Gluten Free Cookie Monster

I love cookies. I would eat them all day, every day if I could. While I will never turn down a chocolate chip cookie, I do have a fondness for a good sugar cookie. These gluten-free Halloween cut out cookies are so easy to make, they will fulfill any cookie craving.

I won a bag of GF Jules (a.k.a Jules Shepard) Gluten Free Cut-Out Cookie Mix years ago through a Twitter party. Jules and my other pals Cindy and Erica spent a weekend retreat and this delightful mix came in a box with other items from #GfBloggerRetreat sponsors.

Do You Know GF Jules?

You know what I love about GF Jules? (Besides her great mixes, like the graham cracker one I used to make these awesome Gluten-Free S’mores bars)  She’s so REAL. She’s down to earth and totally approachable. She answers her own e-mail and Facebook messages.

She’s been an encouragement to me and so many others. Did you know that she was involved in the mission of getting congress to improve gluten-free food labeling laws? All through persistence and the world’s tallest gluten-free cake. But I digress.

Best Cookie Cutters EVER

So back to these gluten-free Halloween cut out cookies. Even if you’re not a master cake decorator of baker like GF Jules, you can easily make these cookies. First, work with a good sugar cookie recipe. Next, work with good tools. I have quickly become a Wilton addict convert. I bought their 101 Cookie Cutter Set (affiliate link) over a decade ago.

The cookie cutters are made of durable plastic. More than fifteen years later, they still are cutting through dough, bread and any other soft items I want to get creative with. I LOVE that this particular set is color coded for holidays and themes. Orange for Halloween, green for Christmas, yellow for Easter and so forth.

Gluten Free Premade Frosting

Aren’t these ghost gluten-free Halloween cut out cookies just the cutest? Just a little bit of white frosting (I used Duncan Hines) and they pop. (I’d say “come alive,” but they are ghosts after all.) Should you want to make your own frosting, try this recipe for Gluten Free Royal Icing from Celiac Mama.

While one can use a sandwich bag in a pinch, I really prefer these Wilton Disposable Decorating Bags. They’re much thicker than a sandwich bag and withstand much more hand pressure. I usually use one of my Wilton decorating metal tips for this, but accidentally forgot to put the coupler in the bag. Know what? It was easier to handle without the tips!

My Best Decorating Tip

Now I know what you’re thinking. You’re a terrible decorator. Frosting these gluten-free Halloween cut out cookies really IS easy. If you can draw a straight line (or even if you can’t), you can do this. My biggest “tip” is to allow the point of the bag just barely touch the cookie. Pipe the frosting slowly until you get the hang of it.

For these gluten-free Halloween cut out cookies, I focused on outlining the cookies. Then I simply added frosting in the center of the cookie with a back and forth motion. Not sure how you want to decorate them? I’ll let you in on a blogger secret. Go look at Pinterest or do a Google image search of what you want to make. Look at images that seem doable for you and then HAVE FUN! Cookies should be fun!

Homemade Sugar Cookie Dough Option

So here are my gluten-free Halloween cut out cookies, all finished. Some of them were just how I envisioned, some are not. But that’s the beauty of making sugar cookies and frosting them. It’s the experience, the uniqueness. And no matter what they look like, they still taste delicious!

Want to make cookies now and don’t have time to order this mix? If you need an egg and dairy free version, try these Vegan Sugar Cookies from Allergylicious. Able to eat eggs and dairy? These Gluten Free Sugar Cookies from Flippin’ Delicious get rave reviews! Looking for more recipe ideas? Visit my Gluten Free Halloween Pinterest board.

**GF Jules provided me a free bag of cookie mix as part of a giveaway. I was not otherwise paid or compensated for my time. This post does contain affiliate links. Purchases made through those links help support this blog with no extra expense to you. Thank you for your continued support!**

Originally Published October 2017

The post Gluten-Free Halloween Cut Out Cookies appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Lost Your Mojo? This Will Fix It

It’s been a long summer. Actually, it’s been a long six weeks. Between last minute home improvements, immediate car replacements and two weeks of hard core volunteering, I’ve lost a bit of my mojo. I think this single serve gluten-free cheesecake is going to help return it, though. I’d almost bet it will help renew your mood too!

