Mom's Famous Soft Christmas Caramels

2 Cups Whipping Cream
1/2 C Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 Cups Light Corn Syrup
1/2 Cups water
2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Butter

Butter a 9" square pan.  Saucepan - Cream and Milk.  Low heat/warm - Do Not Boil.  In 4 quart pan mix corn syrup, water, and sugar.  Place over high heat and stir with spoon until well mixed.  Candy Thermometer 250F (120c) or hard ball stage.  Stir in butter and warm cream milk.  Temperature will decrease.  Stir consistently until thermometer reaches 244F or firm ball stage.  Pour in pan.  Cool overnight.  Cut in 1' squares.  Wrap in waxed paper or dip in tempered chocolate.  81 pieces.

Cheese Ball

2 8oz packages of cream cheese
1 8oz crushed pineapple (drained)
2 Tablespoons green onions
1 1/2 Teaspoon Seasoned Salt
Mix Well

Roll into a ball, refrigerate.  Optional:  Roll in parsley flakes and pecans and/or almonds on wax paper.

Gluten Free Sugar Cookie

Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar
½ cup of butter, softened
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water or milk
1½ teaspoons vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)
½ teaspoon of xantham gum (omit if your all purpose flour has it)
2 cups of gluten free all-purpose flour + more for rolling/dusting)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, cream butter & sugar at medium speed.
Add egg, water or milk, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon (optional). Blend until mixed well.
Add xantham gum and flour. Mix at a low speed until well combined.
Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out dough onto a lightly floured surface, about ¼" thick.
Cut out with selected cookie cutters and place on baking sheet. Make sure cookies are not touching.
Reform and roll out scrap dough, then continue cutting more cookies.
Bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cookies cool five minutes on cookie sheet before removing onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before decorating.
Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Frosting:

4 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 cup shortening
5 Tbs milk
1 Tsp vanilla extract

Cream sugar and shortening.  Add Milk and vanilla.  

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes (dairy free)

Ingredients:

1. 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
2. 3 tbsp almond milk
3. 1 tbsp honey
4. 3 eggs
5. 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted, plus additional for pan
6. 1 tsp vanilla
7. 1/4 cup coconut flour
8. 1 tsp cinnamon
9. Pinch of nutmeg
10. 1/2 tsp salt
11. 1/4 tsp baking soda

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients – the coconut flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking soda. Then in a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients – the pumpkin puree, almond milk, honey, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir together until just combined.
2. Heat a griddle or non-stick skillet to medium heat. Coat pan with coconut oil. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter onto the skillet. Cook for 2-4 minutes until the bottom is cooked through, and then flip. Cook for another 2-4 minutes until lightly browned. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve warm and enjoy!

Gluten Free Apple Spice Cupcakes

Cupcakes:

1 cup rice flour

1/4 cup sweet rice flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cloves

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 cups brown sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups applesauce

For Frosting:

1 cup brown sugar

 1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

For Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350' degrees.

Line 18 muffin cups with liners.

In a small bowl combine rice flour, sweet rice flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and cloves.  Set aside.

In a mixing bowl:  cream butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.  Add eggs one at a time.

Mix in applesauce and then flour mixture.  Mix just until combined.

Divide batter between muffin cups.  Bake for 17-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cool completely.

For Frosting:

With a mixer combine butter, brown sugar, and powdered sugar.

Mix for several minutes or until the texture frosting should be.

Frost cupcakes and enjoy.

Gluten Free Apple Pie

Ingredients:

• 2 Gluten-free pie crusts for a 9-inch pie plate
• 7 cups peeled Grannie Smith apples, sliced 1/4" think (about 2 1/2 pounds)
• 3/4 - 1 cup sugar (if using a tart variety of apple, use more sugar)
• 2 tablesppons gluten-free sweet rice flour or tapioca flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablesppons cubed butter
• Prep time: 30 minutes
• Cook time:  50 minutes
• Total time:  80 minutes
• Yeild:  1 9-inch pie

Preheat oven to 425°

Use one 9-inch pie plate

1. Prepare gluten free pie crust.  Use any you would like.

2. Line 9-inch pie plate with one of the prepared gluten-free pie crusts.

3. Combine sugar, sweet rice flour OR tapioca starch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a  large bowl and use a whisk to thoroughly blend ingredients.

