Homemade "Peanut Butter" Cups

If you are a big fan of peanut butter cups, but you can't have peanut butter, then you should definitely make these treats this Christmas!

They are creamy, "peanut buttery" and delicious... but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Homemade "Peanut Butter" Cups

• 1/2 Cup Soy Butter (I used WOWBUTTER)
• 2 Tablespoons Butter, softened
• 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
• 1 and 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

1. Line 24 holes of a mini muffin tin with paper wrappers.
2. Melt 3/4 cup chocolate chips and put a bit in each of the holes, using your fingers (wash hands first) to spread the chocolate over the bottom and halfway up the sides. Stick pan into the fridge when done.
3. In a medium size bowl, combine the soy butter, cutter and powdered sugar, stirring until smooth. 
4. Once chocolate is cooled, add a bit of the soy butter mixture to each hole, dividing it evenly between them.
5. Melt the remaining 3/4 cup chocolate chips and spread over the top of each. Refrigerate until firm. 
6. Remove and take wrappers off of each of them. Eat immediately or store in the refrigerator.

What kind of treats are you making this Christmas season?
-Bethany

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Snowball Cookies

What's more perfect for this time of year than a snowball cookie? 

A double chocolate center with a thick coating of powdered sugar on the outside... does it get better than that?

We haven't had much snow yet this year here in Wisconsin (which I'm very happy about) so these snowballs will have to substitute for the real thing. My nieces loved them. I'm sure you and your family will, too!

Have you started with your Christmas baking yet? If not, or if you are looking for a few more recipes to try, then head on over to my Gluten Free Christmas Treat link up. There are plenty of great recipes there, already, and I would love it if you would add some of your own!

Now for the recipe...

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Snowball Cookies

• 1/2 Cup Butter, softened
• 1/4 Powdered Sugar
• 3 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 3/4 Cup plus 1 Tablespoon White Rice Flour
• 1/4 Cup plus 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons Mini Chocolate Chips
• 1 to 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, measure the white rice flour, cornstarch, xanthan gum and salt. Whisk together.
3. In the bowl of your mixer, combine the butter, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, cocoa and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat until combined.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper, and taking a Tablespoon of the dough at a time, form into balls. Place on the sheets and bake for 7 to 10 minutes.
7. Once done, remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, until not too hot to pick up.
8. Pour the extra powdered sugar into a bowl and roll each cookie in it. Once they have cooled completely you can go back and roll them again, if desired.

Adapted from this recipe.

How much Christmas shopping do you have done? I'm happy to say that I'm finished. :)
-Bethany

Gluten Free Caramel and Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you love good, soft cookies and all things caramel, these are just the thing for you to make for yourself (or to share, if you're feeling generous.)

These cookies are all that you could ask for of a chocolate chip cookie, and more. The caramel just adds so much to them. No one would ever guess that they are gluten free, nor would they care if they did know. These are that great.

If you are looking for something fun and new to make this holiday season, then you should try these cookies out. Everyone will be sure to be pleased with them!

Gluten Free Caramel and Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened
• 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup White Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Flaxseed Meal
• 3 Tablespoons Hot Water
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons Rice Flour
• 2/3 Cup Cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 Cup Caramel Bits

1. Heat water in microwave for about twenty seconds. Add flaxmeal to it and let sit for 10 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
3. Meanwhile, combine rice flour, cornstarch, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium size bowl. Whisk to combine.
4. In a separate bowl, beat together the softened butter and sugars.
5. Add to the butter/sugar mixture the flax-egg and the vanilla and combine.
6. Dump the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and beat until combined. Stir in chocolate chips and caramel bits.
7. Scoop out onto baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

-Bethany

p.s. Make sure to add your recipes to my Gluten Free Christmas Treat link up!