Free of: dairy, nuts and gluten, plus the other top allergens. For those not following a gluten-free diet, a flour alternative is included.

Makes 16 cupcakes

Ingredients

Carrot Cupcakes

• 1 cup (250 mL) brown rice flour (superfine if possible)
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) tapioca starch
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) potato starch
• 1/4 tsp (1.25 mL) xanthan gum
• 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp (7.5 mL) ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp (1.25 mL) ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) salt
• 3/4 cup (175 mL) packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup (80 mL) white sugar
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) crushed pineapple with juice
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) grapeseed, coconut or canola oil
• 2 eggs [See "Recipe Notes” for egg substitute]
• 1 1/4 tsp (6.25 mL) vanilla extract
• 2 cups shredded carrots

Pineapple “Cream Cheese” Frosting

• 4 oz (113 g) dairy-free cream cheese alternative
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) palm shortening, coconut oil [see “Recipe Notes”] or dairy-free margarine
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) drained, crushed pineapple or 1 1/2 tsp (7.5 mL) pineapple juice
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) lemon juice
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups (250 mL+) sifted confectioners’ sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line 16 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together: brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt.
3. Using a hand blender, in a separate mixing bowl mix: brown sugar, white sugar, pineapple, oil and eggs. Or whisk for 1 minute.
4. Add dry ingredients to the mixing bowl, then stir with a wooden spoon just until the ingredients are combined. Stir in the shredded carrots.
5. Pour batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups; they should be 2/3 to 3/4 full.
6. Bake the cupcakes 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. To make the frosting, with a hand mixer, beat the shortening, oil, or margarine with the cream cheese alternative until soft and well-combined. Beat in the drained pineapple (or pineapple juice) and lemon juice, and slowly blend in 1 cup of the powdered sugar. If a sweeter icing is desired, beat in up to ½ cup of additional confectioners’ sugar. Chill the frosting in the refrigerator as the cupcakes cool.
8. Once thickened, give the frosting a quick whip. The consistency will be slightly softer than a buttercream. Frost cupcakes and serve.

Next: Recipe Notes

Free of top allergens and gluten-free:

• Chef Simon’s Seriously Fruitcake

• Scrumptious Pumpkin Pie – 2 versions: gluten-free and regular flour

• Cranberry & Apple Pie – 2 versions: gluten-free and regular flour

• Gluten-Free, Dairy-free Shortbread

• Cranberry and Banana Loaf

• Delicious Date Squares

• Old-Fashioned Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

• Chocolate-Dipped Macaroons – contain eggs

• The Gluten-Free Girl’s Perfect Pie Crust

Free of top allergens but contain wheat:

• Mincemeat Tartlets

• Cranberry and Banana Loaf – version with wheat flour

• Shortbread Cookies – version with wheat flour

• Gingerbread Cookies

• Spiced Sugar Cookies – contain spelt, not GF

Hot Tips

• Senior Editor Alisa Fleming on: Baking Without Dairy or Eggs

• Food Editor Simon Clarke on: Working with Gluten-Free Pastry

By Donna Washburn and Heather Butt

Makes 15 slices (1 per serving)

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup sorghum flour – 175 mL
• 2/3 cup amaranth flour – 150 mL
• 1/3 cup flax flour – 75 mL
• 2/3 cup potato starch – 150 mL
• 1/3 cup cornstarch – 75 mL
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar – 60 mL
• 2-1/2 tsp xanthan gum – 12 mL
• 2 tsp bread machine or instant yeast – 10 mL
• 1-1/2 tsp salt 7 mL
• 1/2 cup cracked flaxseed – 125 mL
• 1/2 cup unsalted raw sunflower seeds – 125 mL
• 1-1/4 cups water – 300 mL
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil – 45 mL
• 2 tsp cider vinegar – 10 mL
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten

