what treat can I give a gluten-free friend?

[Grumpy's Gal]

Hi guys! I need some holiday help here.

At work, we each give home made treats to our small group in my dept. It's easy on our budgets and it works really well.

This year, I have a gluten-free friend at work. Can you help me with something I can make for her?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[marmalade]

1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
1/2 cup sugar (brown or white)
1 egg

Combine, chill in the fridge for 20-30 minutes, roll into balls and fork them. Bake at 325 for 12-15 minutes.

**you can also use this recipe to make the peanut butter Hershey kiss cookies**

 

[tikitorie]

This past summer I made a flourless chocolate cake, many recipes for them online. It was a huge hit, even people who were not gluten free loved it and asked for recipe!

 

[ArielRae]

Post this question on the disABILITIES forum. Your sure to get more responses and from those who are gluten free.

 

[Sinderelly]

Can she have oatmeal? My co worker needs gluten free treats and she LOVES theses:

Peanut Butter Jumbos

1 1/2 C peanut butter
1/2 C butter
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 1/2 C quick oats (I use old fashioned oats)
2 tsp baking soda
1 C chocolate chips
1 C plain, peanut or mini M & Ms

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream peanut butter, butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in oats and baking soda. Add choc chips and M&Ms. Drop by heaping tbsps onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 12-14 minutes until lightly browned. Makes aprox 8 dozen.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Make rice crispy squares with Mars Bars I think you call them Milky Way in the US. So easy and yummy!

 

[Lilliputian]

I would give her something that's not food or something prepared that is marked gluten-free. If you're not gluten free, then your kitchen probably has wheat traces all over it, and your friend probably won't end up eating the food because she's done that type of thing too many times and ended up getting sick. I'm not saying this in a mean way or implying that your kitchen is messy; it's just the way things are.

Think about making cookies. Is there a chance that you've ever used the same measuring cup to measure out the flour and then the sugar? If so, you've contaminated the sugar with wheat, and your sugar could make her sick. Your peanut butter could have toast crumbs in it. There are so many possibilities that it's impossible to eliminate them all.

I think she'll appreciate the gesture if you find a way to give her something that completely eliminates the gluten issues.

 

[disney1990]

Meringue Cookies are gluten free and yummy!

 

[imsayin]

I would give her something that's not food or something prepared that is marked gluten-free. If you're not gluten free, then your kitchen probably has wheat traces all over it, and your friend probably won't end up eating the food because she's done that type of thing too many times and ended up getting sick. I'm not saying this in a mean way or implying that your kitchen is messy; it's just the way things are.

Think about making cookies. Is there a chance that you've ever used the same measuring cup to measure out the flour and then the sugar? If so, you've contaminated the sugar with wheat, and your sugar could make her sick. Your peanut butter could have toast crumbs in it. There are so many possibilities that it's impossible to eliminate them all.

I think she'll appreciate the gesture if you find a way to give her something that completely eliminates the gluten issues.

I agree with this! There are lots of chocolates or candies that are gluten free, how about one of those? Your friend will appreciate getting something she can actually eat. You can google to find out if a specific brand is gluten free or not. If you shop at Target, there is an excellent gluten free caramel - the brand is "Lovely".

 

[mjkacmom]

Make rice crispy squares with Mars Bars I think you call them Milky Way in the US. So easy and yummy!

Rice Krispies are not gluten free, unless you buy gluten free Rice Krispies. I buy meringue cookies from the grocery store when I'm looking for an easy snack for dd11 to bring in.

 

[bridget]

I'm gluten free (and so is my daughter). Sometimes it worries me when people that aren't used to having food allergies in the house make me food.

Hershey Kisses are gluten free Even just a cute little holiday bag filled with some Hershey kisses tied with a bow is a great thought

My daughter and I LOVE gluten free pretzels dipped in almond bark (have to make sure they are gluten free). We make them FIRST Then we make a batch with reg. pretzels to give away.

 

[LJSquishy]

If she is gluten-free by choice, feel free to make any gluten-free recipe mentioned here.

If she is gluten-free due to an allergy or intolerance/sensitivity, then it would be best to make a nice little goodie bag full of prepackaged gluten-free treats. She unfortunately most likely won't be able to eat anything you make if she actually has a gluten allergy/intolerance, even if you use gluten-free ingredients.

