Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan & Special Dietary Baking

No Bake Almond Butter & Oat Cookies

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These are a combination of a protein ball and a soft cookie. I used crunchy almond butter to make these and I replaced the brown sugar with coconut sugar. If you like nuts, I would add a handful of unsalted nuts to give them extra crunch!

They are basically made in a saucepan and then left to set in the fridge. You need to leave them for at least 2 hours before eating as they won’t hold otherwise. I did try to shape them into balls for easy transport but they don’t have enough sticking power so having them in a cookie shape works better.

I’ve adapted the recipe from the “eating well” site and converted it from US to European measurements.

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Gluten Free Soda Bread

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There’s something very comforting about soda bread. It’s such a traditional Irish bake and one that is so easily adaptable from sweet to savoury that everyone should have it in their baking repertoire. It takes about 5 minutes to be oven ready so it’s a great reliable recipe.

On the cozebakes Facebook group page, there’s a recipe for a Crispy Bacon Soda Bread which is really delicious and if you want to try it, here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/notes/cozebakes/crispy-bacon-soda-bread/1419741888044119/ but I’ve been trying to find a gluten free version so no one would be left out and after seeing this one on the “what the fork” website, it was worth a try.

I’ve adapted it to metric and you can add in some raisins or sultanas if you want a sweeter bake or leave it plain with no added sugar if that’s your preference.

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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

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It’s hard to get a good gluten free biscuit recipe that tastes really good and this one seemed worth a go. I’m really glad I tried them as they are ridiculously easy to make and I also feel that the sugar quantity can be greatly reduced while still getting a delicious and decadent chocolate chip cookies to enjoy.

If you like a sweet biscuit or maybe if you are making them for a sweet tooth person then by all means use the full sugar quota but I would be happy to reduce by half. There’s quite a chocolate hit off these too which is a nice surprise as sometimes gluten free biscuits can lack in a flavour hit and all you taste is sugar.

Depending on how much you like your chocolate hit, use either milk or dark chocolate chips.

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Energy Bars – Nut Free, Gluten Free, Sugar Free

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Seeing the recipe for these Energy Bars in a Gluten Free Magazine, I wanted to give them a try as I have a few “athletes” in my house so figured these would be handy for pre or after training and for hunger pangs on the run.

What’s wonderful about them is you can make them Nut Free, they are naturally Gluten Free and if you leave out the maple syrup, they are basically Sugar Free too

I made them without the maple syrup because I wanted to see how they worked with the zest of an orange and some cinnamon to help the flavours and I felt they are lovely. If you have a sweet tooth or prefer a sweeter snack, then by all means add a good tablespoon of maple syrup.

Personally we love nuts so I did add a selection of natural nuts to give them a different flavour and if you can do that, try it as they are lovely.

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No Added Sugar Lemon Honey Oat Biscuits

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These biscuits are for when you want to be good but still want a treat and using honey instead of any processed or refined sugar helps to make these a perfect choice. Honey has a lot of advantages over refined sugar so is a good choice.

Using oats gives them great texture and if you use gluten free oats and gluten free oat flour, you can serve them to coeliacs too.

Just be aware not to use a large lemon. Only use a standard one and only zest half of the lemon and use the juice of one half only. Otherwise they can be overpowering as you don’t have the sugar to combat the tang.

Lemon and Honey just work really well together and I’ve adapted this US recipe to grams and offered a few options for ingredients.

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Gluten Free Almond Bites

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We’re big fans of anything almond flavoured at cozebakes HQ and when they are gluten free, it’s a bonus for us with two coeliacs to cater for. The added issue of a preferred low sugar diet can complicate things sometimes but this recipe seemed to have lots of potential.

Initially I doubled the quantities as it seemed a very small amount to spread out in a 20cm square tin. Personally, I’ll be making these again and just dropping scoops of the batter onto a baking tray rather than what the original recipe suggests. Either way, they are really, really delicious. As per usual, I reduced the original sugar quantities and think they are lovely but if you like a good sweet kick, then check my suggestions in the ingredients.

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Meringue Roulade – Gluten Free

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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.  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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Coconut Macaroons – Gluten Free

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If you want to make something really delicious in a very short time, then these macaroons are the answer. You can make them in different shapes and sizes depending on the occasion but they never fail to please!

Just 3 simple ingredients (well four if you count the chocolate drizzle on top) and 10 minutes to put together with 18 in the oven. That’s it! The fact they’re gluten free is a bonus!

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Gluten Free Light Fruit Cake

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I have another lovely fruit cake recipe here on cozebakes and I’ve used it for a Christmas Cake before. It’s very fruity and a lovely traditional fruit cake. It’s a 7″ square cake which can be cut to make 2 gift cakes or keep all for yourself!

This is a new recipe I tried and it’s also a lovely bake, probably a little spicier than the Fruit Cake and will work really well for a Christmas cake also. It makes an 8″ / 20cm round cake though I made it in a 6″ as requested and used the leftover for a mini trial cake. There has to be a cook’s treat!!

My advice? Read both recipes and decide which rings your bell. I can stand over both as delicious and impossible to tell the difference from a regular non gluten free cake. Here’s a link to the other recipe for you to check out: https://www.cozebakes.com/2016/11/09/fruit-cake-gluten-free/

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Chocolate Courgette Cake

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We all love something a little sweet with our morning or afternoon break; maybe when we have friends over for Afternoon Tea but don’t want to go the full OTT or just because it’s a Sunday!  The fact you’re going to include one of your required 5 a day is a bonus?!

Adding courgette to this lovely light chocolate cake gives it added moistness as chocolate cakes can sometimes turn out a little dry. Spelt flour is used also for easier digestion and those with a high wheat intolerance and finally agave syrup for sweetness instead of refined sugar …. sure it’s positively healthy! 😉

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Banana & Cranberry Gluten Free Muffins

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These delicious muffins are perfect for an on the run breakfast or midday snack as they are low sugar and full of goodness. You can make them dairy free if you need to and I’ve put those options on the ingredients list.

I’ve used dried cranberries because they are a firm favourite in our house and they are sweet enough to greatly reduce the original sugar content in the recipe, but you can use other dried fruit options too. Pecans or walnuts would also be a great addition.

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