Mom of a polyallergic boy diagnosed at the age of 10 months following anaphylactic shock, Viviane Nguyen searched the market for a cake without any allergens for his first birthday, but in vain.
So she decided to make it herself!
Notary by training and without any baking experience, Viviane did many trial and error before perfecting a recipe for a giant chocolate cupcake for her son.
“ When I saw the sparkles in his eyes while eating the cake, I wanted to share this moment of happiness with the other allergic children and their parents. I had found my cause! she recalls. In Quebec, more than 300,000 people live with food allergies.
“ I then spent hours in the kitchen to understand pastry and know how to substitute butter, eggs and dairy products. I did a lot of tests to develop a variety of desserts that were as indulgent as the traditional versions. A few months later, the Petit Lapin pastry shop was born.
Since the pastry shop opened, thousands of cakes havehave been sold. She also delights a vegan, celiac and even diabetic clientele since her desserts are four times less sweet than regular cakes and sweetened with agave syrup and real fruit.
Learn the basics of allergen-free baking
It is the fruit of her apprenticeship and all her culinary tests that she wishes to make accessible to everyone with her new book, Les desserts de Petit Lapin. She shares the secrets of more than 50 recipes that are allergen-free and simple enough to make that even children can participate. In this book, we learn how to adapt traditional recipes into an allergen-free version using the right substitutes.
" My goal was also to offer a moment of respite to parents who can, thanks to this book, offer delicacies to their allergic children in complete safety," she explains.
His son Ethan's favorite desserts: chocolate chip banana bread and chocolate donuts.
His favorite desserts: madeleines, sugar pie and macaroons. " They are perfect; crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. That was my biggest challenge,” she explains.
Give kids the cake of their dreams
Viviane created the Petit Lapin Foundation which allows polyallergic children to taste the cake of their dreams for their birthday. The high price of the ingredients that go into the compositionof a Petit Rabbit cake explains the higher cost. The foundation was set up to benefit all families, regardless of their budget.
" It is a real pride for an allergic child to eat the same cake as everyone else and to be able to share it with his friends and family, " says Viviane.
Just fill out an online form and provide proof of allergy signed by an allergist to receive a birthday cake for free and delivered anywhere in Quebec. " We haven't refused any request since the beginning of the foundation, " she adds.
It is through fundraisers, benefit evenings and volunteer pastry chefs that all of this is possible. For each book Les desserts de Petit Lapin sold, $1 will be donated to the Petit Lapin Foundation.
