Gluten Free Christmas Cookies

The holidays can be hard for people who can’t eat gluten.  All those sweet treats have to be passed by – but here are three classics that have been created without gluten!

Rum Balls – Peanut Butter Kiss – Scottish Shortbread (my favorite!)

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Well, you’ve come to the right place to find three great recipes!

Gluten Free Rum balls

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Rum Balls are a tradition at my house – and here is the recipe that no one knows is gluten free!

This recipe follows more the traditional bourbon ball ingredients, but since bourbon is made from barley, I switched it up to rum.  And here’s how you do it!

You need:

  • 1 1/3 cup crushed gluten free vanilla cookie (I used Annie’s bunnies – cocoa and vanilla –great flavors!) 
  • ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts (optional if you are allergic to nuts)
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/8 cup granulated white sugar
  • ¼ cup 151 Rum (yes, that is 151 proof!)
  • Granulated sugar for coating.

Crush the cookies in the food processor until they are finely minced meal.  Add the walnuts and mix well.IMG_0319

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Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, just until they are soft enough to stir – be very careful not to burn them!

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Mix the sugar well with the melted chocolate, then slowly stir in the rum.  After it is all well blended, stir in the cookies and nuts, mixing until it is a soft dough.

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Refrigerate for about 15-20 minutes, just enough to make the dough firm but pliable.

Roll into small balls, then roll each ball into more granulated sugar.

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Store airtight at room temperature.

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Makes 2 dozen rum balls.

© Copyright 2015 The Lazy Gastronome

 

 

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Kisses  

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  • ½ cup white granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 stick of butter
  • ½ cup chunky peanut butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup gluten free baking flour (not all purpose – see note)
  • ¾ cup coconut flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Granulated sugar for rolling
  • 20-24 Hershey’s kisses

Note:  Gluten free baking flour is lighter and more conducive to created baked goods.   I like Bob’s Red Mill.  IMG_0323

Cream together the butter and the sugar.  Add the egg and the vanilla and continue to process until smooth.

Mix the dry ingredients well, then add to the creamed mixture.  Blend until it becomes a soft dough.  Roll into balls and coat each ball with white sugar, placing on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper.  Gently flatten each cookie slightly.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 – 15 minutes, until the cookies are starting to crack.

Remove from heat and immediately press a chocolate kiss into the top of each cookie.

Remove from the cookie sheet and allow to cool on a wire rack.

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Makes about 20-24 cookies

© Copyright 2015 The Lazy Gastronome

 

Gluten Free Scottish Shortbread Cookies

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My absolute favorite Christmas cookie.  When I had to stop eating gluten for awhile, I thought I could never have my favorite cookie again – WRONG!  I experimented with flours and came up with this one -and it is pretty darned good (If I do say so myself)!

What  you Need:

  • ½ cup of softened butter
  • 1/8 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1/8 cup white granulated sugar
  • ½ cup gluten free baking flour (NOT all purpose flour -Bob’s Red Mill has a good one, see note above)
  • ½ cup almond flour (also called almond meal)
  • 1/8 teaspoon table salt

How to Do it:

Cream the butter and sugar together until well blended.  Add the flours and the salt and mix into a soft dough.

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Spread the dough out on parchment paper.  Wrap the sides of the paper and then roll it so it is about 1/8 inch thick.

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Open the paper and cut the dough into squares.  Poke holes with a fork on the top.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

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The dough will rise a little and need to be recut.  At this point, remove from the oven and carefully recut the first lines.  Put back in the oven and bake another five minutes, just until the edges start to brown.

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Let cool for a bit, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.  These are fragile, buttery, melt in your mouth cookies!

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Makes 1 dozen

© Copyright 2015 The Lazy Gastronome

So there you have it – three yummy cookies for your gluten free loved ones!

This entry was posted in Christmas, Sweet Treats and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to Gluten Free Christmas Cookies

  1. Lisa says:

    I love the sound of the rum balls! They seem easy to make. I imagine that they could also be made with regular dry-textured cookies?

  2. Pingback: Sweet Pretzel Treats - The Lazy GastronomeThe Lazy Gastronome

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