Easy, Gluten Free Easter Bunny Cake (with Vegan Option)

 

 

Hello hello, friends! We are finally getting some sunshine here in the Pacific Northwest, just in time for Easter weekend. 

Perfect timing, also, to share a quick post on a really easy Gluten Free Easter bunny cake, with a vegan option. 

 I made this cake last weekend for a group of boys aged 2.5-6 and I wish I'd gotten a pic of how big their eyes got when I brought this cake out! They were super excited, and of course everyone had an opinion on which part of the bunny they wanted to eat 😄

Gluten Free Construction Cake

DIY Homemade Gluten Free Birthday Cake for Kids

Gluten free kids don't need to miss out on fun birthday cakes. My son's first birthday cake request ever was a couple of years ago for his fourth birthday. He wanted a construction cake, which turned out to be far easier to make than you might think. And while my kid has no problems with gluten and I could have bought him a regular cake for his birthday, I decided to make my own GF one instead. Because gosh darn it, sometimes I want a fun cake too!!

And with a cake as simple as this one, you don't need to be a pro to make it look good. 

These photos were quick snaps on my old cell phone, so I apologize for the quality. But I'm lucky to have gotten any shots at all since my son and nephew turned this cake into an ACTUAL construction zone before we could cut proper slices!! 

Gluten Free Christmas Sugar Cookies - 4 Ways from 1 Recipe!

 

 

It's not always easy baking with kids, but I these gluten free spritz cookies are fast and simple enough that you can whip up a few dozen in enough time to keep a preschooler engaged. If you're doing this alone, it will go even faster! 

A good, basic sugar cookie recipe can go a long way to making a variety of colours and styles of sugar cookies, and really create that wow factor for holiday gift giving. My basic spritz cookie recipe is simply divided into four and decorated differently.

 

My newly turned 4 year old helped me squeeze the cookie press and decorate. Granted, there was some licking of icing and devouring of sprinkles in the process, and he wandered off a couple of times, but over all, it was a successful baking venture. 

Read on to find out how we did it! 

Gluten Free Yule Log Recipe / Chocolate Jelly Roll

This post was first shared in 2016, but I'm reposting it because it's still one of my favourite holiday recipes! 

 
 

Jelly rolls used to mystify me. They seemed like the sort of thing that would forever elude me.

Until now. I had no idea how easy it could be, once you have a decent recipe.

Two years ago my mother-in-law (who is incredibly accommodating of my food allergies and an excellent cook) made a gorgeous gluten free yule log, complete with frosting and meringue mushrooms. She used a cake mix, which was very good.

But you know me. I prefer to bang my head against the wall a few times until I can make it myself.

I tried to make a gluten free jelly roll last year, and it was a total fail. I did, however, end up using the failed attempts to make both Vegan, Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Balls and Vegan, Gluten Free Chocolate Pudding Pie .

As you can see, this year's attempt did not fail.

Oh no. This year's attempt was a spectacular success. And then I added chocolate leaves and it was even more spectacular.

I also wanted it to be a not-too-sweet, frosting-free Yule log, so it turned out more of a chocolate jelly roll. Which, as it turns out, is awesome.

So here it is, My Gluten Free Chocolate Jelly Roll Yule Cake recipe.

Vegan and Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes with Sunflower Icing (and natural food coloring)

Following quickly on the heels of my Bunny Pull Apart Cupcake Cake, I just had to share these gorgeous (and easy!) gluten free and vegan sunflower cupcakes. I think of these bright little cupcakes as little bombs of sunshine. They make me stupidly happy to see them when I open the fridge (which is where you'll want to store them).

I'm confident that if you show up at Easter dinner with these, the recipients will reward you with big smiles.

And don't let the icing daunt you! Though the buttercream sunflowers look complex, I only had to do one tester cupcake before I felt confident enough to work more quickly. In the end, I couldn't tell which was the tester.

Even if the petals don't seem perfect as you're piping them, never fear. Nature isn't always perfect and symmetrical either!

