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Lessons, Tips, & Recipes — Holiday Baking


Gluten Free Mama’s Cupcake Wars!

Gluten Free Mama’s Cupcake Wars Well at least Mama’s Version.  Ha!  My daughter Lexie and I have been watching Cupcake Wars on the Food Network.  I am always critiquing the cupcakes or agreeing with certain styles. I am constantly playing along, deciding what I would do if in that situation.  My daughter and I have a lot of fun guessing which ones will win.  Lexie says, “Mom you should go on cupcake wars!”  I say no, with my health I wouldn’t have the stamina.  Then she says, “How about we do our own cupcake wars just for fun?”  I was intrigued, so we chose the “Holiday Theme”.  On cupcake wars, the contestants are given a theme and are required to...

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Gluten Free Mama’s Green Bean Casserole GF French Fried Onions

Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole, GF French Fried Onions and GF Semi-Condensed Cream Soup And a video tutorial on how to make this traditiona Thanksgiving dish! Green Bean Casserole is a traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday favorite.  Due to the fact that it is full of gluten, gluten free folks have not been able to enjoy this holiday favorite.  Not anymore, Gluten Free Mama not only made a gluten free version of this delicious casserole, she put her own holiday twist on it.  Check out the recipe below and be sure to check out the You Tube Cooking Lesson.  Mama has a video cooking lesson on You Tube making this delicious Green Bean Casserole.  Click Here to watch. Be sure to hit like...

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Basic Gluten Free Stuffing

Stuffing is one of the most asked for recipes.  Enjoy this great recipe from one of my wonderful gluten free friends.  Jess McNeil was so kind to bless us with her favorite gluten free stuffing recipe.  I have to say that Jess is one of my most “enthusiastic” gluten free friends.  She always brings a smile to my face.  I hope that her recipe will bring a smile to your face.

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Gluten Free Gingerbread Houses a Holiday Tradition

Gingerbread houses are a tradition in my family.  I started making this a tradition when my first born, Gracie, was nearly 2 years old.  I can still remember the innocence she had as she placed each candy onto the house, not in any particular place for any rhyme or reason. When the kids were young I had to be very careful about when I told them we were going to do the houses.  If I wasn’t careful I would pay the consequences of hearing constant nagging and whining until I just would drop everything to get them started.

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Gluten Free Lefse Another Holiday Tradition!

Lefse is a holiday tradition I was introduced to when I married into the Carlyle family. Both of my husband Chris’ parents are 50% Norwegian. Therefore, my oldest two children are 25% Norwegian. Grandma Bette has been making Lefse for our family for years at Christmas time. Lefse is a traditional Norwegian

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Gluten Free Sausage Balls — Party Appetizer

Make the with Italian Sausage or Turkey Sausage, Easy to Make and a Fan Favorite! Well this is my first “New” recipe that I have created since my brain surgery in November. This was a modified recipe, based off a sausage roll my mom made using Bisquick growing up. I made a few changes, using Mama’s Pancake Mix instead (to be gluten free), using an Italian Sausage verses the pork breakfast sausage, made a turkey version with added spices for those who don’t like pork sausage, (like my kids), and added green onions. Make your favorite dipping sauce to go with them or use Honey BBQ sauce for the Pork Italian Sausage version and for the Turkey Version add 1...

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Gluten Free Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie

Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie!  Enjoy Mama’s pumpkin pie recipe that is dairy free and gluten free.  The secret ingredient in this pie is Coconut yogurt and milk.  Believe me, you will love it!   I am thankful for so many things including my family, my home, and my friends.  I am also very thankful for all of my gluten free friends.  You all keep me going.  Thank you.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving leave a comment on my post on what you are thankful for this year.  Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!  And of course, Enjoy eating gluten free!

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Lebkuchan Cookies

This Christmas celebration we bring to you a traditional German Christmas Cookie, Lebkuchen Cookies.  Actually, it is referred to as a biscuit, but we americans refer to it as a cookie.  Lebkuchen cookies come in different flavors and shapes, most common the shape being brown and uses spices like citron, cloves, cinnamon, anise seed, walnuts, almonds, raisins, and candied fruit.

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Gluten Free Lace Cookies

Three years ago, I showed up at a booksigning in Olympia Washington for my first cookbook.  Unbeknownst to me, the store told the customers ahead of time that I was going to do a lecture.  So here I am with all my “booksigning” stuff set up including samples and what not, and customers start walking through the doors with their notebooks.  They asked me where is the class?  I said there is no class, just a booksigning. 

