Store Bought Gluten Free Graham Crackers

These gluten free S’mores bars are the epitome of summer memories. They have the ooey, gooey fun of the roasted ‘mallow without the need for an open fire or roasting sticks. Plus, this makes a batch large enough to feed a crowd at your next gluten-free picnic. Or at least a highly ambitious family of 5.

One could start this recipe with any of these certified pre-made gluten-free graham crackers. Brands include:

• Schar Honeygrams are my personal favorite gluten free graham cracker. They are dairy, egg and nut free, but do contain soy.
• Kinnikinnick S’moreables are very popular. They are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, nut free and soy free. Kinnikinnick also sells premade graham cracker crumbs.
• Enjoy Life Foods– Their  vanilla honey graham crunch cookie is free of the 9 most common allergens.
• Pamela’s Gluten Free Graham Crackers – These graham crackers come in three flavors- Honey, Cinnamon and Chocolate Chip. All three flavors contain oat bran and dairy, and are also certified gluten free.
• Partake Graham Crackers – These are available at most stores. They are top 8 allergen free, and contain oat flour.

Homemade Graham Crackers

However, I took my baking game to the next level. I made my graham crackers for these gluten free S’mores bars from scratch. I did so by using GF Jules Graham Cracker – Gingerbread Mix.

Jules produces her mix in a facility that is free from the 8 most common allergens, which makes them safe for most! Don’t have access to her mixes? Try my homemade gluten free graham cracker recipe.

Ohio Inspired

I’d like to say I created the recipe for these gluten free S’mores bars from scratch. But, I’m too afraid of failure so I altered the S’mores Bars recipe from Julie’s Eats and Treats. Her pictures looked JUST like the gluten-free S’mores bars I remembered at Cherbourg Bakery. You can even find Cherbourg’s S’mores Bars recipe on their website.

These bars turned out just like I remembered. Chocolatey, gooey, and simply delicious. I used Enjoy Life Foods Mini Chocolate Chips to make sure the chocolate melted in every place possible! Don’t just take my word for it, though. I took them to a church potluck and they were quickly devoured!

Other S’mores Related Recipes & Ingredient Substitutions

Want homemade graham crackers without a mix? Try my homemade gluten free graham cracker recipe. I also use them as the base of my gluten free Mallomars, which are super close to a S’more. You could also use my chocolate pudding recipe, layered with graham cracker crumbs and mini marshmallows to make a S’mores parfait!

Want these bars but can’t do eggs and dairy? Try this vegan version of Gluten Free S’mores Bars from The Pretty Bee. I also recommend this S’mores Skillet Dip from A Dash of Megnut. These Mini Gluten Free S’mores Pies from Gluten Free on a Shoestring also look fantastic.

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Gluten Free S’mores Bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups gluten-free flour I used Krusteaz Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour
• 2 cups gluten-free graham cracker crumbs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 c. butter room temperature (mine was extra greasy on the bottom. You might get away with 3/4 of a cup.)
• 1 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 13 oz. container of Marshmallow Fluff.
• 1 bag Enjoy Life Foods Mini Chocolate Chips

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 pan.
• In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs and baking powder.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, beating after each addition.
• Add dry ingredients to the butter/sugar mixture, and mix well until all dry ingredients are absorbed. You should have a very moist dough.
• Julie suggests dividing the dough in half. I’d suggest dividing it into thirds, and placing two thirds of the dough into the bottom of your 9×13 pan.
• Next, carefully spread the container of Marshmallow Fluff on top of the dough. I found that if I microwaved the fluff for approx. 15 seconds it came out of the container much more easily. Second, evenly sprinkle Enjoy Life Foods chips on top of fluff.
• Finally, sprinkle remaining dough on top of chocolate chips. It may not cover it perfectly. That’s okay! We want that marshmallow fluff to be poking out!
• Bake bars in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven when cookie dough is fully baked. Cool completely before trying to cut. Julie suggests that they may cut best when they’ve been refrigerated.

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What’s your favorite way to enjoy a S’more? What’s your favorite summer time treat? Leave a note below! 

Originally Published July 2017

The post Gluten Free S’mores Bars – A Summer Favorite appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

What is Gluten Free Candy Sushi?

My husband is a saint. Not only is he a middle school teacher, but he also hosts an after school anime club for 7th and 8th graders. In his free time. After already teaching all day. He’s totally my hero.