Vegan and Gluten Free Bunny Pull Apart Cake

I just have to share this latest baking adventure with you all!! This little experiment made me so happy, and I love opening my fridge right now, as there is a smiling bunny face looking up at me.

And I thought you all might like to know how you can turn these gluten free and vegan cupcakes into an easy pull apart cake just in time for Easter. Seriously, the cake is super easy, and I say this as someone who generally sucks at decorating. That's why I did this all as a trial the week before Easter. Turns out it's not hard at all!

Easy, Gluten Free and Vegan Chocolate Coconut Nests

 Looking for a super last minute, easy-to-make Easter treat? These Chocolate Coconut Nests require only 2 ingredients (3 if you count a filling, like mini eggs or jelly beans), no baking, and can be thrown together in almost no time at all.

Did I mention they're super tasty, and lots of fun for little kids? I made these to take to my 2 1/2 yr old niece for Easter, and I hope she likes them, because I've been nibbling on them myself the last couple of days!

They can also be made vegan if you use vegan chocolate chips like these and fill them with something like peanuts or vegan jelly beans instead of mini eggs.

Gluten Free Lavender Sugar Cookies with Lemon and Lavender Icing

Hi everyone!! I've missed you all enormously. I'm sorry for dropping off this past few weeks, but life has been rather hectic.

We were back in Wisconsin for a bit this fall while my husband finished up his PhD, during which time my poor old back, damaged in a bad car accident a few years back, flared up and left me with excruciating pain, and then my dear old grandmother passed away - peacefully after a good long life, but sad for me nevertheless. I'm also frantically trying to finish my fourth novel. So blogging has been a little low on the totem pole of priorities.

But I'm here now, with a lovely little recipe I've been meaning to share for a while - delicately flavoured lavender shortbread / sugar cookies, made with lavender from my own little deck pot.

I suppose I ought to apologize for sharing them, since I suspect you'll find it hard not to gobble them up, but they're too good to keep all for myself!

Gluten Free Ma'amoul / Middle Eastern fruit-filled biscuit cookies (nut-free, with fig filling and vegan option)

Mmmmm... Ma'amoul, how I've missed you.

There were so many things that kept us apart for the last seven years, but I hung on to the memories of the good times we had. Back when I could eat both gluten and dates and nuts.  


I always wondered if there was some way we could make it work between us.

And now we have... 


In case you didn't know, maamoul is a Middle Eastern cookie / pastry / biscuit much like a fig newton. Except that they're usually filled with date or nut spread and made in a mold (don't worry, you can make them without a mold, too).

They're not too sweet, not too fatty, and go absolutely perfect with a cup of tea or Homemade Turkish Coffee.

Gluten Free Easter Cookies with Easy Natural Food Dye Icing

Hi all, I know I've been MIA the last couple of weeks and I apologize. Things are hectic as I try to finish editing the 3rd novel in my romance series, and I'm working on creating a brand spankin' new author website, totally separate from the blog.

But I haven't forgotten about you all. And I haven't forgotten that it's Easter weekend!!

Sooo, I'm no artist when it comes to decorating, but I am pretty pleased with how these sugar cookies / spritz cookies turned out. I made my own naturally dyed icing, and I'm going to share my secret with you below. It's so simple, you're going to want to try and make these all on your own. 

Gluten Free & Vegan Hint of Orange Oatmeal Cookies (+MeatlessMonday)

I never ever thought I'd say an oatmeal cookie could be addictive. I used to hate the nasty little things when I was younger. And frankly, I'm not even really a big cookie eater. But I'm going to warn you now - these oatmeal cookies are seriously addictive.

Even my husband says so, and he's neither gluten free nor vegan.

From now on, I think orange zest should be added to all cookies, everywhere, forever more.

These hint of orange oatmeal cookies are also pretty darned healthy, comprised almost entirely of oats (and only 1 Tbsp of tapioca starch), and can easily be made with dried cranberries, nuts, or other healthy things. So I don't feel guilty grabbing a couple of them and munching them on the way to the gym, or having a couple of them first thing in the morning with my cup of coffee while I'm writing at my desk.