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Holiday Stained Glass Cookies

Christmas is the time of sharing and our friends over at Glutenfreeda have been so kind to share with us one of their favorite Christmas Cookies, Holiday Stained Glass Cookies.  I couldn’t think of a better cookie to make the list for Day 4 of Mama’s 25 Days of a Gluten Free Christmas.  Glutenfreeda.com is a great resource for those living gluten free with one of the largest gluten free recipe databases in the world.  Glutenfreeda also manufactures some of my favorite gluten free products including, Gluten Free Instant Oatmeal, Real Cookies (authentic frozen cookie dough), Granola, Burritos and Gluten Free Ice Cream Sandwiches. 

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Gluten Free Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread houses are a tradition in my family.  I started making this a tradition when my first born, Gracie, was nearly 2 years old.  I can still remember the innocence she had as she placed each candy onto the house, not in any particular place for any rhyme or reason. When the kids were young I had to be very careful about when I told them we were going to do the houses.  If I wasn’t careful I would pay the consequences of hearing constant nagging and whining until I just would drop everything to get them started.

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Gluten Free Cream Puffs

When was the last time you bit into a decadent cream puff? These delicious pastries are a perfect treat to bring to your next holiday party or as a Christmas day treat that are sure to awe all of your guests. You will have your guests asking “Are these really gluten free?”

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Peach Berry Cobbler ~ Gluten Free

Cobbler is one of those few desserts that speak family, speak comfort, speak tradition to me. Whenever we would go to grandmas house for dinner, she always had her famous Peach Cobbler for dessert. Grandma made hers the southern way, with an amazing biscuit topping. It was D-elicious! If I ever find her recipe, I will convert it gluten free for you. 

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Mama’s Gluten Free Donuts

Hungry for a donuts? Try these gluten free donuts. These donuts remind me of some special memories I had as a kid. When me, my brother, or my sister would have sleepovers for birthday parties or special occasions, my mom would make these for me. You may have had them. She would take a can of buttermilk biscuits out of the fridge. She cut a hole out of the center. 

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Gluten Free Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies~Using Mama’s Cookie Mix Ingredients1 PKG Mama’s Sugar Cookie Mix ¾ cup butter or dairy free margarine½ tsp. almond extract 1 egg white1-2 Tbsp milk (dairy, rice, nut, soy)Raspberry Jam (Simply fruit by Smuckers recommended)  Glaze:1 cup powdered sugar ½ tsp. almond extract1-2 Tbsp. milk (dairy, rice, nut, soy) or waterDirectionsPreheat oven to 350°.Cream butter or margarine with almond extract. Add Mama’s Cookie Mix and egg white.  Mix on low for 1-2 minutes.  Scrape down sides of bowl. Add milk and mix on medium speed for 1-3 minutes or until a large ball of dough forms. Form ¾ inch – 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Gently press on the top of the cookie to form and indent with...

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luten Free Challah Bread

Gluten Free Challah Bread This fall, I was walking through Seattle’s Famous Pike Place Market.  As I was passing many bakeries and smelling the sweet aroma of baked goods that I could not eat, I passed by a bakery with the most beautiful breads in the window.  One of them was Challah bread.  My mouth watered as I looked at it and I made it a goal to make this bread gluten free.  With Easter and the Passover coming up, I thought there was no better time to create it.  Challah bread is traditional dairy free.  It is also made in a braid of 6 braids.  It is difficult to form braids with gluten free breads and still have the bread...

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Making Gluten Free Rolls with Gluten Free Mama – 1 Great Recipe with 9 Variations!

Gluten Free Mama shows you how to take her popular Gluten Free Pull-Apart Dinner Roll Recipe and make it 9 different ways and 11 different variations!  It’s like 11 recipes in one.  This post includes tips, on pans to use, baking times, and fun variations.  Making dinner rolls just became fun and even more delicious.  

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Red White and Blue Strawberries

These Red White and Blue Strawberries will delight guests at your picnics, parties and gatherings this weekend!  They are simple to make, beautiful to look at and tasty to eat, oh, and Patriotic too!  Enjoy!Ingredients24 StrawberiesDark Chocolate Melting Wafers (or 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips melted with 1 Tbsp. spectrum shortening)White Chocolate Melting Wafers (or 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips melted with 1 Tbsp. spectrum shortening)     Blue Sprinkles GFM Tip:  If you don’t have blue sprinkles, no worries!  You can make them.  Take coarse white sugar sprinkles and add 1-2 drops of blue food coloring and mix. Add more food coloring as necessary to achieve desired color.  You can buy any color sprinkle your hearts desire is at http://www.layercakeshop.com/ .DirectionsLine a large...

