Christmas Cookies

Ask anyone what their favorite parts of Christmas is and I am sure food will be on the top of the list, specifically Christmas baking. A tradition growing up was my Mom and I in the kitchen in the weeks leading up to Christmas baking copious amounts of Christmas cookies. Baking sheet after baking sheet came out of the oven and the table would be spread with layers of newspapers with golden cookies from edge to edge. It was an endless conveyor belt of rolling dough, cutting cookies, baking them, and cooling before we could devour them. We made so many cookies they would last well through the winter in the freezer. Making memories by baking with children can be such a simple thing that can last well into adulthood.

Many Christmas cookie recipes can be simply adapted with a change to a gluten free all purpose flour mix instead of wheat flour and the addition of xanthan gum. I use Bette Hagman's Gluten Free Flour Mix, which is 6 cups rice flour (I use a combination of white and brown rice flour, more of the brown than white), 2 cups potato starch (not potato flour), and 1 cup tapioca flour. Blend this well and keep in an air tight container. I always have this on hand to use in recipes and for thickening. Sugar cookies and gingerbread are the simplest to adapt to gluten free. There are also many recipes that are naturally gluten free such as; meringues, chocolate barks and chocolate drop cookies, depending on the fillers.

Take the time to create new memories within your family and try some baking this Christmas. Put on some Christmas music and gather the family in the kitchen. Make sure you have all ingredients on hand before you start and have some fun. Licking the beaters and the messes come with the territory. But you would be surprised at how much that time you spend with your children can mean to them down the road. I have now taken up the baking of the Christmas cookies from my mother, as she no longer has kids in the house to eat the results, but I will always thank her for the memories.

Cookies pictured (from left to right): Chocolate Truffle Brownies (baked in mini muffin pans), Sugar Snowflake cookies, Gingerbread Men and Women , Peppermint Meringues.