 

[MickeyP]

Great question. I have quite a few gluten free friends and never know what they can have.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Here is Canada we have Brown Rice, Rice Krispies that are gluten free. Maybe they don't have them in the US? (My husband is gluten free, it's not a new concept for me )

Rice Krispies are not gluten free, unless you buy gluten free Rice Krispies. I buy meringue cookies from the grocery store when I'm looking for an easy snack for dd11 to bring in.

 

[crisi]

There are two Christmas Cookies I make, but one is really expensive and the other is a pain in the back end.

The expensive: Almond Cloud Cookies (yes, from the King Arthur Flour site, but no gluten)
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/almond-cloud-cookies-recipe

The pain in the back end: Royal Sweets with chocolate balsamic ganache:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/180895521.html

Both are worth it for myself, but I don't know that I'd bother for a GF coworker.

I have a lot of GF friends - only one needs to be so careful they wouldn't eat a homemade treat that was made in a gluteny kitchen. One cooks with flour all the time herself as a semi-professional baker - she just never eats her own gluteny creations. So ask if you want to do the bother.

Candy is also good. There are a lot of Christmas candies - fudge, caramels, nut brittle, divinity - that are supposed to be GF and feel like the holidays to a lot of people.

However, as a ten year GF person who participates in the work cookie exchange - I don't want or expect GF treats. In fact, its nicer if you make and bring the stuff I don't make in my kitchen - Mexican wedding cakes, spritz, cut outs. I'll be hosting or visiting all holiday season, and I'll assemble a plate of cookies edible by most people - and I'll have yours. That's why I participate in the exchange - so I get gluteny cookies for my kids and my holiday guests. I make the two above, plus fudge - and therefore have my holiday treats set for my own needs.

(A friend makes these every year - I love getting these. But talk about pain in the neck. Its a GOOD friend - I'd never do this for a coworker myself unless it was the type of coworker that was also a good friend: http://www.taylormademarket.com/chocolate-cherry-mouse/)

 

[magchavez]

My dd has Celiac. We've had good luck with a bunch of recipes from Betty Crocker.com. Most dessert recipes use the Betty Crocker GF chocolate chip cookie dough mix, or the brownie mix. We can find these GF cookie mixes at our regular grocery store on the top shelf with the other boxed cookie mixes. Our favorite Christmas recipe is GF Peanut Butter Cookie Cups. http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes...kie-cups/8dfb9119-1703-4861-8b3f-dfdce944a720

Good luck!

 

[justlook3]

Years ago I made Christmas baskets to give to a couple of workplaces. One was my former employer where I knew there was a celiac staffer, the other was to a place that I knew they were into a healthy lifestyle. I bought a crate of clementines (inexpensive this time of year), some gluten free organic candy canes from Whole Foods (very tasty, not as sweet as the usual ones) and made two kinds of candy bark. One was peppermint with white chocolate and the other was dried fruits in dark chocolate. Dead easy to make. Now if your co-worker is very sensitive, it might not work and I would recommend store bought goodies. A lot of them are gluten free. Maybe a nice dark chocolate she might not buy herself? Or fruit or nuts? I figured by combining the fruit and the gf candies my former colleague would be have a variety of safe choices.

 

[chris31997]

Hi guys! I need some holiday help here.

At work, we each give home made treats to our small group in my dept. It's easy on our budgets and it works really well.

This year, I have a gluten-free friend at work. Can you help me with something I can make for her?

Thanks in advance!!

Someone mentioned be careful about cross contamination. But since it is your friend and you know they are gluten-free, you probably can ask them how sensitive they are. It can vary to just avoiding to making me want to die We have friends who run the spectrum on it. But all of them appreciate me asking. The ones who avoid gluten due to allergy appreciate me making an effort. The ones really sensitive ask me not to cook.

Something you can make for everyone are Melt Mints

8oz cream cheese(or 2 sticks of butter) at room temp
1lb of powder sugar
mint extract(or any)
food coloring of your choice

Cream the cream cheese and powder sugar to make a stiff dough. Add extract. Add a little food coloring. Either pinch of balls or roll into a snake and cut off pieces and let air dry.

 

[SplashMo]

I would go with a gluten free chocolate...