Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan & Special Dietary Baking

Gluten Free Almond Bites

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

We’re big fans of anything almond flavoured at cozebakes HQ and when they are gluten free, it’s a bonus for us with two coeliacs to cater for. The added issue of a preferred low sugar diet can complicate things sometimes but this recipe seemed to have lots of potential.

Initially I doubled the quantities as it seemed a very small amount to spread out in a 20cm square tin. Personally, I’ll be making these again and just dropping scoops of the batter onto a baking tray rather than what the original recipe suggests. Either way, they are really, really delicious. As per usual, I reduced the original sugar quantities and think they are lovely but if you like a good sweet kick, then check my suggestions in the ingredients.

Continue reading →

Meringue Roulade – Gluten Free

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

A great dessert recipe that’s always a big hit any time of the year and this one uses ground almonds which gives it a really nice texture. It’s so easily adaptable to any flavours you like and also for each season and your imagination is all that will stop you!

A meringue roulade is much quicker than it’s cousin the Pavlova and can be made on the day it’s needed. It takes about 20 minutes to get into the oven, 30/35 to bake and the same to cool and then you can keep it wrapped in the fridge till needed or dress up for serving.  I’ve never known anyone to refuse a slice of roulade when presented, so it’s a great one to have in your baking repertoire. Please don’t be worried about rolling it. It’s far more difficult in your head than in reality!

meringue roulade, cozebakes, gluten free, desserts, gluten free desserts, meringue, roulade Continue reading →

Coconut Macaroons – Gluten Free

~ cozebakes ~ 2 Comments

If you want to make something really delicious in a very short time, then these macaroons are the answer. You can make them in different shapes and sizes depending on the occasion but they never fail to please!

Just 3 simple ingredients (well four if you count the chocolate drizzle on top) and 10 minutes to put together with 18 in the oven. That’s it! The fact they’re gluten free is a bonus!

Continue reading →

Gluten Free Light Fruit Cake

~ cozebakes ~ 1 Comment

I have another lovely fruit cake recipe here on cozebakes and I’ve used it for a Christmas Cake before. It’s very fruity and a lovely traditional fruit cake. It’s a 7″ square cake which can be cut to make 2 gift cakes or keep all for yourself!

This is a new recipe I tried and it’s also a lovely bake, probably a little spicier than the Fruit Cake and will work really well for a Christmas cake also. It makes an 8″ / 20cm round cake though I made it in a 6″ as requested and used the leftover for a mini trial cake. There has to be a cook’s treat!!

My advice? Read both recipes and decide which rings your bell. I can stand over both as delicious and impossible to tell the difference from a regular non gluten free cake. Here’s a link to the other recipe for you to check out: https://www.cozebakes.com/2016/11/09/fruit-cake-gluten-free/

Continue reading →

Chocolate Courgette Cake

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

We all love something a little sweet with our morning or afternoon break; maybe when we have friends over for Afternoon Tea but don’t want to go the full OTT or just because it’s a Sunday!  The fact you’re going to include one of your required 5 a day is a bonus?!

Adding courgette to this lovely light chocolate cake gives it added moistness as chocolate cakes can sometimes turn out a little dry. Spelt flour is used also for easier digestion and those with a high wheat intolerance and finally agave syrup for sweetness instead of refined sugar …. sure it’s positively healthy! 😉

chocolate courgette cake, cozebakes, healthy baking, courgettes, chocolate cake, spelt flour, baking with spelt flour, spelt flour recipes, courgettes in cakes Continue reading →

Banana & Cranberry Gluten Free Muffins

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

These delicious muffins are perfect for an on the run breakfast or midday snack as they are low sugar and full of goodness. You can make them dairy free if you need to and I’ve put those options on the ingredients list.