As I'm doing right now. If you could see me, you'd see a plate of cookies next to me, and a furry old cat in my lap.

Oh wait, I can show you that, let me grab my camera...

Gluten Free Valentine's Day Gingerbread House

Well it's not exactly pretty at the moment, but I do have a gluten free Valentine's Day gingerbread house! You see, back in December, when the hubster and I were decorating our first (and very successful) attempt at a gluten free gingerbread house he had so much fun doing it as a date together he asked me, "We can make gingerbread houses for other times of the year, right? It doesn't just have to be for Christmas, does it?"

My husband and I aren't huge on Valentine's Day, being as how it's such a commercialized thing that just seems to lead to people being disappointed they weren't spoiled the way they wanted to be, and promoting an unequal gender balance in which women expect men to shower them with gifts. Instead, we prefer to spend quality time with each other, and go on a cheap date on a day other than Valentine's Day. 

And so, odd as it may be, this year marks what may be the beginning of a Valentine's Day Gingerbread house date night tradition...

Easy Gluten Free Pear Galette / Rustic French Pie

I wanted to post this a while back but have been far too busy trying to finish off In the Temple of Mehyt, the 2nd novel in my Ancient Egyptian Romances series. The good news is that it's off to the printer's, and I expect within a few days I'll be holding the proof copy in my hands!!

This galette is like a pie, but really even simpler. It's very easy to throw together, and isn't nearly as fancy as it sounds. It's just a simple French-style pie. Pears, sprinkled with cinnamon and a bit of sugar and a splash of lemon juice, spread over a galette / pie crust and folded up, then baked. That's all there is to it.

I've served it a few times now, to both friends and family, so I hope you and your friends and family enjoy it, too!

Easy Egg-Free, Vegan and Gluten-Free Sea Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (+MeatlessMonday)

This is the second week in a row I've posted a dessert recipe, and I sincerely apologize that we've detoured from my usual uber healthy meals and salads.

But holy smokes folks is it ever worth it!! (Also, it's Halloween weekend, so I think we can all forgive ourselves a cookie or two, and Happy Halloween everyone!)

So that said, I also have to apologize more specifically for this recipe, because these cookies are ridiculously addictive. It's highly unlikely you'll be able to have just one, and you'll probably want them regularly.

I say this from experience. I've made four batches in the past ten days, and today was the first time I was able to actually take pictures of them before they were all eaten...

They're super fast and easy, aren't too sweet, and come with peanut butter, chocolate chips, AND sea salt. Need I really say more?

Easy Gluten Free Mint Chocolate Mousse & Chocolate Mousse Pie with Mint Whipped Cream

 Oh my. 

This chocolate mousse pie is so decadent, so rich, and utterly fabulous. This is the type of thing you want to roll around in your mouth for a little while it dissolves on your tongue.

And yet the process isn't difficult and doesn't require any fancy stuff. The pie crust is a faux cookie crumb crust, which means it doesn't even require gluten free chocolate cookies to make, just a few basic ingredients.

There are three components to it but only one is absolutely necessary (the chocolate mousse), so you can choose if you want to layer that on the gluten free chocolate pie crust and top with mint whipped cream. And of course, I recommend that you do, but the mousse is wonderful on its own. 

You can also do away with the mint flavour if you prefer but the mint adds a delightful fresh, lightness to the rich mousse.

Vegan, Gluten Free Greek Apple Cake / Milopita (+MeatlessMonday) and a Mediterranean-themed meal plan

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, corn

Greek Apple Cake (a.k.a. Milopita) is a tender, moist, lightly spiced cake often eaten for breakfast in Greece. There seem to be a ton of different ways to make it, but the traditional variations mostly appear to include a lot of eggs, butter, and sugar.  

You see I say seem and appear because - thanks to all my food restrictions - I've never had a traditional Greek apple cake. But once I heard about it, I just HAD to try it somehow, and this healthier, vegan and allergy-free rendition turned out pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.  

