Auntie's Cutout Cookies



Auntie's GF Cutout cookie Paleo

Auntie's Cutout Cookies
Original recipe by Edna Schwandt
Gluten-Free Adaption by Peggy Klapperich

When using any flours/grains, nuts, seeds, etc - make sure they are labeled gluten-free. Gluten contamination of these products are very likely if they’re not produced in a dedicated facility.

To learn more about this, see
Grain-Free for the Gluten-Free

If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.


Peggy's Aunt Edna makes
the best cutout cookies. Many years ago, Peggy learned how to make them. They continue to be holiday family favorites - except for me.

When I had to go gluten-free, this meant an end to these cookies. Since 2003, Peggy has been trying to replicate these beloved cookies. Many different custom blended and commercial flour mixes have been tried.

While the GF versions of this cookie have been good - they still weren't like Auntie's cookies - until now. These cookies are the closest version yet. They remain crispy on the outside, soft on the inside - even after freezing them.

Step aside
Almond Flour Sugar Cookies, there's a new favorite cutout cookie in town.


Cookie Ingredients:

4 cups
Bob's Red Mill Paleo Baking Flour
1 1/2 cups butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
Sprinkle of Salt


Potato or Tapioca starch (not flour) for rolling.


Frosting Ingredients*:

1/2 cup of butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 or 2 tablespoons of milk or almond milk

*The amounts listed are approximate. Adjust them until it's as stiff or loose as you like.


Directions:

In mixer bowl, cream butter, sugar & vanilla together.

Add eggs - beat until fluffy

Add dry ingredients - mix throughly - at least 2 to 3 minutes.

Chill dough over night (3 hour minimum)

Remove about 1/4 of the dough keeping the rest in the fridge.

Dust counter with starch. Coat dough until it's no longer sticky.

Roll dough to 3/8" thickness. It is best to keep these cookies on the thicker side. They are a bit fragile.

Cut out cookies and place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Set scrap aside in the fridge. Do not add rolled dough to fresh dough

Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes - until edges start to brown. Note: cookies brown quickly. Don't let them get too brown.

Remove cookies from oven. Allow them to cool on the pan for 5 minutes. Place on waxed paper.

Repeat rolling & baking process until fresh dough is gone.

Combine dough scraps, re-roll, cut and bake.

Tip: Do not frost these cookies to far in advance. They will absorb some moisture from the frosting.


Yield: 6 dozen cookies


Almond Flour Sugar Cookies

Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
Original recipe by
Erin of MeaingfulEats.com

When using any flours/grains, nuts, seeds, etc - make sure they are labeled gluten-free. Gluten contamination of these products are very likely if they’re not produced in a dedicated facility.

To learn more about this, see
Grain-Free for the Gluten-Free

If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.


We have tried a number of sugar cookie/cut out cookie recipes over the years. So far, this is the best one we have found. It’s our gluten-free holiday cookie go-to recipe. Refer to the original recipe for hints and tips for making these.

Cookie Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, ghee, or palm shortening, softened
1/4 cup softened coconut oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (Penzey’s)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (Arm & Hammer)
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
2 1/4 cups blanched almond flour (Honeyville) (scoop and slightly pack it down when you measure it)
1/2 cup coconut flour (Bob’s Red Mill GF)

Frosting Ingredients*:

1/2 cup of butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 or 2 tablespoons of milk or almond milk

Directions:

Cream together the butter, coconut oil, and brown sugar in mixer bowl. Add the eggs, vanilla, and almond extract - mix well.

Combine baking soda, salt, almond & coconut flour in separate bowl - mix well. With mixer on low, slowly add flour mixture to wet ingredients 1 cup at a time. Beat well after each addition.

Place dough on plastic wrap and form into disk. Wrap dough and refrigerate for 30 min to overnight. Overnight is best.

