Vanilla Archives - Strength and Sunshine

Southern Vegan Banana Pudding (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free)

September 2, 2019 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 56 Comments

A 100% homemade, from-scratch, Southern Vegan Banana Pudding! This gluten-free, allergy-free, sugar-free twist on the old-fashioned classic dessert is too easy not to make! A no-bake recipe with layers of vanilla wafers, banana slices, vanilla pudding, and sweet creamy fluff!

Not to be confused with banana cream pie; banana pudding holds its own in cool, creamy sweet Southern desserts! Crunchy sweet vanilla wafer cookies, slices of fresh banana, creamy vanilla pudding, and sweet whipped cream. Let the layers mingle together in the fridge, the cookies soften, and you have a dreamy scoop of no-bake heaven to serve up to your guests. Here’s a twist…let’s take the old-fashioned classic and make it vegan, gluten-free, and top allergen-free!Read More

Homemade Vanilla Wafers | Copycat Nilla Wafers (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Allergy-Free)

August 26, 2019 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 46 Comments

A classic, crispy, vanilla cookie! This Homemade Vanilla Wafers recipe is a copycat of Nabisco’s famous Nilla Wafers! These wafer-style cookies are gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free, sugar-free, and only 6 ingredients! A nostalgic snack or dessert with a healthy update!

Nilla Wafers always bring back those childhood nostalgia feelings. The iconic vanilla-flavored crispy wafer-style cookie. Such a plain and humble cookie. Was it a snack or dessert, maybe something your mom gave you as a “healthy” treat? It was probably one of the most boring cookies, but for some reason, they’ve stood the test of time (and still hold a place in my heart!) With celiac disease and food allergies, you won’t find Nabisco’s childhood cookie in the pantry, but you can make up for this sad lose with Homemade Vanilla Wafers, aka Copycat Nilla Wafers, instead!Read More

Gluten-Free Vegan Cranberry Bliss Bars {Squares!} (Allergy-Free)

November 21, 2018 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 49 Comments

An easy homemade copycat recipe for the classic seasonal Starbucks treat! Gluten-Free Vegan Cranberry Bliss Bars that are allergy-free, perfectly baked blondie cake squares, loaded with dried cranberries, vanilla, citrus, and dairy-free white chocolate drizzle!

Caveat, no, I’ve never had a Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar and initially, I had zero intention of these cranberry bliss “squares” to even be a copycat recipe. Alas, when all was said and done, that’s what came out of the Strength and Sunshine oven. Cranberry and white chocolate is such an iconic holiday combo; the perfect tart and sweet balance and just begging to be included on the holiday dessert table in some form or another!Read More

Homemade Gluten-Free + Vegan Hostess Cupcakes (Allergy-Free)

February 5, 2018 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 64 Comments

A copycat recipe for your favorite American snack cake! Homemade Gluten-Free & Vegan Hostess Cupcakes that are top-8 allergy-free and a whole lot healthier! A chocolate cream-filled dessert for any occasion that is bound to bring back all the nostalgia of childhood!

Things are getting REAL today! Do you know how long I’ve had this homemade Hostess Cupcake recipe in my back pocket? Two years now? So before I posted, I had to redo the recipe, tweak it slightly since I’d previously mastered a better chocolate cupcake and a marshmallow filling for the gods. Originally, I’d made these copycat cupcakes for my mom. She loved all the Hostess and Entenmann’s processed baked goods (good ‘ole Twinkies, anyone?). I thought I’d give her (and myself) some gluten-free deliciousness to indulge in again!Read More

4-Ingredient Orange Julius Cocktail (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

January 15, 2018 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 108 Comments

Give your Orange Julius a grown-up boozy twist! A quick and easy 4-Ingredient Orange Julius Cocktail recipe that’s gluten-free, vegan, and makes for a perfect frozen, creamy, and fruit treat! A sippable Creamsicle for adults only!

Have y’all ever had an Orange Julius? The actual branded beverage/treat that stemmed off of Dairy Queen? Basically it is a frozen “smoothie” type of treat that’s a mixture of orange juice concentrate, milk, sugar, vanilla, and a whole bunch of scary things if it’s not homemade. Like a delicious Creamsicle (also a branded frozen dessert). A Creamsicle I’ve had…vanilla ice cream coated in orange popsicle…so good! Never an actual “drinkable” Orange Julius.Read More