Halloween Countdown:
Only TWO days left!
Which means our time is coming to a close with our
Homemade
Gluten-Free & Vegan
Halloween Candy
month-long Halloween theme.
Who needs a tissue?
Well, before you cry yourself into a tizzy,
rest assured that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.
And since there is no rest for this weary little brain of mine,
know that November brings a whole new theme.
*canned applause*
So as we slowly bring October to a close,
I got you something!
“Me?” you ask.
“Yeah you!” (said in Jake Ryan’s voice from “Sixteen Candles” at the end).
Oh, what is it? What is it? I just *love* presents!
Well, go ahead and open it then!!
A Gluten-Free and Vegan Snickers Bar!
Just what you always wanted.
Or as my father says,
“It’s something you have always wanted, you just never knew it.”
Usually after that phrase it was followed up by:
a fake arm.
mouse traps.
Star Trek glasses.
a WWF nightlight.
gardening gloves (never gardened in my life).
a squishy eye keychain.
an 8-inch thick book on manners…
You get the idea.
*Now if ever you question my strange sense of humor,
you can understand where I get it from*
(((And mind you, these are Christmas gifts from my dad
to a teenaged version of me over the years))).
Never a dull moment.
No, friends.
I would never do this to you.
Today I bring you a special, long-awaited candy bar!
They really do satisfy.
Damn that nougat though.
I made at least 5 different batches/recipes.
It nearly killed me this week.
And I will admit, it’s still not 100% perfect.
But does it taste good?
You bet your bottom dollar, it does!
Vegan and Gluten-Free Snickers Recipe
- vegan chocolate chips
- 1 c. peanuts
- caramel recipe (see below)
- nougat recipe (see below)
- candy mold (optional)
For the caramel:
- 1 c. MimiCreme (or non-dairy milk of choice)–Thanks again, Amanda 🙂 hehe
- 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 1/2 c. Earth Balance
- 1/4 c. light corn syrup
- 1/4 c. agave
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Throw all the ingredients for the caramel (EXCEPT the vanilla extract) into a saucepan and melt on medium heat. Stir continuously. Once mixture begins to boil, add candy thermometer. Leave alone without stirring until it reaches between 250* F (beginning of soft ball phase).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Pour onto parchment paper-lined 8×8 pan (or your choice) ***Read side note at end of recipe if you are not using a candy mold before you even do this!
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Chill in fridge 30-ish minutes or until set.
For the nougat: (so NOT healthy)
*Stephanie at Give Them Something Better has an awesome vegan nougat recipe that she just posted that is definitely worth checking out.
*Or might I also offer Isobelle’s raw nougat recipe over at Vgan-Jar that is also amazing!
- 1/4 c. corn syrup
- 2 Tb Earth Balance butter
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 c. peanut butter
- 1 1/4 c. ricemellow creme
- 2 c. powdered sugar
DIRECTIONS:
- Using an electric mixer, mix all the ingredients together until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar in batches until firm in shape.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Freeze for at least 1-2 hours.
ASSEMBLING CANDY BAR:
- Temper (melt) your chocolate. Line candy mold with thin layer of chocolate.
- Layer with peanuts first, caramel next and then nougat. Cover with remainder chocolate.
- Freeze for 10 minutes and then remove from the mold.
- These are really kept best if frozen.
***Side note: IF YOU ARE NOT USING A CANDY MOLD: Assemble in a parchment-lined 8×8 pan: chocolate layer first, then peanuts. Freeze while making caramel. Once the caramel is ready, pour as the 3rd layer. Freeze again while you make the nougat. 4th layer. Take out candy by the parchment paper, cut into rectangles and dip each one into tempered chocolate and set on a piece of parchment paper until set (or freeze to make time go by faster).
Ooey.
Gooey.
Chocolatey-Caramelly-Nougatty
Deliciousness.
Now, to end my post on an even happier note,
I wanted to share with you some incredible Halloween cards my mother
has been making and sending me each week:
Aren’t they just the BEST?
She is so adorable, I could just pinch her from cuteness!
*I get my creativity from this woman*
And this message is for my brother and sister:
If ever you needed proof that truly I am the favorite child,
may this slap you in the face, suckers.
**I’m Cara, and I approve this message**
why corn syrup .i will never use it
How much chocolate do you use?!!
Use 1 cup’s worth.
It’s like cooking with a friend. You know, how you talk to friends when you bake…and they tell you all kinds of weird and wonderful things, then disappear to bring out something they want to show you that they’re mum’s best friend hand made for them when they were 2 years, 5 months and 6 days old. Totally love it. Thanks for making me smile (and thanks again, in advance, for making me smile on Saturday, when I get my snickers making on!)
