Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Gluten Free Onion Rings

I'm deviating from pumpkin for a quick minute here simply because I was craving these Gluten Free Onion Rings (and you know when Mama gets a craving, she needs to feed it), and while making them, I thought I should share them with you all.  They are super easy to make, as they are made with Bisquick Gluten Free Mix.  Can you believe it?  They are so crispy and flavorful, just like you would find in a diner.  I find myself eating a good majority of them as I make them!

Gluten Free Onion Rings
As you know, it isn't always easy or fun going out to eat when you are gluten intolerant.  A few times I have gone out and seen other people eating onion rings and I really wished I could have some.  So, maybe eating them at restaurants is out, but I can have my fill at home!  My whole family loves these Gluten Free Onion Rings.  They just happen to be another one of those things I never made at home before finding out I was gluten intolerant (so the family scores again because of my discovery!).

So take a break with me from all the pumpkin recipes, get out your ketchup and get ready for some finger licking dipping goodness (and maybe even make your family glad you can't eat gluten too).

GLUTEN FREE ONION RINGS
Recipe by: Goodies Gone Gluten Free
Click here for Printable Recipe

Bisquick Gluten Free Mix
1 Tbsp. Creole Seasoning (make sure it's gluten free)
1 medium Sweet Onion (like a Vidalia)
Vegetable or Canola Oil for frying

Follow direction on Gluten Free Bisquick box for making pancakes.  Stir in Creole Seasoning (make sure to read the ingredients in your seasoning that it is all gluten free.  You can find creole seasoning in the seasoning aisle.  I make sure mine doesn't contain MSG either).

Pour a few inches of oil into a large frying pan.  Heat on medium heat until drops of batter sizzle when it hits the pan.  Slice your onion vertically into rings.  Separate the rings and put about half  of the onion rings (depending on the size of your bowl) into the batter and stir to coat.  Using a fork to lift the rings, so the excess batter can drip back into bowl, carefully set a few rings in the hot oil, turning them to brown on each side.  Remove from oil to a paper towel once both sides are browned and immediately sprinkle with salt.  Continue until all rings are dipped and fried.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Pumpkin Chocolate Truffles - Gluten Free

I've combined my two favorite desserts...chocolate and pumpkin.  All is right in the world now.  Imagine, if you will, a piece of pumpkin pie (with no crust, of course) all mixed up with some melted chocolate.  Now imagine that chocolate pumpkin pie dipped in chocolate.  There you have Pumpkin Chocolate Truffles, which just happen to be gluten free.  Oh yum.  Can I have an Amen from someone?
Pumpkin Chocolate Truffles

I rolled some of my truffles in dark chocolate cocoa powder, but I think I prefer them just on their own.  These Pumpkin Chocolate Truffles give a nice bite of chocolate with a hint of pumpkin, and then, suddenly you get a finishing taste of those wonderful spices that accompany pumpkin.  Such a nice pairing of flavors.

Since it's Autumn time, and my blogs have been devoted to the star of the season...pumpkin, I thought I'd add a pic of me and my family at the pumpkin patch.  It has been a tradition every year since our first born, to visit the pumpkin patch, and even though my oldest ones are in their 20's, I still make...I mean invite them to go.  I love looking at the pictures through the years of our visits to the pumpkin patch.  What are some of your traditions this time of year?  Maybe making these Pumpkin Chocolate Truffles will become one of yours!



PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
Recipe from:  Goodies Gone Gluten Free
Click here for Printable Recipe

1 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup whipping cream
16 ounces (2 1/2 cups) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
2 Tbsp. butter, room temperature
1 cup melted dark chocolate
1 Tbsp. Crisco

In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine pumpkin, brown sugar and spices.  Cook about 5 to 6 minutes, or until mixture reduces down and pumpkin looks dry.  The mixture will become thicker, like a paste.  In a medium saucepan over high heat, add cream.  When cream boils, take off heat.  In a heatproof, medium bowl add chocolate chips and hot cream.  Let the mixture sit for a minute, then slowly begin to stir until the mixture is evenly mixed and shiny.  Add the pumpkin mixture and whisk to combine.  Add the butter and stir again.  Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled and set.  I found overnight chilling to work best.

On a parchment lined cookie sheet, scoop mixture into small balls (a melon baller might work if chocolate is very set).  Place balls in refrigerator to set back up for 1 or more hours.   Melt dark chocolate and Crisco in microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate is melted and glossy.   Remove truffles from refrigerator and dip each truffle in melted chocolate using a dipping spoon or two forks and place on parchment lined tray.  Place back in fridge to set.  Store truffles in refrigerator.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Gluten Free Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Bars