So whether you want to call it a Greek apple cake, or just a vegan and gluten free apple cake inspired by the Greek one, I think it's definitely worth a try! 

Easier than Pie Vegan and Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie (+MeatlessMonday)

Free of gluten, soy, corn, nut-free option, dairy-free option

Sometimes I think whoever came up with the term that something was "easy as pie" probably never actually tried making pie, just eating it. And most certainly they never made pie on a hot day, when the butter melts and the dough sticks to the rolling pin or the waxed paper, and then when you finally do get it into the pie plate it won't hold it's shape and make those nice little ridges but just sort of flops over the edge, like a wilted flower.

They never had a pie crust burn on the the edges and the bottom bubble up. They've never had a hard, chewy crust paired with an undercooked filling. They never slaved over a hot stove on a hot day, sweat dripping down into their eyes and between their breasts, turning on the oven light to check inside to make sure the filling didn't bubble up and over the edges, making a total mess of the inside of their stove so the kitchen is flooded with the smell of burnt fruit and the smoke alarm goes off and the neighbours all wonder what the heck you're burning this time...

Sometimes pie isn't easy.

But this gluten free, vegan, chocolate peanut butter pie is so easy, it's easier than pie. The crust takes just a couple of minutes to throw together, and you can pre-bake it while you whip together the filling. Then refrigerate a few minutes until it's set and there you have it. Easier than pie pie.

Gluten Free Watermelon Rind and Apple Pie (with a vegan option) +MeatlessMonday

Free of gluten, eggs, nuts, corn, with vegan option

So last year I posted a recipe for Watermelon Rind Soup, and someone commented that they used watermelon rind to make pie. That sounded like a fantastic idea and I knew I'd have to give it a try when I got a chance. Well it's watermelon season again and I tried it!

And the verdict is that pie is a very, very good way to make use of watermelon rinds. It's super frugal and watermelon rinds are actually good for you (see the above recipe for rind soup for more info), so you can totally justify eating pie for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

As I've said elsewhere, I'm allergic to a lot of raw fruits and veggies, and I can't really have raw melons. I can, however, have them cooked. When raw they make my mouth itch, and my skin itches when I handle them, so I usually have to use gloves for this.

Easy Gluten Free Rolled Fruit Dumpling Biscuit Thingies +Meatless Monday

Free of gluten, eggs, nuts, soy, with dairy free / vegan option

I've made this recipe three times in the last couple of weeks, and yesterday was the first time I was able to photograph them before they all got eaten. And that's only because I made them early in the day just so I would have time to photograph them before anyone came over and ate them all!

I don't know what to call these things, really, since the original recipe that I used as the model called them fruit dumplings. But really, they're more like a baked fruit biscuit roll-up type thingy. They're also not as sickly-sweet as a lot of other dumplings.

Whatever you want to call them, these gluten free baked fruit biscuit roll-up dumpling fruit log thingies are so very quick and easy (easy enough that I've made them 3 times to take dinner parties). They're also pretty healthy, since I cut back on the butter and sugar and used sorghum flour. And of course, they're loaded with fruit, so they make a fabulous healthy dessert.

They're so good, I took them to a dinner party where I was the only GF person. I had someone ask me if I was sure they were gluten free because they said the texture was too good to be gluten free.

Accidental Vegan, Gluten Free Chocolate Pudding Pie

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, nuts, soy-free option

So remember how last week I screwed up a beet chocolate cake and ended up with a bunch of tasty crumbs, and used half of them to make these Vegan, Gluten Free Chocolate Beet Balls? 

Well here's what I did with the other half. I turned the chocolate cake crumbs into a Chocolate Cake Pie Crust, and slapped some chocolate tofu pudding on top. So if you're ever wondering what to do with extra chocolate cake bits, why not try out this pie crust?

And btw- my husband actually really, really likes the tofu pudding I used for the pie (and he's not vegan).  But if you don't like tofu or need a soy-free option, you can always use the super easy microwave Chocolate Pudding recipe I used to make Mini Chocolate Pudding Pies.