Gluten Free Eggnog Cupcakes

These Eggnog Cupcakes have amazing flavour, and are gluten free! They are light and fluffy, with the perfect amount of Christmas spice! They are great for the individual who doesn't eat gluten, and the individual who does. Everyone will love their perfect flavour and texture! Eggnog Cupcakes are perfect for winter, and the Christmas season! 

Day 12: 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking

It is finally day 12! There has been so much baking posted over the last week and a half. I hope you have found something gluten free for yourself or a loved one to enjoy! Everyone should be able to enjoy Christmas treats and not feel left out over the holidays. When starting the 12 Days series I wanted to make Christmas a little more cheerful for those people who have Celiac Disease or a Gluten Intolerance, and I hope I did just that! I had so much fun experimenting with different recipes and ideas, I hope you enjoy eating the baking just as much as I did.

I LOVE EGG NOG. However, dairy products can really upset my stomach so most years I avoid it. This year I was ecstatic to find out that So Delicious made seasonal drinks out of coconut milk! I immediately went to Natures Fare and bought a few quarts to try! It is thick and creamy and you can't tell that it is not real eggnog. I cannot get enough of it!  Eggnog is a holiday classic, many people enjoy it with some sort of rum or liquor. However, it also tastes amazing in baking! The spices are bold and flavourful and they offer warmth and comfort over the holidays. Everyone loves cupcakes. They are a great pair with tea, and make an awesome dessert. These Egg Nog Cupcakes have great flavour, and are light and fluffy!

Egg Nog Cupcakes

1 Cup Sugar

3/4 Cup Butter

3 Egg Whites

1 1/2 Cups Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour

2 Tsp Baking Powder

1 Cup Egg Nog

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.

Beat together Egg Whites, Sugar, and Butter until creamy and fluffy.

Add remaining ingredients until combined, do not over beat.

Scoop approx. 1/4 cup of batter into lined muffin trays.

Bake for 18 minutes.

Let cool on wire racks before icing.

Egg Nog Icing

1/2 Cup Butter at Room Temperature

1 1/2 Cups Icing Sugar

1/4 Cup Egg Nog

1/4 Tsp Nutmeg

Whip Butter in a mixer until light and creamy.

Add Remaining ingredients and mix together.

If you want it thicker, add more sugar. If you want it thinner, add more egg nog!

If you have not checked out the previous 11 days of Christmas baking, the links are below! Thank you for all the support, and I love receiving feedback if you have tried any of this baking or have suggestions to make it better! send me an email at kaciann88@gmail.com or comment below!

I wish you, and your families a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
And safe travels if you need to leave your homes this holiday season!
K.

Day 1: Christmas Coconut Macaroons

Day 2: Gluten Free Rolled Vanilla Chip Cookies

Day 3: Gluten Free Gingersnaps

Day 4: Gluten Free Gingerbread Eggnog Donuts

Day 5: Honey Glazed Honey Brie Cheese

Day 6: Gluten Free Cheesy Crackers

Day 7: Gluten Free Breakfast Omelettes 

Day 8: Gluten Free Toffee Tarts

Day 9: Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies
Day 10: Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
Day 11: Gluten Free Smartie Cake

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

This Gluten Free Slice is chewy, full of peanut butter and chocolate, and easy to make! You can top it any way you like, and one slice will not be enough. It is like a puff wheat cake, but uses peanut butter instead of cocoa and different cereals. This is a must try for everyone doing their holiday baking!

Day 10: 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking

These Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cereal Bars are easy to make, and are addicting and delicious.They have a great chewy texture but remain crunchy and delicious. You can add more cereal if you would like them to be less chewy, and less cereal if you want them to be more chewy.

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

1 Cup Corn Syrup

3/4 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Peanut Butter

2 1/2 Cups Gluten Free Chex Cereal

2 1/2 Cups Gluten Free Rice Krispie Cereal

1/2 Cup Butterscotch Chips

1/2 Cup Milk Chocolate Melting Chocolate

1 Tbsp Butter

1/4 Cup Flaked Coconut

In a saucepan, over low heat, melt the Corn Syrup and Sugar together. Do not boil. 

