Allergy friendly. cupcake happy!

When I had to make the switch to allergen-free baking, it was very overwhelming. There are so many resources for recipes, tips and ideas. And, there are so many products out on the market! I knew there would be a lot of trial and error as I was learning this new lifestyle. I must say that we are lucky to have so many options these days. I’m frequently trying out new products (lately I’ve been testing gluten-free flour blends). Hopefully this list will help you as you are learning to bake allergen-free as well.

Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips. Enjoy Life is a local company whose manufacturing facility is free of the top eight allergens. They offer chocolate chips in the form of mini-chips and mega-chunks. These are the best option if you need to bake completely free of the top eight and not worry about cross contamination. Enjoy Life often hands out samples and coupons at tradeshows and Allergen-friendly events. There are also coupons on their Facebook page and website, www.enjoylifefoods.com. I’ve found these at several supermarkets, Super Target, Whole Foods and Fruitful Yield.

Earth Balance Margarines and Spreads. This is my favorite substitute for butter. All varieties are trans-fat free (non-hydrogenated). For baking, I prefer the soy-free version of the margarine in the red tub (I’m hoping they come out with a stick version for easier measuring) because the flavor is milder that the soy-version in the brown or green tubs. They also have a refrigerated shortening available in stick form (great if you want a frosting without the pale yellow color from the margarines). I have used all of these products with success in cakes and cookies, and in savory cooking such as for sauces and grilled soy cheese sandwiches. I have found it at Super Walmart, Meijer (only the soy-based version in the green tub), and Whole Foods. I am currently experimenting with their new coconut spread, which I have only seen at Whole Foods.

Canned Coconut Milk, Thai Kitchen or Whole Foods 365 Brands. Canned coconut milk is a great dairy-free substitute for heavy whipping cream. It is very rich and makes a very decadent cupcake without leaving a coconutty flavor. Of course, it makes a great coconut cupcake, too!

I’ve used other brands of coconut milks from the international sections at the supermarkets and from Asian markets, but I’ve found the Whole Foods brand seems to have a more high quality and consistent product at a reasonable price.

Misto Oil Sprayer. First, this is not a food item. It is a kitchen gadget, and it is a fantastic option if you can’t use Pam or other cooking sprays found at the supermarket, which contain soy. You fill the bottle with oil (I use canola), pump the top a few times, and you have your own allergen-free cooking spray. I use it to spray my cake pans and paper cupcake liners. Available at several retailers.

Flax Seeds. Flax is a trendy healthy food. Ground flax seeds mixed with water are a good substitute for eggs in allergen-free baking, especially in baked goods made with whole grains such as muffins, breads or oatmeal cookies. I don’t use any particular brand, and for convenience I prefer flax seeds that are pre-ground. They keep well in the freezer. 2.5 teaspoons ground flax seeds + 3 Tablespoons water = 1 egg. Mix and allow to sit for a few minutes. It will become gooey, similar to the texture of a beaten egg. Available at most supermarkets.

Peanut-Free Tree Nuts. This is for those of you that have a peanut allergy but can have tree nuts. Most store-bought tree nuts are packaged on shared equipment with peanuts, so there is potential cross contamination. Since Savannah can have tree nuts, I do still use them occasionally in my baking. I’ve found two brands in local stores that are safe for her to consume. Blue Diamond brand almonds, found in most supermarkets, are packaged in a peanut-free facility. For baking, I like to use their Natural almonds. My family also loves their Butter Toffee flavor for snacking. Available at most supermarkets.

Additionally, Now Foods offers several varieties of tree nuts and seeds, also manufactured in a peanut-free facility (this is NOT indicated on their package, but I called the company directly to find out this information). Now Foods products can be found in the Chicago-area at Fruitful Yield stores in the refrigerated section.

Now Foods Xanthan Gum. Xanthan Gum is a pricey item to keep on hand, but definitely necessary for many gluten-free baking recipes. The main reason I prefer the Now Foods brand is because it comes in a convenient plastic container with a screw top (most other brands come in a non-resealable bag). It is also available in size smaller than most other brands, which I prefer because I don’t bake gluten-free on a regular basis. Again, find this at Fruitful Yield.

Sunbutter. When you can’t have peanut-butter or soy butter, Sunbutter is a good option. It is available in many types, such as no-stir, natural, crunchy and smooth. I’ve used it in cookie recipes and rice-krispie treats, and my family likes to eat it right out of the jar. Available at supermarkets, Target, health food stores.

Ener-G Egg Replacer. I’ve found this product works well in cake recipes that I find that are not allergen-free, and I need to make an easy substitution. However, I used it once for a pre-packaged brownie mix, and it did NOT work. The mixture did not hold together and the oil separated from the rest of the ingredients, which solidified into a very hard, crumbly mess. Lesson learned… all egg-replacers are NOT created equal. I’ll be doing a post in the near future on my other experience with different types of egg-replacers. Ener-G Egg Replacer can be found at Whole Foods, Fruitful Yield and other health food stores.

This is just a small list of some of my favorite allergen-friendly baking products. Do you have any favorites? I’d love to hear about them!

Have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend everyone!