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Mama’s Gluten Free French Fried Onions

French Fried Onions are famous for being added to the top of the famous Green Bean Casserole. Often Thanksgiving and Christmas time is the only time we here about this delicious topping. The good news is that we can actually enjoy these delicious fried onions all year round. Try them as a topping on salads, casseroles, saute’d vegetables, and Mama’s favorite as a topping on hamburgers and of course the famous green bean casserole.

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Gluten Free Pumpkin Brownies (Egg Free)

Gluten Free Pumpkin Brownies~Egg Free This is a simple and easy brownie that is egg free and perfect any time of the year.  The pumpkin not only acts as a pumpkin flavor to this brownie, it acts as the egg replacer, making these moist and delicious.  You can sprinkle them with powdered sugar after cooled or spread cream cheese frosting over the top.

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Gluten Free Pumpkin Cupcakes ~ Made 3 Ways!

The leaves are beginning to change colors, the children are back to school, there is a cool breeze through my kitchen window, all of which cause me to start thinking about fall baking. When I think about fall and baking, I think about pumpkin, apples, plums and more. Today’s recipe are my gluten free pumpkin cupcakes and complimentary fall frostings.

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Cardamom Spiced Plum & Apple Crisp ~ Gluten Free

I love baked fruit crisps any time of year. They are especially nice when fresh fruit is in season, but you can certainly make them all year round with frozen fruit. You can even use fresh fruit in the summer and create your own filling and either can them or freeze them. Crisps are similar to a pies, with pies we bake fruit with the sugar and spices until the fruit becomes soft and the liquids thicken into a nice thick sauce over the fruit, and of course it’s made with a rich, flaky crust on the bottom and many times on the top too. With a crisp we forget the pie crust, instead making a delicious crisp topping, comprising...

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Maple Glazed Yams & Cranberries

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it’s time to start thinking about what to bring to dinner to accompany that juicy turkey.  I have fond memories of the Thanksgiving dinner table.  Family and friends gathered around the table that is overflowing with amazing dishes that are sure to delight our taste buds and fill our tummies with warmth, goodness and love.

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Thanksgiving Side Dishes from Gluten Free Bloggers

A group of gluten free food bloggers and I teamed up to bring you a bunch of gluten free side dishes and a few desserts that you can make for your Thanksgiving Table.  Food writers and bloggers like myself work hours and hours trying to perfect recipes just so you and I can enjoy them.  

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Gluten Free Lefse

It took me three years to convert Grandma Bette’s recipe to gluten free so that Lexie and I can enjoy it too. The first year and second year it did not get Grandma Bette’s seal of approval. She said it was good but too dry. This final recipe, she said I nailed it by adding a little more butter and a little less flour. 

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A Gluten Free Christmas with Gluten Free Mama Cookbook, by Rachel Carlyle Edington

IT’S FINALLY HERE!  I have been working tirelessly on this new gluten free Christmas Cookbook for you! “A Gluten Free Christmas with Gluten Free Mama“, By Rachel Carlyle Edington.   I am so excited to share it with you.  It is full of 37 recipes to help you enjoy success baking this Christmas season.  In this special e-book, I am sharing a collection of gluten free Christmas favorites including recipes for sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, gingerbread cookies

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Gluten Free Spritz Cookies – A Christmas Cookie Tradition!

Spritz Cookies have been a holiday favorite for generations!  Spritz cookies are a German cookie referred to as “Spritzgebäck”, which are made from flour, butter, sugar and eggs.  They are made using a cookie press that has different templates and make different designs, or can be made using a pastry bag with a star tip. They are called Spritz cookies because they come from the word “spritzen” which means “to squirt”. They are a fragile cookie in nature with a rich buttery taste.

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Gluten Free Espresso Chocolate Chip Quick Bread

Sometimes I want coffee and sometimes and want coffee flavored food!  If you are a coffee lover you will love this delicious gluten free Espresso Chocolate Chip Quick Bread.  Now when I say quick…I am really meaning quick.  It is so easy to throw together and its done baking in 35 minutes if using the mini bread pans and about an hour using the regular pan. 

