Gluten Free Desserts and Sweets

Gluten Free Coconut Cream Puffs

photo by recipe author

Servings: 12-24 servings
Preparation Time: 1 hour

Basic Puff Shell:

1 cup water
1/2 cup organic salted butter
3/4 cup sweet rice flour
1/2 cup organic brown rice flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
3 large organic eggs (OR 4 medium eggs)
Homemade custard (see recipe below)
1 1/2 cups organic semi-sweet chocolate pieces, melted
Organic powdered sugar, to garnish

Homemade Coconut Custard:

1/2 cup organic granulated whole sugar
3 tablespoons organic cornstarch
4 organic egg yolks
3 cup organic coconut milk* (OR 6 tablespoons Coconut Cream Concentrate plus 2-3/4 c. water)
2 tablespoons organic butter
2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract

Puff Shells:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper or baking mat.

In a medium saucepan, heat water and butter to rolling boil. Stir in flour – beating well until it pulls away from the pan and forms a ball, about 1-2 minutes; then add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition. Fully incorporate mixture until batter is smooth.

Drop by heaping tablespoon onto greased baking sheet or silicone baking mat lined pan. Batter should be fairly stiff, so that when you scoop it onto the baking sheet, it stays firm and doesn’t spread out. If it is too runny, add additional sweet rice flour in small amounts until batter holds its shape on the baking pan.

Bake 30-40 minutes at 400 degrees F. or until golden and dry.

Remove from oven and cool until you are able to handle them. Then cut off top of each puff and scoop out any excess soft dough from inside, if necessary, to form a shell for the cream filling. Replace top with each puff and allow to cool completely.

Coconut Custard:

In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, bring sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, and coconut milk (or Coconut Cream Concentrate plus 2-3/4 cups water) to a boil, whisking constantly until thickened (approx. 15-20 minutes), careful not to scorch mixture on bottom of pan. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Place in a container with a tight sealing lid in refrigerator to cool. Chill 2 hours until set.

Assembly: Fill puffs using a pastry bag or spoon carefully into cream puff shells, then replace top of puff. Sprinkle with powdered sugar to garnish and drizzle with melted chocolate, if desired.

Melt chocolate pieces in a glass/stainless steel boil set over a small saucepan with simmering (not boiling) water. Drizzle puffs with melted chocolate. Serve or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Recipe submitted by Deanne, Glendale, AZ

* For the freshest coconut milk make homemade coconut milk. (See video at this link.)

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Chunky Strawberry Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream

photo by recipe author

Servings: 4 servings
Preparation Time: 20-30 minutes

3 cups whole milk and/or cream
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon arrowroot
1/2 cup raw honey or raw sugar (add more if you want it really sweet)
2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup chopped strawberries (fresh or frozen)

In a blender, mix milk, egg yolks, arrowroot, raw honey, vanilla & cocoa till smooth. Pour into a container and let it chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. Pour into your ice cream machine maker and follow the instructions.

About 5-8 minutes before ice cream is done pour in coconut flakes, pecans & strawberries.

Scoop out ice cream and either store it in a plastic container and let it set in the freezer or enjoy it right away!

NOTE: If you DON’T have an ice cream machine maker, simply mix everything together, pour into a plastic container and put in the freezer. When frozen, set it out and let it soften before putting it back into your blender.

It won’t be chunky unless you choose to sprinkle the coconut, pecans & strawberries on like toppings, but the ice cream base will have the consistency of soft-served ice cream. So yummy!!

Recipe submitted by Marillyn

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Coconut Haupia (Traditional Hawaiian Coconut Pudding)

photo by recipe author

Servings: 6-8 Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes

2-4 tablespoons Coconut Cream Concentrate
1-3/4 cup water
5 tablespoons organic granulated sugar
5 tablespoons organic cornstarch
3/4 cup water

In a medium saucepan, cook coconut cream concentrate with 1-3/4 cups water over medium-low heat until warm and blended. In a separate small bowl, combine sugar and cornstarch; stir in remaining 3/4 cup water, combining well.

Stir sugar mixture into coconut mixture and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (approx. 5-6 minutes). Pour into an 8 inch square pan. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares and serve.

