Winter Wonderland

A snow day.  How can you resist it?  I mean, I really am looking forward to spring.... and summer for that matter.  But when the snow flies and the kids and I get to stay home together, I say bring it on!

Roman has been outside since 7:30 this morning.  A bit later than he had hoped since he was ready by 6:45!  He loves the snow.  Shoveling the entire neighborhood really is his dream day off from school. Come spring he'll rake leaves.  Summer, he'll be searching for bugs, cutting wood and whatever else he comes up with.

Sophia is usually content building a snowman or playing house outside. Or taking a walking adventure with me.  With many breaks built in for warm up time.  Soon it will be time for fairy house making in the gardens.  Bike riding with friends.  Oh how wonderful the seasons are!

I also enjoyed our snow day by baking up some of their favorite treats.  Treats to tempt them inside to sit by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa and a snuggle with me.

Oatmeal Raisin for Roman and Oatmeal Cranberry for Sophia.  Both I think are equally delicious, and these bake up beautifully.  Soft, slightly sweet, and tart with the cranberries.  Both are gluten free using my favorite flour, which I needed to make more because I use it for everything I bake!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups gluten free flour
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
1 cup certified gluten free oat flour (I processed my own in a food processor from old fashioned whole grain oats)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup certified gluten free old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
4 tablespoons coconut oil, melted and cooled
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature I use Earth's Balance Vegan Butter
2 eggs at room temperature, beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon unsulphured molasses
6 ounces dried sweetened cranberries or raisins (or bake a batch of each.)


 

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line rimmed baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper and set them aside.
• In a large bowl or standing mixer, place the flour blend, xanthan gum, oat flour, baking soda and salt, and whisk to combine well. Add the oats, granulated sugar and brown sugar, and whisk to combine again, working to break up any lumps in the brown sugar. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the coconut oil, butter, eggs, vanilla, honey and molasses, mixing to combine after each addition. The dough will be thick and should come together easily.  If it doesn’t come together, the ingredients specified to be at room temperature were likely not at room temperature. Toss the cranberries and/or raisins and add them to the dough. Mix until the dried fruit is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
• With wet hands, shape the dough into 1 1/4-inch round balls, and then press flat into disks about 1/4 inch thick. Place about 1 1/2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake or until lightly golden brown all over and set in the center (about 12 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet until set (about 5 minutes) before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

This is the second time I've made these cookies.  A "please momma, you must make more of these!" means it's a winner and will be my go to cookie for special treats.

Of course I must balance out even a healthy cookie with more healthy snacks for all the kids to snack on when they come to visit on this snow day.



 I hope you're enjoying your day, no matter what the weather is. 

Alyssa