Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Breakfast Rolls ~ Gluten Free – Yum!

Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Breakfast Rolls ~ Gluten Free – Yum!

These taste just like the ones I remember from my childhood AND they’re gluten-free! My oldest daughter states that they remind her of a better version of the ones from the can 😉 These GF Cinnamon Rolls truly are yummy and are surprisingly easy to make! Now, our family can have our annual Cinnamon Rolls on Christmas morning (and weekend mornings!)!!! A BIG “Thank You” to Nicole @ glutenfreeonashoestring for sharing this wonderful recipe 🙂

Ingredients for the Rolls:

  • 3 1/4 Cups Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour (I use Better Batter brand and it works beautifully)
  • 1 1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum (use ONLY if your GF Flour blend doesn’t already contain it – (Better Batter brand already contains Xanthan Gum, so I skip this ingredeint))
  • 1/2 Cup Nonfat Dry Milk (you can also use cultured buttermilk blend powder)
  • 2 tsp Rapid Rise or Instant Yeast
  • 1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar
  • 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
  • 2 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar (packed)
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (softened to room temperature)
  • 1 Large Egg, lightly beaten (at room temperature)
  • 1 1/2 Cups Warm Water (approximately 95 degrees )

Ingredients for the Filling:

  • 6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (softened to room temperature; divided)
  • 1 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar (packed & divided)
  • 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon (divided)

Ingredients for the Glaze:

  • 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Milk (I use Whole Milk, but any kind is fine)
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  1. Grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish; set aside

Making the Dough:

  1. Using a Stand or Handheld Mixer, fitted with the Paddle attachment, combine the GF Flour, Xanthan Gum (only if needed), Nonfat Dry Milk, Yeast, Cream of Tartar, Baking Soda, Brown Sugar and Salt; mix until completely blended.
  2. Next, slowly add the Vinegar, Butter and Egg; mix until thoroughly blended.
  3. Lastly, with the Mixer set on Low, add the Warm Water gradually in a slow, steady stream…let it trickle down the inside of the bowl until all of the Water has been added.
  4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then turn the Mixer up to Med-High and let mix for 3 minutes; dough should be moist and starting to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
  5. Gently scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured working surface; lightly flour the top with more flour and gently knead until smooth.
  6. Divide the dough in half and place half under a towel or plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
  7. Lightly flour the working half of the dough and roll into a rectangle, about 9″ x 12″ and 1/2″ thick, with a rolling pin (add flour as needed to prevent sticking).

Adding the Filling:

  1. Using an offset spatula or a butter knife, spread 1/2 of the softened butter onto the dough, leaving a 1″ border around the edges.
  2. Next, sprinkle 1/2 of the Brown Sugar on top of the butter and gently pat it down with your fingers; sprinkle 1/2 of the Cinnamon onto the Brown Sugar.
  3. Starting on one of the short sides of the dough, roll tightly into a coil/tube and gently pinch the end of the roll with the body of the roll to seal together.
  4. Using a very sharp knife, slice the dough roll into 2″ wide sections (I know this seems quite large, but you’re going to press them down) and place them into the prepared Baking Dish, about 1″ apart; gently press each roll down by about 1/3.
  5. Repeat these steps with the remaining half of the dough and filling.
  6. Cover the Baking Dish with lightly oiled plastic wrap (I use non-stick cooking spray) and place in a warm, draft-free place to rise for about 1 hour; the dough should double in size.

Baking the Rolls:

  1. Once the dough has almost finished rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Remove the plastic wrap and bake on the center rack for about 23-27 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked in the middle.
  3. Let cool to room temperature before adding the glaze.

Making the Glaze:

  1. While the rolls are cooling, combine the Powdered Sugar, Milk and Cinnamon in a small bowl, mixing until smooth; add additional Milk, a little at a time, if needed to reach desired consistency (the glaze should be thick, but able to be drizzled)
  2. Enjoy!!!
Breakfast, Desserts, Snacks




Spicy Cheddar Cheese Crackers ~ Gluten Free (Just Like “Cheese Straws”)

Spicy Cheddar Cheese Crackers ~ Gluten Free (Just Like “Cheese Straws”)

Do you remember those wonderful “Cheese Straws” that were always around in abundance during the Holidays? Well, these little “Spicy Cheddar Cheese Crackers” will take you right back to your childhood! And, if you’re Gluten-Free, fear not, these are not only Gluten-Free, but are so easy to make and only require 7 ingredients (if you include water) 😉 I chose to cut my dough into leaf shapes for the Autumn season, but any shape will do (Christmas Trees, Snowmen, Wreaths, Holly Leaves, etc.) These make the perfect little Holiday Gifts 🙂
Enjoy!!!
Note: The original non-GF recipe can be found in just about every cookbook out there, but I want to give credit to Ree Drummond (aka: “The Pioneer Woman”) for her non-gf version of this recipe that I adapted to “fit” our family (please see the “Copycat Cheez-It” version for the GF and non-spicy recipe for these same crackers) 😉

