Gluten Free Red Velvet Shortbread Bars

These gluten free red velvet shortbread bars not only look pretty but have a great flavor and are easy to make!

I always seem to start thinking of red velvet at this time of year. It must be Valentine's Day that inspires it for me. But, it's not just the look of red velvet that I love, but the flavor. There's something so special about it. It's not quite chocolate, but definitely not vanilla. These shortbread bars have a unique flavor, with just a touch of vinegar, vanilla, and cocoa powder. And the M&Ms perfectly complete them!

Try these bars for a special Valentine's Day treat or anytime!

 

Red Velvet Shortbread Bars

• 6 Tablespoons Butter, room temperature
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 teaspoon Vinegar
• 1/2 Cup White Rice Flour
• 1/3 Cup Tapioca Flour or Cornstarch
• 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• Food coloring, optional
• 1/2 Cup Mini (or regular) M&Ms

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the rice flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder, xanthan gum and salt. 
3. Put the butter and sugar into the bowl of your mixer and beat until light and fluffy.
4. Add the vanilla and vinegar to the butter mixture and beat again.
5. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined.
6. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper and pat the dough into it.
7. Spread M&Ms over top and pat into it.
8. Bake for 15 minutes.
9. Cool slightly before slicing.

Enjoy!

-Bethany

7 Ways To Be Frugal On A Road Trip

Road trips are fun, but they can quickly get expensive. Use these 7 tips to be more frugal on your next road trip!

1. Stock up ahead of time. But make sure that you only bring along the necessities. Buy bottled water, some favorite foods, hand sanitizer, and anything else that you might need ahead of time when you find it on sale, or at your favorite bulk store, and pack it.

2. Bring Coupons Along. Find coupons for food products that you can buy in the grocery store. Things can be pricey when you are traveling, but if you have some coupons along with you, then you will be able to save a bit of money here and there. Also, look for deals at your favorite fast food restaurants. Some restaurants have deals going on at certain times of the day, and stop when you know the food will be the cheapest.

3. Camp. Don't spend the night in a hotel every night. Have an adventure and bring your tent along and camp. You will save a ton of money this way, and you will have a special bonding experience with your family.

4. Bring baked goods along. Bake up a bunch of treats that will stay good, such as some muffins, and bring them along. You'll save a lot of money versus buying snacks on the road, plus, with all of the baked goods along, you'll never feel too hungry.

5. Set a budget. Know what you can spend before you leave home so that you can decide when you want to go out, and when you should cut back and just make sandwiches. Know how much money you can spend on souvenirs. Stick with your budget, and you will save money.

6. Visit Places That Are Free. If it is free to get into a park or a museum, then go there. You can check to see if there are any deals going on at the various places you would like to visit, and if there is a day coming up when they are offering free admission, then you should plan your visit around that.

7. Let The Little Things Entertain You. Bring a board game or cards along and play at your campsite. Go for hikes. Do some window shopping. Take a dip in the pool that is included with your campsite. Or go to the lake. Do these free, but fun, things, and you will enjoy every moment of the trip.


I hope these tips help you to be a bit more frugal on your next road trip. And I hope you have a great time when you go!
-Bethany

Gluten Free Birthday Cake Ice Cream

This colorful ice cream is a fun and tasty treat! It has chunks of vanilla cake throughout it, giving it a delicious birthday cake flavor!

If you love all things birthday cake and sprinkles, then you will love this ice cream!

Gluten Free Birthday Cake Ice Cream

• 2 Cups Heavy Cream
• 1 (14 once) Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 6 to 8 Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes, not frosted
• Food coloring
• Sprinkles

1. Bake vanilla cupcakes, adding food coloring to the batter, if desired. Cool, and crumble (sorting by color if using food coloring in the cupcakes.)
2. In the bowl of your stand mixer, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
3. Mix vanilla into sweetened condensed milk. Slowly add into the whipped cream mixture, with the mixer running.
4. Divide ice cream into bowls for as many colors as you would like to make. Add a bit of food coloring to each and fold in.
5. Fold in the cupcake pieces and sprinkles into each and transfer to a freezer-safe container, layering the colors as you go. Freeze for at least 6 hours before serving.

Enjoy!

-Bethany

Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie Cookies with Rolos

Each of these gluten free chocolate cookies has a Rolo baked into the center, giving them a gooey, caramel filling.

If you love Rolos and chocolate, then these are the perfect cookies for you! They need to be refrigerated for an hour before baking, but as long as you are patient enough to wait for that to happen, you will soon end up with some amazing, soft, chocolate brownie cookies. The Rolos really add a great dimension to these cookies, and you will love every chocolate-and-caramel bite.

Make sure when you use any ingredients to check them for yourself and see that they are truly gluten free. While I eat Rolos, you may not want to risk cross contamination.

Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie Cookies with Rolos

• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
• 3/4 Cup Rice Flour
• 1/2 Cup Cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1/2 Cup Butter, melted
• 1 Flax-Egg (directions on side of blog)
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• Rolos, unwrapped

1. Heat the 3 tablespoons of water and add flaxseed meal to it. Stir then set aside for ten minutes.
2. In a large mixer bowl combine sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, rice flour, cornstarch, xanthan gum, baking soda, and salt. Mix together with a wire whisk, breaking up brown sugar into small lumps.
3. Melt the butter and add it, the flax-egg and the vanilla to the dry ingredients. Beat until combined.
4. Remove wrappers from Rolos. Scoop 1 heaping tablespoon of dough at a time and wrap it around a Rolo.
5. Set cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then place in the refrigerator for one hour.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes.

Enjoy!

-Bethany

9 Delicious and Healthy Bean Dessert Recipes For The New Year

Love dessert? You can live healthier in the new year and still eat it with these 9 delicious and healthy bean dessert recipes!

A few of the recipes are sugar free and all are gluten free! They are simple to make and so good!

Sugar Free/Gluten Free Black Bean Cake. This black bean cake is so tasty, you won't believe the sugar and flour are missing!

Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies. There is nothing like a classic chocolate chip cookie, and these are soft and so good!

Double Chocolate Black Bean Muffins. These fudgy muffins are perfectly chocolatey and delicious.

Cake Batter Chickpea Cookies. Bring on the sprinkles and white chocolate chip with these yummy cookies!

Sugar Free Chocolate Chickpea Cookies. There isn't any sugar in these cookies, but they still have a great taste and will satisfy your cookie cravings!

Mini Sugar Free/Gluten Free Black Bean Chocolate Cupcakes. These little cupcakes are easy to make and so tasty.

Red Velvet Chickpea Cookies. Who said healthy foods couldn't be fancy? These cookies have a chocolate and vanilla taste for a great overall experience.

Sugar Free Black Bean Fudge. This sugar free fudge is great eaten by the spoonful!

Chocolate Chickpea Cookies. These cookies are moist and full of chocolate flavor!

I hope these recipes will help to make your new year a bit healthier and more delicious!
-Bethany