Gluten Free Thumbprint Cookies

Gluten Free Thumbprint Cookies are filled with your favourite jam and melt in your mouth like a traditional whipped butter cookie. They are light and fluffy with a soft texture. The colours are festive, especially when red jams are used. These traditional cookies are a favourite for many, and this gluten free version will not disappoint! 

The best kind of Christmas cookies are the ones that melt in your mouth because they are so soft and fluffy. They are the ones that you can't stop eating because they are addicting and one is never enough. To me, this means either shortbread or whipped cookies. I wait all year for them because they just don't have the same effect when its not Christmas. When I found the last bit of my homemade Peach Jam and Raspberry Freezer Jam I decided to try making these cookies, the dough and jam were the perfect compliment for each other. The tartness of the peach jam is the perfect balance with the sweet cookie. These gluten free cookies are quick and easy to make. They add colour to any cookie platter, and can be enjoyed by everyone. I found then when pressed down by the thumb they cracked but could easily be put back together, this did not have any effect on their texture once baked. If the dough is too soft or sticky after mixing and it is difficult to roll them into balls, chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes. There are so many ways that you could customize these cookies if jam isn't your favourite. Placing chocolate in the middle or rolling the dough in your favourite nut or coconut adds variety. This recipe makes approx. 30 cookies so you could make a few variations.

Gluten Free Thumbprint Cookies

1 Cup Soft Butter
1/2 Cup Icing Sugar
2 Tsp Vanilla
2 Cups Gluten Free 1:1 Flour
Jam of your choosing (Approx 1/2 Cup)

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream together Butter, Sugar and Vanilla until fluffy.
- Add in flour and mix.
- Roll into 1 inch size balls and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. 
- Press centre down with thumb or the back of a spoon.
- Fill centre with Jam
- Bake 12-15 minutes and let cool for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks. 
- Once cool, sprinkle with icing sugar. 

Gluten Free Cranberry and White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

These Gluten Free Cranberry and White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies have a great chewy texture that is soft in the middle. They don't expand like their gluten filled counterparts but they taste just the same! The cranberries make them tart while the white chocolate adds the perfect amount of sweetness, and the peppermint makes these cookies refreshing! They are perfect for the holidays because of their pop of colour, while the cranberries and peppermint give a nice change to the endless sweet treats that seem to be consumed over the holiday season.

I love cookies! Store bought cookies, homemade cookies, old freezer burnt cookies, anything that resembles a small crunchy and chewy circle of chocolatey, sweet goodness; I don't discriminate against cookies. They make a bad day good, and a good day better!When I think of cookies I immediately think of sugar and chocolate filled treats of joy. As far as I am concerned cookies are not healthy and should never have fruit, raisins, or anything besides chocolate in them. Needless to say I was blown away when I first saw a recipe for white chocolate and cranberry cookies. Cranberries and cookies were not okay with me, even though I loved white chocolate coated cranberries this was a recipe for disaster. Except, it wasn't! White chocolate and dried cranberries are the perfect combination in a cookie! These cookies are still packed with the sweet chocolate that I love, but they have a healthy twist that adds amazing flavour and texture. If you have ever had that disappointing moment of biting into a raisin cookie that you mistook for chocolate chips, these cookies will regain your trust in cookies! 

Peppermint has many therapeutic effects. It is commonly used to treat upset stomach, indigestion, and symptoms of IBS. Because of it's ability to calm the stomach, many people consume peppermint after eating a meal in the form of tea or a mint. However, I have read that it is better to consume the peppermint before a large meal rather than after. In the case of these Cranberry Peppermint Chip Cookies I think its perfectly acceptable to consume dinner before dessert, especially on Christmas. Most people enjoy a large Christmas meal, and then have a large dessert following. Everyone is stuffed full of all their favourites and feel completely exhausted while their body digests. If you're like me and wear your stretchiest pants (since pants are necessary for family occasions in most families - or mine anyways) to dinner and still feel full, you are doing Christmas right! Cranberry Peppermint Chip Cookies are refreshing and the perfect treat to calm down that full stomach in between dinner and dessert, or when you are completely done and need something to help your turkey coma.

Even Santa will enjoy these cookies when he stops by with your presents! Peppermint is great for treating headaches and since the big man stays up all night, deals with eight reindeer, has thousands of elves running around, and has to handle the pressure of not disappointing any children around the world, he has to have a killer migraine by the time he gets home. Hopefully these cookies will make him feel a bit better, but with all that pressure its probably best to leave him a bottle of Advil and some rum!