Recipe submitted by Deanne, Glendale, AZ

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Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter Balls

Prepared by Sarah Shilhavy, Photo by Jeremiah Shilhavy

Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

1 cup Coconut Peanut Butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 – 1 cup cocoa powder
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

In mixing bowl combine peanut butter, honey, cocoa, coconut oil, pecans, and half a cup of shredded coconut. Mix until smooth. Take spoonful-size scoops of batter and roll into balls in the rest of the coconut shreds.

Place balls on a baking sheet covered with wax paper and place in freezer until desired firmness.

Recipe submitted by Jocelyn, Costa Rica

Sarah’s notes: You can also use flaked coconut to roll the balls in (like I did, see the picture) instead of shredded.

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Easy Chocolate Coconut Hazelnut Ganache

photo by recipe author

Servings: 20
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

3/4 cup raw cacao powder or regular cocoa powder
3/4 cup raw honey
1/3 cup Gold Label Virgin coconut oil, melted
1/2 teaspoon hazelnut extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Process until very smooth and emulsified. Transfer to an airtight container (I recommend a glass jar) and store at room temperature for up to one week, or refrigerated for up to two weeks. Warm slightly before serving.

Recipe submitted by Amber, Overland Park, KS

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Coconut Almond Cups

Coconut Almond Cups recipe photo

photo by recipe author

Servings: 12+
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Coconut base:

1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 cup melted raw honey
1 1/4 cups unsweetened, shredded coconut
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1/2 cup chopped almonds, preferably soaked and dehydrated, then toasted for 20 minutes at 300 degrees F.

Chocolate topping:

1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 tablespoons raw honey
3/4 cup coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon coffee liqueur

1. Make coconut base: Combine melted coconut oil and raw honey. Whisk well to combine. Add shredded coconut and almond extract.

2. Using a small scoop, divide coconut mixture among 24 mini cupcake molds. Sprinkle each one with a little of the chopped almonds, dividing evenly. Place in the freezer on a level surface for 30 minutes to harden.

3. In the meantime, make chocolate topping: combine cocoa powder, honey, and coconut oil in a glass bowl set over simmering water. Whisk until coconut oil is almost completely smooth. Remove from heat and continue whisking, adding vanilla and coffee liqueur.

4. Remove frozen coconut bases from freezer and spoon a little of the chocolate topping on each cup. Place back in the freezer for another 30 minutes until frozen and set.

Recipe submitted by K, Tempe, AZ

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Coconut Citrus Fudge

photo by recipe author

Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 15 minutes (plus chilling time)

1 cup coconut cream concentrate
2-3 tablespoons raw honey
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon orange, lemon, grapefruit or other citrus zest
1 teaspoon orange, lemon, grapefruit or other citrus extract (if using oil, use a few drops)

1. In a food processor, pulse coconut cream concentrate and honey until combined. Then, with the processor running, add the coconut oil in a steady stream. Add zest and extract or oil, and mix until combined.

2. On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper, spoon mixture and form into a rectangle. Press with your hands to make the thickness even, about 1/4 inch thick. Chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

3. Remove from the fridge, and lift parchment or wax paper off the cookie sheet and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into little squares or whatever bites you like.

4. You can store these in the fridge, or even on the counter in an airtight container. The coconut cream concentrate keeps its shape well, even at room temperature.

Enjoy!

Recipe submitted by K, Tempe, AZ

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Gluten Free Mint Carob Semisweet Brownies

Photo by recipe author

Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

1/3 cup firm coconut oil (or 5 tablespoons)
1/2 cup carob powder
6 eggs
1/2 cup pure maple sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/3 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small saucepan, melt coconut oil. Once melted stir in carob powder and allow to cool slightly.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, maple sugar, and extracts until smooth. Add carob mixture and whisk until smooth. Slowly add coconut flour and beat until smooth. Add chocolate chips and stir until just combined.

Pour mixture into an 8×8 square baking pan lightly greased with coconut oil. At this point, you may sprinkle the top with additional chocolate chips, if you desire.

Bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes, until done. Allow to cool in the pan before cutting.

Recipe submitted by Katrina, Tampa, FL

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