  • 2 Cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  • 1 Cup GF All-Purpose Flour (I use “Caputo” brand – it makes an incredible dough to work with)
  • 4 Tbsp Salted Butter (cold and cut into small pieces)
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Seasoned Salt (I use “Season All”)
  • 1/8-1/4 tsp Cayenned Pepper (I use 1/4 tsp for a little more “kick”)
  • 3 Tbsp Ice Water
  1. Place all of the ingredients, except for the Water, into a Food Processor and pulse until the mixture looks like “sand.”
  2. With the Food Processor running, slowly add the Ice-Cold Water, one Tbsp at a time, through the shoot until the dough forms a large ball.
  3. Wrap the Cheese dough ball in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  4. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  5. Line 1-2 baking sheets with Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats; set aside.
  6. Roll the dough out to 1/4″ thickness on a lightly floured surface, cut into desired shapes and place on the prepared baking sheets.
  7. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
    *See notes for “crisping” up crackers if they turn soft.
  8. Allow the crackers to cool completely on a wire rack to develop the flavors and desired crispness.
  9. Enjoy 🙂

*Note: if your crackers get a little soft, simply toss them onto a baking sheet and re-heat in a 275 degree oven for about 8-10 minutes. Let cool and gobble them up!

Appetizers, Hors d’Oeuvres, Snacks




Copycat Cheez-It Cheddar Cheese Crackers ~ Gluten Free

Copycat Cheez-It Cheddar Cheese Crackers ~ Gluten Free

These are the yummiest Gluten-Free Cheese Crackers I have EVER tasted!!! They taste just like Cheez-It crackers! Plus, they are SO easy to make and only 6 ingredients are needed 🙂 I love them with my Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato soup…or just by themselves! A big bag of these yummy crackers would make a perfect treat for anyone.
*This recipe was adapted from a Ree Drummond (aka: “The Pioneer Woman”) recipe (“Homemade Cheddar Crackers”)…of course! Thank you SO much for sharing!

  • 2 Cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)
  • 1 Cup Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour Blend (I use Caputo brand – it’s a little more expensive, but well worth it – it performs like “regular” flour and is not gritty)
  • 4 Tbsp Salted Butter (Kept cold & cut into small pieces)
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Seasoned Salt (I use Season-All)
  • 3 Tbsp Ice Water
  1. Place all of the ingredients, except for the Ice Water, into a Food Processor and pulse until the mixture looks like sand.
  2. With the Food Processor running, slowly add the Ice Water, one Tablespoon at a time, through the shoot until the dough forms a ball.
  3. Wrap the Cheese-dough ball in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  4. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  5. Line 1-2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper; set aside.
  6. Roll out the dough to 1/4″ thickness and cut into desired-size squares using a pizza cutter ~ I use a straight-edge ruler and usually cut my dough into 1″ x 1″ squares.
  7. Place the squares onto the lined baking sheets.
  8. Using the smaller end of a chop stick or wooden skewer, poke a small hole into the center of each square.
    Note: If desired, you can sprinkle the crackers with a little kosher salt at this stage, but they really do not need it 😉
  9. Bake the crackers for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown; I bake mine for the maximum amount of time since I prefer mine on the more crispy side.
  10. Allow to cool completely to fully develop the flavors and desired crispiness.
  11. Enjoy with your favorite soup, salad or all on their own 🙂
  12. Note: if your crackers get soft, simply toss them onto a baking sheet and re-heat in a 275 degree oven for about 8-10 minutes.
Appetizers, Hors d’Oeuvres, Lunch, Snacks, Soup




Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting ~ Gluten-Free

Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting ~ Gluten-Free

Oh my gosh! These Cupcakes are out of this world!!! I seriously could eat the entire batch 🙂 The Apple Cider adds a wonderful flavor and a bit of caramelized texture – they are delicious even without the frosting! You better double the batch like I did 😉
This recipe earned an instant 5-Star rating in our home!
Note: I adapted this wonderful recipe from forkinthekitchen.com to make it GF – Thank You for sharing!!!