Method

1. In a large bowl or plastic bag, combine sorghum flour, amaranth flour, flax flour, potato starch, cornstarch, sugar, xanthan gum, yeast, salt, flaxseed and sunflower seeds; mix well and set aside.
2. Pour water, oil and vinegar into the bread machine baking pan. Add eggs and egg whites.
3. Select the Dough Cycle. As the bread machine is mixing, gradually add the dry ingredients, scraping bottom and sides of pan with a rubber spatula. Try to incorporate all the dry ingredients within 1 to 2 minutes. When the mixing and kneading are complete, remove the kneading blade, leaving the bread pan in the bread machine. Quickly smooth the top of the loaf. Allow the cycle to finish. Turn off the bread machine.
4. Select the Bake Cycle. Set time to 60 minutes and temperature to 350°F (180°C). Allow the cycle to finish. Do not turn machine off before taking the internal temperature of the loaf with an instant-read thermometer. It should be 200°F (100°C). If it’s between 180°F (85°C) and 200°F (100°C), leave machine on the Keep Warm Cycle until baked. If it’s below 180°F (85°C), turn on the Bake Cycle and check the internal temperature every 10 minutes. (Some bread machines are automatically set for 60 minutes; others need to be set by 10-minute intervals.)
5. Once the loaf has reached 200°F (100°C), remove it from the pan immediately and let cool completely on a rack.

Tip: we tried this bread with sprouted flax powder, flax meal, ground flaxseed and flax flour. All yielded acceptable loaves.

Variation: Substitute raw hemp powder for the flax flour and Hemp Hearts for the flaxseed.

Gluten-Free Cycle

If your bread machine has a Gluten-Free Cycle, you will need to make these adjustments:

1. Warm the water to between 110°F and 115°F (43°C and 46°C).
2. Warm the eggs and egg whites (see the Technique Glossary).
3. Follow the recipe instructions, but select the Gluten-Free Cycle rather than the Dough Cycle and Bake Cycle.
4. At the end of the Gluten-Free Cycle, take the temperature of the loaf using an instant-read thermometer. It is baked at 200°F (100°C). If it’s between 180°F (85°C) and 200°F (100°C), leave machine on the Keep Warm Cycle until baked. If it’s below 180°F (85°C), turn on the Bake Cycle and check the internal temperature every 10 minutes. (Some bread machines are automatically set for 60 minutes; others need to be set by 10-minute intervals.)

Excerpted from 125 Best Gluten-Free Bread Machine Recipes by Donna Washburn and Heather Butt.

Like this recipe? See the Ancient Grains Bread recipe.

By Donna Washburn and Heather Butt

Makes 15 slices (1 per serving)

Ingedients

• 1 cup sorghum flour – 250 mL
• 3/4 cup amaranth flour – 175 mL
• 3/4 cup cornmeal – 175 mL
• 1/4 cup quinoa flour – 60 mL
• 1/2 cup tapioca starch – 125 mL
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar – 75 mL
• 1 tbsp xanthan gum – 15 mL
• 3/4 tsp bread machine or instant yeast – 4 mL
• 1-1/2 tsp salt – 7 mL
• 1-1/4 cups water – 300 mL
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil – 30 mL
• 1 tsp cider vinegar – 5 mL
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten

Method

1. In a large bowl or plastic bag, combine sorghum flour, amaranth flour, cornmeal, quinoa flour, tapioca starch, brown sugar, xanthan gum, yeast and salt; mix well and set aside.
2. Pour water, oil and vinegar into the bread machine baking pan. Add eggs and egg whites.
3. Select the Dough Cycle. As the bread machine is mixing, gradually add the dry ingredients, scraping bottom and sides of pan with a rubber spatula. Try to incorporate all the dry ingredients within 1 to 2 minutes. When the mixing and kneading are complete, remove the kneading blade, leaving the bread pan in the bread machine. Quickly smooth the top of the loaf. Allow the cycle to finish. Turn off the bread machine.
4. Select the Bake Cycle. Set time to 60 minutes and temperature to 350°F (180°C). Allow the cycle to finish. Do not turn machine off before taking the internal temperature of the loaf with an instant-read thermometer. It should be 200°F (100°C). If it’s between 180°F (85°C) and 200°F (100°C), leave machine on the Keep Warm Cycle until baked. If it’s below 180°F (85°C), turn on the Bake Cycle and check the internal temperature every 10 minutes. (Some bread machines are automatically set for 60 minutes; others need to be set by 10-minute intervals.)
5. Once the loaf has reached 200°F (100°C), remove it from the pan immediately and let cool completely on a rack.

