For anyone living with one or more food allergies, here’s the latest from Gluten Free Gigi’s gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free recipe box, along with vegetarian and vegan options, and even a raw foods recipe or two!
Sunny Honey Gluten Free Cereal
I Make Killer Gluten Free Cereal...
It’s also dairy free, soy free, nut free, corn free, egg free, vegan, and delicious! As a matter of fact, it fits nearly every special diet because it’s free from the Big 8 food allergens!
I know what you’re thinking... with my Holiday Guide complete, I’ve got way too much time on my hands. Time to do things like relax with friends, catch up on my reading, take afternoon naps...Time to make my own cereal.
I wish that were the case. Truth is, I’m busier than ever. The Holiday Guide is such a success that team Gluten Free Gigi has another little surprise for you at the end of November, so we’re all busy as Santa’s elves here in the Gluten Free Test Kitchen. But we’ll get to that soon enough...
Right now, it’s cereal I want to talk about. Crispy flakes of gluten free goodness, sugar free or lightly sweetened, with cinnamon, honey and seeds, cocoa and coconut, or with whatever you like on your morning flakes. I want to show you just how simple and affordable this can be. Prepare to be amazed!
I know what you’re thinking... with my Holiday Guide complete, I’ve got way too much time on my hands. Time to do things like relax with friends, catch up on my reading, take afternoon naps...Time to make my own cereal.
I wish that were the case. Truth is, I’m busier than ever. The Holiday Guide is such a success that team Gluten Free Gigi has another little surprise for you at the end of November, so we’re all busy as Santa’s elves here in the Gluten Free Test Kitchen. But we’ll get to that soon enough...
Right now, it’s cereal I want to talk about. Crispy flakes of gluten free goodness, sugar free or lightly sweetened, with cinnamon, honey and seeds, cocoa and coconut, or with whatever you like on your morning flakes. I want to show you just how simple and affordable this can be. Prepare to be amazed!
Gluten Free Chocolate Cereal Flakes with Coconut
Who Really Makes Their Own Gluten Free Cereal?
I do! And I think you will, too, once you see for yourself how easy it is to whip up a batch of these tasty, healthy flakes. Truth is, it takes no time at all to create fantastic flavor combinations everyone in your family will love.
It feels good, too, knowing you’re creating food for your family that is healthy, nourishing, and safe for everyone’s special diet!
And I’ll admit it, it’s pretty cool to say, “I made cereal today.”
Perhaps one of the best parts of making your own awesome gluten free cereal flakes is how much more affordable it is than buying pre-packaged gluten free cereals.
It feels good, too, knowing you’re creating food for your family that is healthy, nourishing, and safe for everyone’s special diet!
And I’ll admit it, it’s pretty cool to say, “I made cereal today.”
Perhaps one of the best parts of making your own awesome gluten free cereal flakes is how much more affordable it is than buying pre-packaged gluten free cereals.
Create Your Own Allergen Free Custom Cereal for
Pennies a Bowl!
Pennies a Bowl!
We’ve all done it... Stood there in the cereal aisle staring at the limited varieties of gluten free cereal available.
With hesitation, we reach for the box, hoping the ingredients list doesn’t reveal any of our other food allergens. We'd all like to enjoy a bowl of crispy-crunchy flakes with our dairy free plant milk for breakfast, at least occasionally.
Then, there it is, right there at the end of the ingredients list. In bold. Contains soy. Contains nuts. Contains corn. Contains milk ingredients. The “other” allergens. They seem to show up more often than not, leading to disappointment at yet another product we hoped to be able to try, but could not.
And if you have been able to try any gluten free cereals on the market, you already know they simply aren’t worth the cost. The flavors are lack-luster, they’re either too hard or go soggy so fast, you’d have to scarf them down at warp speed to enjoy even the slightest crunch.
Rice Chex average about $3.98 per 9-cup box. That’s about $0.44 per cup. That doesn’t really sound bad, at least until you hear how much my cereal costs per cup. Even with top of the line gluten free flours, my cereal flakes only cost between $0.08 and $.10 per cup. That's less than $1 per box!
