Chanukah gift taste test

If you love a soft, choc chip cookie but need a shareable cake, then you will love Jenna's bakes. They are giant soft-baked cookies that are large enough for at least 10 good-sized slices. She does a Chanukah decorated version, but can do any message you like. It's definitely one for the sweet of tooth as it's topped with Nutella flavouried icing.  Buy them here. 

The Sweetest Gift - cakesicles

I'd never heard of a cakesicle until someone recommended Lara's Sweetest Gift to me. They are lolly-like decorated bakes that are either filled with mushed up cake - like a cake pop - or, as Lara has cleverly created, filled with chocolate brownie. The Chanukah box we tested was filled with tiny marshmallows, on which rested two huge, iced, shortbread biscuits and four chocolate brownie cakesicles, decorated with cute faces or Tiffany-blue icing and tiny, cute doughnuts made from solid chocolate. She can do any colour scheme you want. The box was a huge hit with my children. Order them here. 

Pour Toi - gluten free letterbox brownies

Pour Toi has been around for a while now, baking fantastic kosher, gluten-free treats. Inspired by her daughter, who could not eat gluten, Claire Rose vowed to make the best chocolate chip cookie and went on to create a range of goodies. The latest initiative - triggered by lockdown - has been brownies by post. Genius. Who would not adore this box of gooey, fudgy deliciousness? The smell of chocolate as I opened them was beyond. And the brownies are excellent - who needs the gluten anyway?  Order them here. 

Matty's Kitchen - teacakes (and cookies)

Matty's kitchen is in his family home in Bushey Heath - from which he bakes up a storm.

We tasted a range of cookies and teacakes — pictured at the top of this page. I wasn't sure what he meant by teacakes, but they're something you won't find anywhere else. A home made version of the childhood favourite — soft set, fluffy (vegetarian) marshmallow on a biscuit base coated in chocolate. Everything was delicious. My favourite was the mince pie cookie, which was spectacular. All the flavour of a mince pie IN A COOKIE!!! Oat and raisin and chocolate orange cookies were also a huge hit. 

My children fought over the teacakes, which Matty sent in a range of flavours — cookie (with a whole oreo in the base); Eton Mess (with berry-flavoured marshmallow inside; cherry liqueur; honeycomb and a no-frills version.

They make an unusual gift - to friends or just for yourself! Order them here. 

Charlotte's Sourdough - sourdough doughnuts

I love a doughnut, but it has to be worth the calories. Or why bother? Charlotte Clif bakes fabulous organic, kosher sourdough from her Hendon home kitchen and is currently baking fabulous doughnuts. We tasted the lemon curd; raspberry jam; apple cinnamon (my favourite) and chocolate versions. I loved them all and so did the children — who could not believe their luck by this point, having tasted most of Chanukah well in advance of the big day.

The crumb of a sourdough bake is the tiniest bit more chewy than a mass-produced 'nut, but so much better. What I particularly love about them was that Charlotte includes some wholegrain flour in them and makes all her own fillings with no additives or nasties. They are sourdough, organic, dairy-free, kosher and fried in coconut oil. Almost health food! 

Contact Charlotte here for prices and how to order.