Category: Christmas

Gluten-free Crispy Treats for the Holidays

Even though there are more and more gluten-free options on the market, there are some holiday treats that I have made for years that we want to continue to enjoy. Luckily some of the key ingredients are already gluten free: Hershey kisses, Nestle Chocolate chips, (some) candy canes, Chex cereal and more.

Crispy treats are a quick and easy dessert. They are also a blank canvas to make as simple or as fancy as you like.

Festive Crispy Treats

crispy-bar

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons of unsalted butter

1 -10 ounce bag of mini marshmallows

2 cups of Chocolate Chex

2 cups of Cinnamon Chex

2 cups Rice Chex or Wegman’s Crispy Rice Cereal

Directions

Microwave butter and marshmallows in a large bowl for one minute and stir. Microwave for 30 seconds more and stir. Microwave more at 10 second intervals until marshmallows are melted. Once all the marshmallows are melted add cereal. Stir and put into a buttered casserole dish and cool. Cut into bars and serve.

chex-bars

TIP: Add a cup of chocolate chips, use all rice Chex or use colored marshmallows.

These are treats that even skeptical, gluten loving family members and friends will love! More treats to come as we get closer to the holidays.

Past holiday treat post (Remember posts before April 2014 make sure you use gluten free ingredients or email me if you need help adapting a recipe!)

Getting ready for the holidays

 

Gingerbread Cookies

My kids love the tradition of making and decorating gingerbread men. I was scared that we wouldn’t be able to continue the tradition when my son was diagnosed with celiac disease. Luckily we can do it and they taste great. Even our non- gluten free friends have enjoyed them!

There are some great gluten-free cookbooks and websites out there and I make recipes from them often, but sometimes you have that recipe that you have made over and over and want to transform it. I love Martha Stewart’s gingerbread cookies, so I adapted it to be gluten free…and they came out great! They are a soft, cake like cookie.

Gingerbread Cookies (adapted to be gluten free from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook)

gingerbreadmen-gluten-free

 

Ingredients

3 cups sifted all-purpose gluten free flour (I use Cup4Cup)

½ teaspoon of baking soda

¼ teaspoon of baking powder

½ cup of butter, unsalted (one stick)

½ cup packed dark-brown sugar

½ Tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ Tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon of ground cloves

Pinch of finely ground black pepper

½ teaspoon of kosher salt

2 large eggs

¾ cup of molasses

Directions

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder and set aside. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Mix spices and salt in. Beat in eggs and molasses. Add flour mixture on low speed until thoroughly combined. Divide dough into thirds and wrap into plastic. Chill for at least an hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a floured work surface, roll the dough to 1/8 inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Place on parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool and decorate as desired.

gingerbread-man

You also don’t have to give up gingerbread houses! You can make the gingerbread yourself, but in our family no one every really eats the gingerbread. This recipe might be a little soft for it though.

I found these plastic houses at Santa’s Village gift shop a couple of years ago from The Candy Cottage. We just cover it with frosting and decorate it with our favorite GF candies.

candy-cottage-picture

Let the cookie baking season begin! What are your favorite holiday treats? Do you have a holiday treat that you would like to adapt to be gluten free? Contact me via email or comment!

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