane made Chocolate Macadamia Nuts without using candy molds at The W.H.O.L.E. Gang.
- Detailed directions of Tempering Chocolate is at Cooking For Engineers.
- The Giver’s Log has great tips for buying chocolate and melting and tempering chocolate.
- For more gluten-free recipes, visit The Gluten-Free Homemaker for What Can I Eat That’s Gluten Free?
Gluten-Free Valentine Candy
Posted by: | CommentsUpdated Jan. 27, 2010
With Valentine school parties coming up, I like to buy gluten-free candy for my kids to give to friends. But, I also try to be aware of what candy my kids are likely to be given by their friends and classmates. So I went to the local grocery stores and discount stores to read the candy labels. Now I’ve got a good idea of what candy my kids might get that they can actually eat. The lists below are based on reading the packages of valentine candy I found in various stores around our home.
Any candy I found with cross-contamination warnings in the allergy statements I have put in the “Unsafe” list below, whether it has gluten ingredients or not. So, if you do not avoid those candies, you might want to review that list for additional candy without gluten ingredients.
One of the candies I was surprised about this year was the small Reese’s peanut butter hearts. The package of individually, foil-wrapped hearts says they contain “wheat flour” in the ingredients. I was surprised because the Reese’s peanut butter hearts that are in the traditional orange packaging do not contain gluten. Just another reminder that we have to keep reading labels.
Gluten-Free (Safe) Candy and Treats
- Andes creme de menthe Valentine Sweet Heart Assortment
- Animal Planet fruit-flavored lollipops
- Baby Ruth
- Betty Crocker Valentine Fruit by the Foot – “Gluten Free”
- Bottle Caps (Wonka)
- Butterfinger hearts
- Charms Blow Pops and Valentine Pops
- Charms Zip-a-dee mini pops
- DeMets Turtles
- Disney Lollipop Rings (Flix Candy)
- Dove milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and caramel candy
- Dum-Dums lollipops “Gluten Free”
- Fun Dips (Wonka)
- Gobstopper Hearts (Wonka) (as found Feb. 2009)
- Galerie Candy Jewelry Making Kit
- Galerie Diamond Ring with candy treats
- Galerie Edible Gummy Eyeballs
- Hershey Bliss chocolates including milk chocolate with raspberry meltaway centers
- Hershey Kisses (includes milk chocolate, filled with caramel, cherry cordial creme, with almonds, Hugs, and Hugs raspberry)
- Hershey’s Pot of Gold truffles
- Hubba Bubba Max bubble gum, and bubble tape
- Jelly Belly conversation beans
- Jolly Rancher candy (including heart-shaped lollipops)
- Juicee Gummee Baby Bears (as found Feb. 2009)
- Laffy Taffy, small and long sticks (Wonka)
- Life Savers candy and lollipops
- Marvel lollipops (as found Feb. 2009)
- M&Ms – fun size and mini’s packages
- Nerds, boxes and ropes (Wonka) Beware of this one: I found one package (Wonka Mix-Ups with Nerds, Bottle Caps and Laffy Taffy) that said the Nerds were “Made in a facility that also processes wheat and egg.” All other packages of Nerds I found did not have this cross-contamination statement.
- Peeps marshmallow shapes, hearts and I?U – “Gluten Free”
- PEZ
- Pixy Stix (Wonka)
- Pop Rocks popping candy
- Reese’s peanut butter cups, miniatures, and peanut butter hearts (but not the individually, foil-wrapped small hearts)
- Reese’s Pieces
- Skittles “Gluten Free”
- Smarties Valentine Love Hearts candy rolls “Contains none of the following: gluten (from wheat, barley, oats and rye), milk, egg, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts or soybeans.”
- Snickers fun-size and mini’s
- Starburst “Gluten Free”
- Sweetheart Conversation Hearts including chocolate flavored hearts, large hearts, Dazzled Tarts, Twilight Saga New Moon Forbidden Fruits heart packages, and heart bracelet packages (Necco) [Last year, I found some of these that had cross-contamination warnings. They could still be out there in discount stores.]
- 3 Musketeers cherry with dark chocolate mini’s
- Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops (including vanilla and cherry fruit rolls)
- Warheads
- York Peppermint Pattie Hearts
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Unsafe Candy and Treats (may contain gluten)
- Any chocolate candy with crisps is likely to have wheat flour or barley malt, so check carefully.
- Air Heads “Manufactured in a facility that processes wheat flour.”
- Brach’s candy including conversation hearts “Packaged on equipment that also packages products containing traces of milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts and/or soy protein.”
- Bubblicious Bites “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, milk, wheat and eggs.”
- Choxie chocolate candy “May contain tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and egg.”