Once Sugar is dissolved, add the Peanut Butter and stir until melted. 

Mix with all Cereal and Butterscotch Chips and place in 9x13 inch pan.

Melt Butter and Milk Chocolate in a saucepan, once melted spread out over the top of slice.

Drizzle Coconut on top.

Day 1: Christmas Coconut Macaroons

Day 2: Gluten Free Rolled Vanilla Chip Cookies

Day 3: Gluten Free Gingersnaps

Day 4: Gluten Free Gingerbread Eggnog Donuts

Day 5: Honey Glazed Honey Brie Cheese

Day 6: Gluten Free Cheesy Crackers

Day 7: Gluten Free Breakfast Omelettes 

Day 8: Gluten Free Toffee Tarts

Day 9: Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies

Gluten Free Toffee Tarts

Gluten Free Toffee Tarts have a cookie shell and are filled with ooey gooey goodness! They are quick to make, and can be topped however you like. The toffee is sweet, but the shell balances it out and creates the perfect combination for a Christmas treat!

Day 8: 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking

These toffee tarts have a homemade, gluten free, cookie shell. They are full of sweet toffee and topped with milk chocolate. They make a great dessert, or a tasty addition to any sweets table. Toffee tarts are easy to make, don't let the long recipe trick you. They do not take much longer than baking cookies and icing them, and they are a great change from tradition butter and mincemeat tarts. Toffee tarts will satisfy your sweet tooth, and are sure to become a holiday favourite!

Gluten Free Toffee Tarts

Cookie Tart Shell

1/2 Cup Butter

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Arrowroot Flour

1/2 Cup Coconut Flour 

2 Eggs

1/4 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Baking Powder

1 Tsp Xanthan Gum

1 Tsp Vanilla

*Gluten Free All Purpose Flour can be substituted for the Arrowroot and Coconut Flour

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

Whip together Butter, Sugar, and Eggs

Mix in remaining ingredients and beat until creamy.

Roll out on the counter with icing sugar.

Cut Round Circles with a cookie cutter or drinking glass. 

Lightly press into greased muffin tins.

Bake for 10 Minutes, or until edges start to brown. 

Remove from oven and let cool.

While the shells are cooling, begin making the toffee filling. 

Toffee Filling

300 Grams Mackintosh Toffee

1/2 Cup Whipping Cream

Melt on low heat, stirring constantly.

Once melted fill tart shells.

Place in fridge on wire racks or a cookie sheet to chill.

*If you do not want to top with melted chocolate, or are short on time you can put chocolate chips/chunks on top while the toffee is still hot!

Chocolate Topping

1 Tbsp Butter

1/2 Cup Milk Chocolate Melting Chocolate

Melt together on low heat, stirring constantly.

Drizzle on top of cooled Tarts.

Day 1: Christmas Coconut Macaroons
Day 2: Gluten Free Rolled Vanilla Chip Cookies
Day 3: Gluten Free Gingersnaps
Day 4: Gluten Free Gingerbread Eggnog Donuts
Day 5: Honey Glazed Honey Brie Cheese
Day 6: Gluten Free Cheesy Crackers
Day 7: Gluten Free Breakfast Omelettes 

Comfort Rice Pudding

This old fashioned, baked, rice pudding is the perfect comfort food! It tastes just like the stuff that Grandma used to make. It is gluten and dairy free, and warms the soul instantly. 

