Make your own candy with this Easy Homemade Hanukkah Gelt! This is a really fun way to get kids involved in the kitchen while creating a Hanukkah treat that's vegan, paleo, and free of refined sugar. Customize each piece of gelt with any of your favorite toppings!
What is Gelt?
Gelt are the little gold coins given to children during Hanukkah! They're usually received as part of the dreidel game. You can find them in most stores that carry holiday goodies, but it's much harder to find dairy-free versions. I had some luck at Whole Foods but ultimately enjoyed making my own the best!
How to Make Vegan Chocolate at Home
I have a recipe for Homemade Vegan Chocolate that's absolutely divine! It has only 5 ingredients as well as being super creamy. I'm really sensitive to refined sugars as they usually trigger my migraines. HOWEVER...my homemade chocolate version doesn't give me migraines since it is free of refined sugars! I think of it as a miracle recipe. It's sweetened with maple, and creates a totally decadent and luxurious chocolate. Ooh, I love it! If you don't want to make your own, I recommend using a vegan chocolate and melting it down. I like Hu brand dark chocolate gems!
I have a few tips and tricks for making perfect Easy Homemade Hanukkah Gelt. A silicone mold is the easiest way to get perfect, symmetrical circles of chocolate. I also found a mold with Hanukkah designs in it! So cute! If you don't have a silicone mold, then paper muffin liners work well. You could also spoon circles of chocolate onto parchment paper and let them solidify! Just keep them ¼" thick or less.
Once finished, your Homemade Hanukkah Gelt can be stored in an airtight container for up to two months and frozen up to six!
I wrapped this Homemade Hanukkah Gelt in foil paper I found on Amazon. This was a great activity for my older kiddos to help with! They loved folding it up and making it look nice.
Toppings for Homemade Hanukkah Gelt
I love that you can personalize these little chocolates exactly to your liking! It makes it extra fun for little ones too. Here are some topping ideas for your Easy Homemade Hanukkah Gelt:
- Flaked sea salt
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
- Sliced almonds, chopped
- Dried cranberries
- Freeze fried fruit, crushed
- Peppermint candy/candy canes, crushed up
- Cacao nibs
Once you have gorgeous slices of Homemade Hanukkah Gelt then you can gift them, use them while playing dreidel, or bake them into my favorite Hanukkah Gelt Cookies!
More Vegan and Gluten-Free Hanukkah Recipes
Fun with Food: Hanukkah Snacks
Crispy Vegan and Gluten-Free Potato Latkes
Spiralized Sweet Potato Latkes
Easy Instant Pot Homemade Applesauce
Vegan and Gluten-Free Sugar Cut-Out Cookies
Find all my Hanukkah Recipes here!
Happy Hanukkah, everyone!
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Easy Homemade Hanukkah Gelt (vegan + paleo)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 50
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Make your own candy with this Easy Homemade Hanukkah Gelt! This is a really fun way to get kids involved in the kitchen while creating a Hanukkah treat that's vegan, paleo, and free of refined sugar. Customize each piece of gelt with any of your favorite toppings!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Hu dark chocolate vegan and refined sugar-free gems [use code ELAINE for discount]
-OR-
1 batch of my homemade vegan chocolate recipe
Optional Topping Ideas:
- Flaked sea salt
- Unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
- Sliced almonds
- Dried cranberries
- Freeze fried fruit, crushed
- Peppermint candy/candy canes, crushed up
- Cacao nibs
Instructions
- Place chocolate in a microwave safe measuring cup with pour spout. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Alternatively, make a batch of my homemade vegan chocolate and use the liquid chocolate before it sets.
- Once chocolate is completely melted and smooth, pour or spoon just a small amount into the bottom of a silicone muffin tray. You can use any size muffin tray but make sure it is silicone. If you do not have a silicone muffin tray you can use paper muffin liners in a pinch!
- If using the silicone muffin tin, be sure to only coat the bottom of each muffin cavity (about ¼ of an inch thick or less). Sprinkle on any toppings if desired. I usually just leave the gelt plain but you can have fun experimenting with different toppings if desired. See the ingredient list above for suggestions.
- Place the muffin tin in the refrigerator for an hour to let the chocolate harden. Place in the freezer to speed up the hardening process. Once the chocolate is fully hardened, pop each piece of chocolate gelt out of the silicone muffin tin mold.
- Wrap each piece of chocolate gelt in foil candy wrappers if desired. This is a fun step to do with children. They love to help!
- Place the wrapped candy in small gold candy bags if desired. Serve the chocolate gelt at room temperature or straight out of the refrigerator (my husband loves it cold).
- Store leftover candy in an airtight container for up to two months. Freeze for up to six months.
Equipment
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Hanukkah Gelt Mold w/ Raised Star & Menorah Designs
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refined sugar-free, vegan dark chocolate (use code ELAINE for 10% off)
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If you do not have a mold you can just drop a small spoonful of melted chocolate on a parchment lined baking sheet and shape the chocolate into small circles with your spoon or a mini spatula.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Candy
- Method: Freezer
Keywords: homemade vegan paleo hanukkah gelt
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