I know, I was impressed, too!
Check out how I make this simple, affordable breakfast cereal!
With hesitation, we reach for the box, hoping the ingredients list doesn’t reveal any of our other food allergens. We'd all like to enjoy a bowl of crispy-crunchy flakes with our dairy free plant milk for breakfast, at least occasionally.
Then, there it is, right there at the end of the ingredients list. In bold. Contains soy. Contains nuts. Contains corn. Contains milk ingredients. The “other” allergens. They seem to show up more often than not, leading to disappointment at yet another product we hoped to be able to try, but could not.
And if you have been able to try any gluten free cereals on the market, you already know they simply aren’t worth the cost. The flavors are lack-luster, they’re either too hard or go soggy so fast, you’d have to scarf them down at warp speed to enjoy even the slightest crunch.
Rice Chex average about $3.98 per 9-cup box. That’s about $0.44 per cup. That doesn’t really sound bad, at least until you hear how much my cereal costs per cup. Even with top of the line gluten free flours, my cereal flakes only cost between $0.08 and $.10 per cup. That's less than $1 per box!
I know, I was impressed, too!
Check out how I make this simple, affordable breakfast cereal!
Basic Gluten Free Cereal Recipe for Most Special Diets
1/2 cup brown rice flour (can substitute white rice flour)
1/4 cup sorghum flour (can substitute millet flour for a higher protein flake)
1/4 cup potato starch (can substitute tapioca flour, or another starch)
Pinch salt
3/4 – 1 cup water, room temperature
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, optional
Before you begin:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
You will need:
- A large cookie sheet. I use an 11 x 17-inch, but any cookie sheet with shallow sides will work.
- Parchment paper that is slightly larger than your cookie sheet. (Remember to have several sheets because the cereal is baked in batches.)
- A large knife or offset spatula for spreading the batter before baking.
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and stir with a whisk to blend.
Add water, a little at a time, stirring in between additions, in order to achieve a very thin, yet not quite pourable consistency. (This is where my How-To videos come in so handy! I can actually SHOW you what to look for!)
Once you’ve achieved the correct consistency, you may add in additional ingredients to create your own, special flavors (see below) or proceed to baking.
Place the parchment paper on your counter top or work surface (not on the pan). Spoon a small amount (for my large pan I use about 1/2 cup batter; use less for a smaller pan, more for a larger one) of the cereal batter in the center of the parchment.
Using a large knife or offset spatula, carefully spread the batter as thin as possible, keeping within 2 inches of the edge of the parchment paper. You want the batter very thin, with some areas that are nearly bare. Pay careful attention to the center. That is usually where the batter is too thick.
Once you’ve spread your batter, carefully transfer the parchment to your cookie sheet, place the pan in the oven, and bake for 10-15 minutes, checking at 10 minutes.
Sunny Honey Gluten Free Cereal batter spread on pan
When you check the cereal, you should see that the entire large cereal flake has a dry appearance. The edges may have begun to curl up slightly, and that is exactly what you’re looking for. If this is how your cereal looks, you can remove any crisp edges by hand (careful, it’s HOT!). Then return the pan to the oven for the additional 5 minutes.
Remove the pan, check for crisp edges, and remove any that are already crisp (you may not have any this time to remove, as you’ve taken care of the thinnest part, the edge, at the 10-minute mark.)
Return the cereal to the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes, checking on it to make sure it’s not over-browning every 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cereal to cool slightly.
Test for crispness and remove any crisp pieces, breaking them into flakes of your desired size and transferring them to a plate or bowl for further cooling and storing.
For parts that are not crisp and still feel leathery, tear them into desired size flakes, turn off the oven, and return the pan to the oven for another 10 minutes, or until the flakes aren’t leathery and feel dry and begin to crisp. They will continue to crisp as they cool.
Store the cereal up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. One batch makes about 6 cups of cereal.
Here are some Flavor Combinations for you to try!