I jump in as his sidekick and weekly buy and/or prepare snacks for the kids. I started making these gluten free candy sushi years ago and they have become a “must have” with this students every year! Whenever these ingredients pop up, it’s a sure sign to the end of the school year!

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are NOT Gluten Free

The recipe isn’t all that difficult, really. It consists of three things: a “rice ball,” candy fish, and fruit rolls for the “nori.” The base for the “rice ball” for the gluten free candy sushi is your basic marshmallow crisped rice treats. I will share the one I used, that was on the packaging. However, you can use whatever recipe that you want. Now as a reminder, regular Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free. Why? Because they contain barley malt. However the following brands make crisped rice cereal that does NOT malt.

Gluten Free Crisped Rice Cereals

* Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal (certified GF by GFCO)
* One Degree Organic Foods Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps (certified through NSF)
* Barbara’s Organic Brown Rice Crisps (tested to be under 20 PPM, not certified)
* Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice (no outside certification, Malt-O-Meal / Post GF product listing)
* Aldi Millville Crispy Rice (no outside certification, verified through company)

Tips on Forming Your Crisped Rice Balls

So a few tips on making the “rice ball” portion of your gluten free candy sushi. First, melt your butter and marshmallows on low. You want to achieve a creamy marshmallow “fluff” that will evenly coat your cereal.

After stirring in the cereal, I suggest waiting approx 4-5 minutes to form your “rice balls.” Why? Well, one IT’s HOT! But secondly, you need to let some of the marshmallow firm up for the “rice balls” to hold their shape. Also, I used two sandwich bags, over my hands, to form the “rice balls.” Keeps my hands from getting all gross and sticky.

Which Candy Fish are Gluten Free?

So, let’s talk fish. Candy fish, that is. I used Swedish Fish, because that is what I know to be gluten free. It is listed on the Celiac Disease Foundation General Candy List as being gluten free as well.

Kroger sells their own store brand of candy fish. The ingredient list contains no ingredients that include gluten. It lists “natural & artificial flavor,” however as Tricia Thompson states in her article about flavoring extracts, the manufacturer would have to list if it is made from wheat, rye or barley on the label.

Wholesome! makes organic “DelishFish,” which are certified by GFCO. They’d be another great option for these gluten free candy sushi. Finally, I bought the Welch’s Berry Fruit Rolls, which specifically state gluten free on the box. Plus, the dark purple makes it a closer color match to actual nori! (Welch’s no longer makes this product. Now I use Fruit by the Foot.)

Adding Candy Fish To Your Crisped Rice

Next, you simply place a fish on top of your formed gluten free candy sushi rice ball, wrap a strip of fruit roll around it, and immediately impress everyone you know. I find it works best to start with the fruit roll at the underside of the “rice ball,” pull it over the top and reconnect it on the bottom. T

hese would be great for an underwater theme party, of a fun kid dessert to go with any Asian meal. (For sure, they’d go great with a lunch of onigiri!) Of course, they become the perfect sweet treat when watching your favorite Studio Ghibli film. If you haven’t seen Ponyo, it’s a must. You’ll never be able to say the word ham again without laughing!

Other Gluten Free Marshmallow Treats

Looking for other great marshmallow based treats? Make these Gluten Free Scotcheroos from My Gluten Free Kitchen!  Maybe these Gluten Free Chocolate Dipped Crispy Rice Treat Ice Cream Sandwiches from my friend Amanda at Eat At Our Table are more your style?

Of course, if you’re really brave, you can try making your own homemade marshmallows, like these from Christina Lane at Dessert for Two. Looking to avoid gelatin all together? Then try this spread that my friend Michelle made for her S’mores Sandwich Cookies!

Print

Gluten Free Candy Sushi

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp butter
• 1 10 oz pkg mini marshmallows
• 6 oz 7 cups Gluten Free Crisped Rice Cereal
• 24 candy fish
• 1 box Welch’s Berry Fruit Rolls

Instructions

• Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat, and add marshmallows. Continue to melt over low heat until it becomes a creamy mixture. 
• Add in cereal and stir well to coat all of the cereal. Allow to cool 4-5 minutes before attempting to form rice balls. 
• I use two sandwich bags as “gloves” to handle the marshmallow crisped rice “dough” to form into egg-shaped portions. You should be able to make 23-24 rice balls. Place on a platter. If you have a deviled egg tray, it is PERFECT for this treat. 
• Once all of the rice balls are formed, top each one with a candy fish and a strip of fruit roll. You should be able to use one fruit roll to complete 3-4 gluten free candy sushi. I find it best to start wrapping the candy sushi rice ball from the underside, pull it over the candy fish, and then connect it to the bit of fruit roll on the bottom.