- Crunch (Nestle) snack-size and hearts contains “barley malt“; “Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, nuts and wheat.”
- Disney lollipops packaged with Valentine cards (including Tinkerbell and Toy Story characters) “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, milk, wheat and egg products.”
- Disney Princesses Crispy Chocolaty Hearts contains “malt extract“; “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and wheat.”
- Dora and Diego Crispy Chocolaty Hearts contains “malt extract“; “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and wheat.”
- Ferrero Rocher contains “wheat flour.”
- Hershey’s Miniatures “May contain wheat.”
- Kit Kat contains “wheat flour“
- Lindt chocolate candy contains “barley malt powder“
- Littlest Pet Shop lollipops “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, milk, wheat
- Love Duck with conversation heart candy (found at Target) “May contain milk, soy, peanut, tree nuts, wheat and egg.”
- Reese’s peanut butter filled chocolate hearts (this refers to the small, individually foil-wrapped hearts) Contains “wheat flour.”
- Russel Stover chocolates – Every package I found had a cross contamination warning, whether it had gluten or not in the ingredients.
- Spongebob Squarepants Crispy Chocolaty Hearts contains “malt extract“; “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and wheat.”Spongebob Squarepants lollipops “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, milk, wheat and egg products.”
- SweetTart Hearts (Wonka) “Made in a facility that also processes egg and wheat.”
- SweetTart Hearts Gummies contains “wheat“
- Transformer Crispy Chocolaty Hearts contains “malt extract“; “Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and wheat.”
- Twix contains “wheat flour“
- Whoppers contain “barley malt and wheat flour” and egg products.”
Of course, I can’t possibly be prepared to know the gluten content for every candy my kids might get. So, if something new comes home with no ingredient label, I go to the Internet and try to look up the manufacturer online. Many will list the ingredients of their products online. But if you can’t find the list of ingredients, be sure to check out their FAQ’s (frequently asked questions) page. I often find that companies will address the gluten-free question there.
I hope this helps you make informed decisions about which candy celiacs can and can’t eat, but remember it’s always a good idea to read the labels for yourself. The package labeling can vary if the candies were packaged or manufactured in different facilities or on different dates. I am not an expert, simply a mom trying to make good gluten-free choices for my family. If you find any mistakes or revisions that need to be made to the list, please add the information in the comments form below so that other readers can benefit from your knowledge, too. Thanks!
Gingerbread Houses – Quick, Easy & Fun!
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This month has been pretty hectic at our house, as I’m sure it is at most homes this time of year. There are so many different holiday activities, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to do them all. In order to make time for as many as possible, I’ve found that I skimp on the everyday chores. The meals become simpler, the laundry goes a few extra days before getting washed, the house cleaning…well, let’s just say there are some parts of the house that just get ignored.
I really wanted to make gingerbread houses this year. I had a lot of leftover Halloween candy that I thought would be great to use on them. I thought about buying a gluten-free kit (A & J Bakery or Cherry Blossom Cakes), but I had already bought Jules special flour mix for making graham crackers and gingerbread. So, I didn’t buy the kit and I haven’t even opened the gluten-free graham flour. There are only a couple days left until Christmas and I’m thinking about finishing my shopping, wrapping presents and sending out the last of the Christmas cards.
So, I’ve decided to do what I did last year: use pre-made gluten-free graham crackers (Josef
This would be a great project for a support group for celiac kids (R.O.C.K. or Cel-Kids). The project is quick enough to be done in a reasonable amount of time, takes little preparation for the organizer, and the houses are small enough for each kid to take home.
Royal Icing using Egg Whites
Ingredients:
3 egg whites
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp vanilla
Directions:
- Beat egg whites until fluffy and add in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.
- Mix in the other ingredients and beat until thick and stiff.
Additional Notes:
- Once you’ve made up the icing, be sure to keep it covered in the bowl so it doesn’t dry out.
- This makes a large batch of icing. It’s probably enough to make 6 small (cracker-size) houses.
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Royal Icing for Gingerbread Houses
(I got this recipe from my sister, who says she got it from Better Homes and Gardens.)
Ingredients:
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
4 tsps Meringue Powder
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 Cup warm water
Directions:
Combine sifted powdered sugar, meringue powder, and cream of tartar. Add warm water. Beat with electric mixer on low speed until combined, then on high speed for 7 to 10 minutes or until very stiff.
Additional Notes:
Add 1 to 4 Tbsp of water, 1 tsp at a time to make glaze of desired consistency.
Want to make your own gluten-free gingerbread cookies or houses from scratch? Try one of these recipes:
Gingerbread House Heaven
Jenn Cuisine
Only Sometimes Clever
For more gluten-free holiday treats, check out this week’s edition of “What Can I Eat That’s Gluten-Free?” at The Gluten-Free Homemaker.
