Question: are Double Deckers Gluten Free?
Answer: They are now!
I loved Double Deckers, they were my go-to guilty treat when I was having a down day, since going dairy free I’ve missed them; not anymore, I’ve made my own! That’s right you heard me, made my own gluten and dairy free Double Deckers!
Can I use any type of granola to make my Double Deckers?
I originally developed this recipe after a pleasant accident. I’d made Chewy Granola Bites for a little teatime treat one day and as I nibbled one I couldn’t help think that it reminded me of something, something I used to love – DOUBLE DECKERS! I can tell you I was rather excited as these are my all time favourite chocolate bars by Cadbury’s. I’ve tried different variations in development and since (it depends what we have in the cereal cupboard). I find a general gluten free granola, not too sweet and with the big ‘bits’ taken out such as nuts, berries and raisins, works just fine, then add the crisped rice for those little added crunch effects.
Are Double Deckers easy to make?
These are a wee bit fiddly to make, I won’t lie but my goodness you’ll be so glad you gave it a go. A few tips I will share with you. Never entertain making these on a warm day, it will spell disaster. To work with these you’ll need cool hands and a cool head. Prep is key, make sure you line the baking trays well so you don’t get stuck – literally! Enjoy it, okay your’s may not look as pretty as mine, but I have days when I make these and they don’t look like my photos either. It really does depend on how much time I allow myself to coat them evenly at the end – I just make sure that I have fun doing it. Remember; Life’s a drama, gluten free doesn’t have to be!
What other chocolate bars can I attempt?
Well since you ask, how about trying out my gluten and dairy free version of the amazing Cherry Ripe Chocolate Bar, packed with cherries and coconut, it’s not from these parts in the UK, but I’m told they’re really popular in Australia…I can see why, we can’t get enough of them!
I don’t plan to stop here either, I have ideas to work on such as a Twix bar, Bounty Bar and a Mars Bar too to name a few. Don’t be shy, tell me in the comments what you’d like me to develop into a free from recipe. The Cherry Ripe bars were as a direct result of a reader telling me he missed them so I set to work and he is now one happy reader!
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Gluten and Dairy Free Double Decker Recipe
Oh how I’ve missed Double Deckers since going dairy free, I knew I had to make them myself one day and I’m pretty darn impressed with the end result, even if I do say so myself!
- 200 g granola or (100g gluten free oats)
- 50 g puffed rice
- 150 g dairy free ‘milk’ chocolate I used Tesco’s freefrom in all cases
- 200 g marshmallows use vegan marshmallows to make this vegan
- 50 g dairy free ‘milk’ chocolate
- 150 g dairy free ‘milk’ chocolate
Pick out any excessively large nutty bits and nibble…enjoy!
In a large bowl empty the granola and bash with the end of a rolling pin – not too much, we don’t want granola dust!
In a smaller bowl melt the 150g of freefrom chocolate and pour over the granola, mix to combine.
In another bowl add the marshmallows and 50g of freefrom chocolate and melt this in the microwave for 1min or under depending on the wattage.
Pour the chocolatey marshmallow mixture into a small baking tin greased and lined with baking paper. I use the tiny ones you can get from Sainsbury’s that measure approx 13x19cm. Pop this in the fridge.
Meanwhile pour the chocolatey granola mix into a second identical sized tin (these do come in packs of two) that’s been greased and lined with baking paper, smooth the granola mix down and make cuts to determine the size of your 5 Double Deckers (this makes cutting them when set so much easier). Pop this tray into the fridge to set.
Once fully set remove both trays, cut the granola bars into 5 using the indentation you’ve already made.
Cut equal size bars into the nougat and place a strip of nougat on top of each granola bar. Pop back in the fridge.
Melt the remaining freefrom chocolate and remove the bars from the fridge. This bit gets messy, dip each end of the bar into the chocolate in a stirring motion, then roll the bar in the chocolate to coat each long side.
Once all bars are fully coated return to the fridge to set…lick bowl of chocolate! Congratulations! you made it in one piece and now you can sit back and…in Bethany’s case…enjoy your first ever Double Decker!
Don’t lose it, pin my Double Decker Homemade Chocolate Bars
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Your bars looks absolutely delicious! I will give them a go for sure! A perfect dish for sharing at Fiesta Friday :)
Thank you so much Petra
I love the idea of making your own Double Deckers, they look amazing and sound delicious. I bet they’re well worth the effort. Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday :-)
Thank you Sarah, I’d gone long enough without the reals ones so yes, very much worth it!!!
I’ve just tried to make these and I’ve had a bit of trouble with the bottom layer- is it really 200g granola or oats or should it be less? I’ve ended up with probably 4 times as much as I needed and it is just coated with chocolate rather than being a chocolatey layer with crunchy buts in it!
To be fair, I’ve made these both ways but do add the oats gradually until I’m happy with the coating. I think you’re right and that the 200g works for the granola (my preferred ingredient) and not so well if you’re just using oats. I will amend this in the recipe card, thank you for bringing this to my attention Helen.
Ah fab. Thanks. I’ll try again.
These look amazing. Cannot wait to try this recipe. Please can you post a photo or a link of what the trays look like that you used? Many thanks.
