Sugar Free Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting

This recipe is super simple, sugar free, and completely delicious. All that you need to make this sugar free frosting is some Nustevia Cocoa Syrup, cocoa powder and heavy whipping cream. When those three ingredients are put together, you will create something completely delicious. Use it to frost my Sugar Free Chocolate Black Bean Cake, and you will have a dessert that no one will guess is healthy.

Here is the recipe. See how easy it is? I challenge you to try it today! I know you'll be happy if you do. :)


Sugar Free Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting

• 1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
• 2 teaspoons Nustevia Cocoa Syrup

1. Put the heavy whipping cream in the bowl of your mixer and whip until soft peaks form.
2. Sift in the cocoa powder, add the Nustevia Cocoa Syrup and beat until stiff peaks form.
3. Frost cake and keep refrigerated.

Enjoy!

-Bethany

Although NuNaturals sent me the products, all of the opinions and the recipe are by me.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

Chocolate chips are everything when it comes to baking. They take desserts from being average to being amazing.

Who doesn't love chocolate chips?

This bars are moist, flavorful, and packed with bits of chocolate goodness. They are the perfect dessert for you to make the next time you find yourself with some browning bananas sitting around. 

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Water
• 1/2 Tablespoon Flaxseed Meal
• 6 Tablespoons Butter
• 1/3 Cup Sugar
• 1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Cup Bananas, mashed (about 1 banana)
• 2/3 Cup Brown Rice Flour
• 1/3 Cup Cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1 Cup Chocolate Chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Heat water for about 15 seconds in the microwave. Add flaxseed meal and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. In a medium size bowl, whisk together the brown rice flour, cornstarch, xanthan gum and salt.
4. In the bowl of your mixer, combine butter and sugars. Beat until fluffy.
5. Mash the banana and add it to the flax-egg. Mix and then beat into the butter/sugar mix.
6. Slowly add in the dry ingredients. 
7. Fold in the chocolate chips.
8. Spread out into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Adapted from this recipe.

Enjoy!
-Bethany

Gluten Free Birthday Cake Whoopie Pies

Light and airy sprinkle filled vanilla cookies with a rich buttercream center... these gluten free birthday cake whoopie pies couldn't be any more delicious!

I can't wait to give these to my nieces and nephew to try. They are huge fans of sprinkles, as well as whoopie pies. I bet any kid, or kid at heart, will love these. :)

Gluten Free Birthday Cake Whoopie Pies

• 2 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
• 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
• 3 Tablespoons Water
• 1 Tablespoon Flaxseed Meal
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons Milk
• 3/4 Cup plus 1 Tablespoon Rice Flour
• 7 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 Cup White Sugar
• Sprinkles

1. Put two Tablespoons of the butter into a microwave safe bowl and melt.
2. In another small bowl microwave the three tablespoons of water for about twenty seconds, then add the flaxseed meal to it and set aside for ten minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. In a large bowl, combine the rice flour, starches,, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar and brown sugar and mix under just small lumps of the sugar remain.
5. Add both butters and mix into the dry ingredients with a fork until crumbly.
6. Add the vanilla, flax-egg and beat.
7. Add the milk and beat until the batter thickens and becomes elastic.
8. Fold in sprinkles.
9. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and scoop by the tablespoon. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
10. Allow to cool on baking sheet and then completely on cooling rack. Find pairs and fill with the buttercream frosting.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

• 1/4 Cup Butter, Softened
• 3/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Tablespoon Milk
• A pinch Salt

1. Cream butter in mixer bowl for about a minute. 
2. Add powdered sugar and beat again until combined. 
3. Add milk, vanilla extract and salt and beat again, for about three minutes. Add a bit more milk if necessary.

Enjoy!

-Bethany

Gluten Free Chocolate Banana Muffins

If you love muffins, banana desserts and all things chocolate, then these gluten free chocolate banana muffins are sure to please you!

These muffins are relatively easy to throw together, and they are super moist and delicious. The mini chocolate chips inside and dusting of sugar on top sure don't hurt anything. ;)

Give these muffins a try the next time that you are wanting to bake up a treat for breakfast, or for any time of the day, and they are sure to be a big hit.

Gluten Free Chocolate Banana Muffins

• 1 Flax-egg (1 Tablespoon Flaxseed Meal, 3 Tablespoons Water)
• 1 1/2 Cup Banana, mashed
• 1/3 Cup Butter, melted
• 1 Cup Sugar, plus extra for tops
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Cup Brown Rice Flour
• 1/2 Cup Cornstarch
• 1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare flax-egg (instructions on side of blog.)
3. In a medium bowl, combine brown rice flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Whisk together.
4. In a large bowl, combine flax-egg, mashed banana, melted butter, sugar and vanilla.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until combined.
6. Fold in chocolate chips.
7. Scoop into 12 to 14 lined muffin tin holes. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar on top of each muffin.
8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Adapted from this recipe.

Enjoy!
-Bethany

Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Cupcakes With Whipped Chocolate Ganache And M&Ms

These gluten free cupcakes are super fun and cute, not to mention delicious!

My nieces and nephew loved the surprise inside.

The cupcakes themselves are chocolate, and they are filled with mini M&Ms and then topped with a rich, chocolate ganache. Make them for your family, and they are sure to be a big hit.

Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Cupcakes With Whipped Chocolate Ganache And M&Ms

• 3 Tablespoons Hot Water
• 1 Tablespoon Flaxseed Meal
• 1/4 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons White Rice Flour
• 1/4 Cup plus 3 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/8 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 Cup Oil
• 1/4 Cup Water
• Mini M&Ms

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Heat the water and add the flaxseed meal to it, setting aside for about 10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl whisk together rice flour, sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. Add the flax-eggs, vanilla, oil and water to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
5. Line a mini muffin pan with 16 wrappers.
6. Bake cupcakes for 10 to 14 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 
7. Cool, then use a knife to remove a small bit of the center of each cupcake. Fill hole with mini M&Ms.
8. Frost and top with M&Ms.