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Why Canned Coconut Milk is Important

I originally wrote this post in 2017. I felt however it needed a bit of a refresh. New pictures and such. However, I left the recipe as is. Especially the use of canned coconut milk. I once had a reader state that she used this recipe with a carton of almond milk. It didn’t work. All the additives inhibit the mixture from thickening.

Coconut milk is THE closest substitute I’ve found for regular milk, in cooking and baking. It has very few additives and includes natural fats. It does however leave a bit of a coconut taste, so I usually use it in recipes that include chocolate or other flavors. My Mocha Cake with dairy free ganache is a good example of this.

Corn Starch vs Tapioca Starch

So, this dairy free pudding recipe is NOT grain free. (Not vegan, either.) Should you need a grain free or corn free substitute, you can use tapioca starch instead. While most recipes call for double the amount of tapioca than corn starch, I would use a bit less. When I used double, the pudding was a bit gloppy. (Although still delicious!)

Bob’s Red Mill sells Finely Ground Tapioca Flour (a.k.a Tapioca Starch.) This may seem a bit confusing, as it can’t really be used as a flour replacement. If you were looking for a true grain free flour replacement, for making cookies and such, I would use Cassava Flour. Tapioca is starch extracted from the cassava root, while cassava flour is is the whole root, ground into flour.

Read – “5 Things You Need to Know About Cassava Flour*

Dairy Free Pudding, Parfaits, and Popsicles

Now, you can eat this dairy free pudding plain by itself. I definitely would. However, I like turning mine into fun parfaits. I mean, if life has layers, why shouldn’t our desserts? And sprinkles, because life can always use more color.

You can also freeze this pudding in popsicle forms. Do it plain, or add in fun mix ins. Add crushed graham crackers and mini marshmallows for S’mores pops. Or add cherry sauce and cheesecake flavoring like Flippin’ Delicious did with her Vegan Cheesecake Pudding Pops. Let your imagination run wild!

Dairy Free Chocolate Pudding, and More!

So how did I come up with this delicious dairy-free gluten-free pudding recipe? Truthfully, I didn’t. Well, not entirely. I simply made two small substitutions (canned coconut milk & coconut oil) in a Martha Stewart recipe. Then, I add whatever mixins I want.

I’ve been using this basic recipe for over a year. It utilizes egg yolks, which I always seem to have left over after making bread. So this dairy free pudding isn’t vegan, but it’s great for those who have a dairy allergy or lactose intolerance. Go to Martha Stewart’s Easy Pudding Recipe for other pudding flavor combinations to try!

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Easy Gluten Free, Dairy Free Pudding

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 minute minute

Chill Time 3 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours 6 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Mindo Chocolate 100% Cocoa Powder
• Argo, Cornstarch, 1 Pound(LB)
• Thai Kitchen Unsweetened Coconut Milk, 13.66 fl oz

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup sugar
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ cup dark chocolate cocoa powder Leave out if you want to make vanilla pudding.
• 2 ½ cup canned coconut milk NOT the stuff from the carton in the refrigerated section.
• 4 large egg yolks
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan, OFF HEAT, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. If making chocolate pudding, add cocoa powder. Very gradually (a few tbsp. at a time) whisk in coconut milk, taking care to dissolve cornstarch. Whisk in egg yolks.
• Place saucepan on burner. Whisking constantly, cook over medium heat until the first large bubble forms and sputters. Reduce heat to low; still whisking, cook 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir coconut oil and vanilla into hot pudding.
• Either in individual bowls, or whole pan, place plastic wrap directly on surface of pudding. This is done to prevent skin from forming on pudding. Chill at least 3 hours and up to 3 days. Before serving, whisk pudding until smooth.

Notes

Based on recipe from Martha Stewart

What’s your favorite pudding flavor? What’s for favorite way to indulge in this childhood favorite? Leave me a comment below!

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