Earlier this summer, I made some smashingly awesome S’mores bars. Like, “one of the best things I’ve ever tasted” good. I made them with my last bag of (prepared) GF Jules Graham Cracker Mix. It did result in my having loads of leftover graham crackers. So, I needed to find a use for them! Enter, this Just One Serving NY Style Cheesecake from Heather Maclean Cooks.

Roasted Strawberries  – The Fruit You Didn’t Know You Needed

Trying this single serve gluten-free cheesecake also allowed me to attempt another “recipe” I’ve been wanting to try. Roasted Strawberries. I first heard Kendra, a.k.a. Drizzle Kitchen, talk about them on her Instagram Stories. So I just had to try Simply Recipe’s Vanilla Roasted Strawberries to add to this cheesecake.

Well, now it’s my turn to roast these beautiful berries. Can I just say “wow”? The aroma as these roast? It’s the ultimate smell of summer! Imagine fresh, homemade strawberry jam, but solid so you can pick it up with your fingers. AMAZING! They are the PERFECT topping for this single serve gluten-free cheesecake.

Cheesecake Gets a Gluten Free Makeover

So in true “me” fashion, I made some changes to Heather’s original recipe. First, the obvious. Use gluten-free graham crackers. Next, I used Neufchatel Cheese, regular cream cheese’s low-fat cousin. Lastly, I used non-fat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

Why? Because it’s all I had in the house, and I’m too pooped to putt right now. Added bonus? It’s lower in fat! Other than that, I followed her recipe to the T, making them in my favorite Wilton Mini Spring Form pans. (I use the ALL time time. Seriously, you should order them. Here they are on Amazon!)

Some Assembly, and Patience, Required

Now, this single serve gluten-free cheesecake is not “instant.” You still have to bake it for thirty minutes. You still have to chill it afterward for at least an hour. So, use the time to take a nap or read a book. Or if you just don’t know how to say “no” like me, go to a meeting to set up another event for a non-profit.

I’m tellin’ ya though, the wait is totally worth it. This single serve gluten-free cheesecake is not overly sweet, which I really liked. I drizzled it with a bit of my dairy-free chocolate sauce, and topped them with those berries. Doesn’t it look breathtaking?

Sharing is Optional

Confession. Even though this recipe is called “Single Serve Gluten-Free Cheesecake,” I shared it with my husband. This single serve gluten-free cheesecake really is big enough to satisfy your own sweet tooth and the one you love. If you want to share. You don’t have to. Like me, you can use this time to practice saying “no.”  xoxo

*Note – This recipe can also be made using my homemade gluten free graham cracker recipe. If your heart yearns for grain free cheesecake, check out my mini apple cheesecake bites. Need this to be dairy free? This Gluten Free Vegan Berry Cheesecake from Sarah Bakes Gluten Free are a showstopper!

Gluten Free Cheesecake for One Recipe

Print

Single Serve Gluten-Free Cheesecake

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Chill Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1/3 c. gluten free graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tbsp white sugar
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter melted
• 4 oz. Neufchatel cheese softened
• 1 1/2 tbsp plain non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract I prefer LorAnn Oils
• 3 tbsp beaten egg 1 whole egg contains 4 tbsp