4. Add sliced apples and gently coat apples with sugar mixture.

5. Pour apples into dough-lined pie plate and distribute them evenly.

6. Dot the top of the apples with cubed butter.

7. Place the second prepared crust over the top of the apples. Press edges to seal dough and use your favorite method to flute the edges (pressed with fork tines, etc.). Cut or poke several small vents in the top of the pie crust.

8. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until top is golden brown and apples are tender.

9. Check frequently. If edges brown too quickly, place a strip of foil around the edge to prevent burning.

10. Allow pie to cool for several minutes before cutting.

Gluten Free Apple Crisp (dairy free)

Ingredients:

6 apples (Macintosh, Delicious, Pink Lady, Gala)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 
2 teaspoons tapioca or arrowroot starch
1 cup quinoa flakes
3/4 cup sorghum flour (or brown rice flour)
1 cup organic light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup organic coconut oil

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8x11-inch gratin or baking dish with vegan buttery spread. Set aside.

Peel and core the apples. Slice them and toss into a bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice and toss to coat. Add the maple syrup and stir. Dust with tapioca starch and stir again to coat the slices. Pour the slices into the prepared baking dish.

In a mixing bowl, combine the quinoa flakes, brown rice flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and sea salt and whisk to blend. Add the coconut oil in pieces and using a whisk or a pastry cutter, cut the coconut oil into the flour blend until you have an even, sandy mixture.

Spoon the mixture all over the top. 

Bake in the center of a pre-heated oven for about 20 minutes. Cover the top loosely with a piece of foil and continue to bake for another 20 minutes or so (depends upon the size/type of apples), until the apples are fork tender and the sides of the crisp are bubbling. (The foil will help keep the topping from browning too much.)

Allow the crisp to cool before serving- though slightly warm it is luscious. We had leftover apple crisp the next day, chilled, right out of the fridge, and Darling it was fabulous cold, too. It tasted like apple pie.

Serves 8.

Baking time : 40 to 45 minutes.

Note:  Gluten Free Goddess

Gluten Free Pumpkin Roll

Serves 6 to 8

3/4 cup Brown Rice Flour Mix*
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Confectioners’ sugar
Cream Cheese Filling (recipe follows)
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Position rack in center of oven. Line a 15 1/2-inch x 10 1/2 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly spray parchment paper and sides of pan with cooking spray. Spread a clean, thin cotton dishtowel on a flat surface and sprinkle with about 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar (the sugar will help to keep cake from sticking to the towel; you will use the towel to roll up the cake after it is finished baking).

Place flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt in a small bowl; whisk until thoroughly combined.

Beat eggs and sugar in large bowl of electric mixer at high speed for 5 minutes until pale yellow and thick. Add pumpkin puree and vanilla and mix until well combined. Turn mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture; mix until just combined.

Spread batter in prepared pan and bake in center of oven about 18 minutes until puffed and cooked through (toothpick inserted into center should come out clean and cake will spring back when pressed lightly; color will turn a darker golden brown).

Remove cake from oven and immediately invert onto the prepared dishtowel. Peel off parchment paper. With a light touch, roll cake and towel together into a roll (starting at the narrow end) and place on a rack to cool completely.

Gently unroll cake and spread Cream Cheese Filling over the entire surface. If using, sprinkle nuts over Filling and gently pat them into place. Reroll the cake and transfer it to a large cake plate or serving platter. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate at least six hours (this will make it easier to slice). Dust with confectioners’ sugar just before serving. Cut cake into slices with a long thin knife.

Serve chilled or at room temperature (I like it better not too “chilled” because the filling is softer that way). Can be made a day ahead. Store in refrigerator for up to four days.

CREAM CHEESE FILLING

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted if lumpy
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese in large bowl of electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla and beat at low speed until well blended.

Easter Lamb Cake & Whipped Cream Frosting

This is a family tradition cake for Easter in a lamb tin.  You can also make this a sheet cake.  This recipe has been used for years.  It's our family's favorite!

1 Cup Boiling Water, stove-top or microwave
2 Squares Unsweetened Chocolate
1/2 Cup Margarine, 1 Stick
1 3/4 Cups Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 3/4 Cups Flour, Unsifted, plus 2 tablespoons
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Sour

 Whipped Cream Frosting:
4 Tablespoons Flour
1 Cup Milk, cold
1/2 Cup Margarine, 1 stick
1/2 Cup Crisco Shortening, solid butter or white
1 Cup Sugar
2 Teaspoons Vanilla, "pure" preferred

Cake:
Pour water over chocolate and let stand until cool, stirring once in a while to soften chocolate. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt together in a small bowl. Cream softened margarine (let stand for 2 hrs, but don't melt). Add brown sugar and blend well. Add the eggs, mix well and add sour cream. Add the pre-mixed flour mixture alternately with the chocolate water to the sour cream batter. Pour into a well-greased and floured lamb mold or 11x14 pan. Be careful not to overfill. Bake 325 degrees for 1 hour. Use toothpick in a hole to test cake. If toothpick comes out clean, it is done. Do not over-bake. Use remaining batter for cupcakes.

