Here's a good question from Solvi:
I have to bring a dessert or cake to a party. One of the guests is allergic to both eggs and flour (gluten), and I would love to bring something she can eat too. I find plenty of flour-free or egg-free recipes, but I haven't found any nice ones without both. Any ideas for something easy and delicious?
Solvi, if you can do something other than a cake, then this is indeed easy! There is so much good fruit in season right now; you could do something as simple as strawberries and cream, or you could do a more elaborate (yet still very easy) panna cotta pudding. Panna cotta is gluten-free and egg free; it's just sugar, cream, and vanilla thickened with gelatin. You could also do a baked fruit crisp with gluten-free topping (look for gluten-free flour, gluten-free oats, or do a nut-based crumble with almond flour and butter).
Here are a couple recipes to get you started:
• Honey Lavender Panna Cotta
• Gluten-Free Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
Readers - what would you do in this situation?
Related: Good Question: Gluten-Free Baking
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I bake with gluten free flour (bob's red mill has some great options) and Ener-g egg replacer...
be careful though as I've found some recipes just work better with real flour and egg!
view kpetuck's profile
Providing you'd rather not buy gluten-free flour, here are a few of the things I like to make:
Coconut-chocolate "cookies" (I sub a good bittersweet chocolate for the semisweet)
homemade candy (eg. truffles, toffee, peanut butter cups, peppermint patties, etc) Most of them don't call for any flour
baked apple: you could use crushed gluten-free gingersnaps for the "flour". Many stores carry a brand (even Trader Joe's)
caramelized pineapple wedges, bananas-foster
chocolate pudding (there are a lot of recipes that aren't egg-based)
good ice cream or sorbet
fruit salad
(homemade) fresh, whipped cream with strawberries or other fruit--can add a little cocoa powder to the whipped cream to make chocolate whipped cream instead.
good luck!
view nectarinegirl's profile
Check out:
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/
Lots of gluten free, dairy free and egg free recipes, including desserts. And they are yummy! Haven't had a bad one yet.
view jamielynnhollis's profile
I would just do a crisp with oats, sugar/honey, pecans and butter as the topping. Or marinate some strawberries in balsamic vinegar.
view kestrel127's profile
Just in case you don't see this in the crisp recipe, by the way, do be careful about oats. They are technically gluten-free, but almost always processed in facilities that also handle flour. So you MUST buy gluten-free oats in order to be sure they are OK. Bob's Red Mill makes GF oats.
I have a good friend who has celiac and I've learned to check everything, even things you wouldn't think to - balsamic vinegar, even, can have wheat products in it.
view faith's profile
A fruit crisp might be a good idea, especially now that it's berry season. You could make the topping with almond flour as shown here: http://www.adinnerparty.net/2008/12/two-winter-desserts.html
Also on that post is a recipe for rice pudding, another idea.
I second the chocolate pudding suggestion. Omit the eggs--it will be fine:
http://www.adinnerparty.net/2008/10/chocolate-pudding-two-ways.html
Good luck!
view lisadinnerparty's profile
One of my favorite gluten-free desserts at this time of year is a simple fruit tart.
Make a crumble crust with crushed gluten-free cookies (mi-del makes ginger snaps that are perfect for this purpose, though you can also purchase gluten-free graham cracker crumbs) and a little bit of melted butter.
add a filling of your choice - pudding, creme fraiche, whatever you like! (I like lemon curd, but that has eggs in it...)
then top with fresh berries and/or sliced seasonal fruit.
If you do try baking, try to find the Babycakes cookbook. You might be able to find it at the library. It is almost entirely gluten-free vegan dessert recipes. I've tried a few so far and they're delicious.
view laura c's profile
Here are two more ideas for gluten and egg free desserts -
Banana Ginger Mandalay Delights and Persimmon Pudding - hope that helps!
view Hartley from Kitchen Caravan's profile
oooh i have a good one ... you can make chocolate mousse with tofu and good chocolate squares (like ghiradelli). i swear, no one will believe you when you say it's actually GOOD FOR THEM. do a trial run - drain 12oz of silken tofu and let sit for 10mins to dry out a bit. roughly chop and put into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
add either:
3T instant coffee and 6oz melted GOOD chocolate
or
1/4t. peppermint extract and 6oz melted GOOD chocolate
or
just 6oz melted GOOD chocolate
and 2T powdered sugar to taste.
blend again, fill dessert dishes, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Voila - dessert!
view rebecca_f's profile
What a darling friend you are!
This White Chocolate Cheesecake with lemons and strawberries looks yummy: http://glutenfreeday.com/?p=508
just make sure to skip the eggs in the base, perhaps switch in the crust for this tart: http://milkforthemorningcake.blogspot.com/2009/05/go-ahead-honey-its-gluten-free-lemon.html
Ooh, or you could try Rice Pudding with mangoes and coconut milk instead of a cake: http://glutenfreeday.com/?p=496
view Carla in Tacoma's profile
Thank you all for so many great ideas! I have to try several of them, they all sound yummy.
view Solvi's profile
Probably not the best for a dinner party, but incredibly delish:
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/nikkis-healthy-cookies-recipe.html
view blinknoodle's profile