I'm such a fan of desserts that give you a little help with starting with a mix.  I really like the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cake Mixes.  I've used them for several of my desserts, like my Gluten Free Chocolate Toffee Trifle.  This recipe is courtesy of Betty Crocker, herself (she asked me if I thought this was a good dessert to do, and I totally encouraged her to put it out there).  These Gluten Free Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Bars are so yummy.  They are like a pumpkin cheesecake in a handy hand-held bar, with a nice added crunch of pecans in the crust and the topping.  Are you getting pumpkined out yet?  Is that possible?  I can't get enough pumpkin...good thing it really only comes out this time of the year, or I wouldn't stop baking.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Bars
Photo by Jeff Williams Photography

GLUTEN FREE PUMPKIN STREUSEL CHEESECAKE BARS
Recipe by: Betty Crocker
Recreated by: Goodies Gone Gluten Free
click here for Printable Recipe

1 box Betty Crocker Gluten Free yellow cake mix
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 Tbsp. Whipping cream
2 eggs

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  In medium bowl, stir together cake mix and pecans.  With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.  Reserve 1 cup mixture for topping.  In bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan, press remaining mixture.  Bake 10 minutes.  Let cool slightly.

In large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.  Add remaining ingredients; beat until well blended.  Pour over cooled crust.  Sprinkle with reserved topping.  Bake about 35 minutes or until center is set.  Cool 30 minutes.  Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled.  Cut into bars.  Store in refrigerator.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Bars
Photo by Jeff Williams Photography

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fall finally feels like it's in full swing now.  Ready for the next pumpkin dessert?  I hope so, because it's a good one.  I could have eaten an entire plate of these Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.  They are so moist inside, but not cakey.  The combo of the spices and chocolate were a perfect match for the pumpkin.  They are seriously so good!  They keep really well too, as the pumpkin keeps them moist.  It's hard to find a recipe for a pumpkin cookie that doesn't make a cakey cookie, because the pumpkin adds so much moisture.   I adapted this recipe from Yammies Noshery .  She says omitting the egg helps keeps this cookie more cookie-like, and it seems she is right!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Photo by Jeff Williams Photography
I love to create my own recipes to share with you, but I really love to find great gluten free recipes (or those recipes I can adapt to be gluten free) and pass it along.  These Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are one of those great finds for the season.  I really hope you try them out, and I hope you share this blog with others who are looking for some good gluten free recipes. You can also share my blog through Facebook or Instagram.  Ok, you know what I'm going to say now...get to baking!

GLUTEN FREE PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Recipe from: Goodies Gone Gluten Free
Adapted from: Yammies Noshery
click here for Printable Recipe

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
6 Tbsp. pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp salt.
1 tsp. xanthan gum (if your mix doesn't have it)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cloves
1 3/4 c. gluten free all purpose flour (I used a homemade blend )
1 cups chocolate chips

Combine the butter and sugars until mixed well (mixture will be thick).  Add the vanilla and pumpkin and mix until smooth.  Combine all the dry ingredients and add to the rest mixing just until combined.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Bake rounded balls of dough on a ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees F. for about 12-17 minutes or just until they start to puff up a little.  I like to see the chocolate chips, so when they come out of the oven, I push a few extra chips into the top.  Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Photo by Jeff Williams Photography

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pudding Cake

I love pudding cakes.  I love pumpkin.  I love this Gluten Free Pumpkin Pudding Cake!  It is so moist and the self-made pumpkin pudding is a sweet find at the bottom of this cake.  A while back I posted a recipe for a Gluten Free Hot Fudge Turtle Pudding Cake that was made in the crock pot.  It started with Gluten Free Bisquick, and I thought that one came out so good using Bisquick, why not try Gluten Free Bisquick for a pumpkin pudding cake...and the results made me do the happy dance in my kitchen.  I topped it with some toasted pecans and whipped cream...oh Mama, so good!  I made this one in the oven and baked it for a little over 40 minutes.  It would be delicious topped with some vanilla ice cream too.  This baby may not look so pretty, but it sure tastes pretty!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pudding Cake
On a side note, in my pursuit of all things pumpkin this season, I found some Gluten Free frozen Pumpkin Spice waffles by Nature's Path, at Target.  They are so, so good.  I highly recommend them (as well as the Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake mix at Trader Joes I told you about last time).

Now, it's your turn.  Anyone find some good gluten free pumpkin goodies you can share about?  If so, please let me know in the comments below!

GLUTEN FREE PUMPKIN PUDDING CAKE
Recipe from: Goodies Gone Gluten Free
click here for Printable Recipe

1 1/2 cups Gluten Free Bisquick Mix
3/4 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 t. pumpkin pie spice - divided
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup melted butter
1 2/3 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray an 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan with cooking spray.  In a large bowl, mix Gluten Free Bisquick mix, 3/4 cup of white sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice.  Stir in milk, melted butter and pumpkin until well blended.  Spread batter in prepared pan.

Mix brown sugar with 1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice and sprinkle over batter.  Pour hot water over batter.  Do not stir.  Cook for 40-45 minutes, or until top springs back slightly when touched.  The center will be soft and there will be a pudding around the sides and on bottom of cake.  Let cake sit for 15-20 minutes and serve warm pudding over top of cake, topped with toasted pecans and whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.