Sweets For Church

[missy'smom]

My church always has tea time after the service and people bring sweets, cookies, pies, cakes rice crackers etc. So far I just tuck a few gluten-free cookies in my purse and have my own thing. I'd like to get organized and start to bring stuff to share. I have two good jello recipies but would appreciate any suggestions or recipies. I'm racking my brain trying to think of things that are already gluten-free and easy to prepare. May occasionally bring gluten-free baked goods if I find something that's esp. good.

Thanks

[2kids4me]

For our church teas I bring a plate of fresh fruit and cheese tray. I put gluten free muffins in a separate baggie for the kids. They have small freezer there so I have some vanilla ice cream stashed. Corn chips and salsa are easy to grab and bring - I know it isnt sweet but its amunchie food. I make crispy rice squares too....

Sandy

[Granny Garbonzo]

I've posted my cut out cookies recipes in a couple of places and people seem to like them. They are great for holidays or you can use the dough in one of those cookie presses to make little tea cookies with a dollup of jam in the center or what ever your imagination conjures up. They sound difficult, but really, I just set out two big bowls and throw the ingredients together really fast and don't worry about forming it into a ball, I just cover it with some wax paper and shove it in the fridge for a little while. Or sometimes I don't even refridgerate it, but at room temp it is harder to work with. When it is cool you can just roll it out in small sections and after baking them scoop them off the pan with a nice big flat metal spatula onto some wax paper on the counter....frost with canned frosting (read the label before tyou buy it, and be sure to read the labels on any colored deco frosting tubes you pick up too) If you mix them up quickly Saturday sometime, then stick them in the fridge, then bake them Sat night before bed, then frost them Sunday morning, put them on a platter...and go! The key to baking quick with gluten-free is to get some large containers and mix up flour mixtures for things ahead of time....then you only have to scoop out one container instead of a whole bunch.

Cut Out Cookies/Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups Potatoe Starch Flour

2/3 cup Corn Starch

2/3 cup Tapioca Starch Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Salt (make it a scant tsp)

1 1/2 cups Sugar

1 cup Butter

4 Egg Yolks

2 tsp gluten-free Vanilla

Preheat oven to 375*F (experiment with your oven temp the first time, I use a lower temp)

Grease at least 2 cookie sheets (I use the spray)

Mix flours and baking power and salt and set aside

Cream sugar, butter, egg yolks, and vanilla

Add to flour mixture

Work with hands until well blended

Refridgerate until cool

The touchy part is baking time....5-8 minutes....but experiment the first time and write it down....you want them well set and a little brown on the bottom....but they go from a little brown to burned really fast.

Scoop off sheet to wax paper using a good flat big metal spatula

Mmmmmmmmmmmm

[Granny Garbonzo]

Also, brownies are always easy and pleasy...or cake

For Brownies you can use any regular flour recipe and this flour mixture to replace gluten flour:

2 1/2 cups (finely ground) sweet rice flour (any rice flour will do, brown, white, etc)

3/4 cup Potato starch flour

1/2 cup corn starch (you can use most bean flours here too)

1/4 cup tapioca flour

1/2 tsp zanthan gum

keep this mix in a large container for use cup-for-cup in regular recipes...if the dough looks too dry, add another egg or a little yogurt...only a little though.

For cake, we go to the extra expense of buying the Namaste brown bag chocolate cake mix....when you and your family try this you will not ever long for gluten cake again! It is sooooo tender and moiste and chocolaty. All the Namaste brand brown bag mixes are exceptional.....but expensive....but we use them for any birthday parties or get togethers where regular and gluten-free foods are required...everyong eats the cake and comments on how great it is. And it is easy.

[blueeyedmanda]

If you can get your hands on a bag of the Gluten Free Pantry truffle brownie mix...you will have everyone drooling. Those brownies are even better than wheat-filled ones. I have managed to fool everyone I have ever shared them with. No one believed they were gluten-free. Everytime I brought them to work, the plate was empty quickly.

[lonewolf]

Try the 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies. Everyone likes them.

1 Egg

1 C Sugar

1 C Peanut Butter

Drop by teaspoon-fulls onto cookie sheet. Should make about 2 dozen.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Sometimes I add about 1/2 C Enjoy Life chocolate chips. I've taken them to church potlucks and they've all been eaten.

[Juliebove]

Chocolates are easy to make. You can use the Enjoy Life chips. They are free of all allergens. Simply melt them in the microwave at 1/2 power, stirring every 30 seconds or so, or melt over hot (not boiling) water. Stir in some nuts or coconut and drop on waxed paper then refrigerate until firm.

You can do a fruit crisp using some of that new gluten free oatmeal.

Trail mix is also nice using a combination of gluten free pretzels, cereals, nuts and dried fruits.

Or even just a platter of dried fruits!

[DebbieInCanada]

...

You can do a fruit crisp using some of that new gluten free oatmeal.

...

Hi,

Do you have info on the brand, and where to find the gluten free oatmeal? I haven't seen it at my stores, and would love to know more about it.

Thanks!

Debbie

[missy'smom]

If I could make a fruit crisp with gluten-free oats, I'd be in Heaven! I haven't been gluten-free a year yet and don't know if oats are OK for me. I'll have to check into it.

Love the Namaste cake too!

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

[Juliebove]

Here's a link for the gluten free oatmeal:

Open Original Shared Link

[blueeyedmanda]

I also have to say fresh fruit salad is always a winning dish. Healthy too. It might not be good right now since it is winter. Summer time, the berries are in full swing.