Dairy-free Christmas treats

[Approximately]

It is our first Christmas since we have been told my dd (8) is dairy-intolerant. Does anyone have any suggestions for replacement Christmas treats for her? I saw some dairy-free chocolate coins in Sainsburys and have just found dark chocolate christmas trees on Ocado that might be suitable. I want to make a big effort so that she doesn't feel left out when the rest of the family are eating nice treats as she has been quite sad about some of the dietary changes we have had to make. I bake so it is not a problem making all our cakes and biscuits dairy-free, although can you buy dairy-free mince pies?
Any ideas much appreciated....

[SachaF]

There are definately free from mince pies in supermarkets, but unfortunately I can't remember if they are just gluten/wheat free or also dairy free. But I'd have thought if you baked they wouldn't be too difficult! I've done them before (wheat, dairy, egg free), I'm not great at baking and they turned out okay.
Waitrose do dairy free fudge, yum! Also they and Sainsbury's do the dairy free ice cream that comes in vanilla, raspberry or, if you are lucky, Neapolitan flavours!
Most supermarkets do a soya single cream, either fresh or in a small tetra pack. Also alpro yoghurts are yum if a bit pricey (£1.65 for 4). You can also make your own custard with birds powder and soya milk, or do runny angel delights (reduce milk consistency by 5 or 10 percent) if a very small amount of milk protein can be tolerated. Completely free from soya custard also comes pre made in tetra packs.
HTH's!

[LoonyRationalist]

You could definitely make dairy free mince pies; I find cookeen makes good pastry and most mincemeat should be dairy free.

[noisytoys]

If you google moo free they do dairy free everything. I regularly buy chocolate drops and have bought a moo free advent calendar

[Approximately]

Thank you so much for all your help. Some new and excellent suggestions!

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

Jus Roll puff pastry is dairy free and makes lovely (and very easy) mince pies (and sausage rolls and a tomato tart that is a fair substitute for pizza for my dairy free DD).

Chocolate is more difficult - I find the stuff labelled dairy free is either very dark and bitter or tastes like cheap milk chocolate (sort of sweet and powdery) although the dairy free chocolate buttons are usually quite nice.

There was a thread a while back about unexpectedly dairy free 'normal' food (as a lot of the stuff marketed as 'free from' is either tasteless or overpriced) - have a search for that and you will find some gems. My own favourites in this category are party rings, tesco own brand Jaffa cakes, Mrs Crimbles chocolate macaroons and Fry's chocolate creme bars.

[liveinazoo]

candy canes?-can get fruit as well as mint flavoured ones

[Approximately]

Thanks for the Jus Roll puff pastry tip, I think I may have to give home made mince pies a go!

[heliotrope]

Also you can get the croissant ready made stuff in the tin (i think also by jus-rol) - both plain croissants and pain au chocolat. Dairy free!
Alpro soya custard is good as well as soya cream already mentioned (also Oatly cream is very nice, from HOlland and Barrett etc.
My boys have sains dairy free choc coins and choc buttons (asda do these too) for stockings. Also panda sweets from health food shop (though of course most sugary sweets are dairy free anyway!).
Bread sauce for Christmas lunch works out OK with soya milk substitute for normal milk - good enough to sub for the whole family.
The one thing I haven't managed to source yet is a good whipped cream substitute - e.g. for topping a trifle, where single alpro cream just won't do.
When I find such a thing (I believe Granovita may do one?) I will be making the boys banoffee pie: crushed hob nobs, sliced banana, caramel alpro pudding, then the elusive soya whipped cream!

[freefrommum]

Asda are selling dairy free chocolate advent calendars.

[trixymalixy]

The cremovita soya whipping cream is very nice. Soyatoo do one in a carton and a spray cream in a can, which I'm going to try.

[greenbananas]

heliotrope those jus-rol croissants are great - and we have discovered that if you spoon melted dairy-free chocolate onto them before rolling them up, they turn into chocolate croissants

I think the Co-op had some dairy-free mince pies last year (or was it Asda?) but I haven't found any yet this year.

[trixymalixy]

Just a warning about the jus rol pain au chocolat. DS has just come out in hives after eating one . They do have a may contain egg and milk warning on them.

He's fine with the jus rol croissants, so we'll use put our own chocolate on those.

[Ileithyia]

I bought some gorgeous dark chocolate (dairy free) coins from Divine I have had to hide them from myself....

[Yama]

I have been looking for dairy free mince pies. I know somewhere does them but I can't remember where. For the record - Aldi, Tesco and Mr Kipling all contain milk.

Aldi have various Stollen treats which are all dairy free, There is also a nice Christmas almond cake and lots of different dark chocolate treats. They usually sell the dark chocolate Lindt reindeer but I haven't seen it this year year yet.

Lidl also have lots of dark chocolate treats.

The dc love Vanilla Rice Dream rice milk. They occasionally have it in their cereal but I would imagine you could use it as a milk substitute when baking.

[trixymalixy]

Ooh proper dark chocolate coins!! I bought the Sainsburys ones last year, but they are not coins, just discs.

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

The ones in the shops all seem to be gluten free rather than dairy free. Robertson's classic mincemeat is dairy free though. And Tesco's and Jus-Rol pastry are made with vegetable oil and are dairy free.

Or make your own pastry with BLOCK Stork, Vitalite or Pure sunflower spread. I have found the BLOCK Stork works best for pastry, the others are too soft.

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

I also am going to be making candy canes from royal icing. Dr. Oetker royal icing is dairy, soy and nut free.

I split the pack into 4, and colour 1/4 red and 1/4 green, with gel food colourings. Roll all of them into thin sausages, then twist the red and one white sausage together, and the green and the other white section together.

Chop them into sections of either 12cm or 6cm (depending on whether you want full size or mini canes), shape them into a candy cane shape and lay them out on a baking parchment covered baking sheet and leave to dry.

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

Oh - I forgot to say, flavour the icing with peppermint essence, or orange essence first.

I also have a dairy free gingerbread recipe I can post. Makes the most delicious gingerbread biccies. I'll fish it out later!

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

To the person looking for a whipped cream substitute - have you tried whipping Oatly cream? I find it works OK if you use an electric hand mixer.

[CouthyMowEatingBraiiiiinz]

To top a trifle I would use 2-3 of the small cartons, whipped.

[Yama]

Couthy - yes please to the Gingerbread recipe.

[DorisIsWaiting]

I'm sure Lidl mince pies are dairy free we had them last year.

We have some MOO free advent calendars this year (dd1 is soya free too so it limits us (much) further)

We do use sweets as a replacement quite a lot they've asked santa for TIC Tac'sin their stockings this year.

iirc I think elizabeth shaw and after eight mints are dairy free (traditional christmas fare in our house (dh and dd3 are just dairy free).

[kennythekangaroo]

I have a reusable christmas tree advent calendar and fill it with normal sweets.

Aldi stollen is lovely and dairy/egg free. I think 1 of the tesco mince pies is but as suggested use jus rol.

Sainsburys do a very nice panforte which makes a good alternative to christmas cake.

I make marzipan fruits and dates stuffed with marzipan as extra sweets.

[OHforDUCKScake]

Tesco value mince pies are milk, egg and soya free. And taste just amazing.