Sugar Cookies

These are not your typical gluten free sugar cookies.  I think if any gluten free item is 'sold cheap', it is definitely sugar cookies.  Why do I say this?  The flavors in sugar cookies rely heavily on basic ingredients; flour, butter, sugar-- not much to mask any 'off' flavors. Every gluten free individual who was not brought up eating gluten free, probably knows exactly what I am talking about. Gluten free flours have such distinctive tastes to the non-native they can give any  item, that relies on typically simple tastes, a bad wrap-- making its partakers cringe at the simplicity of the cookie.  

This is a gluten free take on the recipe that I used at the beginning of my baking journey as a young girl-- Good ol Betty Crocker. It is a bit different than most.  Rather than relying on flavors of flours that the average mouth is not accustomed to, I have created a mixture that not only makes the cookie melt in your mouth, but also allows the familiar flavor of oatmeal* to guide the senses as familiar spices take over. 

Through the years of school I have taken these cookies to Valetines Day and Christmas Parties for my kids.  Each year the kids respond to them in amazement because they are 'real' gingerbread cookies.  The wonderful brownish color and the spice flavorings.   I LOVED seeing the kids reactions as they ate them.  Did they even know they were 'weird' gluten free cookies??  It was sort of refreshing to see that my kids really were not so different after all.  

To those of you who thought that your sugar cookie days were over at the first taste of cardboard, step back into the party, 'cuz it aint over honey!!

Sugar Cookies

1 egg

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup butter

- - - - 

2/3 cup sorghum

2/3 cup tapioca starch

2/3 cup ground dry oatmeal*

1/2 cup rice

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 1/2 tsp guar gum

3/4 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg, rounded

*Some of you may go on high alert at the thought of oatmeal, because of intolerance.  You can buy Gluten Free Oatmeal here

1) Cream together the first 4 ingredients; be sure to make sure they are at room temperature before starting.

2) Using your coffee/spice grinder, grind your oatmeal in increments of 1/3 cup at a time and then mix all the dry ingredients together in their own bowl. (If you are lazy like me and do not like to decorate the cookies, add 2 teaspoons of colored sugar and 2 teaspoons of colorful sprinkles to the dry ingredients for a simple and festive decor)

3) Mix the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture 1 cup at a time.

4) Divide in three parts and refrigerate over night.

5) Roll out to a 1/4 inch thick, cut cookies, place on greased tray

6) Bake 375 for 6-8 minutes