Whipped Ganache Frosting

• 1/2 Cup Whipping Cream
• 1 Cup Chocolate Chips

1. Heat heavy cream just until boiling and pour over chocolate chips.
2. Stir together and put in fridge until completely cool.
3. Move to the bowl of your stand mixer and use whisk attachment to whip it.

Enjoy!
-Bethany

Gluten Free Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

In my opinion any and every form of chocolate chip cookies are delicious, but these cookies outdo every other chocolate chip cookie out there. They are twice the size, soft and chewy, and filled with caramel. What could be better than that?

 The hidden caramel adds to the chewiness of those cookies, and it is one of the things makes these cookies extra special!

You can't go wrong when you decide to make a batch of these big, caramel filled cookies! Everyone will be sure to love them.

Gluten Free Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 3 Tablespoons Water
• 1 Tablespoon Flaxseed Meal
• 1/2 Cup Butter, softened
• 1/4 Cup Sugar
• 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/3 Cup White Rice Flour
• 2/3 Cup Cornstarch
• 1 3.5 oz Box Vanilla Pudding
• 1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1 1/4 Cup Chocolate Chips
• 12 Caramel Squares, unwrapped

1. Heat water about 20 seconds in microwave. Add flaxseed meal to it and set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. In a medium bowl, combine white rice flour, cornstarch, vanilla pudding, xanthan gum, baking soda and salt. Whisk together.
4. In the bowl of your mixer combine butter and sugars and beat for 2 minutes.
5. Add flax-egg and vanilla to butter/sugar mix on low until combined.
6. Stir dry ingredients into wet ones, mixing only a few times before adding 1 cup chocolate chips. Mix until incorporated.
7. Scoop 1 1/2 Tablespoons of dough at a time and form 24 balls. Take one ball at a time press an unwrapped caramel square into it. Take another ball and press it onto the other, forming a big ball together.
8. Place on parchment lined baking sheets and bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack.

Adapted from this recipe.

-Bethany

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Shortbread Bars

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, you are going to want a sweet dessert to indulge in. Make these for anyone you love, and they will love you a little more for it. Or, make them for yourself if you are spending the day alone, and they will surely cheer you up.

If a chocolately dessert is something that you would like to share with the one that you love, then these double chocolate shortbread bars are the thing for you. They are easy to put together, are baked in a short amount of time, and taste amazing.

Chocolate shortbread packed with dark chocolate chips. Does it get any better than this?

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Shortbread Bars

• 6 Tablespoons Butter, room temperature
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 Cup White Rice Flour
• 1/4 Cup Cornstarch 
• 1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the rice flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder and xanthan gum. 
3. Put the butter and sugar into the bowl of your mixer and beat until light and fluffy.
4. Add the vanilla and salt to the butter mixture and beat again.
5. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Line a 8x8 pan with parchment paper and pat the dough into it.
7. Bake for about 15 minutes.
8. Cool slightly before cutting, or cool all the way before breaking into pieces.

Enjoy!

-Bethany

Homemade Gluten Free Taco Seasoning

Before we get to the recipe, I would like to share a bit about my daily eating routine. I have been a vegetarian for 5 years tomorrow, as well as being a gluten free-eating individual for over 2 years, so if you are both of those things, as well, then you might be wondering what foods are available to you. Here is what I eat on a normal day.

Breakfast:

I like to start off my day with a smoothie. I'll throw some plain Greek yogurt, 1% milk, Stevia, a black bean brownie, protein powder and ice into a blender. Then I'll blend until smooth and drink away.

Lunch:

For this mid-day meal, I like to go with a chickpea salad. The recipe for the dressing that I use will be coming to the blog sometime soon. If I want something to go along with the chickpea salad, I will either have a cheese stick, an iced coffee, a piece of dark chocolate, or another small treat.

Supper:

I take the most time for cooking when it comes to this meal, so I frequently switch things up. One day it might be grits and fresh, crockpot black beans. Another day it's enchiladas stuffed with refried beans, corn and cheese. Or it will be spaghetti with chickpea meatballs, Alfredo, black bean burgers or taquitos. I love trying new foods, and I love cooking up something special for supper.

Snacks:

If you have been following my blog for long, then you probably have caught on for my love of sweets. I love baking, and I also love eating.

Another snack I love beyond sweets is chips. I love pretty much all gluten free chips. I love tortilla chips with homemade hummus. I love cheese puffs and Cheetos and all of those good things.

There are so many options of gluten free and vegetarian foods. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise - there is always something good to be eaten, even when you follow both of these diets!

Now, onto the recipe (which is great for any gluten free vegetarian to have on hand!)

This taco seasoning could not be any easier to put together, and it makes everything a little bit tastier. There are many dishes that you could add this seasoning to, and the possibilities are endless.

To make this seasoning, just gather together all of your spices...

Don't they all look pretty when they are put together like that? So colorful.

And they even look pretty when they are stirred together.

If you don't want to make a dish dirty stirring it together, though, go ahead and shake it up in the jar/container that you're going to store it in.

And there you have it. Easy and flavorful homemade taco seasoning.

Gluten Free Taco Seasoning

• 2 teaspoons Cumin
• 2 teaspoons Paprika
• 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1 teaspoons Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Oregano
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

1. Put all of the ingredients into a bowl with a lid, put the lid on and shake it up.
2. That's it! Enjoy on taco salads, in taquitos and more!

Adapted from this recipe.

-Bethany