Showing posts with label Dandies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dandies. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Review: Dandies Marshmallows

 

A Better Marshmallow

Dandies Marshmallows are made with all natural ingredients, contain no high fructose corn syrup or gelatin (they're 100% vegan!), and are the first ever marshmallow to be Non-GMO Project Verified. Oh, and our marshmallows are kosher too!

Traditional marshmallows are loaded with unnatural ingredients and made with gelatin (a yucky animal-based ingredient, look it up). We recognized that these family-favorite treats desperately needed an ingredient-list makeover!

Dandies Marshmallows are indistinguishable from conventional marshmallows. Our light and fluffy marshies are perfect for roasting over a campfire, putting in hot chocolate (or coffee—try it!), classic crispy treats, s'mores, or just straight snackin'!





We believe that marshmallows can and should be better.  Our focus is on making Dandies Marshmallows with the best all natural ingredients we can find and using only cruelty-free ingredients (you will find no gelatin in Dandies).

Dandies Marshmallows are perfect for roasting over the campfire or making s'mores, while Dandies Mini Marshmallows are perfect for hot chocolate or even coffee. They're also fantastic for making classic crispy treats. 
  • Made with all natural ingredients
  • Gelatin free (100% vegan)
  • Free from most common allergens (peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, wheat, fish, shellfish, corn)
  • Gluten free
  • Contains no corn syrup
  • Made in a dedicated vegan facility
About
Dandies came to life in 2008 when our founder, Ryan Howard, wanted his son to try a marshmallow for the first time. His son, having been vegan since birth, had never enjoyed the classic campfire treat because gelatin (an animal-based ingredient) is one of the main components in traditional marshmallows. Ryan, being a trained food process engineer by trade, put his mind to work and made some marshmallows in the test kitchen for his little dude to enjoy. The spark that lit the campfire was born!

Within a year, we were putting all the pieces together in our processing plant, working tirelessly toward a product launch at Natural Products Expo West. Before we had sold even a single bag to stores, we set up our booth and hoped to sell a few cases. By the show’s end, Dandies had been placed in nearly every Whole Foods in the country!

Over time, we've been quietly evolving Dandies Marshmallows, making them better and better. We’ve also been working hard to make Dandies available in more and more stores, so everyone can enjoy the comfort food of our youth in a friendlier and more natural way. We're so proud of the work we've done and love nothing more than seeing you enjoy Dandies and share them with your friends and family.


Purchase Dandies Marshmallows online using their store locator, and visit them on social media:

Dandies Marshmallows (visit their website to find a $0.50 off coupon!)
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Medium


Our Thoughts
I freaking LOVE Dandies Marshmallows.  Since I follow the paleo way of eating, I am not exactly a vegan and not adverse to gelatin (quite the contrary!) but I AM adverse to the other ingredients in traditional marshmallows and figured they were off my eating list forever.  I first came across Dandies Marshmallows in a natural foods store a little over an hour away from me.  I don't keep treats around too much, but if I do have a bag, mostly I snack on them.  Someday, I'll actually have a bag not completely eaten when we have an impromptu campfire.  I can't wait to try them out for that.  Although, I have been known to roast the occasional marshmallow over the flame on my gas stove burners, haha. Oh YUM.

So when Dandies sent me their regular marshies and their mini marshies for review, I'm not gonna lie, I ate one bag straight away.  They aren't kidding when they say they're great for snacking.  I couldn't even stop myself, they are SO DARN TASTY!!  I took the bag of minis up to our cabin with us and enjoyed them over a spiced latte.  Perfect on a cool day looking out at the scenic lake.  Love.



For the latte recipe, I used Bengal Spice tea from Celestial Seasonings, a little unsweetened full fat coconut milk, a wee bit of raw honey, and topped it with the Dandies Mini Marshmallows.  Unbelievably delicious!!  Who wants to stand in line and spend money on fancy lattes when you can very quickly and easily make your own?

I also used the minis to make some little appetizers perfect for holidays or any gathering. 