Whipped Topping:
Set your margarine and shortening in a medium size to large bowl for 2 hours to soften. Do not melt or soften in a microwave. Mix 4 T. flour with 1 cup cold milk in saucepan, then cook over a "low" flame (3-4 setting), stirring constantly the sides and bottom being careful to not burn, until a "thick" consistency. Immediately scrape into a small bowl and set on counter to Cool.

Cream the softened 1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine and 1/2 cup Crisco shortening (not liquid) for 4 minutes with an electric mixer. Add 1 cup sugar and beat for another 4 minutes. Be sure to stop and scrape sides. Then, add cooled four paste and beat an additional 4 minutes (4-5 mixer setting). Add 2 teaspoons pure vanilla and blend for 30 seconds, scrapping the sides of bowl. Refrigerate. Be sure cake is cool before frosting. Refrigerate. Delicious Cold.

Oven Carmel Corn

7 1/2 quarts popped corn

Bring to a boil:
2 cups of brown sugar
2 sticks of butter
1/2 cup of white corn syrup
1 tsp salt
Add last: 1 tsp baking soda

Stir and pour over popped corn on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 200' for 1 hour stir every 15 minutes.

French Toast Casserole

1 loaf french bread or buns cut in cubes (or Gluten Free Bread for Gluten Free)
8 eggs
3 cup milk
4 tsp sugar
dash of salt
1 tsp vanilla

Topping
2 Tbs butter
3 Tbs sugar
2 Tsp cinnamon

Place cubes in greased 9*13 pan.  Mix eggs & milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Pour over bread.  Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.  Remove 30 minutes before baking.  Top with butter.  Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top.  Cover with aluminium foil.  Bake at 350' for 40-45 minutes or until knife comes out clean.  Serve with syrup.

Fruit Bars

1 cup margarine
1 3/4 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
 3 cup flour
1 21 oz can blueberry, cherry, apple, or lemon filling

Cream margarine and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Stir in flour and baking powder.  Place 2/3 batter in 11*17 inch ungreased pan.  Spread pie filling over the batter.  Spread remaining 1/3 of batter by teaspoon over the top.  Bake 30-40 minutes at 350'.  Drizzle favorite powdered sugar frosting over top when cooled.

Pumpkin Cake Pie

1 can pumpkin

4 eggs

 1 can evaporated milk

1 ½ cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

½ teas nutmeg

Mix all ingredients and put into 9*13 greased pan

Sprinkle 1 package yellow cake mix on top.  Pour 1 cup melted butter on top.  Spinkle chopped nuts.  Bake 350’ for 1 hour.

Pumpkin Bread

Combine – 3 cup sugar and 1 cup oil (blend well)

Add – 4 eggs (1 at a time) beating after each. 

Combine in Bowl – ½ tsp. salt, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. nutmeg, 2 tsp. baking soda, & 3 1/3 cup flour

Combine 2 cup pumpkin and 2/3 cup water

Blend dry ingredients and mix pumpkin mixture. 

Bake 350’ 1 hour in 9*5 loaf pans

Cream Cheese Frosted Pumpkin Cupcakes (Gluten Free)

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup gluten free brown rice flour
1/2 Tsp baking powder
1/2 Tsp baking soda
1/4 Tsp pumpkin pie spice
Dash salt

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 package cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 Tbs butter, softened
1 Tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375'
Beat eggs and sugar together.  Add Pumpkin, flour, baking powder, soda, and spices.  Pour into muffin cups.  Bake 13-15 minutes.  Cool.
Whip together cream cheese frosting.  Spread onto cooled cupcakes.  Sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice.

Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn

1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter (use dairy free butter for Dairy Free recipe)
9-10 marshmallows
12 c. popcorn.