YES!!! hehehe. I cannot wait to see what the finally production looks like 🙂 xo
These look DIVINE! WOW! I need to get myself to make them…or hint a friend to. Haha.
Thanks Catherine! You can always butter me up to see if it works for me to send some to you 🙂 haha
Cara Michelle … a few things … #1 … those were NOT Christmas gifts that Dad gave you. They were in our Easter baskets! (And you forgot to mention the jumper cables!) #2 … Mom may have been sending you the Halloween cards, but she keeps sending ME money in cards that say YOU ARE MY FAVORITE! So yeah, who’s the favorite now?!?!! And #3 … your pregnant sister is DYING for you to send a care package of some of these tasty treats! Finally, #4 … where the heck did all of MY talent go? Geez.
OH-KAAAAY SHER-RAY. I hope you heard the voice I was using as I wrote that. Actually, some of them WERE Christmas gifts. They only ones that weren’t were the gardening gloves. And mouse traps. In your face, outer space! Now, to address your concerns: #1: Taken care of. #2: Yes but mom has been writing P.S. notes on my cards telling me she is doing that just to keep you thinking that you are the favorite but really I am #3: Gluten free and Vegan candy = difficult to ship and preserve freshness through the mail. #4: We have all been asking that question ourselves… Give me a break dude, you are just as creative (not to mention, funnier and more fun!)…
These look incredible! Snickers bars were definitely my favourite growing up. I’m probably way too lazy to make my own but may I suggest that you open up an online vegan candy store? 🙂
Haha. Yes, it sounds as if I have found my vegan calling 🙂 I don’t know…I’m getting more and more requests so maybe I just might turn my name into the Candy Lady. Has a nice ring to it, right? Thanks for that, Nada 🙂
So cool to have GF vegan candy!!! But I am having mixed feelings about all these things! It used to be that I didn’t actually have to worry about temptation because I was vegan, in a time that nothing fun or packaged was vegan. That started to change. Then I went GF and I thought, well, now I don’t have to “worry” about eating a dozen vegan cupcakes!!! Or candy!!! But NOW!!!!!! No really, it’s GREAT that vegans have SO many choices!!!!! So happy for this.
I COMPLETELY understand this!! Life was a whole lot better for me before I decided to tackle Halloween candy. Thankfully, it’s a pain in the rear to do all of it so it keeps me away from continuously making myself a Twix. xo, Cara
Hey now, I bet anything that your nougat tastes just as good (probably better) as the Snickers nougat. That part is always the hardest to make though.
These look pretty bomb, by the way. I like the little swirl in the chocolate on top of the bar. Very snazzy!
Giiiiiiirrrrrrrllll, let’s just say it’s not quite nougat yet. But it’s a good in-betweener for now. I think I am stealing the word “snazzy” and using it as much as possible now, by the way…
Yay for vegan snickers! I am too lazy to make my own so I will just drool over the ones you made. You definitely got your creativity from your mama. What a fun family!
I’ve got 2 left with your name on it 🙂
I knew Snickers had to be on the way…yay! I am going to be a fool making candy next month (wait, is that the right saying…?). ;p
And those cards from your Mum are awesome – I LOVE the last one!
Aren’t those cards AMAZING?! Love that little lady. I’m passing the torch to you Lizzie–the candy-making fool torch, that is 🙂 Make me proud!
Do you live near me? I’m coming over Cara. Invite your mom, I could use a hug and your therapist’s number. Mine fired me. Honk Honk. And maybe a candy care package, except I’m off sugar. I gotta go again. Sorry, I’m sorry. Really sorry. PS I didn’t know they were divorced. This is too much for me.
I at least live in the same state as you. My mother, however, abandoned me as a child as now lives in a faraway, exotic land called Indiana. You come over, I’ll feed you non-sugared candy and we’ll Skype my mom as she sings us lullabies as we cry ourselves into a nap. How *fun* does that sound? Who else is in???
Oh GiGi! You can come hang out with me. Sounds like you need a big hug – here it comes!
Nice work, GiGi. You just won over my mother. Great. Now I have competition. You *so* are going to be her favorite… Ugh.
Cara, Corrina is right. They DID used to drown women as witches who were better cooks than their jealous neighbors!
I’ve been waiting for the Snickers bars. I knew you’d finish with something even more amazing. It’s certainly not the guacamole my browser promised me though. BTW if you change the wings on your Bats, you’d have Owls and then you could spend Halloween watching the carnage and listening to bat squeals as they try to evade the hunters in the night. Unless there’s a more efficient guacamole carnivore in the house. ???
Your dad sounds like the perfect male, wakes up on the day of the holiday and the only place open is the 7-11 and the gas station. So funny. Your mom’s cards are gorgeous. Together they’re like the perfect yin/yang duo.
