Holiday Gift Idea - Allergen-Free Chocolate Chewy Candy

Tootsie Rolls are naturally gluten-free, but like many other off-the-shelf chocolate candy, they contain milk and soy. Continuing my make-it-yourself spree, I decided to try making my own version of chocolate chewy candy.

Allergen-Free Chocolate Chewy Candy (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

½ cup honey

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon Earth Balance Natural Shortening, melted

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup powdered sugar 

1 cup powdered rice milk



Combine the cocoa, powdered sugar, and half of the powdered rice milk. Mix together well and set it aside. This will be a very powdery mix.

In a large mixing bowl, blend together the honey, shortening and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and blend on low until completely combined.

Coat a smooth prep surface with a small amount of the remaining rice milk. Move the dough from the bowl to the prep surface.

Work the remaining powdered milk into the candy ball with your hands, a little bit at a time. When you can no longer manipulate the ball with your hands (or you use up the remaining powdered rice milk) you are done kneading. Place the dough ball on a sheet of wax paper and flatten it with your hands until it is a disk.

Use a sharp non-stick knife to cut the dough into tootsie-roll-sized pieces.

Cut squares of wax paper and wrap the candies individually. This recipe makes about 24 pieces.

I was really thrilled with the result. This is a dead ringer for “the real thing.” Bring this as a hostess gift, fill a stocking, or give it to your favorite gluten-free and allergen-free guest!