3 DAY COUNTDOWN

Remember that one time I thought it was a good idea to do a twelve treats of Christmas? In being true to my procrastinator self, I waited to the last minute to do them and it ended up being a way more stressful experience then I anticipated. 

But it means you have a whole twelve gluten and dairy free Christmas recipes to choose from each year! Yay for you!

Gluten Free Ginger Bread Men

In the last week, the house has been covered in sparkly little lights, filled with Christmas crafts, and swallowed up in what was supposed to be the storm of the century. So what does one need to do when the weather is finally cold and wet and the inside is full of holiday spirit.

Bake.

12 Treats of Christmas: Popcorn Cake {#12}

Happy 12th day of Christmas Treats, and a Merry Christmas eve to all.

I'm pretty tired, and way behind schedule,so here's my last treat quick.

This treat is something that was always made in my house as far back as I can remember.

They are so quick and easy to make, and all the neighbors love to eat it.

So here it is!

Popcorn Cake

8 qts air popped Popcorn

1 cup small Spice Gumdrops (or m&ms)

1/2 cup dry roasted Peanuts

1/2 cup dairy free butter

5 cups mini marshmallows

(made just like a rice krispy treat)

Coat bundt pan with nonstick spray. Air pop corn, and pick out leftover kernels. In very large bowl, pour popcorn, candy and nuts; mix lightly to distribute.

Melt together butter and marshmallows, and pour over dry mixture. Mix until coated evenly, and press into bundt pan. Turn out onto plate, and let air dry.

Enjoy!

12 Treats of Christmas: Swedish Cardamon Bread-simple version {#11}

Sorry I missed posting this yesterday. Its been busy around here the last couple days.

Visitors, parties, shopping, crafting, baking and much more filling these final days until Christmas.

This particular treat happens to be my favorite food of Christmas.

I've always looked forward to the days when my mom would be baking these little puppies up, watching them rise all afternoon, and taking turns with my sisters getting to frost and sprinkle them.

We would then package them up, and deliver some to select neighbors and friends. 

At least one though was always saved for us to eat for breakfast on Christmas morning.

What kid doesn't want to eat bread anyway. Especially bread with frosting. and sprinkle.

Bread with frosting and sprinkle folks.

Frosting and sprinkles.

swoon.

See those paper straws?

I die for those paper straws.

How did life ever go on without them?

I decided this year to make said bread with a packaged bread mix.( I've been busy, remember?)

I used a Pamela's bread mix, because thats what the store had, and it worked great.

I made the sweet bread recipe off the bag (it has frosting remember, obviously its a sweet bread), and added the cardamon. Then, I followed the directions off of the Cardamon bread recipe from me mama.

I did decide while I was taking these photos, that green sprinkle where probably not a good idea.

Bread with flecks of green are a bit suspicious...

Luckily it will get eaten quick.

So heres the quick version recipe, maybe next year I'll share the complete recipe for ya'll.

Enjoy!

12 Treats of Christmas: Chocolate-Cinnamon Meringues {#10}

Treat number ten!

Almost there, folks.

I'm gonna make this quick, 

because its almost midnight, my nails are wet, and I still have a million things to do.

In keeping up with the super easy treats I've brought you so far, 

I share with you a chocolate-cinnamon meringue.

Just whip up some egg whites and stuff, and pipe 'em out with a pastry bag.

Easy Peasy, and very festive.

So, heres the recipe:

Enjoy!

12 Treats of Christmas: Ginger Cookies {#9}

Christmas is almost here!!

Yip hip hurray!

I have for you, on this last thursday before Christmas, a ginger cookie.

This cookie caused me a lot of drama today.

I threw in my oven mitt, and swore off baking forever. 

You see, in addition to the wonderful goodies I've shared with you this past week, there have been several cookie failures.

For no apparent reason at all, my cookies where dying, wilting away in the oven.

These failures I {not so} quietly swept aside and moved onto a new recipe.

But this cookie, oh this cookie. 

First batch, which I chilled overnight, turned into one big puddle of mush in the oven.

My perfectly round little balls all pooled together in one big blob.

Second batch, I made a few adjustment. 

Blobbo monster again.

As I continued with the rest of the batter, each sheet of cookies withered away in the heat of the oven, despite my adjustments. They actually tasted amazing, but looked like a horrible wanna be pizookie.

I came to the conclusion that butter was the problem.

So I started over, with a new base recipe that called for shortening instead of butter.

Surely this would fix the problem.

I placed my cookie sheet in the oven, with fingers crossed they would be perfect.

But, alas they were not.

Surely adding a bit more flour would fix it.

Nope. 

Less cooking time? 

Nope.

I gave up, I cursed and shouted at those stupid cookies, and swore of baking forever. {I already don't particularly enjoy baking, remember?}

I called over my mother, {I needed someone to share my misery, you see} and the brilliant lady she is, fixed my problem.

Apparently I was just making them too big.

Of coarse it was that simple.

Sheesh.

So here is the recipe. It should work perfectly for you if you make them smaller.

If not, call your mother.

Enjoy!

12 Treats of Christmas: Cranberry Squares {#8}

Today I bring you a very festive treat.

Here she is, the Cranberry bar.

Nothing is more holiday festive than cranberries right?

Keeping with the tradition of the last seven treats, this bar is super easy to whip up.

{even though it tastes and looks much more complicated than it is}

In fact I made these really fast the other day in the late hours of the night.

While I was a watching the gazillionth Christmas movie this week.

I was watching Eloise at Christmas time actually, one of my favorite holiday movies to watch.

I remember long ago.. checking out the Eloise books from the elementary school library--and was very excited some ten years ago when the movies premiered on television.

But back to the cranberry bars..

They are soooo good. 

Better than the gluten filled ones I remember. I had to freeze them right away {after I took these pictures, and after I ate half a row} so that they would be safe from my chompers. They are still nestled there safely until this weekend, along with a couple dozen Chocolate Crinkles.

and drum roll please....

Heres the Recipe!

Enjoy!

12 Treats of Christmas: Chocolate Crinkles {#7}

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

4 dozen chocolate crinkles...falalala

Let me tell you about these cookies.

They are so stinkin' delicious.

The best chocolate crinkle in the history of the world!

I may not have tried all the crinkles in the world...but I have it on good authority that these are pretty much the best ever.

Crinkles are another family-to-neighbor christmas plate treat.

but Christmas is actually not what I remember them from.

When I think of chocolate crinkles, I think of Sunday afternoons and the Sound of Music. (the movie, not the literal hearing of music)

Why do I think of these things, you ask?

Well, because we used to make these on Sunday afternoons obviously. 

On Sundays, when we were bored and wanted a treat--this was our go to recipe. An easy cookie we could make all by ourselves. 

And Sound of Music?

We were only allowed to watch one movie. So naturally, we chose the longest movie we owned. (even though its technically on two vhs tapes)

So theres that.

and heres this.

The Recipe:

Enjoy!