Almond Cookies - Gluten Free

Innovation is a funny thing. Here I was, looking for a gluten-free substitute for oatmeal cookies (since my wife can't eat wheat or oats), and I found an inspiring recipe for millet cookies. The cookies were interesting, but they had an unpalatably strong bitter aftertaste and sandy texture. So, I set to work tinkering with the recipe, and after completely removing the millet flour, adding in almond flour, and adjusting a number of other ingredients, I hit upon a great new recipe. This final cookie recipe is simple to make and very tasty, as evidenced by how fast they disappeared.

This recipe can be made vegan by substituting a vegan gluten-free baking flour for the ATK flour.

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup almond flour
  • ¾ cup ATK baking flour (or other good gluten free flour)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • pinch of salt

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Whisk together dry ingredients. Add in oil, water, extracts, and salt, and mix together. Let mixture sit for 20 minutes.

3. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using an oiled dome-shape tablespoon measure, press a tablespoon of dough into the spoon mold and smooth the bottom. Tap out the molded cookie and place on parchment paper, leaving at least 1 to 2 inches between cookies. Bake for 12-15 minutes until just gold brown. Cookies will be soft to the touch after baking, but they will firm up upon cooling.

4. Store in airtight container. Makes 10-12 cookies.

NOTE: To make a double almond cookie, roll a half-inch piece of marzipan into a ball and form the cookie around it. Bake cookies as shown above. I should warn you, however, double almond cookies are addictive.

Microwave Mug Muffins

There are many recipes on the Internet for cakes and muffins that can be microwaved in a mug, but most of them are filled with sugar and few of them are gluten free. After some experimentation, I came up with my own Microwave Mug Muffin recipes for my family that is gluten free, lower in sugar, high in fiber and protein, and can be made vegan if needed. If you substitute monk fruit sweetener for the brown sugar, you can reduce the overall sugar even more, although I haven’t yet tried this.

After making up a large quantity of the mix ahead of time, I parcel it out into half-cup servings in sealable snack bags and take them with me when I travel. All one needs is a mug, a spoon, a microwave oven, and water. And if you don’t have any of those things, find a better hotel.

The Chocolate Coconut mug muffin was my original recipe, but I tinkered a bit and came up with some additional recipes. I will add new recipes as I test them.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT

Ingredients:
  • 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (3⅓ tablespoons) tapioca starch
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 8 teaspoons milk powder, coconut milk powder, or almond milk powder
  • 12 tablespoons almond flour
  • 4 tablespoons ATK baking flour (or other good gluten free baking flour)
  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 4 tablespoons golden flaxseed meal
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • water

Whisk together dry ingredients.

Add one half cup mix to 3 tablespoons water in a microwave safe mug. Mix thoroughly with a spoon until mixture is homogeneous. Microwave at full power for 1.5 minutes.

Makes 4 servings.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (3⅓ tablespoons) tapioca starch
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 8 teaspoons milk powder, coconut milk powder, or almond milk powder
  • 14 tablespoons almond flour
  • 6 tablespoons ATK baking flour (or other good gluten free baking flour)
  • 4 tablespoons golden flaxseed meal
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • ⅓ cup milk chocolate chips
  • ⅓ cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • water

1. Whisk together dry ingredients.

2. Add one half cup mix to 3 tablespoons water in a microwave safe mug. Mix thoroughly with a spoon until mixture is homogeneous. Microwave at full power for 1.5 minutes.

Makes 4 servings.

CAROB MACA

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (3⅓ tablespoons) tapioca starch
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 8 teaspoons milk powder, coconut milk powder, or almond milk powder
  • 14 tablespoons almond flour
  • 6 tablespoons ATK baking flour (or other good gluten free baking flour)
  • 4 tablespoons golden flaxseed meal
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons carob powder
  • 1 tablespoon maca powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • water

1. Whisk together dry ingredients.

2. Add one half cup mix to 3 tablespoons water in a microwave safe mug. Mix thoroughly with a spoon until mixture is homogeneous. Microwave at full power for 1.5 minutes.

Makes 4 servings.

NUTRITIONAL DATA PER CHOCOLATE COCONUT MUFFIN:

  • 213.6 calories
  • 9.2 grams fat
  • 7.3 grams protein
  • 27.4 grams total carbohydrate
  • 3.4 grams fiber
  • 12.3 grams sugar