Gluten Free Cranberry and White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

1/2 Cup Softened Butter

1/3 Cup Apple Sauce

3/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1/4 Cup White Sugar

2 Eggs

2 Tsp Vanilla

2 Cups Gluten Free All Purpose Flour

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Baking Powder

1 Tsp Xanthan Gum

2 Tsp Corn Starch

1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries

1/2 Cup White Chocolate Peppermint Chips

          or

          1/2 Cup White Chocolate Chips

          1 Tsp Peppermint Extract

- Combine Butter and Sugar until creamy, add Apple Sauce and Egg and mix well.

- Add Remaining ingredients, but leave out Cranberries and White Chocolate, mix until combined.

- Fold in White Chocolate and Dried Cranberries.

- Place in air tight container and let chill for an hour or more.

- Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.

- Roll dough into one inch balls and press down with a fork on a parchment lined baking sheet. 

- Leave space between cookies so they have room to expand.

- Bake for 8-10 minutes and let cool for 15 minutes on tray before transferring. 

- Makes approx. 30 Cookies 

Honey Glazed Holiday Brie Cheese

Honey Glazed Holiday Brie Cheese is naturally gluten free, and when cooked with goats milk brie it is also lactose free! It is sweet, but is a great alternative to all the cookies and baking most people indulge in over the holiday season! It is quick and easy to make, and the options for toppings are endless.

Day 5: 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking

Today I am taking a break from all the sweet treats. Many Christmas functions require appetizers and something more than cookies. People often forget about  the wonderful taste of brie cheese. I love cheese, but brie especially. It is sweet, gooey, and gluten free! This year I bought goats milk brie, so it was even lactose free! Its easy to make as well. I use a brie baker, however you can use any oven safe dish. The options and combinations are endless! You can bake it with whatever toppings you like. I like to keep it sweet, but red pepper jelly is also a delicious treat.

Honey Glazed Holiday Brie Cheese 

1 Round Brie Cheese
2 Tbsp Cranberries (Dried)
1 Tbsp Shaved Almonds
3 Tbsp Orange Flavoured Honey

Place Cheese in Brie Baker
Top with Cranberries and Almonds
Drizzle Honey on Top
Put lid on and bake at 350 Degrees for 15-20 Minutes.
Serve with crackers or bread


This recipe is super easy to make, which is great during the hectic Christmas Season! You can keep the ingredients on hand in case you get unexpected company, or want a change from all the holiday baking and turkey! It has big flavours. It is great to get something warm during the cold days of winter.



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

See you tomorrow!
k.

Christmas Coconut Macaroons

These Christmas Coconut Macaroons are soft and chewy! They are quick and easy to make and the base only requires three ingredients which makes them fuss free! They can be enjoyed plain, or with whatever toppings you prefer!

Day 1: 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking

Its December! That means the holidays are upon us and it is time to start baking yummy goodies, tasty treats, and all those sugary cookies that usually lead to a New Years diet. While this sounds like a sugar induced coma for most, for a person struggling with Celiac Disease this means a month of fear of being glutenized and constantly drooling over something that is forbidden! Many of these goodies are not gluten free, and sometimes a person can feel left out while everyone else enjoys a Christmas snack. Today kicks off 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking! I will be posting the recipes of many holiday favorites, but as gluten free for all the fellow celiac sufferers that are unsure of what they are going to eat this Holiday Season! I have been busy baking, mixing, and experimenting and I cannot wait to share all these holiday treats with you over the next few days! There is something for everyone!

When Christmas rolls around I always make sure to take gluten free baking anywhere I go. It’s a great gift for any hostess, and ensures that I will be able to eat something at the party. And you never know who else suffers from gluten intolerance, so you might just make someone’s day by making gluten free treats accessible to them! And that is exactly what Christmas is about, spreading cheer and happiness everywhere you go!

Coconut macaroons are great anytime of year. They are quick and easy to make in a pinch and do not require many ingredients. They are chewy, sweet and can be topped however you like. I like mine loaded with jam and chocolate, but sometimes they are just as rewarding when enjoyed plain!

Christmas Coconut Macaroons

2 ½ Cups Flaked Coconut

2/3 Cups Canned Condensed Milk

1 Tsp Vanilla

½ Cup Jam (Raspberry Blackberry Freezer Jam)

1/3 Cup Chocolate Wafers

-Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

-Line two Cookie Sheets with Parchment Paper

-Use a 2 inch cookie cutter to shape the cookies, place an ice cream scoop amount of batter into the cookie cutter and fill the circle.

-Bake for 10 minutes until the edges begin to brown.

-Let cool on wire racks.

-Put a tablespoon of jam on each cookie. I used my homemade Raspberry Blackberry Freezer Jam, but you can whichever you prefer.

-Melt the Chocolate Wafers and spread approx ½ a tablespoon on top of the jam.

-Let set on wire racks for approx 30 Minutes and transfer into storage containers.

