Summer is flying by and so are the long, warm days. It’s been weeks since I have baked something new; all I want lately are easy, familiar recipes that will satisfy my kids’, OK, actually MY sweet tooth. Things have been insanely busy here and time is scarce. But I have been craving new treats again so I’m inspired to get back into the kitchen to tweak some old favorites and create new ones too. My newest creation, Dairy, Egg and Nut Free Applesauce Bars passed the Kid-Friendly Test with flying colors, in fact, my kids, my non-allergic neighbor’s kids and my husband all devoured these little bars. They are THAT good, and the ingredients are probably already in your pantry.
Two tips: this recipe can be baked in either a 15 by 10 jelly roll pan (for smaller and thinner bars, my kids’ personal favorite) or if you like a thicker bar, use a 13 x 9 metal sheet pan. Also, make sure not to over mix the batter when you add the applesauce. Stir it in and mix until thoroughly combined. Over mixing will produce a tougher result.
I can’t wait for you and your families to try this out!
As a side bar, some of you may already know that my second book, “Vegan Baking Classics” just appeared in stores this week. It is the Vegan version of my first book, The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book. My publisher approached me with the idea to repackage my first book to make it more Vegan friendly and share all those great recipes with another audience. I thought it was a great idea, since I have so many Vegan readers and get emails all the time from Vegans. I omitted some of the non Vegan recipes (gelatin, honey) and also added a dozen or so new recipes as well. The book will look very familiar if you have the first book, but for many people who don’t search for “food allergy titles”, Vegan Baking Classics will be new to them. I am excited for everyone to enjoy all these recipes that are so loved.
I’m also thinking about a third book and would love your input. What types of recipes would you like to see in a new book? Is there anything else that would be helpful to you and your family? I LOVE your input, it helps me more than I could ever say. So thank you in advance….and post or email me anytime. I’ve always said I really feel I have the BEST blog readers…I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful support network. Thank you Thank you!!
DAIRY, EGG AND NUT FREE SPICED APPLESAUCE BARS
1/2 c. dairy free margarine
1 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla
2 c. unbleached all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
OPTIONAL: 3/4 c. raisins if desired
Confectioners’ sugar for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 13 x 9 metal baking sheet or 15 x 10 x 1 inch jelly roll pan (see my note above) with dairy free baking spray. Set aside.
In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the dairy free margarine with sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1/4 c. applesauce and vanilla and beat well. In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt with a wire whisk. Add to margarine mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in applesauce (add add optional raisins if desired) and spread batter into prepared pan.
Bake 22-25 minutes or until lightly browned and cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely, cut into squares and sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar before serving.
Love that you have another recipe book coming out. I was just on amazon.ca ( the canadian site) and wrote up a review ( a good one, of course) about your 1st. book, and noticed that you have the vegan baking classics coming out. I will be ordering it as soon as it is available, unfortunately Canada is not getting it until September. I know the wait will be worth it. My request for your next book would be everyday meals. Please,Please consider it. From a die hard fan. I can hardly wait to try the applesauce bars. Thanks for all that you do for people with allergies and the rest of us too.
Congratulations on your newest cookbook Kelly! I have made most of your recipes for my three allergic children and we all LOVE them. I don’t know what I did before your cookbook
It would be great to see a cookbook from you with a “holiday” baking section. It’s always tough for me to come up with holiday treat ideas similar to what other “non-allergic” kids are eating. Also a section of healthy snack ideas would be neat too! Thank you again for all the fantastic recipes and I’ll be making the spiced applesauce bars this week!
Kelly- I think it would be great if you put together a cookbook of dinner recipes for allergy families. I am guessing you probably have many adaptations of traditional family fare that are free of top allergens. It would be great to have a book full reliable meal plans that everyone in the family can enjoy.
I am SUCH a fan, and I have recommended your book to so many people. Thanks for sharing your talent and making life easier for all of the allergy families in the world!
First of all this recipe looks awesome. As for another book idea I can’t think of another baking recipe that I need but I always love more things to bake. I would go with allergy friendly family meals. Good luck with your new book.
I love your first book but would love to have recipes for meals especially dinner. Thanks for everything you do.
Jean
Congrats on the new book Kelly! Can’t wait to see the “new” recipes! I use your current book as well as new recipes you post regularly – in fact I just finished eating the last few blueberry muffins of a batch I made this weekend and the kids have been snacking on chocolate chip bars and sour cream cinnamon cookies all week (snacking hasn’t been just the kids though!) I was always the “baker” in my group of friends and your recipes have allowed me to maintain that title even though my recipes must now exclude dairy, eggs & PN/TN! I’ve found if I don’t mention that, no one even notices!
