by Emily Mongan
For those with dietary restrictions or just trying to be more conscious about what they eat, satisfying that sweet tooth can be difficult. Odds are you aren’t going to find a treat that’s both sweet and good for you from a newsstand or convenience store. If you’re on the go and looking for a sweet snack, check out these London bakeries, cafes and shops turning out free from sweets every day.
Lola’s Cupcakes – Lola’s Cupcakes has been baking wheat free red velvet and flourless, wheat free chocolate cupcakes for a while now, but the bakery recently introduced an entire line dedicated to free from flavors. Try the vegan passion fruit and coconut, or choose from either the raspberry or chocolate sugar free varieties. Lola’s has several locations across London including small stands in King’s Cross, Blackfriars and Waterloo Underground stations. Don’t want to leave the office? You’re in luck, Lola’s delivers throughout London as well. Check them out at lolas-kitchen.co.uk.
Hummingbird Bakery – If you’re looking for simply delicious cakes and cupcakes made with gluten-free ingredients, check out Hummingbird Bakery. The bakery specializes in American-style baked goods, and offers a line of treats made without gluten-containing ingredients. The Made Without line includes cupcakes in red velvet and vanilla and full sized cakes in red velvet, devil’s food and vanilla sponge flavors. Hummingbird Bakery has six London locations, and will deliver to almost all London postcodes. Order in store or online at hummingbirdbakery.com.
Selfridges Food Hall – If your sweet tooth strikes while you’re out on a shopping spree, swing by Selfridges Food Hall and pick up a box of Jealous guilt-free sweets. The Sinfully Sour and Paradise Lost gift boxes include sour, fruity sweets that are gluten free and gelatine free, so they’re vegetarian. The colorful candies also include no artificial colors or flavors, so you can feel good about indulging in something sinful. Visit selfridges.com.
Harvey Nichols – The luxury lifestyle retailer’s food hall is brimming with free from sweets and treats that take away the guilt factor from your favorite guilty pleasures. Try some dairy and gluten-free Booja Booja Chocolate Truffles in Champagne, Hazelnut Crunch, Toffee, Stem Ginger or Rum Sozzled Sultana varieties. If chocolates aren’t really your style, look for Harvey Nichols gluten-free butter biscuits, which come in raspberry and cocoa and Earl Grey flavors. Visit harveynichols.com.
Natural Kitchen – Looking for something sensible to snack on along with your morning cup of tea or coffee? London’s Natural Kitchen, with four locations across the city, offers fresh pastries and other baked goods made with sustainable, ethically sourced organic ingredients. Visit thenaturalkitchen.com.
Retreat Cafe – This hidden gem has already earned high praise in our office, and for good reason. The cafe whips up vegetarian and free-from treats like gluten-free banana bread, fruit tarts and granola bars, truffles made from raw ingredients, and a variety of other free-from cakes and baked goods. The menu is seasonal and changes daily, but rest assured whatever you order won’t ruin your diet for the day. Retreat Cafe has locations in Parsons Green and Soho. Visit retreatcafe.com.
If you feel like having a free from treat without having to leave the house, channel your inner baker and make a batch of these gluten-free antioxidant packed raw cacao and beetroot brownies from Detox Kitchen. Visit detoxkitchen.co.uk.
Ingredients:
- 150g peeled raw beetroot
- 2 eggs
- 150g runny honey
- pinch of salt
- 100g gluten free flour
- 50g pure cacao powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
Cut the beetroot in half and put it in a glass bowl and cover with cling film. Put it in the microwave for 10min.
Meanwhile put eggs, honey and salt in kenwood and mix for 5 min.
Weigh out all dry ingredients and sieve. Combine well in a bowl.
Once beetroot has cooked, blitz in magimix and add to kenwood with dry ingredients. Mix well and pour into lined baking tray. Bake for 30 min at 170 degrees. Cool, cut, and enjoy your free from treats with a clear conscience!