Sunday, May 25, 2008

Bit by the Baking Bug

It’s not raining this weekend, but it’s really hot & humid. And smoke from the annual crop burning in Mexico is streaming directly over Austin and making it difficult for me to spend much time outdoors. So I’ve been keeping myself busy in the kitchen. I’ve made two test recipes for Happy Herbivore’s much anticipated cookbook.

PB&J Cookies



These are fantastic! I’m so lucky to be a tester. Another fantastic creation is her Banana Bread.


Well, I haven’t actually tasted it yet because it’s still cooling, but it smelled wonderful while baking. And it looks good, right?


Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies (also gluten free if you use gf oats)


I found this recipe I had saved for years. It is on a handout from Whole Foods back when it was merely my neighborhood market (1980 something). I thought the recipe was really interesting, not to mention quick and easy. I added vanilla and cinnamon and some better instructions.

Makes 18 cookies

2 cups oats, measured, then ground
½ cup walnuts, measured, then ground
1/3 cup apple cider (or juice)
2 T. oil
½ t. sea salt
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. vanilla

Mix the apple cider, oil, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla in your mixer. Stir in oats and walnuts. The dough will be stiff, but not sticky. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on oiled or parchment lined cookie sheet and flatten. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Remove immediately to wire rack to cool completely.

I love these unsweet cookies. To me they taste like a bowl of oatmeal. This would be a great recipe to add stevia for those needing a sweet cookie but still wanting to keep it sugar free. The texture is soft, but firm. Really, really nice.


Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Pie



I made this with black cocoa powder. Looks wicked, huh? The crust is crispy and the inside is fudgy, but it’s a little too oily for my liking. Let me work on it before sharing the recipe.


Gluten Free Coconut Bars



These, on the other hand, turned out terrific. (Remember, if you don’t want to make gluten free bars, substitute AP flour for the gluten free, and omit the xantham gum.)

Bars:
½ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup Earth Balance stick
¼ cup applesauce
2 Ener-G eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon coconut extract
½ cup gluten free flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
1 cup quick oats
½ t. xantham gum
7 T. custard powder (OR a 3.4 ounce package Jello vanilla pudding mix OR coconut flavor and omit the coconut extract)

Topping:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 T. milk
½ cup toasted sweetened coconut flakes

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix brown sugar, EB, and applesauce in your mixer. Beat until smooth. Add in egg replacer, vanilla, and coconut extract and mix well. Add in flour, oats, xantham gum, and custard powder. Pour into a greased 8 x 8 metal pan and spread evenly. Bake for 23 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan.

Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk and pour over cooled bars. Top immediately with coconut. Let set a few minutes. Cut into bars and serve.


See you later in the week with Memorial Day food.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love your alliteration "bit by the baking bug", hehe!!

You have been quite busy in the kitchen baking!! My oh my, Lindsay must be coming up with fantastic yummies, can't wait to try them!

Vegan_Noodle said...

All these treats are making me quite hungry right now. Ugh, it's hot!

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

Woah, I was wondering how you got that pie to look so dark. I think, as a chocolate-covered vegan, I need to find me some of that black cocoa powder. Wherever do you buy it?

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

You never cease to amaze me with everything that you bake, Diann - looks sensational!

Amy said...

Yuuuum! I'm coming over for gluten free coconut bars!

Ruby Red said...

All these treats look so good! I'm so excited you posted the oatmeal cookie recipe! Nana's makes these really great fruit-sweetened vegan cookies, and I feel like the cookie recipe could open up all sorts of options for figuring out how to replicate them and make a sugar-free cookie! The ones you made look like the perfect thickness for chewin'. ;)

Wow, that brownie pie looks so fudgy! I fell in love with black cocoa after trying the Fauxstess Cupcakes, and I have a small bag of it from a friend and want to save it for something special.

Sheree' said...

Everything looks so wonderful. I also tested the banana bread and believe me it is fantastic. I forgot to put the topping on, but it sure didn't change the taste. I hope to get pics up tomorrow. I want to try your recipes. Hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Hugs!

Liz Ranger (Bubble Tea for Dinner) said...

those bars look SO good, just indulgent enough and I can almost smell the coconut from here! And those oatmeal cookies also sound pretty intrigueing, actually. It sounds like they would be good with regular oatmeal add-ins, like raisins. And it's good to hear that the texture is good!

Anonymous said...

So much delicious vegan goodness to chose from!
I must say thank you for sharing that cookie recipe! My little one loves cookies, and just juice sweetened ones are all the better!

Carrie™ said...

PB&J cookies? YUM! As juvenile as it sounds, PB&J is my favorite sandwich. The coconut squares look killer!! So does that brownie pie. I'm eagerly awaiting that recipe. Mmmmm!

SallyT said...

Those vegan oat cookies... I'm wondering if that is the same recipe as the vegan oat cakes they sell inthe store. I'm going to have to give those a try.

Thanks for sharing the recipe

Anonymous said...

wow, you've been busy baking! everything looks awesome!!

Amey said...

Hey! In addition to all your happy baking, I just saw that you won Celine's cookie contest - you lucky dog!!!!!

Kristen's Raw said...

Looks like some FUN time in the kitchen :)

Cheers!

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

I’d never heard of a baking supply shop before, but I googled it and found one in Dallas, so I’m going to go check it out soon. Thanks for the idea!

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

I have wanted something coco-nutty all day! I know how to fix my craving now!

& I am lucky to have YOU as a tester! Damn i want some of that banana bread!

Anonymous said...

Don't you love our "dark & smoky" weather? I should make ancho brownies tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Great recipes, thanks for sharing it! Would love to feature you on Wellsphere.com, a site that helps people to live healthier. Can't find a contact form so thought I'd comment; look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Larisa

Anonymous said...

Drooling over those coconut bars - but then again, I'm pretty much a sucker for anything with coconut. They look scrumptious.

Erin said...

Bit by the baking bug! The brownie pie looks amazing, please do share the recipe when it's finished.

Anonymous said...

I'm Sophie, Key Ingredient's Chief Blogger. We would like to feature your Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies recipe on our blog. Please email sophiekiblogger@gmail.com if interested. Thanks :)

Sophie
http://blog.keyingredient.com/