christmas baking

Vegan Christmas Mince Meat Pies

Vegan Christmas Mince Meat Pies

As I am writing this I am sitting in the car on my way to Austria where my family and I will spend the christmas holidays. I have to say the view is quite concerning. What normally is a jolly drive towards snow covered alps that ups the excitement to finally start the ski season is now replaced by the sober view of grass, green bushes and the grey asphalt of the highway. There's no snow in sight yet and judging by the car's temperature indicator, there won't be any snow coming soon. In fact, the weather forecast for the next week predicts constant sun between 9 to 11 degrees celsius. There goes the dream of a white christmas...

I find it a shame because to me one of the best things about christmas is cozying up with a blanket and a cup of almond milk hot chocolate by the fire with people I love. Give me a good book to read on top of that and I'm one happy person.

Vegan Christmas Gingerbread Cookies

Vegan Christmas Gingerbread Cookies

It's that time of the year again: Christmas baking! I wouldn't call myself a good cook and even less so a good baker, so I was happy to have Vic's support in making these vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free gingerbread men. Yep, you heard that correctly, these cookies are void of literally ANYTHING that might upset your stomach. Christmas is saved, people.

In my house we usually make fruit loaf, cinnamon-flavored-star-shaped-biscuits and lemon-butter-biscuits, all of which are filled with refined sugar, glutenous (is that a word?!) flour, eggs and butter. Before becoming the health freak that I am (cause let's face it, I am), I didn't mind and it was just kind of normal. But since two years I always make sure I come prepared to our Christmas get togethers by bringing my own batch of healthy cookies. I have 0 self discipline when it comes to saying no to food, so if I don't bring a healthy alternative and someone offers me a 'normal' cookie, there is no way I will say no to it. Ever.