To make this recipe egg-free, omit eggs and egg whites from the recipe. Add 4 tsp (20 mL) powdered egg replacer with the dry ingredients. Increase yeast to 2 tsp (10 mL). Increase water by 1/4 cup (60 mL). This flavorful egg-free loaf is shorter than some.

Tip: You can use 1/2 cup (125 mL) liquid whole eggs and 1/4 cup (60 mL) liquid egg whites, if you prefer.

Gluten-Free Cycle

If your bread machine has a Gluten-Free Cycle, you will need to make these adjustments:

1. Warm the water to between 110°F and 115°F (43°C and 46°C).
2. Warm the eggs and egg whites.
3. Follow the recipe instructions, but select the Gluten-Free Cycle rather than the Dough Cycle and Bake Cycle.
4. At the end of the Gluten-Free Cycle, take the temperature of the loaf using an instant-read thermometer. It is baked at 200°F (100°C). If it’s between 180°F (85°C) and 200°F (100°C), leave machine on the Keep Warm Cycle until baked. If it’s below 180°F (85°C), turn on the Bake Cycle and check the internal temperature every 10 minutes. (Some bread machines are automatically set for 60 minutes; others need to be set by 10-minute intervals.)

Excerpted from 125 Best Gluten-Free Bread Machine Recipes by Donna Washburn and Heather Butt.

Like this recipe? See the Sunflower Flax Bread recipe.

Pie Dough

Ingredients

• 2 1 ⁄2 cups (590 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) sugar
• 1 tsp (5 mL) salt
• 6 tbsp (90 mL) vegetable shortening, cubed and chilled
• 12 tbsp (180 mL) unsalted butter, cubed, chilled
• 6-8 tbsp (90-120 mL) ice water

Method

1. Place flour, sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine.
2. Add the shortening and process in short bursts (about 10), until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Add the butter and pulse again, about 10 times, until mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs. Transfer to a mixing bowl.
3. Sprinkle 6 tablespoons of ice water over mixture and around edge of bowl.  Stir with rubber spatula, pressing dough into centre until it sticks together. Add remaining water as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough comes together.
4. Divide dough into 2 even pieces, shape into flattened disks. Wrap disks in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour. Let dough soften slightly at room temperature, then roll out.

Pie Filling

Ingredients

• 5-6 Mutsu apples (or similar), peeled and cored
• 4-5 Granny Smith apples, peeled and  cored
• 1 lemon’s zest and juice (about 3 tbsp)
• 3⁄4 cup (175 mL) brown sugar, packed
• 2⁄3 cup (160 mL) white sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
• 1 ⁄4 cup (60 mL) tapioca flour
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) ground cinnamon
• 1 ⁄2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 ⁄2 tsp (10 mL) salt
• 2 tbsp (60 mL) milk or rice milk

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 425° F. Place a 9-inch pie plate near work area.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of the dough to an approximately 15-inch circumference (fits the pie plate with 1-inch of overhang). Transfer dough to pie plate, press into shape (but leave trim long). Rest shell in the refrigerator.
3. Cut the Mutsu apples into thick cross-wise slices, then cut each slice in half. Cut the Granny Smith apples into thin lengthwise slices. Place sliced apples into a large mixing bowl.
4. Add lemon juice and zest, both sugars, tapioca flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Toss apples to coat.
5. Pile apples into chilled pie shell, slightly higher in the centre.
6. Roll out second disk to about 13 inches, cut decorative vents into pastry, cover the pie, and trim to fit bottom crust. Seal the two crusts with a little water, and crimp the edge. Brush pie with milk or rice milk and sprinkle with sugar.
7. Bake pie for 20 minutes. Lower temperature to 375° F and bake a further 40 minutes, or until apples test tender with a fork.
8. Cool at least two hours on a baking rack. Serve.

