Friday, March 1, 2013

Taking the Gluten-Free Plunge

Gluten-free eating has become a very popular way of life these days.  Some people eat gluten-free because of health reasons, while others are hoping for the health benefits of cutting out a not-so-good-for-you ingredient.  I don't have any health issues that require me to avoid gluten at all costs, but when I started having some odd health issues a couple of months ago, I started looking into what I eat as a possible cause.  One of the ingredients I cut back on drastically is gluten.  I admit, I still eat foods with gluten, but I have learned a lot about how to eat yummy foods that are gluten-free.  In addition to my reasons, I have also had many people ask me if I make any gluten-free cupcakes.  I had never tried before for fear of creating a brick with frosting on it, but I have taken the plunge and I am so excited to say it IS possible to make great tasting gluten-free cupcakes!
My first venture was relatively simple: vanilla and chocolate.  Why not start out with the classics?!  Take a peek:
 I was pretty surprised with how much height these little guys got, I figured they would be sort of flat.  I topped them with a Hershey's syrup chocolate buttercream (and, yes, I checked the Hershey website and the syrup is gluten-free).
Take a look at how soft and moist they look inside:

And just in case you think they only look good, they were kid approved!
Ethan got the first bite
Hannah usually only eats the frosting, but this time she ate the cake, too!

My 15-month old, Abby, also endorsed the treats.  Gotta love the crazy bed-head!

Responsible Mom Disclaimer here: No, my kids don't eat cupcakes all day everyday.  This is a treat!

So, if you have been looking for a delicious gluten-free cupcake, look no further.  Give me a call or email me for your next gluten-free cupcake order!

Tip of the Blog:
The recipe I used for the vanilla called for lemon juice.  I was out of it and too lazy to go to the store for a single lemon.  If this happens to you, you can substitute vinegar for the lemon juice and the recipe will turn out just as well!