Any help or guidance you could provide on baking without wheat would also be greatly appreciated. We need to avoid it in addition to dairy, eggs, soy and all nuts so creating yummy treats can be a bit of a challenge. All of the items we have tried thus far tend to be fairly “gritty”.
Many, many thanks!
Congrats Kelly on your new book. I’m looking forward to it….This recipe sounds wonderful, and the smells will be great in the house – I’m a huge fan of fall and the smells of apples, nutmeg, etc….
Being new to the allergy world with my little one, I know what I struggle to find recipes for are supper/main courses and side dishes, for example mac-n-cheese, chicken noodles, pasta dishes, etc….that are of course kid friendly….
Thank you for everything you do Kelly!!!
Kelly,
I have your baking book as well and it has been a lifesaver for my dairy and egg allergic daughter! My mon allergic daughter also loves the “special” treats, and chooses your pancakes over ones with milk. I too would love some everyday meals that I could make for dinner. It is by farmy hardest challenge and often I have to make something different for my daughter than I am making for the rest of my family. Good luck with he next book!
Exciting news about your new cookbook! Hope sales go well.
For your next book, I’m going to echo the suggestions already made by others … recipes for allergy-friendly suppers (main courses and sides, esp pasta dishes that do well without cheese!), healthy lower-fat and lower-sugar snacks, and holiday treats.
I’ve been baking once a week now for my 2.5 year old — she only recently has become interested in eating treats and desserts — and her favorites are your chocolate chip cookies and vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting.
Thanks for everything. Best wishes to you and your family!
I would love for your new book to include recipes for kid friendly dishes including pastas, mac-n-cheese and even some crock pot recipes.
Congrats on your new book. Suggestions for a new book would include family meals (that don’t rely on tomatoes or tomato sauce…not that we are allergic to tomatoes, but almost all of the “top 8 allergy free” dinners seem to have tomatoes in them) & healthy snacks for toddlers, that are all wheat, egg, dairy, and shellfish free.
Casseroles and main dishes would be helpful.
I’m cooking for a grandchild and at family dinners it would be helpful to have main dishes she could eat. So many of them have cheese or sour cream which is not allowed on her dairy free, egg free diet.
Thank you.
These sound delicious!!! I will definately be making these this week!!! You really are a tremendous help & resource! I, too, recommend you to everyone I meet with food allergy needs.
My vote for new book would also be dinner ideas (even lunches & snacks). That’s one area I’ve needed more help in since I, too, am new to living with food allergies with my little boy.
These bars sound great! I just made your lemon cake last weekend and we liked it so much, I’m making it for company again this weekend! It is the perfect summer cake with some berries on the side.
I would also love to see a cookbook focusing on main dishes. Good luck and thank you!
I echo the dinner ideas but I think you mentioned before that your passion is baking.
How about a granola bar recipe? One that isn’t too hard and fairly healthy (not full of sugar).
Tried your vanilla cupcake recipe a few weeks ago and it was delicious. Thanks for all the amazing recipes. I don’t even surf the web any more for recipes….I just come right to this site or your cookbook!
I would love to see wheat free recipes too. My son is allergic to wheat and dairy products.
I am in agreement with all of the other moms-kid friendly meals and adaptations of family favorites. I just came home from vacationing with family where I was the unofficial baker for a group of 20+ people. Your book was all I used. Everyone loved the brownies and couldn’t taste any differences between the allergy free treats and what they were used to. Thanks for all you do.
Kelly-I know dinner is hard for a lot of people but finding universally appealing meals could be a serious challenge. What if you approached the cookbook with a broader vision–like starting your fa kid at school successfully. You could fill it with all your tips and encouragement
and arrange the recipes by traditonal school events (ie valentines day, teacher gifts, bake sales, etc). Just a thought–whatever you come up with will be great!!
Hi Kelly, It’s Katie …. the one that emails you constantly with questions
Ha! I just ordered the vegan book solely for the new recipes! I can’t get enough. I think a 3rd book is a fabulous idea. There is not enough thanks out there that would show you how appreciative I am of your baking book. I think I am with everybody else… a section for pasta dishes and what not. A Holiday section would be awesome! I am sure whatever you come out with is going to be fabulous!!!
Ooh! A book with dinner time favorties would be so helpful and exciting! Kid (and adult)friendly recipes that are yummy enough not to even need cheese! Casseroles, snacks, classic recipes redone, anything like that would be a tremendous help. I would definitely pick that one up!
Now I’m off to bake up a batch of these bars! Can’t wait!
Great news that you have another book coming out. We will look for it. We tell everyone we know about your existing book.