Recipe by Simon Clarke

First published in Allergic Living magazine.
To order the magazine, click here.

Makes 10
Free of: Gluten, peanuts, dairy, soy, sesame
Contains: Almonds (almond flour), Eggs
Sweetness: Medium

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) coconut flour
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) blanched almond flour
• 1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon (1 mL) baking soda
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) grapeseed oil
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) agave nectar
• 2 tablespoons (30 mL) firmly packed lime zest, plus more to decorate (about 3 limes)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 10 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, almond flour, salt, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, grapeseed oil, agave nectar, and 2 tablespoons lime zest. Blend the wet ingredients into the coconut flour mixture with a handheld mixer until thoroughly combined.
3. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into each prepared muffin cup.
4. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 1 hour, then frost, sprinkle with the remaining lime zest, and serve.

Reprinted with permission from Gluten-Free Cupcakes: 50 Irresistible Recipes Made with Almond and Coconut Flour. Copyright © 2011 by Elana Amsterdam, Celestial Arts, an imprint of Ten Speed Press, a division of the Crown Publishing Group, Berkeley, CA. Photo Credit: Annabelle Breakey.

Free of:  Free of gluten and top allergens. Does constain sulphites (in fruit, liquor).

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup (175 mL) golden raisins
• 3/4 cup (175 mL) dark raisins
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) dried currants
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) dried apricots, chopped
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) dried cherries, chopped
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) honey
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) brandy
• 1 cup (250 mL) gluten-free or regular bread flour
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) salt
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) ginger
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) cinnamon
• Pinch ground cloves
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) sugar
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) dairy-free alternative [we used Earth Balance] or butter
• 2 large eggs or egg replacers

Method

1. In a large bowl, combine the dried fruit, honey and brandy. Cover and let soak overnight.
2. Pre-heat oven to 275º F. Grease and flour 8×3-inch loaf pan.
3. Sift flour, salt and spices together. Set aside.
4. In a stand mixer, cream together sugar and butter alternative for five minutes on medium speed, scraping down bowl as needed.
5. On low speed, add eggs one at a time (or all of replacer at once), until fully incorporated.
6. Add sifted dry ingredients to the bowl, combining thoroughly.
7. Add the soaked fruit and brandy, folding into mix.
8. Scrape mixture into prepared pan and bake for 2 hours, or until a toothpick in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
9. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Recipe by Simon Clarke

First published in Allergic Living magazine.
To subscribe, click here.

Free of: All top allergens and gluten.

Makes 16 2-inch squares.

Equipment Needed:

8x8x2-inch baking pan, parchment paper, large whisk, 1 rubber spatula, large mixing bowl, large microwave safe mixing bowl, dry measuring cups, liquid measuring cups, measuring spoons, large chef’s knife,

Ingredients

• 3 cups corn-free confectioners’ sugar (Whole Foods 365 brand and Wholesome Sweeteners are both made w/tapioca starch)
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ½ cup Palm Oil Shortening
• ¼ cup rice milk
• 1 cup Enjoy Life semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Method

1. Line the bottom of an 8x8x2-inch pan with a piece of parchment paper, so that it overlaps on all sides. (This will not work with a non-stick pan!)
2. Whisk together confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder, being sure to blend well, breaking up any lumps.
3. Combine chocolate chips, shortening, and rice milk in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave at 30-second increments, until chips and shortening are melting, stirring every 30 seconds.  This will take 60-90 seconds, depending on the power of your microwave.  Do not over cook it, chocolate burns easily. It’s best to remove from the microwave while there are still little “clouds” of shortening floating, and the chips have not yet melted completely, you’ll finish the melting process on the counter.  Remove from microwave and stir well to encourage the final melting. Stir in vanilla extract and pinch of salt, blending well.
4. Add the dry mixture to the liquid, a little at a time, beating well after each addition, breaking up any dry lumps against side of bowl with a spoon or rubber spatula. You want to really work to stir in the last of the dry ingredients. If it seems too moist, add a little more confectioners’ sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time.  Once thoroughly combined, transfer into pan, and use a clean rubber spatula to spread evenly.  Press down, pushing fudge into corners of pan. Smooth top. You may also use an offset spatula to get a really smooth finish. Chill ½ an hour. Remove and lift out of pan by holding both sides of parchment firmly. Cut into quarters, then cut quarters into 4 squares each, for a total of 16 pieces of fudge. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Troubleshooting FAQ

