Top 5 Gluten Free Comfort Food Recipes That Are Family Approved
By Kristen Wise
It seems like everyone knows someone who has switched to a gluten-free diet due to Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance or a lifestyle choice. I have a good friend whose daughter was recently diagnosed with Celiac. While it is certainly challenging to be an adult living in a gluten filled world, it's entirely another thing to navigate as a child.
With that in mind, here are 5 amazing comfort food recipes that are gluten-free, and family approved.
The Best Chewy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
First, the all-important chocolate chip cookie. This recipe from My Gluten Free Kitchen is amazing. Crispy around the edges with chewy soft centers, this cookie is touted as a cross between Mrs. Field's and the famous New York Times cookie recipe. Not only do these cookies taste delicious, but you can make the dough into balls and freeze so you can have warm cookies in minutes. Clearly a win!
Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese
This recipe by Shauna James Ahern is quick, easy, and tastes amazing thanks to the goat cheese and cheddar combination (but feel free to swap out the goat cheese for any creamy cheese of your choosing). In a few simple steps you can have a macaroni and cheese that is almost as easy as the boxed version, but tastes oh so much better! The kale takes this recipe up a notch, but could obviously be left out if you have picky eaters.
A good cake recipe is a necessity in a gluten-free house (birthday celebrations, obviously). Common complaints in gluten-free cakes are texture, crumble, and density. This recipe by Shauna James Ahern (and adapted from one by Joanne Chang) solves these issues. These cupcakes are fluffy and moist. By the time you add your favorite frosting your guests will never guess they are gluten-free.
You can't talk about comfort foods without including at least one appetizer. My love for queso began as a child in a tiny, whole-in-the-wall, tex mex restaurant in Denver, Colorado. While cheesy and delicious, the highly processed cheese used in these recipes is definitely not a healthy life choice. Insert the plant-based version found here. The creamy texture and base come from roasted eggplant (who knew?!?) and the spice comes in the form of Rotel (or any favorite chunky salsa). While I won't claim your family (or guests) will think this is a traditional queso, I do think they will love it. Just add tortilla chips and snack happy!
This "recipe" actually starts with a mix by Stonewall Kitchen. It is so quick and easy that you can have homemade donuts in a flash on any random Saturday. Aside from the prep ease, the best part is having warm donuts fresh from the oven topped with butter, cinnamon and sugar. What's not to love about that?
Gluten-free cooking has come a long way over the last several years. Hopefully these recipes will help you find some new family favorites!