Gluten-Free Banana Bread

Ingredients

1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup chopped dates
4 large eggs
2 cups mashed, very ripe bananas (about 4)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Pour 1 cup boiling water over dates in a small bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Drain and pat dry.

2. Lightly beat eggs with a whisk in a large bowl. Whisk in bananas and next 3 ingredients until blended.

3. Stir together brown rice flour and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Gently stir flour mixture into egg mixture, stirring just until blended. Gently stir in melted butter, walnuts, and dates. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9- x 5-inch loaf pan.

4. Bake at 350° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely (about 1 hour).

Gluten-Free S'more Bars

Ingredients

5 gluten-free graham cracker sheets, broken
3.38 ounces gluten-free flour (about 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large egg
6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
2 (4-ounce) bars semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Line an 8-inch square metal baking pan with aluminum foil, allowing foil to extend over edge of pan.

3. Place graham crackers in a food processor; process until finely ground. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Add flour and sugar to crumbs; pulse until combined. Add butter; pulse 15 times or until blended. Add egg; process until moist. Press crumb mixture into bottom of prepared pan.

4. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

5. Cook cream in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat to 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Remove from heat. Add chocolate, stirring until smooth. Fold in marshmallows. Spread chocolate mixture over cooled crust. Cover and chill 2 hours and 30 minutes or until firm. Holding edges of foil, lift mixture from pan, and carefully peel off foil. Place on a cutting board. Cut into bars.

Kids Can Help: My kids love pressing the crumb mixture into the pan, and then melting the chocolate and stirring in the marshmallows.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg white
1 cup reduced-fat chunky peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate minichips

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. Place salt and egg white in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk until white is frothy. Add peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and chocolate chips, stirring to combine.

3. Divide dough into 20 equal portions (about 1 tablespoon each); arrange dough 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Gently press the top of each cookie with a fork; press the top of each cookie again to form a crisscross pattern, and flatten to a 2-inch diameter. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Double-Chip Peanut Butter-Granola Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups granola with almonds

1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels

1 (10-ounce) package peanut butter morsels

Preparation

1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugars, beating until smooth. Add peanut butter and vanilla, beating until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.

2. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in granola and morsels; cover and chill 2 hours.

3. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, and place the balls 2 inches apart on baking sheets.

4. Bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Note: For larger cookies, drop by 1/4 cupfuls onto baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 18 to 20 minutes.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups granola with nuts and dried fruit
1 cup chocolate peanut butter, (see Note)
1 (large) egg
1 pinch of salt

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350° and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Pick out the dried fruit from 1 cup of the granola and add the fruit to the remaining granola. Transfer the fruit-free granola to a food processor and pulse until finely ground; transfer to a medium bowl. Add the peanut butter, egg and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture at low speed until smooth. Add the remaining fruit-filled granola and beat the cookie dough just until combined.

Form the cookie dough into 12 balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets. Flatten the balls with the tines of a fork to 3-inch rounds. Bake one sheet at a time in the center of the oven for about 15 minutes, until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets.

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chunk Blondies

Ingredients

10 tablespoon (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for pan
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup Reese's Pieces
15 miniature peanut butter cups, cut in half

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter bottom and sides of a 9-inch cake pan and line bottom with parchment. Butter parchment. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.

2. In a large bowl, beat butter, both sugars and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until combined. Scrape down sides of bowl and beat in vanilla and eggs until smooth. Reduce mixer speed to low and add flour mixture, mixing just until a thick dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips, Reese's Pieces and peanut butter cups. Press dough into prepared pan.

3. Bake until brown on top but still soft in center, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan for 20 minutes. Run a sharp knife around edges of pan; transfer cake to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before cutting into wedges and serving.

Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
1 (11.5-ounce) bag chocolate chunks

Preparation

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add chunky peanut butter and sugars, beating well. Add eggs, beating until blended.

Combine flour and next 4 ingredients. Add to butter mixture, beating well.

Stir in peanuts and chocolate chunks.