I’ve used dried cranberries because they are a firm favourite in our house and they are sweet enough to greatly reduce the original sugar content in the recipe, but you can use other dried fruit options too. Pecans or walnuts would also be a great addition.

banana cranberry muffins, gluten free muffins, gluten free baking, cozebakes, low sugar muffins, low sugar gluten free muffins Continue reading →

Spiced Apple Cake – Gluten Free & Low Fat

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

This delicious and low fat cake comes from the Hairy Bikers. It contains low fat milk and sunflower oil so no butter and for a large 23cm cake, only uses 100g of demerara sugar which you could substitute for an organic variety which is less refined.

I converted it to a Gluten Free version so everyone at home could enjoy it and it worked really well. The other bonus of this lovely recipe is that it freezes well so you can cut in half or in slices and keep for when you desperately need a slice of cake to help sort out the woes of the world. Defrost thoroughly and heat up in a low oven or in the microwave. It’s perfect served hot or cold and will keep fresh for several days once you wrap it in tin foil.

Continue reading →

Cranberry Flapjacks – Gluten Free

~ cozebakes ~ 1 Comment

I got such a shock when I saw the original recipe lists 225g of sugar for these flapjacks! I’m not sure you would taste anything other than pure sweetness if that was to happen so I changed it a bit. Originally I left out two of the ingredients thinking I was adding sweetness by using them but as they are not great at holding their shape, I would change that next time. I wanted to keep these flapjacks lower in sugar and so I greatly reduced the sugar from the original recipe and left out the chocolate but next time all the sugar will be left out!

 

cranberry flapjacks, gluten free flapjacks, cozebakes, low sugar flapjacks Continue reading →

Popcorn Caramel Brownies – Gluten Free

~ cozebakes ~ 1 Comment

This is not for the fainthearted! It’s rich, decadent, luxurious, delicious and quite sinful. But it’s oh so worth it! Originally I saw a video from Dr. Oetker showing how to make this and managed to get the ingredients listed and method tested to get a result. Oh and did I mention it’s gluten free?! Yes indeed you won’t believe it but it is!

If you like your chocolate very rich and full on then use all dark chocolate or for a slightly less full on chocolate effect, you can opt for half dark and half milk. If you only use milk chocolate, it will probably be too sweet when combined with the caramel layer.

There are a couple of options with the ingredients if you can’t get the original ones and they all worked for me so that makes things a little easier. It’s not a complicated recipe but is made in stages so you need a little more time.

popcorn, caramel fudge brownie, brownies, Dr. Oetker, cozebakes, fudge brownie, carramel brownies, caramel popcorn Continue reading →

Lime & Coconut Macaroon Cheesecake – Gluten Free

~ cozebakes ~ Leave a comment

I always think of hot summer days with this dessert. It’s got the perfect combination of two ingredients which just scream “summer”!  I saw John Whaite make the recipe on a show one afternoon and thought, yes that’s my type of dessert and the fact it’s gluten free is an added bonus.

Using lime curd with the cream cheese gives just the right balance of sweetness and tartness for the filling. Using melted marshmallows with the coconut for the base is a stroke of genius!

lime cheesecake, macaroon cheesecake, lime and coconut cheesecake, john whaite recipe, marshmallows, lime curd, cozebakes, desserts, party desserts Continue reading →

Orange or Lemon Drizzle Gluten Free Cake

gluten free cake, gluten free drizzle cake, gluten free orange drizzle cake, citrus cake, cozebakes, dairy free cake, loaf cake
~ cozebakes ~ 2 Comments

This recipe originally called for a chocolate coating (it was a variation of the traditional) but it was so light and delicious that I felt it would have ruined it to cover it completely with chocolate and that you might miss out on the lovely citrus kick. You can make this as the traditional Lemon Drizzle Cake but it works really well using orange for a change 🙂

A few suggestions before you start baking:

  • Go for an extra citrus kick by using the zest of 2 oranges or one each lemon and orange
  • Make the cake dairy free by using almond, coconut or soya milk and dairy free spread
  • You could add a good handful of chocolate chips to the batter at the very end but fold gently

Continue reading →