Starting the festive season checking the ingredients list of everything you buy? Whether you've ditched the dairy or getting rid of gluten, Jenna Farmer shares her top festive free-from buys to add to your trolley.
Best for free-from-Christmas gifts: Creative Nature Christmas Cracker
Free from: top 14 allergens (including gluten, dairy and nuts)
Whether you're after a gift, stocking fillers or Christmas day Christmas crackers, Creative Nature's Christmas cracker contains four of their irresistible Maginbles treats. Free from all 14 major allergens, such as gluten, dairy and nuts, and vegan, the cracker contains creamy 'mlk' and hazelNOT mini chocolate bites.
Creative Nature Magibles Christmas Cracker: £9, Ocado
Best for vegan chocolate lovers: Festive Fatso Feast Bundle (vegan)
Free From: Some Fatso bars are vegan (all in their vegan bundle) and some don't contain gluten or nut ingredients (but you'll need to check the packaging).
Fatso makes ethically sourced, single-origin dark chocolate from Colombia and are known for their unique flavour combinations. Their Christmas offering is a Festive Feast Bundle, which wraps up three of their bars, and you can choose to make this vegan bundle. Flavours include King's Ransom (with delicious mint and cocoa nibs) and Morn'n Glory with crunchy cornflakes and marmalade.
Festive Fatso Feast Bundle: £19.50, FATSO
Best for Christmas condiments: CHIMMY'S Trio Gift Box
Free From: all 14 common allergens (inc gluten, dairy and nuts) and artificial preservatives.
Bring the spices of South America to your Christmas dinner with this CHIMMY'S trio gift box (which equally makes a great present to have under the tree for any foodies in the family).
CHIMMY'S is a range of chimichurri-inspired sauces developed by Michelin-starred chef, Diego Cardoso and his wife, Sofia who were keen to introduce the British palate to the delights of their traditional Argentine sauce. Inside you'll find three tangy flavours: Classic, Smoky BBQ and Spicy; all of which can be used for marinading, condiments and dipping.
CHIMMY'S Trio Gift Box: £14,95: Chimmy's.
Best for snacking in front of the telly: Catherine's Original Selection Tin
Free from: gluten, all dairy (Vegan)
Whilst free-from chocolate has improved dramatically over the years, it doesn't mean we don't feel a pang of jealousy when we see someone whip out the Quality Streets on Boxing Day. Enter Catherine's Original Selection tin, all chocs inside are gluten-free, 100% plant-based, RSPO certified, fairly traded Cocoa and the packaging is fully recyclable.
The tin includes nine delicious flavours, including: The Cookie Muncher, a tasty plant-based take on a classic Milky Way; Popped Cherry, with a cherry centre and  Bite-me-Balls ( a semi-sphere filled with smooth vegan caramel)l Tease Me ( a vegan honeycomb with a tongue teasing crunch) , and lavender inflused Baby I’m Blue. A real game changer and you'd never guess these were free from!
Catherine’s Originals Selection Tin:£13.30 Catherine's
Best for guilt-free Christmas tipples: Angels Dare Cocktail
Free From: Sulphites, Alcohol.
Looking for an alcohol-free Christmas tipple? Look no further than Angels Dares Cocktail's non-alcoholic mocktail – La Bonnie Vita. Combining sweet Scottish Raspberry, zesty and vibrant Sicilian Lemon and a dash of blood orange. Utterly delicious and given its 0% alcohol, there's no need to stop at one.
Best for savoury snacking: Palace Culture Chives & Shallots Cream Cheeze
Free from: dairy.
Palace Culture's new Chives & Shallots Cream Cheeze, 120g, joins their award-winning range of plant based cheezes, including Kimcheeze 120g, and Mouldy Goaty 120g (Each RRP: £5.95),
Perfect for Christmas 'cheeze' boards, Palace Culture's soft and creamy spread is actually made from organic, fermented cashews, creating a spreadable, delicious cheeze that goes perfect with crackers or bagels.
Palace Cheese is available at Waitrose.
Best for a Christmas cuppa: Bird and Blend Starry Night
Free from: gluten and dairy.
Bird and Blend are known for their delicious herbal blends, and their limited-edition Christmas tea collection is no exception. New to the collection is a Van Gogh-inspired herbal tea, Starry Night ( with notes of apple, hibiscus and orange) alongside the usual favourites of Mince Pie, Mulled Cider and Gingerbread Chai. All teas are 100% compostable and plastic-free. Christmas in a mug!
Christmas 15 pack teabags (also available in 50g pouches) from £7.60, https://www.birdandblendtea.com/
Best for Christmas dessert: Doughlicious Chocolate Chip Cookie and Gelato Bites.
Free from: gluten and dairy
A no-fuss dessert to keep in your freezer-and it's gluten-free certified and this flavour is vegan! Doughlicious is made in London and combines creamy ice cream with chunky oats and there are 3 vegan flavours with dairy-free gelato: Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Truffle and Mint Chocolate Chip. Just pop in the freezer, then leave for a few minutes to defrost. The result is a deliciously moorish dessert that you'll struggle to stop at one!
Doughlicious Cookie Dough and Non-Dairy Gelato Bites: £5, Ocado.
Comments