Shape dough into 2-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie). Flatten slightly, and place on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 375° for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on pan 1 to 2 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Double Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies: Reduce flour to 2 cups; add 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, sifted. Proceed as directed.

Sweet and Salty Peanut Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients

1/3 cup coarsely chopped unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place nuts in a small baking pan. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes or until lightly toasted; cool.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda, stirring well with a whisk.

Place sugars and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 2 minutes). Add vanilla and egg; beat until combined. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; beat at low speed until well blended. Stir in peanuts, chocolate chips, and salt.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove cookies from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups uncooked regular oats
1 (11.5-ounce) package semisweet chocolate mega morsels
1 cup chopped toasted pecans

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.

3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, stirring well. Add oats; stir well. Add to butter mixture; stir until well blended. Gently stir in morsels and pecans. Drop by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until brown around edges. Cool on pan 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pan; cool on wire racks.

Light Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 ounces good-quality dark-chocolate chunks (60-70% cocoa solids), such as Scharffen Berger
3/4 cup dried cherries
1 cup sliced almonds

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. In a large bowl, combine butter and sugars; beat with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add oil and eggs; beat until creamy. Stir in vanilla.

3. In a medium bowl, combine flours, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir well. Gently fold in chocolate, cherries, and almonds.

4. Scoop batter by heaping tablespoons onto 2 baking sheets covered with parchment paper. Bake cookies in 2 batches in upper and lower third of oven until golden on top and bottom (12-15 minutes). Transfer cookies on parchment paper to a wire rack; cool (cookies will crisp as they cool). Store cookies at room temperature in an airtight container (they will keep for up to 4 days).

Classic Chocolate-Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS

2 1/4cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1teaspoon kosher salt
1/2teaspoon baking soda
1cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4cups packed light brown sugar
1/4cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2cups semisweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)
1cup chopped walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped (optional)

METHOD

• Heat oven to 350° F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. One at a time, beat in the eggs, then the vanilla. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined (do not overmix). Mix in the chocolate chips and nuts (if desired) by hand.
• Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the dough onto baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until golden around the edges but still soft in the center, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Easy Drop Biscuits

INGREDIENTS

2cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1/2cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1tablespoon baking powder
1teaspoon kosher salt
1cup whole milk

METHOD

• Heat oven to 400° F. In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, baking powder, and salt; pulse until pea-size clumps form. Add the milk and pulse just until moistened.
• Drop 6 large mounds of the dough (about ½ cup each) onto a baking sheet. Bake until golden, 18 to 20 minutes.

Custard & white chocolate biscuits

Ingredients

140g butter, softened
175g caster sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract
225g self-raising flour
85g custard powder
85g white chocolate, chopped into small chunks

Method

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line 2-3 baking sheets with baking parchment. Put the butter and sugar in a food processor and whizz until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, and mix well. Sift together the flour and custard powder, then tip into the bowl and pulse to mix into a dough. Scrape out the food processor and work the chocolate in by hand.
• Roll the dough into balls a little smaller than a walnut, then place on the baking sheets, a little apart to allow for spreading. Press each biscuit down lightly with your fingers.
• Bake for 12-15 mins until lightly golden. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

All-Purpose Biscuits

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 scant tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, preferably European style
• 1 cup whole milk

• 
  
• PREPARATION
• 1.  Preheat oven to 425. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl. Transfer to a food processor. Cut butter into pats and add to flour, then pulse 5 or 6 times until the mixture resembles rough crumbs. (Alternatively, cut butter into flour in the mixing bowl using a fork or a pastry cutter.) Return dough to bowl, add milk and stir with a fork until it forms a rough ball.
• 2.  Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and pat it down into a rough rectangle, about an inch thick. Fold it over and gently pat it down again. Repeat. Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
• 3.  Gently pat out the dough some more, so that the rectangle is roughly 10 inches by 6 inches. Cut dough into biscuits using a floured glass or biscuit cutter. Do not twist cutter when cutting; this crimps the edges of the biscuit and impedes its rise.
• 4.  Place biscuits on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.