Preheat oven to 350F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper

Sprinkle coconut flour on clean flat surface. Roll out dough until it’s 1/4” thick. It helps to roll it out between two pieces of parchment paper. If not, coat rolling pin with coconut flour.
Cut cookies with your favorite cutters. Work quickly so the dough stays cold. Use spatula to transfer cookies to baking sheet.

Gather the scraps. Ball, roll, and repeat. If dough gets too warm, refrigerate it again.

Bake for 13-15 minutes - until lightly golden. Baking these longer than typical sugar cookies. This allows the outside to get a little crispy, but the inside will be soft. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Frosting Directions:

Combine ingredients into mixing bowl. Mix with stand or hand mixer until fluffy.

*The amounts listed are approximate. Adjust them until it's as stiff or loose as you like.

Gluten-Free Stuffing

Submitted by Peggy


If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.



Ingredients:

1 loaf gluten-free bread
3 tablespoons butter, unsalted
2 carrots, peeled and small diced
2 celery stalks, small diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, peeled and small diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups gluten-free chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Slice the bread into 1-inch cubes and spread out on a baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 25 minutes, flipping/tossing once during toasting.

To kick this recipe up a notch, check out our excellent recipe for gluten-free croutons.

Melt butter in a large and deep cast iron or oven-safe skillet. If you do not have a large and deep oven proof skillet, you can prep the stuffing in a skillet and transfer to a 9" x 13" baking dish before finishing off in the oven. To the butter, add carrots, celery, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. Sauté on medium heat for 15 minutes until the onions and carrots are soft and tender. If the onions or garlic start to brown, reduce heat to medium-low.

Once the carrots are tender, add chicken broth, sage, and thyme and stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes. Taste, and add additional salt or pepper, if needed.

Next, add the toasted bread cubes and gently toss to combine. Transfer to the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 6-8 servings.

Aneh's Awesome Turkey

Original Recipe by: Aneh Mundi
Submitted by Al (with slight modifications)

Shortly after going gluten-free [in 2003], Peggy & I took a gluten-free holiday cooking class from food scientist extraordinaire Aneh Mundi. She went through an entire holiday feast. Lots of great recipes. To this day, we still use Aneh's blend of seasonings when we make turkey and turkey broth. We keep a jar of it on our “Wheel-O-Spices”.


If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.



Ingredients:

1 fresh or frozen turkey 10 to 13 lbs
2 tbs Black ground pepper (Penzey's)
2 tbs Salt
2 tbs dried basil (Penzey's)
1 tbs white pepper (Penzey's)
1 tbs ground coriander (Penzey's)
2 tsb dried orange peel (Penzey's)
Extra virgin olive oil (optional)
1 medium/large onion, rough chopped
1 celery stalk, rough chopped
¼ lemon, chopped (optional)

Note: Before you start working with the turkey, set some of the seasoning aside for use in the gravy or for future turkeys. It has the potential to get contaminated with raw turkey.

Directions:

Remove giblets from turkey and set aside for broth.
Combine seasonings in a bowl – mix well.
Place turkey in cooking bag (optional)
Drizzle & rub olive oil over entire turkey.
Sprinkle and rub seasoning mix inside, outside, and under the skin.
Stuff cavity with onion, celery, and lemon.
Place bagged turkey in a roasting pan
Roast turkey at 325 for 3 to 3 ½ hours – until juices run clear or internal breast temperature reaches 161 or 162. Remove turkey from the oven, let it rest. The temperature will continue rise. Carry-over cooking will take you to the food safe number of 165.
Drain drippings from bag into large bowl. Strain into large pan for making gravy.

Gravy Ingredients:

Turkey drippings
4 – 8 tbs Gluten-Free Sweet Rice Flour (Bob's Red Mill)
A few pinches of Aneh's Turkey Seasoning

Gravy directions:

Heat drippings in pan on medium-high heat.
Add a few pinches of turkey seasoning to taste.
Make a slurry 3 – 4 tbs of Sweet Rice Flour and a teaspoon or so of cold water. Mix until no lumps.
Whisk in slurry as drippings begin to heat up and start to boil. This when gravy will start to thicken. Keep adding slurry until gravy is the consistency you desire.

