While I love cozying up by the tree during the holidays, I also find joy spending time in the kitchen. My mom has baked delicious treats in the kitchen each December since I was little, and now, I’ve adapted some of her recipes and started making them myself over the holiday season. While all of my mom’s recipes contain gluten and are made from scratch, last December, I used mixes to make two batches of gluten-free sugar cookies, snack mix, and banana bread. Although they are gluten-free, they have been approved by gluten-eaters and can be enjoyed by anyone, or modified. Now that I’ve experimented and know more, I may try to make some treats from scratch this year. However, these recipes are great starting points and easy to whip up when you just need something simple.
Sugar Cookies
For the past few years that I’ve been gluten-free, I’ve made sugar cookies using King Arthur’s mix, which makes perfectly soft, chewy cookies. After baking the cookies, I let them cool, and just as my mom does with her sugar cookies, I mix a simple icing using powdered sugar and non-dairy milk. I paint this on the cookies, and then decorate with sprinkles and edible glitter (found last year at The Kitchen Nashville).
My mom always makes rolled and cut-out sugar cookies from a longtime treasured recipe, and I hoped to find a way to do the same with my gluten-free ones. For a second batch, I returned to the grocery, but the King Arthur’s mix had sold out. Instead, I found Otto’s mix and decided to give it a go. I made the dough and refrigerated it to chill it, then attempted to roll it out and cut out shapes. It was tricky and sticky, but I did manage to get some shapes. After baking, I decorated them the same as the other cookies.
This year, I may search for a new recipe or method for rolling and cutting out gluten-free sugar cookies; I love having fun and festive shapes.
Snack Mix
My mom used to make this salty, addictive snack mix, and I decided to recreate it and make it gluten-free. I’m definitely making it again this year! Simply mix up a box of oyster crackers (I used MadeGood Star Puffed crackers), cheddar crackers (Simple Mills Farmhouse Cheddar for me), 1/2 cup oil (olive), 1 pack ranch seasoning, 1/8 tsp garlic, 1/8 tsp salt, a pinch of red pepper, and 1 heaping tsp dill weed. I also had some gluten-free pretzel sticks on hand and included them.
Banana Bread
My mom truly makes the best banana bread, and it’s a treat I’ve always loved. I made a few loaves using King Arthur Gluten Free Muffin Mix and 3 very ripe bananas. To spice it up for the holidays, I also included 1 cup dark chocolate chips and 1/2 cup dried cranberries. It turned out delicious!
I love having holiday decorations all around the house so there’s a bit of cheer in most every room. In the kitchen, I enjoy seasonal tea towels along with mini wreaths (like these) and more. I’m excited to make new things here this month! Will you do any baking this December?
P.S. All my holiday posts.
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