I love that holiday baking too! My 15-year-old son was allergic to milk, eggs, and peanuts when he was younger (just peanut allergy remains) — here is a recipe for the delicious dairy, egg, soy, nut-free fudge I used to make for him. We all liked it as well as the regular kind; some even liked it better than Grandma’s recipe! Here it is:

3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 sticks milk-free, soy-free margarine
2 1/2 c. sifted confectioner’s (powdered) sugar
3 Tbsp. soy-free oil, 3 Tbsp. water, 2 tsp. baking powder (all mixed together)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside. In another bowl, cream margarine and sugar until fluffy. Beat in “water, oil, and baking powder mixture” and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture. Blend until thoroughly combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill one hour. Roll out dough between two sheets of waxed paper to 1/2-inch thickness, and cut into squares. Last step: Enjoy fudge with ALL of your loved ones!

I will definitely be trying those. Shortbread cookies are one of my favourites.

Also, I think your book makes a great Christmas gift. I’ve already bought 3 more copies to give as Christmas gifts to my mother, mother-in-law, and others. Some of the parents I know mentioned that they went out and bought your book after I told them about your web site. They are impressed. In fact, one of the parents raved about the vanilla frosting for cupcakes and how white it turned out, just like milk based frosting.

Continue your good work. We love your recipes!