1. Honey-Nut (free) Cereal: Add 2 Tablespoons honey or agave nectar AND 2 Tablespoons crushed unsalted sunflower seeds. (You can either stir in the honey or agave and sunflower seeds, OR you can sprinkle the seeds on top and drizzle the honey over for a sweet crunch!)
2. Chocolate and Coconut Cereal: Add 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder AND 1 Tablespoon unsweetened grated coconut. (You can stir in cocoa and sprinkle coconut on top if you like.)
3. Cinnamon and Sugar Cereal: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon with the 2 Tablespoons of sugar listed as optional in the recipe. Top unbaked batter on parchment with additional cinnamon and sugar (1/2 teaspoon of each, combined)
4. Dried Fruit Cereal: Use original recipe or any flavor combo listed here and add dried fruits such as raisins, cranberries, blueberries, bananas, or cherries to the cooled flakes before storing.
Try your own! The flavor combinations are endless and super-fun to create! Get the kids involved, have Gluten Free Cereal Making Day! Experiment to find your favorite healthy, affordable, homemade cereal.
I’ve even been experimenting with different gluten free flour combinations, and even a grain-free version of the cereal!
Whatever you imagine and make, I know you'll be happy! I also know you'll be much more satisfied with your cereal creation than what you buy in the box!
~g~
This Week’s Trivia Question!
This Week’s Trivia Question!
The Question: Which hydrocolloid (A technical term that’s pretty important when it comes to our food. I’ll clearly explain it for you later this week!) are YOU using in your gluten free baking, and where does it come from?
Come back on Thursday to find out what’s REALLY in your gluten free baked goods!
Come back on Thursday to find out what’s REALLY in your gluten free baked goods!
~g~
As always, I encourage you to get in the kitchen and try some of these gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free recipes to see how tasty a special diet for your food allergy can be!
And don’t forget... It’s nearly Thanksgiving and I can help you with your special diet recipes for a safe and healthy holiday!
It’s simple... You can have me right by your side in over 40 How-To videos featuring gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free holiday favorites! I’ve even made it easy to create delicious Vegan dishes and Raw Foods dishes that fit into your special diet that everyone at your holiday table will enjoy!
Get your copy of my special diets Holiday Guide today and start planning your holiday!
It’s simple... You can have me right by your side in over 40 How-To videos featuring gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free holiday favorites! I’ve even made it easy to create delicious Vegan dishes and Raw Foods dishes that fit into your special diet that everyone at your holiday table will enjoy!
Get your copy of my special diets Holiday Guide today and start planning your holiday!
Let's Stay Connected!
Remember, my mission here at GlutenFreeGigi.com is to share my experience and knowledge to help you navigate your life comfortably and confidently regardless of which special diet or food allergy you might have. Send your questions or comments to: mailbox (at) glutenfreegigi (dot) com. I’d love to hear from you!
Don’t forget to follow along on Twitter and "Like" my new Facebook page. so you don't miss any of the exciting new recipes and information I have for you!
Don’t forget to follow along on Twitter and "Like" my new Facebook page. so you don't miss any of the exciting new recipes and information I have for you!
Thursday is another fantastic “A Side of Science” post where I share useful information to help make navigating your special diet easier! Don’t miss it!
~g~
Thank you for visiting! No matter what your food allergy or health goals are, know what I’m doing here at GlutenFreeGigi.com is for YOU because I understand what being on a special diet means!
Have a look around, get comfortable, and come back often to check out new information and recipes each Tuesday and Thursday. Leave a comment below or get your special diet and food allergy questions answered by sending me an email at mailbox (at) glutefreegigi (dot) com. I’ll always get back to you!
I’m glad we’re sharing the journey!
xo,
Gluten Free Gigi
Have a look around, get comfortable, and come back often to check out new information and recipes each Tuesday and Thursday. Leave a comment below or get your special diet and food allergy questions answered by sending me an email at mailbox (at) glutefreegigi (dot) com. I’ll always get back to you!
I’m glad we’re sharing the journey!
xo,
Gluten Free Gigi
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