Instructions

• Heat oven to 325. Ever so lightly grease a 4 1/2 inch springform pans.
• If not already crushed, crush graham crackers into crumbs. (It helps relieve lots of tension!)
• In a small-ish glass bowl, melt one tbsp of butter. Once melted, mix in graham cracker crumbs and ONE tablespoon of sugar. Mix thoroughly and press into bottom of pan.
• To avoid dirtying all the dishes in the house, rinse out the bowl. Now you can reuse it for the next step!
• In bowl, combine Neufchatel cheese, yogurt, the remaining TWO tablespoons of sugar and vanilla extract. Whip it, whip it good. Until there are no lumps. Then gently fold in the beaten egg. Heather says this will prevent the top of your cheesecake from cracking. Mine didn't crack, so she must be right!
• Pour batter over crust mixture. Place springform pan on top of a cookie sheet, and bake your single serve gluten-free cheesecake for 30-35 minutes. I highly suggest using a cookie sheet underneath, because the cheesecake mixture might weep a bit. At least mine did.
• Once the cheesecake is done baking, remove it from the oven. Immediately run a knife around the edge to prevent the cheesecake from sticking to the pan as it cools. (I did not do this. Mine stuck to the side. Bad Margaret.) Cool on rack until it reaches room temperature, at least 30 minutes. Then, refrigerate for one to two hours.
• Top in whichever way you prefer and ENJOY!

**This post does contain affiliate links. Purchases made through those links help support this blog with no extra expense to you. Thank you for your continued support!**

Originally Published August 2017

The post Single Serve Gluten-Free Cheesecake appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Spring Form Pans for Pizza and Other Uses

Years ago, I used my large spring form pan to make an apple cake. I think it was the first time in our 11 years of married life that I had ever used it. Now my curiosity was totally peaked. What else could one make with a springform pan?

Searches turned up cheesecake, chicken pot pie, lasagna, and GLUTEN FREE DEEP DISH PIZZA. What?! Why had I never thought of that? How come no one ever told me about this wonderful idea? Friends don’t keep those kind of culinary secrets from one another!

What Flour Do You Use to Make Gluten Free Deep Dish Pizzas?

This time I used GF Jules Pizza Crust Mix to make these individual deep dish pizzas. The dough is very wet, and I highly suggest using saran wrap to press it into the pans. However, once this bakes, it may just be the most beautiful gluten free deep dish pizza crust I’ve ever seen in my life.

How Many Individual Gluten Free Deep Dish Pizzas Does This Recipe Make?

Back to the springform pans. This is not one huge gluten free deep dish pizza. I live in a household of two. Therefore, I prefer to make recipes that work in smaller batches.

To make this personal gluten free deep dish pizza, you need mini spring form pans. The ones I bought from Wilton are AMAZING ! They work great for making a single serve gluten free cheesecake, as well as making buns or mini loaves of my buckwheat bread.

How Do You Build a Gluten Free Deep Dish Pizza?

Now I must confess, the idea of making a personal personal gluten free deep dish pizza did not originate in my noggin. That bit o’ brilliance belongs to Windell and Lenore at Evil Mad Science Laboratories. It was their post about making miniature stuffed pizzas in springforms that got me all excited.

First, make sure when you roll your pizza dough that it is wide enough to reach the top edge of the springform pan. I followed their layering instructions, placing the cheese on the bottom. Then pepperoni, (cooked!) veggies and finally sauce. Gotta cook that spinach and veggies first, or the inside of your personal gluten free deep dish pizza will be a watery mess.

What Temperature and Time Do You Bake These?

I baked these miniature deep dish pizzas at 375 for 20 minutes. They bake faster since they are smaller. If you make a larger deep dish pizza (using 9 or 10 inch springform pan), bake it at “375 to 400 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes.”

Great for Weekday Lunches

Know what makes for a great lunch? A personal gluten free deep dish pizza! When I recently made these, I used half of the GF Jules Pizza Crust mix in the canister. That much dough was enough for four mini deep dish pizzas.

My husband and I each ate one the night I made them. The other two are individually wrapped in foil, inside of a resealable plastic bag. I guarantee his coworkers will be in amazement when they see one of the babies in his lunch next week.

Where Can I Find GF Jules Products?

If you can’t find GF Jules Pizza Crust mix in your local store, you can order it online. (There are directions on the canister on how to make it yeast-free as well.) You can also make the dough using her GF flour, following her gluten free stuffed crust pizza recipe. Jules was kind enough to give me this package of pizza crust mix, free of charge.

