Go-To Gluten Free Pie Crust

Summer is the perfect time for fresh fruit pies.  Especially fruits like peaches or berries which are in season.  I have to admit, I was intimidated by the idea of making a pie crust gluten free.  Pie crust can be very unforgiving.  There's a lot that can go wrong, and it typically doesn't like to be rerolled if you mess up.  But intimidation is not a good enough deterrent!  Too my surprise this turned out great on the first try!  Just a hint of sweetness, flaky, buttery but not oily, crispy edges yet not dry.  It's the best all-purpose gluten free pie crust - great for sweet pie or for more savory I'd just leave out the sugar.  It's also very easy to work with and roll out.  So go pick up some fresh summer fruit and this will be your go-to pie crust!

Go-To Gluten Free Pie Crust

Recipe a Jesicakes Original
Makes a double pie crust
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Ingredients

- 1 cup brown rice flour
- 1 cup sorghum flour
- 1/2 cup white rice flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks, cold, cut into pieces)
- 3 Tbsp shortening (1.5oz)
- 5 Tbsp ice water
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice

Vanilla Bean Whoopie Pies

I love Whoopie Pies but I've never made them myself, let alone tried a gluten free one.  I recently acquired some vanilla bean pods and wanted to think of a recipe to use them in.  I decided to make simple vanilla bean whoopie pies.  Then was the question of the filling.  I wanted something to compliment the vanilla bean but not overpower it.  I decided to go with a light mocha buttercream.  Once I made everything, I was 4 whoopie pies short of filling them all.  So I also whipped up some really quick strawberry buttercream as well.  Both were delicious although I think I preferred the mocha buttercream.  Coffee with a hint of chocolate didn't outshine the vanilla bean cake but paired nicely with it.  The cake was light and moist and filled with vanilla flavor.  They're a perfect balance of delicate and flavorful.  And as my boyfriend put it, the coffee flavor makes it acceptable to have them in the morning!

Vanilla Bean Whoopie Pies with Mocha Buttercream

Recipe adapted from Tracey's Culinary Adventures
Makes 2 1/2-3 dozen cookies
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Ingredients

- 3/4 cup brown rice flour
- 3/4 cup sorghum flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 1/4 cup white rice flour
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder (gluten free)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, roome temperature
- 4 Tbsp shortening
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 Vanilla Bean Pods, split and seeds removed

Individual Baked Oatmeal Cups

So last month I got tested for celiac (negative! But I still want to be mostly gluten free because I just personally feel better when I don't eat gluten).  The hardest part is cutting out things that I had started eating daily during the two months before testing.  One of those things is granola bars.  They're just so easy and convenient to carry around except most of them have some form of gluten, soy, or dairy in them.  I just started using Pinterest and I saw a pin of Personal Sized Bake Oatmeal from Sugar-Free Mom and was inspired to use these to replace granola bars!  I made them in cupcake pans not muffin tins and got 3 1/2 dozen little oatmeal cups out of it!  That's part of my lunch for 42 days.  Not only is it going to cut granola bars and help cut soy, dairy, and gluten back out of my diet, but it'll probably save me a lot of money too!  I made fourteen different varieties too to try new flavors and so I don't get tired of them.  I use Chia Seeds in them which have lots of Omega 3 fatty acids, protein, antioxidants and much more.  I topped them chopped nuts and fruits to add to add more protein and for more energy.  So if you try these get creative with your toppings and see how many different varieties you can make!

Individual Baked Oatmeal Cups

Recipe adapted from Sugar Free Mom
Makes 3 1/2 dozen individual baked oatmeal cups in cupcake pans, or about 1 1/2 dozen in muffin pans
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Ingredients

- 2 large eggs

- 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- 5 cups rolled oats (gluten free)
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 banana, mashed
- 2 1/2 cups almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 1/2 cup of honey
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla, gluten free
- 3 tsp baking powder, gluten free
- 1 tsp salt
- toppings of choice: dried cranberries, chopped almonds, peanut butter, chocolate chips etc.

Pancake Sunday!

Pancakes Sundays are a pretty motivating reason to actually get out of bed on a Sunday.  We don't do it every Sunday, but when we do it's always a cheery (and delicious) way to start the day.  Having nice warm, fluffy pancakes is especially delightful on a day like today when here in New York it's chilly and everything is covered in snow.  Now I know, pancakes are not technically a dessert or baking, but you know what, they have the word "cake" in them so I decided to post this here anyway!  This recipe is too good to not share...pancakes that are gluten free yet possibly the best I've ever had?  How could I not share.  I've done this two ways:

• 1/2 cup brown rice flour and 1/2 cup white rice flour:  makes a very light, fluffy, moist pancake with a little extra hint of sweetness and brightness from the white rice flour
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour, 1/4 cup white rice flour, and 1/4 cup oat flour: A rich, moist, and denser texture yet has a more complex flavor from the oat flour. 

Both ways are delicious, so it's really if you want light and fluffy or rich and dense...now onto the recipe.

Gluten Free Pancakes

Recipe adapted from Galanter's Kitchen

Makes 5 four inch pancakes

Ingredients

- 1/2 cup brown rice flour
- 1/2 cup white rice flour OR 1/4 cup white rice flour and 1/4 cup oat flour
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder (gluten free)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 egg
- 1 cup of almond milk*

*can substitute rice or dairy milk

The process is super simple...