Brilliant idea Sophie, I’ll sort that asap xx
Oh my goodness. I might not have eaten a Double Decker since my last school lunch, but this post makes me want to. I am very likely to follow this recipe and return to report success . . . .
. . . and I make a plea. If your creative genius should perhaps need a new challenge, how about the Aussie delicacy Cherry Ripe Bar? They have wheat glucose in them and the homemade recipes on the internet don’t quite hit the mark. It is very literally the *one* thing I miss as a coeliac. I still describe them in glowing terms to disbelieving friends and coworkers. I even buy the darn things and gift them so that people recognise their genius. I want a Cherry Ripe! :-P
I – LOVE – THIS Benjamin! People who know me know I’m up for a challenge…one issue, I’ve not actually eaten a Cherry Ripe Bar so as all good researchers do, I’ll need to find one first so I can match the taste…Challenge accepted, don’t expect it immediately but I’m going to have a damn good try, love your comments look forward to hearing more from you xx
I dare to dream Rebecca. I dream of a future where you have ‘perfected’ the homemade gluten free Cherry Ripe and i am a beneficiary of your talent. A dream with Cherry Ripes in my life. It is a lovely dream.
The easiest way to get Cherry Ripe Bars is from Ocado or via Amazon, link below
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cadbury-Cherry-Ripe-Chocolate-Pack/dp/B01LTIQ70I
Offer incoming via your Comments page for me to send you some Rebecca, without any obligations! I can actually get them from my local Taylor Street Barista coffee shop, managed by an Aussie and therefore also stocked with Tim Tam Biscuits and Lamingtons. Other Aussie ‘delicacies’. Lamingtons may be one of the most amazing things. How to take a good idea, Sponge Cake, and make it slightly better but also way more difficult to make! Answer, lets apply icing to all sides of a sponge cube! Woohoo!
Awesome Benjamin, already beaten you but if I like them (and can tolerate them) I’ll be sure to use this code…of course if I perfect the free from version we’ll all be laughing ;-)
I found the marshmallow mix very difficult to remove from the mixing bowl, and into the tin, have I missed a trick. It was a sticky nightmare, it just stuck to everything
Hmmm, I’ll admit to it being a sticky exercise Ruth. Oddly enough I’ve struggled more with my marshmallow recipes recently and now you’ve mentioned it I’d be intrigued to see if the recipe has been changed to my normal marshmallows (I get them from Tesco or Sainsbury’s) …in fact I made marshmallow rice ‘krispie’ squares for the kids today with a similar sticky problem! I remedied it by adding a little extra fat, in my case it was Vitalite but in the case of these double deckers normally the fat in the chocolate would suffice…however, spraying the bowl with oil first would help to lessen the stickiness. Hope you were still able to enjoy the double deckers despite the ickiness? xxx
Oh my goodness Rebecca – these just sound incredible. You should start selling these!
Thank you Mandy, not sure many would get sold…they’d all get eaten before anyone had the chance haha x
Oh you clever woman! How very wonderful are these?! Inspired! xxx
Thank you Kate, it’s funny how simple they are in terms of ingredients, just a little fiddle in the middle and hey-presto! <3
Oh WOW! I love double deckers and would love one of these! YUMMY! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Thank you Kirsty, haha, every time I rsvp to a new comment on this post I get a huge craving for more….best get in the kitchen!!!
These look super tasty!
They ARE super tasty hehehe x
My goodness these look so beautifully crafted, it’s hard to believe you could produce something so complex looking with so few ingredients. I am sure they are delicious! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare:)
Thank you Monika, it does seem like magic doesn’t it! I just love to try to keep things as simple as possible!
These look fab! I’m impressed by how simple the nougat layer is to make – I thought it would be much trickier. Yum.
I like to keep things simple, it was a discovery when I was making something else ages ago and instantly the flavour reminded me of Double Decker’s so i knew I was onto a winner!
oh my goodness me – you had me at double decker! these look amazing! great if you are GF too. yummy x
Haha, It’s my all time fav chocolate bar too!
Wow Rebecca, these look amazing! I love double deckers too and now that you’ve shown how relatively they are to make these ae definitely going on my to try list – and near the top of it to! hahaha, love the idea of a Tonly Hart gallary – i loved that programme – the mischief of the two playdouch charachters always had me laughing :-)
Angela x
Hehe, a lady who understands me! Morph …can never remember the other one!!!
I think it was Chas x
Oh yes! that’s right Chas, well remembered…he made me laugh!!!
OMG! Roo will go crazy for these. They are flipping inspired!! You are one clever cookie. Pinning and sharing right now :)
Thank you Vicki, was rather chuffed with myself…these idea’s just keep popping into my head….think they’re fulled by cravings!!!
OMG gluten & dairy free Double Decker copycats?! My son has one of those chocolate bar maker things and is always begging to use it; I think he’d enjoy making these (& my husband who is Double Decker obsessed would love them too!) I run a weekly link party called #FreeFromFridays that celebrates free from food and I’d love it if you shared this with us at this week’s party! You can link directly to this recipe or to a pin from this recipe. Come party with us at http://www.anyonita-nibbles.co.uk/2017/06/freefromfridays-number-6.html
Hope to see you there!