UK Christmas Foods

[Ms_Derious]

I expect there has been a smattering of mentions here and there, but I thought a thread to combine them would be of use.

Where in the UK can we find vegan Christmas foods like Mince Pies, Christmas Cake, Stollen etc?

[Maître]

Nothing about any of those strikes me as particularly linked with animal products, I imagine many can be obtained which are vegan by accident even, mince pies especially.

[suzanne]

Asda Chosen By You mince pies are vegan (£1 for 6) red box.

[Firestorm]

Aldi Stollen seems to be vegan (http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/produc...ange_21739.htm) as are there Dark chocolate Reindeer (http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/produc...ange_21678.htm).

Tesco Value mince pies are vegan (http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Produ.../?id=267241328) as are the gianduiotti (http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Produ.../?id=264491105) and the bread sauce mix (http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Produ.../?id=268498408)

Sainsburys have vegan bread sauce mix (http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/grocerie...=1323376066471), and have done a product guidance list for the festive season: http://www2.sainsburys.co.uk/NR/rdon...celist2011.pdf

[Risker]

Tesco value mince pies are vegan too.

EDIT: Whoops, Firestorm got there first.

[twinkle]

Firestorm you are my food guru! Trip to Aldi for me tomorrow!

[Firestorm]

Firestorm you are my food guru! Trip to Aldi for me tomorrow!

Blushes

There is also a Vegan Panettone available here: http://www.macrobioticshop.co.uk/Pro...=132&P_ID=1215

[rainbow]

YES! Thank you for this thread!
No Aldis near me, alas *sniff*. My local Budgens used to do a great vegan stollen, but none this year! *double sniff* They are selling vegan mince pies, though. The Sainsbury's value and Tesco basics mince pies might be vegan but they're rubbish. The ones from Iceland are also vegan and much better - a proper filling!

I want vegan stollen, dammit!

[Firestorm]

I think Iceland stollen looks to be vegan, it is from a company called Kuchen Meister, this site (in German translated by google) seems to confirm that the mono and diglycerides of fatty acids are of vegetable origin: http://www.vegetarierforum.com/threa...eister-Stollen

[rainbow]

Oh, bless you!
I don't actually live near an Iceland and made a special trip to get mince pies, and was too stupid to think of getting stollen because I like the one from my local Budgens and had not yet discovered that they weren't selling it this year. But I may have to find another Iceland so I can get my annual fruit-and-marzipan-cake fix!
Thanks again Firestorm!

[Puska17]

Sometimes I wish I lived near a larger supermarket, close by I have a very small Sainsburys and Co-op, mid size Morrisons and a bit further drive a very small Waitrose, most of them being small stock hardly any of the vegan products on their lists.
Waitrose usually comes up on top but hurts my purse!!

[Risker]

^ How about delivery?

[Holly78]

Mince pies are dead easy to make - even I can do it!

I would however love to find a vegan Christmas cake as that is beyond my cooking capabilities...

[Puska17]

I will make some mince pies, it's just the ease of being able to buy some occasionally.

as for delivery, we have an Asda that delivers but I'm not keen on Asda. All the larger stores are an hours drive away which is tricky as working full time I'm not keen on spending sunday or evenings shopping.

[harpy]

I (the inveterate non-baker) actually made Stollen a couple of years ago from one of the recipes on the forum (which I think you will find if you search for "Stollen"). It did turn out a bit like dog-biscuits as most of my baking does but was quite palatable nonetheless. I bet people like rainbow would find it easy though of course it does take some time.

I think this place http://www.vegancakedirect.co.uk/ is doing vegan Christmas cakes but the site says you have to order by today. I think I posted my mother's recipe before, will see if I can find it.

ETA Christmas cake recipe is in this thread: http://www.veganforum.com/forums/sho...-for-a-wedding so won't post again as it's rather long.

[Holly78]

Thank you Harpy!

[Blue moon]

Sainsburys currently have bags of free-from chocolate coins for £1.49 a bag.

[twinkle]

Ooh! good news. Is it dark chocolate or their imitation milk choc, do you know?

[Firestorm]

^^ Imitation milk chocolate, they look very nice though

[Puska17]

I'm wrapping Montezuma dark buttons in foil that I've dyed and hanging with some ribbon as my coins

[rainbow]

Thank you everyone! I found the thread here: http://www.veganforum.com/forums/sho...?12967-Stollen and made stollen using the veganised version of the recipe here: http://www.myhouseandgarden.com/reci...er_Stollen.htm
Am mad busy until Friday but will try to post a photo of my efforts then if I remember.
Yay, stollen! Merry Xmas folks!

[harpy]

I think that may be the one I used as well. Will be interested to see/hear how yours is.

[harpy]

No ******* vegan mince pies to be had for love nor money round here, not even in Whole Foods which have had them in past years if I remember correctly, or Tesco which only has the posh ones. I am going to try and make some for the first time in 54 years. Am also going to have another bash at dog biscuit aka stollen. I may be gone some time.

[Firestorm]

I hope it all works well for you Harpy! I've just finished making 2 kinds of mince pie & bread sauce.

[harpy]

2 kinds of mince pie?? How many kinds are there?

Mine are a bit bulletlike, thanks, but the Stollen is a distinct improvement on the one I made a couple of years ago so perhaps I should specalise in those.

[Firestorm]

2 kinds of mince pie?? How many kinds are there?

I made ones using walnut pastry with Robinsons Brandy & Date mincemeat, and some using my own pastry with Robinsons normal mincemeat.
I'm still too much of an amateur to make Stollen, next year I will try and make VeganDads though.

[rainbow]

Ok folks, sorry it's so late, but here's two pictures of the stollen I made. It was yummy! (No, I didn't eat it all myself - even I'm not *that* greedy!)

[Gwydion]

Looks Nom!!

I don't believe I have ever tasted stollen

[rainbow]

Oh Gwydion, you must! It is soooooo nice! It's a sweet bread (made with yeast and kneaded rather than made with baking powder or bicarb). It contains dried fruit and marzipan and it's moist, flavoursome and festive. Tell you what, if I've made next year's in time I'll bring you some to the Animal Aid fayre.

[harpy]

Mine isn't very moist - it isn't bad though.

[Gwydion]

You aren't as good as Rainbow at this whole selling thing Harpsickle.

I will look out for it Rainbow, and sounds like a plan

[harpy]

Damn, I've still got a whole one to shift as well