I know you’ve mentioned before that baking is your passion, and I appreciate your baking recipes immensely! I also love to bake, but lack your expertise in making them safe for my daughter but still delicious.
I love the ideas mentioned for holiday baking – a Christmas cookie book – YUM!
I’d also love to see more recipes that incorporate seasonal fruits. I love the recipes you have that use fruits I don’t often bake with like cherries, strawberries, cranberries, etc. I’ve made your cherry cake for so many people this summer who’ve exclaimed that they’ve never had cherry cake before! Maybe a food allergy mama cooking through the seasons – type book.
Finally, (I have lots of demands!
) I try to use whole wheat flour as much as I can, and have recently started being interested in experimenting with white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour. While I’m fine with my desserts being completely unhealthy, it’s nice to have a healthier muffin or quick bread so I feel a little better about serving it as part of a meal. I’d love to see some whole wheat muffins / breads from you!
Thanks again for all your great recipes. I can’t even put into words how much easier our life has been thanks to your recipes. I love being able to make a treat that’s not only safe for my multi-allergy daughter, but that I know tastes as good as or even better than the non-allergy friendly treat. Thank you!
I think a food allergy holiday book as well as a regular dinner and lunch cooking book would be great! And maybe a snack book. I love your first book!
Love your site.
Kelly,
This is my first time commenting, but I follow your blog regularly. Your book/website has been so important and helpful for our little family. We have severe egg, peanut, tree nut, milk/dairy and banana allergies here. It is so important for me to keep my kids happy, enjoying life, being included and most importantly SAFE. Your blog and recipe book have helped in that tremendously. Thank you.
I agree with the other comments. I would love some help with dinner time. Since we’ve added milk allergy to our list last year, I’ve been so incredibly bored with my meal planning. So many dinners have cheese (which I just usually omit) or the cream soups (which I’ve tried to make by myself using soy milk to no success). Anyways, we’d love to see more everyday foods/dinners in your next book. I’m so excited for the next book…and already preparing to preorder!
I LOVE your first cookbook! I cannot tell you how many times I have made your recipes and they go over well with my picky 2 year old and my husband. You really showed me that I can do this allergy-baking thing without having to be an expert. It is so nice to be able to use everyday ingredients and not have to find super fancy substitutions. And everything tastes SO good! We’ll be having applesauce bars this weekend!
I would appreciate a book from you on everyday cooking. I need help on meal planning and getting some variety at breakfast.
Kelly, I use your cookbook constantly. Once a month or so I make big batches of your pancakes and waffles to stock our freezer for quick re-heated breakfasts. I make your corn muffins all the time to go with chili and stews. I made a triple batch of your blueberry muffins to make good use of all the fresh blueberries this summer, and have some in the freezer to enjoy later. And your vanilla, chocolate, and pound cake recipes have made it possible for my son to enjoy cake right alongside everyone else at various celebrations. Oh, and I didn’t even mention your chocolate chip cookies. Every single thing I’ve made from your cookbook has been a hit!
So needless to say, if you came out with another book I’d be all over it.
I really like the idea of a holiday cookbook, either just Christmas/Hannukah or all throughout the year (Easter, 4th of July, Valentine’s treats, Halloween, etc.). Also, it would be cool if you could share some tips about how you go about tweaking recipes to avoid dairy/egg/nuts. I have a ton of family recipes and favorite recipes from other cookbooks, but I don’t have the faintest idea how I might make substitutions to make them turn out right without eggs and butter. Maybe a section in your next book could address that in more detail.
Thank you for all you do – the work you’ve done has helped so many!!
Your book has saved me countless times! We are huge fans and it’s in my top 10 list of priceless resources for parents new to the food allergy world!!
Could you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a recipe book of meals?!? Baking is a joy but cooking is a chore for me. My whole household will thank you
WOW…thanks SOOOOO much for all your feedback! I’m beyond excited that you all are enjoying the first book as much as I have enjoyed creating it. I am so loving that all our families are eating yummy food…with or without allergies! your input means the world to me, and i promise that the next book i do will focus on everyday meals. please please please keep your suggestions coming, because i really want to write a book that is helpful in YOUR kitchen, not just mine!
thanks again!!!!
Kelly, a friend just recently shared your site with me this summer and my nine y.o. FA son and I have already tried at least six different items (some twice). Once while we were reviewing your site, he said what a nice lady you are to create these recipes that he could have. I wish you could have heard him say those words for yourself. They made me teary. THANK YOU! Thank you for experimenting and sharing the final results with us in the form of recipes. Congratulations on your new book. My suggestions for a new book are similar to everyone elses. Holiday baking, holiday meals, casseroles, everyday meals and lunchbox ideas. Lunch is the biggest bore in our house. Thanks again!
