"Gluten Free" doesn't have to mean "Treat Free"

Cookies!

Well it has been some time since I posted a recipe that used alternative flours and I thought it was time for one. So I did some research and found a recipe I thought I could successfully adapt to be gluten-free. I found this recipe online and it is actually a King Arthur Flour recipe which has good reviews, so I gave it a whirl. I originally made these cookies for a friend who can't eat wheat, only to discover when I delivered them that she cannot eat oats either! Oh well, they were tasty and I am sure someone enjoyed them. I think next time I will make them simply as a cake-like raisin spice cookie without the oats. This is a recipe that is not just for people looking for a gluten free treat; if you like really moist spice cookies, these are for you! 

Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

make about 2 dozen cookies

1/2 cup butter(or Earth Balance buttery sticks)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 to 1/2 cup brown sugar, to taste

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

heaping 1/2 teaspoon salt*

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1 large egg

3 tablespoons honey

3/4 cup all purpose gluten free flour (I used King Arthur)

1 tsp. xantham gum

1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats

1 1/2 cups raisins (golden or regular)

If you use salted butter, reduce salt to 1/2 level teaspoon.

Beat together the butter, sugars, spices, salt, baking soda, and vanilla, mixing until smooth. Then beat in the egg and then honey. Stir in the flour and xantham gum, then the oats and the raisins.  Cover the dough and refrigerate is for 1 to 2 hours, until it is thoroughly chilled.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees and cover two baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop heaping  tablespoons of dough onto cookie sheets (the cookies will spread a bit) and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. You may want to consider switching the baking sheets halfway through the baking time to ensure even browning. Cool on a rack for ten minutes or so, and then dig in. These are soft and chewy otameal cookies and not the crispy texture you often get with oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Even so, I had a difficult time believing they were gluten free! enjoy,  yours in baking- p