Give your holiday gathering a peppermint theme with party favors your guests will love. Put two candy canes in the shape of a heart and melt chocolate in the middle to make a peppermint sucker. Wrap in seasonal cellophane and add to goodie bags filled with these Allergen-Free Peppermint Patties.

individual-recipe-allergen-free-peppermint-patties

1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted
5 tablespoons organic palm fruit oil shortening
2 1/2 teaspoons Nielsen-Massey Pure Peppermint Extract*
1/2 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract*
6 tablespoons light agave syrup
12 oz. gluten, soy, dairy,egg-, and nut free semisweet chocolate chips (I used Divvies as it comes in a 12 oz. package)

In a large bowl, combine the sugar, 3 tablespoons of the short­ening, and the peppermint and vanilla extracts. Add the agave and mix thoroughly with a large spoon until mostly mixed. Then, with clean hands, pull the ingredients together to form a ball.

With a teaspoon measure, scoop out the dough and roll it into balls, then flatten to form 1/4 inch thick patties. Chill the flattened patties for 30 minutes.

After the patties have chilled, combine the chocolate and the remaining 2 tablespoons of shortening in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Allow the chocolate mixture to cool for 10 minutes. Dip the patties in the chocolate mixture so they are completely coated, then place the patties on wax or parchment paper–lined baking sheets. Place the baking sheets in the refrigerator and let the peppermint patties dry for at least an hour before serving.

Store the completely dried patties, covered and refriger­ated, for up to 1 week.

Makes about 3 dozen patties

*Gluten-Free Certified as well as All-Natural and Allergen-Free

Recipe by Elizabeth Gordon, MSW from her book Allergy Free Desserts(© 2010). Elizabeth is a blogger (My Allergy-Free Life), author and baker (Betsy & Claude Baking Co.) whose sweet tooth has not been deterred by her own food allergies.

Some recipe tweaks and photo by Sloane Miller, MSW, LMSW, akaAllergic Girl (allergicgirl.com), a blogger, author, coach and consultant who’s committed to helping people who, like her, have food allergies.