Main course/healthy snack recipes would be much appreciated. I love your baking recipes but in keeping with the idea that less sugar is more for our children I would like some help coming up with some allergen free snacks, lunches, and dinners that are more exciting that grilled chicked, steamed broccoli, and rice. If anyone can tackle this, it seems like you can. My kids have the same allergies that your son has plus soy. Soy is a common allergen and I am wondering if you could offer an alternate option in your recipes for someone who is allergic to soy too! Good luck.
rebecca, absolutely! all my recipes are easily adapted to be soy free too by simply using soy free buttery sticks and shortening, so for the next book i will for sure include that info! thanks so much!
ok, that is the nicest thing EVER!!! your comment made ME teary!! it means SO MUCH to me that my recipes are enjoyed by you and your families, especially the kids. it’s the little things like a new treat, etc. that makes me smile. thank you so much for sharing your story. ahhhhh….so sweet.
I am excited to try this new recipe out and to check out your new book! I have a 3 year old that has food aversions to most everything but also is allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs and soy. So more soy free recipes would be great!!
Thanks Jamaica! All of my recipes can be easily converted to soy free…use rice milk and soy free shortening and margarine (Earth Balance and Spectrum).
Thanks Kelly! Your website and recipes are awesome! I’m in agreement with everyone else… dinner, lunch, lunchbox lunches, holidays, more info in general on how to tweek recipes we already have, etc. Both my boys are allergic to milk, soybean, wheat, eggs, peanuts, and stawberries (with a few more or less depending on the child). If you could do some recipes without those allergens, that would be awesome! Or tell how to substitute for those would be great! I’m still fairly new to the allergy scene and am not a very good cook. Any help I can get is wonderful and much appreciated!! Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to finding new and yummy recipes.
Loved the banana bread recipe. Congrats on the new book. For the next book how about including more low glycemic Index recipes?
I made these bars this morning and they were gone by dinner! So delicious! Thank you!!
I love that Laurie!! Thanks so much!
Thanks so much ayse!
Perfect ideas Amy, thanks SOOOO much!
I have tried a couple of your recipes from your book, and one was successful using wheat free flours, but the other one was not. So…..for your next cookbook, I would like to suggest WHEAT-FREE in addition to egg, dairy, and shellfish free. Everyday meals, lunches, healthy snack foods, and healthier baked goods.
PS: the blueberry cake recipe looks delicious. If anyone has successfully adapted it to be wheat free, would you be able to let me know how.
thanks!
How exciting that you will be penning another book!! We love your first book : )! My oldest daughter is severely allergic to dairy, eggs, and nuts and will be starting first grade this year, so I would be very interested in what types of lunches you have been packing for your son. If you could include a section on school lunches in the new book, I would be ecstatic!
Also, I have yet to find a good “goldfish” cracker or non-dairy cheese cracker recipe (I did find one decent one, but it did not pass the kid test from my dairy-allergic child—funnily enough my other “only nuts” allergic daughter liked them). I would also LOVE to be able to make safe M&Ms for my girls, but am not very knowledgeable in candy making to be able to figure out how to create them at home.
Thanks for all you do!! I truly appreciate you sharing your gifts!
I love your first book (and website recipes) because baking is the hardest thing to do without egg, nuts & dairy.
However, what I would really love is like a quick dinner meal book – I often need to cook dinner in 20 minutes or less – and while I can use dairy for hte most part, needs to be egg & nut free for sure. I find most others aren’t with easy to find normal grocery ingredients – its like use this cheese replacer, etc etc – which is only at expensive whole foods types places.
Thanks!
I made the applesauce bars that were listed in Septembers newsletter and they were yummy – the second time I made them I didn’t have nutmeg or cloves so I substituted all spice (1 tsp) and ginger (1/4 tsp) – came out soooo yummy great taste for fall – and you could add some ‘real’ apple to this cake too!!
love that christine!! so glad you like these!
Kelly,
I have both of your books and I use recipes from them every week. I hope that you will come out with a third book too, maybe with lunch/ dinner recipes for dairy, egg and nut allergic kids/ family. I love your baking books so much and can’t wait to buy the next book you release! Thank you for your wonderful work!
Thanks so much Laura!! So very sweet of you to say!!! xoxox
I am new to your site and loving it!! I have one with severe intolerance to milk and soy and my baby is allergic to eggs as well as intolerant to milk and soy. I am still nursing, so I am loving reading about egg/dairy free recipes! We are struggling most with dinner ideas. Trying to think out of the box, but I struggle to be risky given our food challenges. I already ordered the cookbook and look forward to more!