Microwave brown sugar and butter for 2 minutes. Add marshmallows. Microwave until melted, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.  Pour over popcorn.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding

For the pudding:

1 ½ cups sugar

4 eggs, beaten

2 cups milk (use almond milk for dairy free)

2 teas vanilla extract

1 teas cinnamon

3 cups cubed Rudi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread

½ cup golden raisins

1 ¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup butter (use best life for dairy free)

1 cup crushed pecans

2 teas cinnamon

For the sauce:

½ cup butter or margarine (for dairy free I use Best Life)

½ cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 cup heavy cream (use thick almond milk for diary free)

1 teas cinnamon

1 Tbs vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350’ Prepare a 9*13 baking dish with non-stick spray.  In a large bowl, combine sugar, beaten eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon.  Whisk together until well combined. 

Add the cubed Rudi’s cinnamon raisin bread and raisins and gently stir to combine.  Pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish and set aside while you make the topping.  In a separate mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, crushed pecans, and two teaspoons cinnamon.  Mix together until crumbly and roughly the size of small peas.  Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the bread mixture.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, until fully set.  To make the sauce, combine the butter, sugar, brown sugar, heavy cream, and cinnamon in a sauce pot.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a slow boil.  Cook until the sauce thickens to desired consistency.  Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.  Sever over the top of the bread pudding.

Caramel Pecan Apple Pie

2 (5.5 oz.) packages Dr. Lucy’s Cinnamon Thin cookies

1 stick (1/2 Cup) butter melted – (for Dairy free I use Best Life)

2 red apples, cored and sliced

2 tart green apples, cored and sliced

2 teas lemon juice

½ teas vanilla extract

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup pecans

3 Tbs cinnamon

1 ¼ Tbs corn starch

¼ cup gluten-free caramel sauce (make dairy free)

For the Crumb Topping:

½ cup cold butter (for dairy free use best life)

½ cup brown sugar

4 Dr. Lucy’s Cinnamon Thin Cookies

¼ cup gluten-free quick cook oats

1 teas cinnamon

¼ teas salt

Preheat oven to 350’ In a food processor, combine Dr. Lucy’s Cinnamon Thin Cookies with melted butter.  Pulse until a finely ground crust forms.  Lightly spray a pie dish with non-stick spray.  Press the cinnamon cookie crust into the bottom of the pan and set aside.

Ina large bowl, combine red apples, green apples, lemon juice and vanilla extract.  In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, pecans, ground cinnamon, and corn starch.  Mix the dry ingredients in with the apples and toss until well combined.  Pour this mixture into the pie crust and drizzle the caramel sauce on top of the apples. 

To make the crumb topping, combine butter, brown sugar, cinnamon thin cookies, oats, ground cinnamon and salt in a food processor.  Pulse gently until crumbly.  Evenly distribute the topping on top of the pie and then bake for 55-60 minutes until bubble and golden brown on top.  Sever hot out of the oven with vanilla ice cream (use almond ice cream for dairy free) and drizzle additional caramel sauce on top if desired.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares

2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter at room temperature (I use Best Life for Dairy Free)

1 ¼ cups sugar

1 extra large egg, beaten

2 teas pure vanilla extract

1 cup canned solid pumpkin

2 cups all-purpose gluten free flour

1 teas xanthan gum

1 tbs pumpkin pie spice

1 teas baking soda

¾ teas kosher salt

1 (12-ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350’.  Line a 9*13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing the lining to overhand the edges. 

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the egg, then vanilla, and pumpkin, and beat to combine.  Add the flour, xanthan gum, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt, beating after each addition and reserving a couple of tablespoons of the flour in a small bowl.  Beat the batter well until it becomes thicker and a bit more elastic.

Add the chocolate chips to the small bowl of reserved flour and toss to coat.  Then add the flour-coated chips to the batter and stir until the chips are evenly distributed throughout.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top.  Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the pan comes out clean.

After allowing them to cool completely in the pan, lift out by the overhung parchment paper.  Peel back the parchment paper and slice into squares with a serrated knife.

Glazed Ham

Foil
4-6 lbs fully-cooked boneless ham
Cloves
1/4 Cup brown sugar
1/3 Cup maple flavored syrup
1 Tbsp mustard

Preheat oven to 325' Line baking pan with foil, set aside. If desired, score ham by lightly cutting diamond shapes into ham, insert cloves. Place ham in foil-lined pan. Insert meat thermometer into thickest part of the ham. Bake uncovered 1 to 1.5 hours or until thermometer reads 140'. While ham is baking, combine brown sugar, syrup, and mustard; spoon over ham during last 1/2 hour of baking time. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.