She also sent me her original cookie mix, which I used in Christmas bark. I have also tried her Cutout Cookie Mix, and her Graham Crackers mix, which I used to make AMAZING gluten free S’mores bars. Find all of her products, her recipes, and informational articles on her gfJules website.

** GF Jules kindly sent me product to try. I was not otherwise compensated for this recipe. However, this post does however include Amazon Affiliate Links. Purchases made through those links provide me a small commission. However, this does not influence the cost of your purchases. Thank you for helping to support this website, and keeping this site pop up free!**

The post Personal Gluten Free Deep Dish Pizza appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Mix It Up

I originally tried the Hodgson Mill’s Gluten Free Bread Mix back in 2013. If I failed to mention before, I love to scour clearance shelves for deals. The first time I tried this mix, I snagged a box for less than $1.50! For that price, I’ll try anything once. It turned out ok, buy my pictures left much to be desired. Therefore, I chose to make it again, update the pictures, and talk a bit about bread machines.

The Hodgson Mill’s Gluten Free Bread Mix offers two methods for baking. One option is in the oven, the other is in a bread machine. However, they specifically state to only use on a bread machine with a gluten free setting. My mother-in-law gave me a Breadman TR520 over 10 years ago that does not have this setting. Therefore, I use the “Basic” setting on my machine. The bread tastes good, but is a bit dense.

Bread Machines and Gluten Free Settings

When it comes to gluten free bread, Jules Shepard is my go to resource. She writes a gluten free blog, and owns the business GF Jules. (I love her cookie mix and her pizza crust mix!) Her tips on baking gluten free bread in a breadmaker are the best, in my opinion. In that article, she recommends a variety of bread machines, all with gluten free settings, with a range of prices.

In her T Fal Gluten Free Bread Machine review, she shares how this machine compares with the more expensive Zojirushi. She states it performs very well, at a fraction of the price. She also offers a tip for those own a Cuisinart gluten free bread maker. I recently saw people mention in a Facebook group that their loaves always come out underdone in that machines. Jules recommends the following. “I preheat my oven to 350°F and place the bread pan from the bread maker into the oven to bake approximately 10 more minutes at the end of the bread maker cycle.“

No Gluten Free Setting?

As mentioned, I could easily make this Hodgson Mill’s Gluten Free Bread Mix in the oven. Since making this the first time, I perfected getting yeast based breads to rise. However, Jules Shepard also shared on her blog how to program a bread machine for gluten free baking. Her recommendations are as follows. Set the machine for a “20 minute mix cycle, followed by a 1 hour rise cycle, and finally set it to cook for a 1 hour bake cycle.” The trick is to getting the machine to NOT allow a second punch down. Since the dough lacks gluten, it doesn’t need it nor does well with the second punch down.

I also highly suggest this article from Gluten Free and More magazine, written by Beth Hillson. In “A Lofty Loaf: How to Make Gluten-Free Bread,” Beth also shares tips on buying a gluten free bread machine. For example, she states that bread machines that make a horizontal loaf work better than those that make vertical loaves. If possible, buy a machine that has two paddles. Also, her programmable cycle varies slightly from Jules. She suggests programming the machine for the following cycles.”Warm 10 minutes; knead 15 minutes; rise 40 minutes; bake 55 to 60 minutes. Always set on Medium Crust.

The Verdict?

The bread from the Hodgson Mill’s Gluten Free bread mix tasted good. I found if I wanted to make toast, I had to toast it a second time. I’d love to try it again in a machine with a gluten free setting. This year I will at attend the Housewares show in Chicago for the first time. I hope to meet Zojirushi and see one of their bread machines in action! I also recommend the other gluten free baking mixes below.  Pamela’s Products gluten free bread mix also makes amazing bagels!

**This post is NOT sponsored by Hodgson Mill, nor any other brand mentioned here. This post does however include Amazon Affiliate Links. Purchases made through those links provide me a small commission. However, this does not influence the cost of your purchases. Thank you for helping to support this website!**

The post Gluten Free Bread Machines and Mixes appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.