Vegan Tootsie Rolls! Or as I call them, Sweetie Rolls!
2 tablespoons vegan margarine, softened (I use Earth Balance)
1/2 cup raw cacao powder or unsweeted cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup soya powder or soy milk powder
1/2 cup corn syrup or brown rice syrup (less sweet)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. If you have a standing mixer, mix margarine, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and soy powder in the bowl. Alternatively, you could use a spoon and mix it together until the margarine is incorporated into the powder.
2. If using the mixer, keep it running on medium speed while you slowly pour in the corn or brown rice syrup. (I don't recommend using a hand held mixer or a cheap standing mixer, as it gets very heavy and thick eventually, and by hand might be best) Add vanilla.
3. If doing by hand, blend and knead it all together like bread dough or clay. At first it will be a light brown, and then become a darker color, when it gets dark, it's almost done.
4. Finally, roll into coils of a length for tootsie rolls, or cut them down to size. I formed the dough into a giant ball and pulled off smaller pieces, then warmed it up in my hands like clay, rolled it, and cut it to the size I wanted.
This would also be great for making different shapes or sizes, or even using as chocolate modeling clay! It would be fun to make with kids.
The raw cacao powder gives it some additional nutrients and probably a richer taste, so I really recommend it! You can get a great deal on it by Navitas Naturals on Amazon.
Source of recipe: This recipe was adapted from this one: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/easy-tootsie-rolls/Detail.aspx
SO HOW'D IT GO?
Hmm, I've actually never had those flavors. But I used to really like the vanilla ones. I don't really have any suggestions except that instead of cocoa powder maybe you could buy freeze dried fruits (of the flavors you like) and process them in a food processor until they get into a fine powder? And then use that instead of the cocoa powder.
Yay!!! Childhood favorite. Hmmm.. any suggestions on how to make the blueberry flavored kind? Or raspberry