With the big day less than two weeks away, Jenna Farmer roundsup the best free from foods and drinks to enjoy this christmas.
Free From Savoury Treats
Tracklements Festive Goodies Box
This gluten-free goodie box has all your festive condiments sorted. The set includes sticky fig relish (perfect for turkey sandwiches); christmas chutney for your cheeseboard; cranberry, port and orange sauce (a must for christmas day); spiced honey mustard and caramelised onion marmalade. The whole range is gluten-free and contains no dairy ingredients.
The Tracklements Christmas Gift Boxes, available from fine food delis and farm shops nationwide and online at www.tracklements.co.uk, £20.70
Morrisons Plant Revolution Say Cheese Set
Just because you're not doing dairy, doesn't mean you can't enjoy a cheese board on boxing day. Morrisons has announced the launch of its first vegan cheese board in the Plant Revolution vegan range - Plant Revolution Say Cheeze - just in time for the festive season.
Offering a range of different cheeses; the plant-based platter offers vegan alternatives to Wensleydale & Cranberry (a surprisingly creamy, fruity cheese that works perfect with crackers) Cheddar with Jalapeno & Chilli (this livened up a toastie no end) Smoked Cheddar and Mild Cheddar. Just add the crackers (and we've got them covered next!).
Morrisons Plant Revolution No Cheese Board: £4.99, Morrisons.
Nairns, Limited Edition Gluten-Free Savoury Biscuit Selection Box
A grazing board essential during Christmas, the 'Limited Edition Savoury Biscuit Selection Box’ includes Nairn’s six top-selling gluten-free oat biscuits and crackers, perfect within a hamper, or to bring along as a gift to your host to those to those impromptu dinner parties. A festive staple for an indulgent Christmas cheese and charcuterie board, and a variety of lighter healthy nibbles or canapés.
Nairns, Limited Edition Gluten-Free Savoury Biscuit Selection Box, Available from Tesco, RRP £3.75
Sweet Treats and Desserts
Festive Favourites Sharing Box
For something truly special, try this Festive Favourites Sharing Box from Positive Bakes. All their bakes are 100% vegan, gluten-free, soya-free, palm oil free and come housed in compostable packaging. Inside this amazing festive treat are there savoury sealt, salt and rosemary biscuits, a fruit and nut mix, min festive scones (and yes, they come with amazingly thick vegan 'clotted cream,' jam and mince pie slices. Of course it wouldn't be a British treat without a cup of tea so the box also includes teabags from Bird & Blend Tea.
Festive Favourites Sharing Box: £34.95, Positive Bakes.
Gluten Free Panettone
Now everyone can enjoy one of the sweetest Italian traditions with this Gluten Free Panettone. A 72-hour rising process ensures this gluten-free alternative has the same fluffiness of texture that you’d expect from a traditional panettone. Panettone is a staple of the holiday season in Italy – in fact, no Christmas season would be complete without one, especially when served with a glass of sweet wine and some fresh gelato.
Gluten Free Panettone 600g by Vergani £16, available from www.sacla.co.uk
Livia's Nugglets and Million Squares
All of Livia's snacks are gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. Perfect for snacking and mini-deserts, the range includes healthier alternatives to your usual chocolate treats, such as Nugglets (bite sized cookie dough or brownie bites) which are utterly addictive and Million Squares (a healthy take on Millionaire Shortbread).
Shop the full range at https://livias.co.uk/
Pulsin Double Chocolate Brownie
Plant-based Pulsin have a range of snack bars that are impressively gluten-free, dairy-free, soya-free and vegan. Their double chocolate brownie is really indulgent-despite using dates, cacao butter and chicory fibre. As well as being a great snack or xmas desert, this brownie is also high in fibre and uses no refined sugar.
Shop the full range at https://www.pulsin.co.uk/
Rollagranola Festive Trail Mix
For those looking for something a little healthier to snack on in the run up to Christmas, without compromising on taste, Rollagranola has come to the rescue with its new festive trail mix.
Packing a festive punch, the Rollagranola Festive Trail Mix emulates the flavours of a traditional mince pie. A taste of Christmas with each bite, the trail mix is a delightful combination of spiced glazed nuts and seeds topped off with raisins and cranberries. All nuts and seeds are coated with spices and sweetened with unrefined sugars to give a truly indulgent flavour.
. Available from Rollagranola.co.uk or via independent retailers.
Ombar Oat Milk Chocolate Gift Box
Ombar is one of favourite vegan chocolate brands: it's super creamy and feels like a real treat. This Ombar Oat M’lk Chocolate Gift Box is perfect to treat yourself to four of the most delicious vegan flavours: hazlenut; smooth and creamy; fruit and nut and .our personal favourite-salted caramel.The range has 50% less the carbon emissions of mainstream milk chocolate and is made using sustainable British-grown ‘naked’ oats. As with the rest of the Ombar range, it is vegan friendly, dairy-free, organic, contains no palm-oil and is fair trade. Plus, the packaging contains absolutely no plastic, only cardboard, ensuring it is fully recyclable.
The Ombar Oat M’lk Gift Box (RRP £9.99) is available now on the Ombar website
FREE FROM DRINKS
Savyll Alcohol Free Cocktails
These award-winning, alcohol-free cocktails will bring a touch of sparkle to your christmas get togethers. The collection includes cocktail favourites such as Paloma, Mojito, Moscow Mule and Bellini, all served in sleek cans (making them easy to pop in your bag and take to parties where you're not drinking and don't fancy an evening of diet coke.). As well being non-alcoholic, they're also gluten and dairy free too. Not sure which one's your favourite tipple? Try their four cocktail taster box. Who says cocktails need to be alcoholic to taste amazing? This set will convince you otherwise.
Sayll's cocktails are available from Ocado, Wholefoods, Harrods, Amazon and direct from Savyll www.savyll.com
From £11.99 for a taster box of four cocktails.
Eisberg's Mulled
What's christmas without a glass of mulled wine? But you can still get in the festive spirit if you're not drinking this year. Eisberg have recently launched its fabulous Eisberg Mulled, to accompany their popular alcohol-free wines. It works just as well cold as it does warmed up with a dollop of sliced orange. And it's only 70 calories a serving too.
Eisberg's Mulled, £3, Tesco Gin Gift Sets from That GIn Company
That Gin Company, which has a bar in Warwick, is thought to be the first in the country to offer their bottled bespoke gin flavours by post. The gins, which are gluten-free, can be ordered as gift sets with a wide range of unique flavours, such as Pineapple, Sicilian Orange, Lemon, and Passionfruit, Jalapenos gin, Cherry Bakewell, Black Forest Gateau and even Biscoffi.
The Gin Gift Sets include 3x250ml gins and are priced £46.95, order from https://thatgincompany.co.uk/product/gin-gift-sets/
Crane's Gluten Free Cider
This gift set includes three of Cranes' refreshingly natural, vegan and gluten free fruit ciders in three distinct flavours (Blueberries & Apples; Cranberries & Limes and Raspberries & Pomegranates), along with a branded pint glass. Cranes ciders are a healthier choice this christmas as they use only the most natural ingredients; so your tipple has 30% fewer calories and over 40% less sugar compared to brand leaders.
Cranes Gift Set, £16.99, Now available from Amazon and https://drinkcranes.shop.