Croutons & Stuffing


Croutons

Gluten-Free Croutons


Special thanks to my Sister-In-Law Debi for showing Peggy how to make these for our Thanksgiving feast last year. They are great just for snacking on.


If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.



Ingredients:

1 to 1 ½ loaves of GF bread, cut or torn in desired size. For stuffing, pieces might be smaller vs larger for snacking/dipping.
GF Granulated Garlic
GF Granulated Onion
GF Ground Sage
GF Paprika (optional)
Salt
Olive Oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300.
Spread bread pieces on sided baking sheet. Allow to dry for at least 2 days – 3 to 4 is preferable.
Drizzle olive oil lightly over the bread and mix well.
Season to taste. Mix well after each seasoning.
Bake for 10 to 20 minutes or until GBDC (Golden, Brown, Delicious & Crunchy). Stir every 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and spread out to cool.

Note: Airbake pans won't brown as quickly. Try not to eat them all before you make your stuffing.

Tip: Instead of throwing out the heels or unused pieces of GF bread, put them in the freezer to be used later.


Gluten-Free Stuffing

Ingredients:

1 loaf gluten-free bread (or the croutons above)
3 tablespoons butter, unsalted
2 carrots, peeled and small diced
2 celery stalks, small diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, peeled and small diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups gluten-free chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Slice the bread into 1-inch cubes and spread out on a baking sheet.
Place in the oven and toast for 25 minutes, flipping/tossing once during toasting. (Skip this step If you are using the croutons you made from above recipe)

Melt butter in a large and deep cast iron or oven-safe skillet. If you do not have a large and deep oven proof skillet, you can prep the stuffing in a skillet and transfer to a 9" x 13" baking dish before finishing off in the oven. To the butter, add carrots, celery, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. Sauté on medium heat for 15 minutes until the onions and carrots are soft and tender. If the onions or garlic start to brown, reduce heat to medium-low.

Once the carrots are tender, add chicken broth, sage, and thyme and stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes. Taste, and add additional salt or pepper, if needed. Next, add the toasted bread cubes/croutons and gently toss to combine. Transfer to the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 6-8 servings.

Pumpkin Pie

pumpkin pie

Pumpkin Pie

A standard pumpkin pie - gluten-free style. The crust portion is made from a Whole Foods recipe.

If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.



Pie Crust Recipe
Recipe by: Whole Foods

http://bit.ly/WFGFPieCrust

Crust Ingredients:

1/3 cup potato starch, plus extra for dusting
1/3 cup tapioca flour
1/3 cup millet flour
1/3 cup almond meal
1 tablespoon powdered sugar (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into small pieces
1 egg, lightly beaten

Crust Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Put potato starch, tapioca flour, millet flour, almond meal, sugar and salt into a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Add butter and pulse again until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add egg and pulse until completely combined to make a slightly sticky dough.

Turn dough out onto a large sheet of waxed paper dusted with potato starch. Sprinkle potato starch over dough and knead gently, working in about 2 more tablespoons potato starch, until dough holds together without being sticky but is still very pliable. Using your fingertips, press dough into a 10-inch circle.

Invert a 9-inch pie pan on top of the dough then quickly flip over both the pan and the dough so that the dough now rests in the pan. Gently peel away and discard wax paper and press dough into pie plate, patching it together, if needed. Crimp and trim the edges as desired then prick sides and bottom all over with a fork.

Peggy Tip: If you don't fill the crust with pie weights or dried beans, do not par-bake, just fill and bake it.

Line crust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until crust is just set and slightly dry around the edges, about 15 minutes. Remove parchment paper and pie weights, fill with pie filling and bake as needed. Alternately, for a pie that requires a pre-baked crust, return to oven and bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes more.


Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie
Right off the can of pumpkin

http://bit.ly/1xgaduJ

Ingredients:

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
1 9-inch Gluten-Free Pie Crust (see GF pie crust recipe)

Directions:
Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

Pour into gluten-free pie shell.