They’re divorced Laurel. Thanks for bringing that up again. Great. Now I have to call my therapist…
I think you should make some O’Henry bars as therapy – y’know? Besides, almost everyone has at least one divorced parent. I, myself,have two. They very cleverly waited until after their 25th wedding anniversary. Electronically, there is no such thing as TMI. I think it’s a government plot.
P.S. Sorry, really.
HAHA! Don’t be sorry Laurel. It happened 21 years ago. No really, I’m fine. It only hurts on…my birthday…Christmas….Halloween….Thanksgiving…and every other day. Fine, I said I am FINE!!!!
Aw, poor baby. I’m sending you hugs and kisses because, well, just because. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxo <3 <3 <3
Did I succeed in receiving pity??? YES! *you do know that I am kidding about the therapy/being sad/etc part right?
I’m mostly crying and hyperventilating into a paper bag because your Mom follows your blog. I’ll take a box of tissues please. (blows nose now. honk honk) My mom says she won’t follow anyone. Honk Honk. Do you have another box of tissues please. Your mom is no nice, and her cards are so nice and and that’s why your candies are so nice, and I’m sorry I have to go now.
One more thing your dad is nice too, even though eats Carls Jr. I have to go now.
HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! GiGi, come over and hang out with me. I need a good laugh 🙂
what sorcery is this?! home made, vegan snickers. if these were the days of yore we’d be trying to drown you because surely you are making deals with the devil. and, i do mean that as a compliment.
HAHA!!! Corrina, you crack me up! Did the wart on my nose give it away?
How sweet of you to pay homage to your mom. You know, she’s really proud of you but, just for the record, she doesn’t have a favorite! Your blog has been an inspiration and my cards are just an expression of that and a mea culpa for all those bad foods I made you eat growing up! 🙂 P.S. I sent a card to your nieces and nephew also. XOXOXO Happy Halloween – now go rent the real Halloween movie!
Mom, it’s okay. The secret is out. Stop fighting it, woman! And don’t have such a complex for all the food I ate growing up. Dad is just as much to blame for it as well 🙂
whoa. those look totally amazing. I have to say that nougat is one of the things I really miss as a vegan. I used to really enjoy these little fancy italian nougats and I haven’t ever eaten or recreated anything quite the same. Oh well, it’s worth it! 🙂 Also, those cards from your mom are awesome!
It is so hard to veganize too! Blech. Oh well, can’t win them all 🙂
Oh my…no words.
Well, except these…Teen Witch is on 😀
I wish you could have just seen me jump out of my chair right now! Ugh. I have to wait another 2 hours for it to come on!! Lame. Ooooo, and “Casper” is on after it! (Watched the end the other night and totally cried like a wuss!) <–"Things I shouldn't admit out loud" for $200, Alex.
Hahah…seems like I cried when I saw Casper too. It’s been a long time though.
I used to own it and I haven’t seen it in forever either. What saps we are, Dawn!
I’m a big sap. I’m proud of it. Join me 😀
Oh I am so right there with you, girl! 🙂
Dude. It’s about to get all Cookie Monster up in heah. Stand back and flip your goggles down. And also? Super awesome cards by your Mom! (Ps, you Dad sounds like the outgoing version of my Dad. Dad gets all his gag gifts and the library second-hand store…)
hehe. Up in heah. Man, why are you the best, Brooke??! Looks like we come from the same thread–our dads sound like twins. And don’t be fooled, I wouldn’t say my dad is outgoing by any means. He hates people and let’s them know it. If he were to be left alone for the rest of his life, he would be happy as a clam 🙂 <–there's that dumb expression again.
Dad doesn’t hate people, but he could totally be one of those nice old hermit guys who live in a cave and eat twigs and rocks. (Have you noticed how quickly our conversations diverge? Swerving off the road screaming into the night… like a hermit guy delirious from his diet of twigs and rocks…)
This is truly the only way to converse, in my opinion 🙂 haha. Twigs and rocks. My dad could totally rock the cave as long as it has Fritos and Carl’s Jr. hamburgers.
Yes, yes, YES! I cannot wait to make these. I know I’ve said every candy bar is my favorite, but I think I just forgot how much of a fat kid in a skinny body I really am – I WANT THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!! In my belly.
bahaha! I know, right? Each post I kept thinking to myself, “These are my favorite!” until I realized, hey Cara, you are saying that about every candy bar. Hey, I loved candy growing up 🙂
… I’ll second that notion … I’ve always known you are the favorite. Love you girl and all your sassy creativity.
It really always has been obvious, hasn’t it Jess? Poor Sher and Scott, I pity them really. bahahaha! xo
I think Iam crying tears of joy!
My thighs may not thank you, but I certainly do! I can’t wait to try this, thank you for sharing!!!
You got it! And tell your thighs to take one for the team just this once 🙂