Mom's Favorite Gluten Free Christmas Recipes

After learning that I needed to be Gluten Free, it was a bit of a bummer around Christmas. I was no longer able to sample all the goodies or bake my old favorite recipes. Now, a few years later and a few secrets learned, I was finally able to "fix" a few of my favorites for a Gluten Free Christmas! I hope you will enjoy these gluten free Christmas recipes as much as my family and I do.

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blossoms
These tasty little treats were always one of my favorite cookies. Seriously, who can resist Chocolate and Peanut Butter in one cookie?! Not me.

36-40 Hershey's Kisses or Brach's Chocolate Stars (unwrapped)
1/2 cup of Butter Flavored Crisco or another shortening
3/4 cup of Creamy Peanut Butter
1/3 cup of Sugar
1/3 cup of Brown Sugar
1 Egg
2 T. Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
3/4 cup Sweet Rice Flour
1/2 cup Potato Starch
1/4 cup Tapioca Flour
1 tsp Xanthan gum
1 tsp Baking soda
1/2 tsp Salt
extra granulated sugar for rolling dough balls in

Cream Shortening, peanut butter and both sugars until smooth. Add Egg, Milk and vanilla until well incorporated. Set aside. Sift together the dry ingredients and slowly add to the wet mixture until mixed well together into a dough ball. Cover with wrap and refrigerate 30-60 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Form into heaping teaspoon sized balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place on un-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned.
Remove from oven and gently press one Kiss or Star into each. Move to wire rack and allow to cool. Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

Another of my favorite Gluten Free Christmas Recipes is a traditional green bean casserole. Many people do not realize that creamed soups all contain wheat flour, so I was very excited to finally be able to make this gluten free cream soup, which I use in the traditional recipe for Green Bean Casserole.

Gluten Free Cream of Mushroom Soup

I start this recipe with a traditional rue: Melt approximately 4 Tbls. butter or oil in the bottom of a saute pan over low heat. After the butter is melted and bubbly, add 1 Tablespoon at a time of Sweet Rice or White Rice Flour. Stir or Whisk well, continue to add flour until it forms a sticky kind of clump (usually takes about 4-6 Tablespoons of the Flour). Gradually add Vegetable Stock (approx. 4-8oz) until it begins to resemble a thick soup. At this point, I add 1 cup of Cream until it is a smooth soup consistency. Add 1 small can of mushrooms (chopped) along with the juice. I allow this to simmer for 3-5 minutes. Walla! Cream of Mushroom Soup.

This last recipe is one of my absolute favorites! It happened completely by chance and was such a delight when it turned out so wonderfully. I hope you enjoy this Gluten Free Version of Christmas Pumpkin Pie.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie Custard or Gluten Free Crust-less Pumpkin Pie
This "pie" was a complete surprise. I was going to make a traditional pumpkin pie, but converted to be gluten free and dairy free. However, in my haste to try to make this favorite gluten free, I did not prepare a pie crust. I chose to bake it as a custard and was pleasantly pleased with the outcome. Of course, you are always welcome to pour the dessert into a crust, but I find my family loves it just as much without it. Now, they actually request it this way.

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
dash of nutmeg
2 eggs
3 cups coconut milk
1 29 oz can of pumpkin
1 Tablespoon Sweet Rice Flour

Begin by beating the eggs. Add the pumpkin and mix well. Add the spices, flour and sugar to the mixture. Slowly stir in the coconut milk until all is well incorporated. Pour into a sprayed glass pie pan or a fancy custard or tart pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until center is no longer jiggly. You can insert a toothpick into the center to test for doneness as well. Cool for at least 2 hours before serving. Goes wonderful with a non-dairy topping or for those who can do dairy, the real whipped cream cannot be beat.

Enjoy your Gluten Free Christmas!