Equipment

  • Muffin Tin
  • Cupcake Liners
  • Stand or handheld Mixer
  • Large Mixing Bowl

The Cupcake Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 Cups Better Batter All Purpose Gluten Free Flour Mix
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder, GF
  • 1 tsp Table Salt
  • 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 Cup Granulated Sugar (I use Dixie Crystal brand)
  • 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
  • 1 Cup Salted Butter, Softened (I use Land O’ Lakes brand)
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 4 Large Eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 Cup + 4 Tbsp Apple Cider

The Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

  • 8 Oz. Cream Cheese, softened (I used Full Fat Philadelphia brand)
  • 1/4 Cup Salted Butter, Softened
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Tbsp Apple Cider
  • 3 1/2 – 4 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • Ground Cinnamon ((optional – to either mix in with the frosting or to sprinkle on the top))

Making the Cupcakes:

  1. Place oven rack in the middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line 1-2 muffin tins with cupcake liners; set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the GF Flour, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Salt and Cinnamon until completely blended; Set aside.
  4. Using a Stand or Handheld Mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the Butter and Sugars until light and fluffy.
  5. Next, with the mixer set on low, add the Vanilla Extract and the Eggs, one at a time; Continue mixing until thoroughly blended.
  6. With the mixer still set on Low, alternate adding the GF Flour mixture (1/2 cup at a time) and the Apple Cider (a couple of Tablespoons at a time) to the Butter-Sugar mixture, blending until just combined after each addition.
  7. Scoop the Cupcake Batter into the lined muffin tin/tins, filling each about 2/3 full.
  8. Bake for approximately 17-20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Let cool in the pan for about 5-10 minutes and then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

Making the Frosting:

  1. Using a Stand or Handheld Mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the softened Cream Cheese and Butter until light and fluffy.
  2. Slowly add the Vanilla Extract and Apple Cider, blending thoroughly.
  3. Next, with the mixer set on low, add the Powdered Sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well between each addition. I usually add between 3 1/2 to 4 cups of Powdered Sugar for the right consistency. Note: If you’re adding Ground Cinnamon into the Frosting, do so now (I usually add several pinches).
  4. Spread or pipe the Frosting onto each cooled cupcake and top with a little Ground Cinnamon, if desired.
  5. Enjoy!
Desserts, Snacks




Chocolate Frosted Brownies ~ Gluten Free

Chocolate Frosted Brownies ~ Gluten Free

These GF Chocolate Frosted Brownies are incredibly fudgy, rich and delicious!!! I adapted this recipe from a very popular Brownie recipe from many peoples’ childhoods, called the “Lunch Lady Brownies” – the only changes that I made was to substitute the regular gluten-containing flour with GF All-Purpose Flour and they turned out perfect! My family had NO idea that they were Gluten Free 😉 Yummy!!!
A huge “Thank You” to Holly @ Life In The Lofthouse for sharing the original “Lunch Lady Brownies” recipe 🙂

Equipment:

  • 9″ x 13″ Baking Pan
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray
  • Stand or Handheld Mixer

The Brownie Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup (2 Sticks) Salted Butter (Melted)
  • 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 2 Cups All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour (I used Better Batter)
  • 2 Cups Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar (You may use your desired brand of granulated sugar)
  • 4 Large Eggs (I use Egglands Best, but any brand is fine)
  • 4 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

The Chocolate Frosting Ingredients:

  • 1/4 Cup (1/2 Stick) Salted Butter, softened (I use Land O Lakes brand)
  • 1/4 Cup Milk (I use Whole Milk, but 2% or 1% are fine, too)
  • 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 3 Cups Powdered Sugar
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line a 9″ x 13″ baking pan with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  3. Using a Stand Mixer or Handheld mixer, fitted with the Paddle attachment, blend the Melted Butter and Cocoa Powder until smooth.
  4. Next, add the GF Flour and Granulated Sugar, mixing until blended…scraping the sides as needed.
  5. Add the eggs, one at a time, until just blended.
  6. Slowly mix in the Vanilla Extract, blending until just combined. The batter will be thick.
  7. Evenly spread the Brownie batter into the prepared Baking Dish.
  8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes while preparing the Chocolate Frosting. Note: You want the Brownies to still be warm when you apply the Frosting.

Making the Chocolate Frosting:

  1. Using a Stand Mixer or Handheld Mixer, fitted with the Paddle attachment, combine the Softened Butter, Milk and Cocoa until smooth and creamy.
  2. Gradually add the Powdered Sugar, 1/2 Cup at a time, starting on Low each time to avoid a HUGE powdery mess 😉
  3. Once all of the Powdered Sugar has been added, beat on Medium to Medium-High speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and creamy.
  4. Spread evenly over the top of the Brownies and let cool completely (I know it’s hard to do!!!) before slicing. Note: I remove the entire Brownie using the foil to lift it…and then I slice them 🙂
  5. Serve by themselves, with a glass of cold milk or your choice of Ice Cream! Enjoy!!!
Desserts, Snacks