Carefreeglutenfree - Carefree Gluten Free

Blackberry Crisp

1 jar (25 oz.) blackberry pie filling

1/2 cup Gluten Free quick-cooking oats

1/4 cup Gluten Free all-purpose flour

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup cold butter

1. Place blackberries in a greased 8"x8" baking dish.

2. In a small bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  Cut in butter until crumbly; sprinkle over blackberries. 

3. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until filling is bubbly.

Gingerbread Cupcakes

1/2 stick margarine, softened

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 egg

1 c. sifted Gluten Free all purpose flour*

3 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. xanthum gum

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. cloves

1/2 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line each cup of a muffin tin with paper liners. 

2.  Cream together margarine, sugar, and brown sugar until soft and fluffy.

3.  Add egg and beat well.

4.  Sift together flour, baking powder, xanthum gum, and spices.  Add to the margarine mixture and stir.  Add in milk and vanilla.  Beat well until the batter is smooth.

5.  Fill each muffin cup halfway and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.  Let cakes cool on a cooling rack.  Frost with vanilla or cream cheese icing. 

Yields: 12 cupcakes

*I used Gluten Free pantry's Gluten Free all purpose flour for this recipe.

How-To: DIY Paper Root Veggies

{via Anthropologie}

Oreo Balls

8 oz. package Gluten Free chocolate cream-filled cookies, crushed

8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

14 oz. package white melting chocolate chips

Sprinkles

1. Beat the cream cheese until fluffy.  Add the chocolate cream-filled cookies and beat until well combined.

2. Roll into small balls and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.  Place in the freezer for at least 1 hour.

3. In a double boiler, melt white chocolate chips (I used pink colored white chocolate for Valentine's Day).  Continuously stir until melted and continue stirring to prevent burning. 

4.  With a fork, cover the oreo balls.  Shake off the excess chocolate and, using a tooth pick, gently place back onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle with decoration immediately, before the chocolate hardens.  Chill in the refridgerator for at least one hour.  Serve.

{Photo via Martha Stewart}

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Recipe from the blog Dishing the Divine

Cake

1 cup (6 ounces) chopped semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips

1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter

3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) granulated sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 to 2 teaspoons espresso powder, optional

3 large eggs

1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder

Glaze

1 cup (6 ounces) chopped semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips

1/2 cup (4 ounces) heavy cream

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8″ round cake pan; cut a piece of parchment or waxed paper to fit, grease it, and lay it in the bottom of the pan.

2. Put the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat till the butter is melted and the chips are soft. Stir until the chips melt, reheating briefly if necessary. You can also do this over a burner set at very low heat. Transfer the melted chocolate/butter to a mixing bowl.

3. Add the sugar, salt, and espresso powder. Espresso enhances chocolate’s flavor much as vanilla does; using 1 teaspoon will simply enhance the flavor, while 2 teaspoons will lend a hint of mocha to the cake.

4. Add the eggs, beating briefly until smooth. Add the cocoa powder, and mix just to combine.

5. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.

6. Bake the cake for 25 minutes; the top will have formed a thin crust. Remove it from the oven, and cool it in the pan for 5 minutes. Loosen the edges of the pan with a table knife or nylon spreader, and turn it out onto a serving plate. The top will now be on the bottom; that’s fine. Also, the edges will crumble a bit, which is also fine. Allow the cake to cool completely before glazing.

7. To prepare the glaze: Combine the chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat till the cream is very hot, but not simmering. Remove from the microwave, and stir till the chocolate melts and the mixture is completely smooth.  Spoon the glaze over the cake, spreading it to drip over the sides a bit. Allow the glaze to set for several hours before serving the cake.