Celiac Disease

Each year thousands make a major lifestyle change and start to eat gluten-free. The reasons why vary. Some think it’s a healthier way to live while it becomes a necessity for others who have been diagnosed with celiac disease. At first glance this may mean no more pizza, bread, pasta and even cookies. Thankfully there are many gluten-free options available now along with lots of gluten free recipes. Here’s one of my favorites, for a delicious gluten free oatmeal cookie.

Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

* 1/2 cup margarine
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 cup table sugar
* 1/2 tsp vanilla
* 3/4 cups gluten-free flour
* 1/2 tsp baking soda
* dash of table salt
* 1/2 tsp cinnamon
* 1 large egg
* 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
* 1 1/2 cups gluten free oats
* 1/2 cup raisins (or other dried fruit)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Soften the margarine either by sitting it out for 30 minutes or by sticking it in the microwave for a few seconds. Using a handmixer, combine the butter and both the regular and brown sugar in a large bowl. The egg and vanilla should be incorporated next. Take your time and keep blending until you have a smooth, creamy mixture.

Sift together the flour, soda, salt, cinnamon and gum in another bowl. Give those dry ingredients a good stir, then work it into the egg mixture. Add the oats and then the raisins (if you are using them) to the batter and stir until they are well mixed in.

Line some cookie sheets with parchment paper and drop the cookie batter on, about one tablespoon at a time. You can either use two soup spoons for this or a melon baler.

The cookies will need to bake for about 12 minutes. A golden brown color will let you know that it’s time to take the oatmeal cookies out of the oven. Allow them to cool first directly on the baking sheet and then on a rack. The cool cookies can then be stored in an airtight container.

This recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies.

If you don’t like making a recipe like this from scratch, you can also find delicious cookie mixes in all sorts of different flavors (including peanut butter, chocolate chip and of course oatmeal) at your local health food store and online. They are a great alternative. There are even some premade cookies that you can purchase that taste pretty decent.

In short, you do not have to give up on your favorite treats when you have to switch to eating gluten free.

Before you go, I would like to invite you to check out another yummy and healthy recipe. This one is for quinoa muffins which you can make gluten-free by using gluten-free flour. And here are more quinoa recipes for you.

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