Okay, I know you don't normally come to our site for recipes, but maybe you should! We are self-proclaimed foodies cooking and eating delicious meals together is a big part of our lives. In our real estate business EVERYTHING we do is a mixture of art, science, and heart! Today, I welcome you into my Gluten-Free kitchen as I share some of my favorite holiday desserts.

In 2020 I started experiencing a ton of uncomfortable symptoms, which I soon learned were linked to some auto-immune responses going on in my body. I won't go to deep as to WHY my body was experience this reaction, that story is for another day! But, I will tell you that after a ton of bloodwork and doctor visits I was told that I was Celiac. This is an immune related reaction to eating gluten! After hearing this news I was convinced that my life was over- there is gluten in almost all of my favorite meals. But, I am here to report back that after 2 years of being gluten-free my life is not over, in fact there are many recipes that I enjoy more as GF option.

With the holiday season in full swing, I wanted to share some simple and tasty gluten-free deserts straight from my recipe box to your kitchen! I have experienced a ton of trial and error, especially with baking. My favorite gluten-free flours are the Trader Joe's brand or the Red Mills gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour. Many people are looking to eat less gluten or are also GF, so you will highly likely suprise and delight if you come to the party with an option to accommodate. 

Here are three of my tried-and-true favorites:

Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups peanut or almond butter 

2 cups granulated or cane sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoon baking soda 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

pinch of Maldon flakey salt

Preheat your oven to 350*. In a mixing bowl stir in peanut butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and add baking soda and vanilla. Roll into truffle sized balls, place on a cookie sheet and using a fork smash the ball into a cross hatch pattern, flattening them on the sheet. Bake for 8-10 min, cool and enjoy!

The GF Crumble

2 ½ cups of Old-Fashioned GF Oats

½ cup GF flour

½ cups brown sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

4-5 cups of seasonal fruit: apples, peaches, or berries are my favorite

1 tablespoon GF flour

2 tablespoons agave or honey 

Preheat your oven to 350*. Start by melting the butter in a cast iron or skillet. Add in the sugar first then the flour, cinnamon, and oats! I like to stir them over medium heat for about 5-10 min. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl stir your fruit together with the agave sweetener and a bit of flour. In a 8x8 or 9x9 pan add in the fruit mixture, then top with the crumble mixture. Cover with tin foil and bake for 30 min, then remove the tin foil and cook another 10 min. Cool for 10 min and serve with vanilla bean ice cream or homemade whip cream!

Snickerdoodles

1 cup shortening 

1 1/12 cups granulated or cane sugar

2 eggs

2 ¾ cups gf flour 

2 teaspoons cream of tartar 

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt 

Topping: 1 cup sugar + 2 tablespoons cinnamon

In a mixing bowl combine eggs, sugar, and shortening. Then add in the dry ingredients: sugar, flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Chill dough for at least an hour. Preheat your oven to 350*. Shape dough into walnut sized balls and roll into the topping cinnamon sugar mixture. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, let cool. DO NOT OVERCOOK. 

Please try these recipes and let me know what your favorite is! Happy Holidays! 

Madison