1. Q: The shortening and chocolate aren’t combining, once melted.  What happened?
   A: You most likely heated the chocolate too long in the microwave, and it’s seized up, which prevents it from blending with the shortening.
2. Q: The parchment paper won’t stay in the pan. What am I doing wrong?
   A: You need a pan that’s at least 2-inches deep. Additionally, a non-stick pan won’t work, it will “reject” the parchment paper.  You also may need a larger piece of parchment paper.
3. Q: The fudge seems too oily/moist.  What should I do?
   A: See answer to  #1.  You may have burnt the chocolate by heating it too long in the microwave, which prevents it from combining with the shortening, as necessary.  Or, you may need more confectioners’ sugar.  Confectioners’ sugar is extremely variable, depending upon humidity levels.  It measures very differently if it’s compacted, for example.  Try adding more confectioners’ sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency has been achieved.
4. Q: How long will the fudge last?
   A: Until it’s all eaten!

More Cybele Pascal videos here.

There is no need to forego favorite family recipes, even if following a free-from diet. With the right ingredient substitutions, those beloved holiday desserts will make the transition flawlessly. The most important thing to consider when making substitutions is the purpose of the original ingredient.

Take buttermilk for example. It adds a slight tang and subtle richness to recipes; the acid in buttermilk tenderizes the gluten in batter to produce baked goods with a softer texture; and the acid reacts with baking soda to help quick breads and cakes rise. Fortunately, all of these needs can be met with a quick, homemade substitute.

Dairy-Free Buttermilk Alternative

Yields 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice
• plain or unsweetened soy milk, or rice milk, or hemp milk alternative

Method

• Place the vinegar or lemon juice in a glass measuring cup and add enough milk alternative to reach 1 cup. Stir, and allow to stand and thicken for about 5 minutes.

Note: Milk alternative does not curdle the way dairy milk does.

Sour cream has similar properties to buttermilk, but its thickness also adds structure to recipes. You can substitute a store-bought sour cream alternative, but making your own is easy and economical.

Silken ‘Sour Cream’

Yields 1-1⅓ cups

Ingredients

• 1 12.3 oz (349 g) package firm silken tofu
• 1 tbsp grapeseed or canola oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp agave nectar or sugar
• ½ tsp salt

Method

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender, and process until the mixture is creamy.
2. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Next: Replacing Egg White

The response? Imagine a group of kids yelling “I love cupcakes” at full volume, and you’ve got the picture. And now, you’ve got the recipe.

Divvies Vanilla Cupcakes

Makes 18 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 1/2  cups cake flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2  teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Energ G egg replacer
• 2 tablespoons unflavored seltzer
• 1/2 cup dairy-free margarine, softened
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons soy milk

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-well cupcake pan with paper liners.
2. Whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Emulsify the egg replacer and seltzer in a small bowl using a small whisk until frothy. Set aside.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the mixer on high speed, beat the softened margarine, sugar, vanilla, and egg replacer until fluffy. At least twice during the mixing, scrape down sides and bottom of bowl thoroughly in order to fully incorporate all ingredients.
5. Add the flour mixture and soy milk to the sugar mixture, alternately, ¼ cup at a time. Mix on medium speed, scraping the sides and bottom of bowl, until just incorporated. Do not overmix. The batter will be stiff.
6. Distribute the batter evenly among the paper liners.
7. Bake the cupcakes for 18 to 20 minutes. The cupcakes are fully baked when a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool the cupcakes for 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer to wire cooling racks. Cool completely before frosting.

Next: Vanilla Frosting

Republished with permission of The Divvies Bakery Cookbook. © 2010 St. Martin’s Press. For more on the book and where to buy, see www.divvies.com