I used toothpicks for mini-snacks, and added blueberries and raspberries, but really, your imagination's the limit here.

Now for the regular size marshmallows, I've been wanting to try making a chewy "granola" bar.  Paleo friendly - not sure if the marshmallows count or not, LOL, but with Dandies' all natural ingredients, its about as close as we're gonna get. (And I am SO glad they are allergen free!!)


The basics of this recipe are 1 part marshmallows to 2 parts "stuff" (dry goods), plus a little oil to help prevent the marshies from sticking to the pan when melted.  For the record, 10 regular sized marshmallows makes for 1 cup.  For the "stuff" mixture, I used a combination of almond slices, pecans, raw pepitas, roasted unsalted sunflower seeds, dried cherries, sweetened dried cranberries, some mini chocolate chips, a wee bit of salt and vanilla flavoring.  While the marshmallows were melting with the oil over extremely low heat, I pulsed the dry goods "stuff" through a food processer to make the bits smaller. When the marshies were thoroughly melted, I stirred in as much "stuff" as I could, then kneaded in the rest; patting it into a lightly greased 8x8 baking dish. Let cool, then slice and eat! 


The result?  Fantastic! Although I think I need to either cut back a little on the dry goods, or add a couple more marshmallows as it falls apart a little quicker than I'd like.  Certainly a recipe I wrote down for next time!

One thing I'd like to note: Dandies claims their marshmallows are indistinguishable from traditional marshmallows.  I beg to differ - they are BETTER.  Fluffier, and absolutely delectable.  Thank you, Dandies, for making a comfort food healthier. HIGHLY recommend!!








Friday, March 18, 2016

Product Review: Dandies Marshmallows



The marshmallows from our childhood desperately needed an ingredient list makeover. That’s why Chicago Vegan Foods, a family-owned company with vegan values, created Dandies. The first Non-GMO Project Verified marshmallows on the market, Dandies are made with all-natural ingredients and completely free of gelatin, artificial ingredients, and high fructose corn syrup. The products are produced in the company’s dedicated facility, which is free of dairy, eggs, peanuts, and tree-nuts. Dandies marshmallows are also free of wheat, gluten and corn, 100% vegan, and certified kosher by the Chicago Rabbinical Council.

The best part is, these marshmallows are indistinguishable from their conventional counterparts. Dandies are air puffed, which gives them a traditional texture and flavor that melts and tastes just like the marshmallows we grew up with. Light, fluffy and kid-friendly, Dandies are perfect for roasting over a fire, making gooey summer s’mores, cooking up crisp rice treats, or putting the finishing touch on a loving cup of hot chocolate.


Dandies Classic Vanilla Marshmallows are available in big (campfire style) and mini sizes at Whole Foods Market and other natural foods stores across the U.S., Canada and select International markets. The SRP is $4.99 for a 10oz package. Dandies are also available for foodservice applications. 


Our Thoughts

So, since I changed my diet to non-GMO and Organic foods, there are some old favorites I have not been able to indulge in. That's why I am always glad to find better options to satisfy those occasional cravings. Dandies is one of those options. 

Billed as the first marshmallows to receive verification from the Non-GMO Product, these snacks are a fun addition to the holiday gift basket. I was sent three bags of these: two bags of the small variety, and one of the bigger marshmallows. I tried these with both hot chocolate, and in ice cream. My husband opted to get creative and use them in his cereal. 



These snacks took me back, reminding me of the days when s'mores were common sleepover fare. They tasted just as good as I remembered, especially when added to the hot chocolate. They blended nicely with the organic mix I use, and they practically melt in my mouth, even when not in something hot. 

The cereal was an interesting mix as well. The milk blended well with them, and made for a great snack. If you're looking for something bad that's a little bit better for you, I'd definitely recommend them, and will be looking for them in the store in the future.  

You can visit  the on social media at @MyDandies on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.

Purchase Dandies Vegan Marshmallows online and in stores at major retailers like AmazonWalmart, and Thrive Market.