Each year thousands make a major lifestyle change and start to eat gluten-free. The reasons why vary. Some think it's a healthier way to live while it becomes a necessity for others who have been diagnosed with celiac disease. At first it looks like you can no longer enjoy some of your favorite comfort foods like paste, pizza and cookies. Thankfully there are many gluten-free options available now along with lots of gluten free recipes. Here's one of my favorites, for a delicious gluten free oatmeal cookie.
Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup regular sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cups gluten free flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 large egg
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1 1/2 cups gluten free oats
1/2 cup raisins (or other dried fruit)
Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit. Soften the butter on the counter so it will be easier to work with. Cream the butter and both the brown and regular sugar with a hand mixer or use your kitchen mixer. Next it's time to beat in the egg and vanilla. Be sure to keep mixing until everything is smooth and well combined.
Get out a bowl and add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt. Give those dry ingredients a good stir, then work it into the egg mixture. Last but not least stir in the oats and raisins until they are well combined.
Scoop one tablespoon of batter onto a greased baking sheet per cookie. Keep working until you have your cookie sheet filled up. I like to work with two large spoons to do this, but a melon scooper or small ice cream scooper work as well.
You should bake these oatmeal cookies a good ten minutes. A golden brown color will let you know that it's time to take the oatmeal cookies out of the oven. Cool them a bit, then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling. The cool cookies can then be stored in an airtight container.
This recipe yields two dozen oatmeal cookies.
If you don't like making a recipe like this from scratch, you can also find delicious cookie mixes in all sorts of different flavors (including peanut butter, chocolate chip and of course oatmeal) at your local health food store and online. They are a great alternative. There are even some premade cookies that you can purchase that taste pretty decent.
In short, you do not have to give up on your favorite treats when you have to switch to eating gluten free.