Bake in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Pecan Pumpkin Pie

pecan pumpkin
Pecan Pumpkin Pie

This is a gluten-free version of a Penzey's recipe. The crust portion is made from a Whole Foods recipe.

If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.



Pie Crust Recipe
Recipe by: Whole Foods

http://bit.ly/WFGFPieCrust

Crust Ingredients:

1/3 cup potato starch, plus extra for dusting
1/3 cup tapioca flour
1/3 cup millet flour
1/3 cup almond meal
1 tablespoon powdered sugar (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into small pieces
1 egg, lightly beaten

Crust Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Put potato starch, tapioca flour, millet flour, almond meal, sugar and salt into a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Add butter and pulse again until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add egg and pulse until completely combined to make a slightly sticky dough.

Turn dough out onto a large sheet of waxed paper dusted with potato starch. Sprinkle potato starch over dough and knead gently, working in about 2 more tablespoons potato starch, until dough holds together without being sticky but is still very pliable. Using your fingertips, press dough into a 10-inch circle.

Invert a 9-inch pie pan on top of the dough then quickly flip over both the pan and the dough so that the dough now rests in the pan. Gently peel away and discard wax paper and press dough into pie plate, patching it together, if needed. Crimp and trim the edges as desired then prick sides and bottom all over with a fork.

Peggy Tip: If you don't fill the crust with pie weights or dried beans, do not par-bake, just fill and bake it.

Line crust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until crust is just set and slightly dry around the edges, about 15 minutes. Remove parchment paper and pie weights, fill with pie filling and bake as needed. Alternately, for a pie that requires a pre-baked crust, return to oven and bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes more.


Pie Ingredients:

1 gluten-free pie crust (see crust recipe above)
1 15oz. Can of pumpkin
1/3 cup of brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon GF vanilla extract
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 cup of evap. Milk

Topping Ingredients:

1/4 cup of butter unmelted
1/2 cup of brown sugar
3/4 cup of coarsely chopped pecans

Directions:

Make GF pie crust per directions. Press or roll into 8.5" pie tin.

Preheat oven to 350
Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, salt, vanilla, eggs & milk into mixing bowl. Mix well.
Pour mixture into unbaked GF pie crust.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Mix topping ingredients until crumbly.
After pie has baked 40 minutes, sprinkle mixture on pie and bake for another 25 minutes.
Cool and refrigerate for a couple of hours for best slicing.

Holiday Recipes 2012

Family recipes from the members of GIG of ECW.

If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.



Nut Balls

Submitted by Becky

This is a recipe from my Mom.

Ingredients:

½ lb. butter
2 T honey
2 c flour (Meister's Gluten-Free Flour)
¼ t salt
2 t double strength vanilla (Penezy's)
1 1/4 c finely chopped Pecans or Walnuts nuts (Nuts.com)

Directions:
Beat butter until creamy. Stir in honey.
Add flour, salt, vanilla and nuts and mix thoroughly.
Chill dough 1 hour.
Form into balls the size of walnuts. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Bake @ 300 approximately 35 min, or until light brown.
Roll in confectioners sugar while hot and again after they’ve cooled.



Aunt Loula’s Ginger Cookies

Submitted by Becky

Ingredients:
1 c white sugar
1 c lard or shortening
2 eggs, beaten
1 c molasses
1 c sour milk or buttermilk
1 t baking soda
1½ t baking powder
1 t cinnamon
1 t ginger
4 cups flour
pinch of salt

Directions:
Can scoop the dough with a spoon, or bag it and pipe it onto the cookie sheet. Dip the bottom of a glass in sugar and press the cookie down. Bake at 325 13-14 min.