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Gluten Free Mama’s Pretzel Toffee with Glutino Pretzels

Gluten Free Mama’s Gluten Free Pretzel Toffee with Glutino Pretzels has got to be hands down the best candy to serve, give away as gifts and eat at Christmas time!  Today I am going to share with you my updated version to this recipe.  It is featured in my second cookbook, In the Kitchen with Gluten Free Mama

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Banana Applesauce Streusel Muffins ~ Gluten Free

Gluten Free Mama’s delicious Banana Applesauce Streusel Muffins make for a delicious light breakfast or mid-morning snack.  The banana and applesauce are a natural sweetener to these muffins and the streusel topping will delight the taste buds.  I made a batch up and between my children, all teenagers and their

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Gluten Free Red Velvet Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and it’s time to start thinking about delicious gluten free desserts to make for your sweetheart!  Mama’s Gluten Free Red Velvet Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies are a perfect way to say, “Will you be my Valentine?”  These are also perfect to serve at the upcoming Superbowl party!

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Chocolate Whoopie Pies ~ Gluten Free

A few years ago, I was in Pasadena with my husband on a little husband/wife getaway.  We were walking down Colorado street and there was a little corner bakery, in fact I think it was called Corner Bakery.  We stopped there for lunch.  While trying to decide what I wanted for lunch my eyes were drawn to the bakery case where these Whoopie Pies, little cakes filled with creamy filling, were enveloping my attention.

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Gluten Free Saint Patricks Day Recipes

Saint Patricks Day is tomorrow and you at probably wondering, “What should I make?”  If you are like me, this is one of those holidays, I wait til last minute to figure out.  So I got you covered today. My gluten free Blogger friends and I have gathered a group of recipes that you can choose from.  Most are super easy to make. Any of the ones that call for flour, Mama’s Almond and Coconut Blend Flours will work perfectly! Gluten Free Mama’s Pumpernickel Bread works Fabulously with St Patrick’s Day Patty Melts or Reuben’s.  Click Here. Around My Family Table’s Irish Soda Bread, a St. Patricks Day Classic. Click Here Petite Allergy Treats Shamrock Shake. Click Here Petite Allergy Treats Vegan Chocolate Chip Mint Ice Cream. Click Here...

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60+ Gluten Free Pumpkin Recipes From Gluten Free Bloggers

I love this time of year, because of PUMPKIN!  There are so many baked recipes you can make with pumpkin from brownies to breads to cheesecakes and more.  I gathered a variety of gluten free pumpkin recipes from my gluten free blogger friends and have put them for you all in this one great place.  Browse through the pictures and click on and follow the bloggers you like.  Remember that bloggers always love to hear from their followers, so if you make a recipe and like it, comment on their blog or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  They work very hard to bring you these recipes, so when they hear you like the recipe it is very rewarding....

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Gluten Free Gingerbread Waffles

Hi everyone! This is Celeste from Life After Wheat!  It’s great to be back as a guest on Gluten Free Mama’s site. I’m a huge fan of  all her products, and especially love the  Sugar Cookie Mix  and  Almond Flour Blend. Did you know that you get FREE shipping when you order $50.01 or more in her store? I’m a sucker for free shipping so I always take the opportunity to stock up when I need to order. I’m here to share one of our family’s newest favorites: Gingerbread Waffles. They’re perfect for this time of year! I’m here to share one of our family’s newest favorites: Gingerbread Waffles. They’re perfect for this time of year! The warm flavors of molasses,...

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Gluten Free Mama Gingerbread Man Cookies

After baking gluten free gingerbread cookies  my house now officially smells like the holidays. This simple and amazing recipe instantly invites the spirit of Christmas in as the warm smell of cloves, cinnamon and ginger deliciously waft throughout your home. These little men also make for great neighbor gifts as you share your holiday cheer. If you need a little Christmas spirit these cookies will surely do the trick. Happy holidays and happy baking!   Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies            Author: Rachel Carlyle Edington Ingredients3 cups Mama’s Almond or Coconut Blend Flour1 tsp. xanthan gum1/2 tsp. salt1 tsp. baking soda2 tsp. ground ginger1/4 tsp. ground cloves1 tsp. cinnamon br] 10 Tbsp. butter or dairy free margarine1/2 cup...

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Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies seem to be a staple in my life. I can’t figure out if I am constantly making sugar cookies for my kids and all their fun activities/parties or if I just love them so much I’ll find any excuse to make a batch, or two or three…….. Either way you can have complete confidence that these sugar cookies have been thoroughly vetted for their sweet taste and soft texture. This recipe is from the “In the Kitchen with Gluten Free Mama”cookbook (pg. 164) and I love it so much I wanted to share it publicly on the blog for everyone. At our home this week, these cookies will definitely be baking on repeat as I prepare for Valentine’s...

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