Makes approx. 10 Cookies

These cookies are fairly large, a smaller round cookie

cutter would result in more, smaller cookies. However, if topped with ice cream or sorbet these cookies would make a wonderful dessert for the celiac at the dinner table!

I hope everyone gets a chance to try these cookies! Stay tuned because there are still 11 days of gluten free Christmas baking to come! I love baking and cooking, so if there is anything in particular you want to see or are struggling with in the kitchen this year leave a comment and I will do my best to assist!

I am off to study for my last final this winter season, and eat a few cookies while I do it!

Have a good day!

K.

Christmas Rolled Sugar Cookies

Christmas is right around the corner! There are so many exciting things about the holiday season. Starbucks has their holiday drinks out, the neighbors have their gorgeous light display up, and all the stores have began decorating! It seems like this time of year many people have an extra bounce in their step. While the holidays are exciting, they can also be stressful! What do you buy for everyone on your list? How big should you order the turkey? Is there really enough time in a day to accomplish all that holiday baking you want to do? Countless hours go into preparing for Christmas, and it seems like it is over in a snap. After all the long days and hard work, the days around Christmas should be relaxing and enjoyable, filled with family, friends, food, and festive cheer!

It seems like there is always extra stress around preparing the big holiday meal. Everything needs to be timed perfectly. By the time dinner time arrives children are getting hungry and whiny, adults may have had a few to many egg nogs and need some food in their stomach, and you are exhausted from all the cooking. Placing a sugar cookie on everyone’s plate adds decoration to the Christmas table, and allows everyone to have a bit of dessert before dinner. Breaking the rules is okay on Christmas, right?

These sugar cookies are gluten free and are incredibly easy to make! They freeze well, so they can be made in advance and brought out when needed. The icing also freezes well, or they can even be iced on Christmas as a fun and festive way to keep everyone occupied! They roll out easily, and have a delicious sweet taste with a soft texture. You wont even know that they are gluten free!

Christmas Rolled Sugar Cookies

½ Cup Butter at Room Temperature

½ Cup White Sugar

1 Egg + 1 Egg White

½ Cup Coconut Flour

½ Cup All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour

¼ Tsp Baking Soda

½ Tsp Xantham Gum

1 Tsp Vanilla

¼ Tsp Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a mixer whip together Butter, Sugar, and Eggs.

In a separate bowl sift the Coconut Flour, All-Purpose Flour, Baking soda, and Xantham Gum.

Add the flour, and the remaining ingredients, to the Butter mixture and mix until combined. Dough will form.

Place in an airtight container, and set in the fridge over night, or until chilled. The dough will be too warm to roll out immediately and will stick to the counter and rolling pin.

Roll out the cookie dough in sections. Keep the remaining dough in the fridge until you are ready to roll it out. This ensures sharp and easy cuts. 

**When rolling the dough, place icing sugar on the rolling pin and counter rather than flour. Flour will add more texture to the cookies and cause them to become crumbly and more difficult to roll.**

Place cut cookies onto a parchment lined cookie sheet with 1-inch space. They do not need a lot of room to expand, but they do rise.

Bake large cookies for 10 minutes, and mini cookies for 5 minutes.

Makes approximately 16-20 cut cookies, depending on size.

-Let cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then move to wire racks and let cool for 30 minutes before icing.

Sugar Cookie Icing

1 Cup Powder Sugar

1 Tbsp Milk

½ Tbsp Light Corn Syrup

In a mixed combine all ingredients. If you want the icing to be runnier add milk very slowly, I recommend ½ a tablespoon at a time. If you want it thicker add more icing sugar slowly, I recommend ½ a tablespoon at a time. I prefer to make a variety of consistencies and place them in separate bowls. Then I can dip some cookies into the thinner icing, and use thicker consistencies for piping.  After dividing the icing into various bowls, add food coloring to make your preferred color. After icing allow the cookies to dry for a few hours before placing into freezer bags or containers so they do not stick and to prevent the icing from getting wrecked.

Sugar cookies are a holiday favorite! These sugar cookies allow a person with gluten intolerances to enjoy Christmas baking with everyone else, and they add a pop of color to any holiday arrangement. Placing a cookie on everyone’s plate is also a great way to decide where everyone is sitting, just in case you have an Aunt Tina who can not sit to close to Uncle Jim, and a Cousin Cecil that decided she does not want to sit in view of the turkey! Place these perfect cookies with a nametag, and no one will argue about where they want to sit!

I heard a rumour that Santa loves sugar cookies too, so why not make a few extra for him too? Pair them with a glass of milk or egg nog, and you will guarantee your spot on the nice list for the next few years!

I hope you enjoy this holiday season! I am sending my wishes for a stress free, gluten free, fun filled Christmas. With lots of family, food and cheer! I hope everybody has the time to do some baking, and hopefully tries these gluten-free Christmas favourites!

K.