St. Patrick’s Day Chocolate Cookies (Gluten Free Adaptation Included in Recipe)

Get your Irish on by making these great chocolate cookies which are packed full of green candies such as M&M’s and Mini Eggs. I did wonder could I get white and orange M&M’s to really fly the flag but it was becoming expensive and time consuming to try and locate them but if you’re in a position to get them … wouldn’t it be so great! I’ve included Gluten Free options in the recipe content below if needed so no one gets left out.

I didn’t go with mint flavoured M&M’s as it might not appeal to everyone and they can be bit strong, but what I did do is to mix the type of M&M’s to add a surprise element to my cookies so in some bites it’s chocolate, some are crispy, some with peanut and some salted caramel – went down a major treat! People’s faces when they bit into a salted caramel … fantastic!

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Traditional Scottish Shortbread

This recipe is based on Mary Berry’s Traditional Scottish Shortbread Recipe. It’s perfect for making with kids as they will love the kneading that has to be done to bring the dough together. It’s wonderful in the simplicity of ingredients that produce such delicious, buttery, melt in the mouth results.

I made mine for Christmas gifts so that’s why there are snowflakes and bauble shaped shortbread biscuits but I also cut them into rectangles for a more traditional look.

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Brownie Christmas Trees

These are just so sweet and make a real impact. They are all over the web so I can’t claim any right to them and certainly not my idea but everyone has their own little interpretation and this is mine.

You don’t need any electric mixer for this recipe. A good whisk, spatula and large spoon for the final bit and you’re good to go.

I make them in a 20cm square tin which should give you 5 trees measuring about 9cm x 6cm but it depends on your cutter. You do need a decent sized one otherwise once you try to cut them out, they will fall apart. Now if you’re handy with a knife then cut out triangles but as I’m totally useless, I rely on a tree cutter!

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Light & Delicious Ginger Cake

 

So I know there seems to be an excess of ginger related recipes happening now but I have a tin of treacle that’s about to run out and a tub of bicarbonate of soda that has a “use before” date drawing near so I’m using them up with my ginger recipes. If you don’t like ginger, I apologise in advance πŸ˜‰

This is a light and moist ginger cake which is just so delicious. It’s made in a brownie tin or you can make it in a 2lb loaf tin, with a few tweaks in baking time. Oh did I mention no mixer? Yes I love a recipe that just literally needs mixing and no equipment.

Oh the smell in the house! Seriously, the smell was heavenly and just full of comfort. It was like Christmas was bottled and let loose at ours.

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Marzipan Cake

This recipe for Marzipan Cake is quick and easy and made with a food processor though I used the blender attachment to my mixer and it worked just as well. It’s really moist and has an amazing flavour. I used shop bought marzipan left over from Christmas but you can make your own too and I’ll include that at the end.

I’m really a fan of anything almond flavour so this cake is always a big hit. The smell is just incredible and as you can buy marzipan anytime of the year, it’s definitely not just for around Christmas time!

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Mincemeat Cake

My love for mincemeat tends to go on as long as I can possibly stretch it …. and as I make my own mincemeat, it means I can use it any time of the year … oh along with the fact that I buy fresh cranberries in December and I freeze them for use throughout the year πŸ™‚ – up here for thinking, down there for dancing!

So back to this recipe which is from The Cycling Cook; I adapted it a little and of course, reduced the sugar content. It’s such a delicious and flavour packed cake that it needs very little other than a sprinkling of icing sugar on top.

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Mincemeat Muffins

I absolutely love Mincemeat. I make my own as I like the bite of fresh cranberries but whatever works for you is always good. I have put a few suggestions to just lift up some good quality shop bought Mincemeat below.Β  I freeze punnets of fresh cranberries and use them through the year. They are just fantastic little jewels of loveliness.

You would think these Mincemeat Muffins would be rich and heavy but they are amazingly light and fluffy and absolutely packed full of flavour. They last well in an airtight container and were really popular. In fact, several times there were 2 eaten at a sitting!

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Gluten Free Biscuits

These delicious biscuits are perfect for cutting out using your favourite cutters and can be made at Christmas, Halloween or just because. They work well to different flavour additions and bake up in no time.

I used an embossed rolling pin to get a pattern on the dough and then decorated them with royal icing.

This recipe is free from soya, nuts and is vegetarian also πŸ™‚

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Celebration Fruit & Christmas Cake – Gluten Free

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If you’re looking for a traditional style fruit cake to decorate for a special occasion and one that’s gluten free, then this will be your “go to” recipe. It’s rich and dark and holds really well for fondant or other icing and decorating. It’s perfect for Christmas!

This recipe makes an 8″ round cake. If you double the quantities, you will get a 10″ cake for greater numbers.

I’ve adapted it a little to give it a bit of depth and it’s worked really well. The recipe is originally from a gluten free magazine.

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Meringue Roulade – Gluten Free

A great dessert recipe that’s always a big hit any time of the year and this one uses ground almonds which gives it a really nice texture. It’s so easily adaptable to any flavours you like and also for each season and your imagination is all that will stop you!

A meringue roulade is much quicker than it’s cousin the Pavlova and can be made on the day it’s needed. It takes about 20 minutes to get into the oven, 30/35 to bake and the same to cool and then you can keep it wrapped in the fridge till needed or dress up for serving.Β  I’ve never known anyone to refuse a slice of roulade when presented, so it’s a great one to have in your baking repertoire. Please don’t be worried about rolling it. It’s far more difficult in your head than in reality!

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Christmas Squares – Gluten Free version included

These squares are a cross between a brownie and a blondie and are pretty addictive! I love that if you use different coloured sweets, you can make this recipe for most of our celebrations. If you want a Gluten Free version, there are sweets that are a few varieties such as the ones from Aldi and the Dairy & Dam in Health Stores are gluten free. Regular Smarties are NOT gluten free.

I’ve popped a few variations of these delicious squares in the recipe below for you to try and as usual, I’ve reduced the sugar as they are quite sweet with the M&M’s and the chocolate chips. They turned out still sweet and very delicious! Quick and easy to make, easy to adapt …. what’s not to love??

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