As many people with a gluten intolerance or celiac disease know, you can never be too confident when you eat out and order a gluten free meal. Last week I went out to a well known restaurant and ordered gluten free pasta, since then my stomach has been completely awful. My moods have been up and down, and my greatest accomplishment has been getting out of bed. I do not think I have had a gluten attack this bad since I was diagnosed with celiac disease years ago. Gluten affects people in different ways. When I eat gluten I get bloated, have awful migraines, get really sad feeling, and experience extreme fatigue.  Comfort foods are one thing that makes being glutenized seem a little bit better! I love eating oatmeal, scrambled eggs, toast, grilled cheese sandwiches, and tomato soup - all gluten free of course. The main idea is to keep things bland.  My favourite comfort food is rice pudding, so last night I quickly whipped some up!

Comfort Rice Pudding

2 Cups Cooked Instant Brown Rice
1 Beaten Egg
1 1/2 Cups Almond Milk
1/4 Cup Mixed Dried Berries (Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries)
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Vanilla

Place all ingredients in a oven safe pan and bake uncovered for 40 Minutes at 350 Degrees.

I am not a huge fan of raisins, so I use mixed fruit, but raisins can be substituted if that is what you prefer! Paired with a cup of lemon ginger tea, everything seems to be a little bit better!

Other ideas if you accidentally consume gluten:

-Warm tea or almond milk with honey
-Yoga or another low impact work out
-A warm compress on the stomach
-Drink LOTS of water
-I find that the best thing you can do if you accidentally consume gluten is relax and take things easy for a few days. The best thing for your body is to keep stress to a minimum and get some rest. Things will start to feel better after a few days.


I hope that everyone who suffers from a gluten intolerance has something in their tool box that makes them feel better. If not, I hope that some of these simple tips can help! Eating healthy when you have been glutenized is not always possible. Sometimes a walk, or a low impact workout helps the stomach feel better, but a long strenuous work out can cause more stress on the body and fatigue. Just make sure you are getting enough nutrients and fluids that you do not get sick and run down. This will make flushing the gluten harder and it will take longer to get back to yourself. I found that what works for me does not work for everyone else. The best thing you can do is experiment and find out what makes you feel better!

Don't let gluten take you down, ask questions! Some simple question that I wish I asked are "Is the gluten free pasta cooked in the same water as regular pasta?" and "Is the sauce thickened with wheat flour?" Asking questions can save a lot of pain later on. My biggest hope is that one day people with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance do not have to live in fear of accidentally eating gluten, that they don't have to be scared of the places that say they are gluten free but in reality are only partially gluten free. I hope that one day people become as cautious about gluten as they are about peanuts. Until then, it is best to always have some tools to help if you do eat gluten by accident, and always ask questions if you are unsure!

Happy Monday!
K.

Summertime popsicles

These creamy and fruity popsicles have a splash of pomegranate juice, and are perfect for a hot day/ They are gluten, dairy, and guilt free! One will not be enough, and that is okay!

Summer is finally right around the corner! The weather is heating up and the sun is shining (or it should be. As always, the long weekend has brought rain with it)! Summer brings cravings for slurpees, ice cream, and other cold delights that aren't always healthy. I have a love for ice cream that is only satisfied by eating A LOT of it. To try and stop these cravings before they start I made fruity frozen snacks with a creamy twist. They are gluten free, dairy free, and healthy! They fit perfectly into the weight watchers points plus allowance and are great on a hot day.


Fruity Frozen Snacks with a Creamy Twist
1 Cup Almond Milk
1/2 Cup Cultured Coconut Milk
1 Cup POM pomegranate juice
1 Banana
1 Cup Strawberries
1 Cup Blackberries

In a blender combine milk, yogurt, and banana until creamy.

Divide strawberries and blackberries into popsicle trays (I used 2 trays with 8 molds. They were $3 at wal mart)

Pour pomegranate juice into trays until they are approx 1/4 full.

Fill with the cream in the blender.

This recipe makes 16 servings.

If eating healthy can be this yummy, I think reaching my goals will be easier AND enjoyable. You should not have to suffer in order to lose weight and get in shape. Its about making the right choices. Depriving yourself of the things you love will only lead to binging later on. Treat yourself and things will seem easier and worth it!

I hope everyone is having a great long weekend! Stay safe.
k.