Fresh Cranberry Relish

Submitted by Kimberly

This to me is the taste of the holiday season...orange, cranberry, walnut and cinnamon

Ingredients:
1 package (12 ounces or 3 cups) of fresh cranberries
2 medium Pippin or Granny Smith apples quartered and cored (I prefer skins on, but some like them peeled)
¾ cup sugar
½ cup orange marmalade
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons (or more!) of Grand Marnier...Brandy works nicely too in a pinch!
2 cups of chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I use more like 1 Tablespoon since I LOVE cinnamon)

Directions:
Chop cranberries in a food processor. Remove. Chop apples in food processor. Add to cranberries and then add remaining ingredients. Stir well and enjoy. This tastes better if it is refrigerated overnight. This relish can be refrigerated up to 2 months! Often I will make a double batch at Thanksgiving and eat until New Years!


Peanut Blossoms

Submitted & GF conversion by Peg
Original recipe: Nancy Brown from Mt. Zion Lutheran Church Cookbook

Ingredients:

1¼ cup
Jules Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
½ cup
Bob's Red Mill GF Sorghum Flour
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 tsp Arm & Hammer baking soda
½ tsp salt
¼ cup butter
¼ cup Butter Flavored Crisco
½ cup peanut butter
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp double strength vanilla
1 egg
Hershey's Kisses

Directions:
Combine in a large mixer bowl. Mix at low speed until a dough forms. Shape dough into balls using a rounded teaspoonful of dough. Roll balls in additional sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven. Top each hot cookie with a Hershey's Kiss – pressing down so cookie cracks around the edge.


Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Submitted by: Peg
Original Recipe:
Jules Shepard

Ingredients - Cookies:

½ cup shortening (Earth Balance® Shortening Sticks) or [½ cup of butter]
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
¼ cup milk [use slighlty less if using real butter]
1 teaspoon double strength GF vanilla extract
Food coloring (optional)
2 ¼ cups
Jules Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Calumet baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Ingredients – Icing:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup Crisco
1 tsp gluten-free Vanilla
4 cups of powdered sugar
¼ cup of milk

Directions:
Cream shortening and sugar until very fluffy. Add egg, vanilla extract, milk, and food coloring (optional], beating until integrated. Add the dry ingredients last, mixing until evenly blended. Form the dough into a ball and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate or freeze until cold and no longer sticky, at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375ºF (static) or 350ºF (convection).

Lightly flour the rolling surface, rolling pin and cookie cutters with Jules Gluten Free All Purpose Flour. Roll the dough to approximately 1/8-inch thickness and cut shapes, re-rolling dough to utilize all the dough.

Place cut-out cookies onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and decorate with colored sugar or sprinkles, if desired. Bake approximately 8–10 minutes, but remove before they begin to brown at the edges. When baked and cooled, frost with Easy Cookie Icing, if desired.

Directions - Easy Cookie Icing :

Combine frosting ingredients in mixer bowl.
Beat until fluffy

If frosting is too dry or stiff – add small amount of milk until it's easily spreadable.

Note: Peg made two different versions of these cookies. One batch following Jule's recipe, another batch using real Wisconsin butter – just like Happy Cows intended. During the group's blind taste-test - butter was the winner!


Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Submitted by: Al
Original recipe: Cook's Country

This is our favorite and go-to mashed potato recipe.

Ingredients:
4 lbs russet potatoes, peeled, quartered, ½” pieces
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
12 garlic cloves, minced [We use 4-5]
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper

Directions:
Place cut potatoes in colander. Rinse under cold running water until water runs clear. Drain thoroughly. This is a very important step to eliminate excess starch, which produces gluey mashed potatoes.

Melt 4 tablespoons butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook garlic and sugar, stirring often, until sticky and straw colored, 3 to 4 minutes. Add rinsed potatoes, 1 1/4 cups half-and-half, water and 1 teaspoon salt to pot and stir to combine. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered and stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 25 to 30 minutes.

Remove from heat, add remaining butter to pot and mash with potato masher until smooth. Using rubber spatula, fold in remaining half-and-half until liquid is absorbed and potatoes are creamy. Season with salt and pepper.