It seems more and more you hear about people who have an allergy to wheat. If your child is one of those people, you know how important it is adjust their diet so they don’t have a problem. Since most store-bought goodies are made with wheat, here are some home-made wheat-free treats for lunch boxes.
Wheat-Free Brownies
These brownies are a great choice for children who love chocolate but can’t eat wheat. Ingredients include:
3/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
5 separated eggs
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
6 ounces finely ground almonds or almond flour
Pinch of salt
In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar, then add the egg yolks and mix thoroughly. Set this aside while you melt the chocolate over a double boiler or in a microwave-safe bowl. Allow this to cool some before adding it to the butter and sugar mixture. Stir in the almonds or almond flour.
Beat the egg whites until they become stiff but don’t allow them to dry out. Fold this into the other mixture. When the egg whites are completely incorporated, pour the mixture into a greased and floured 9” x 9” square pan. Bake these for 45 minutes in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow them to cool before you cut them up.
Wheat-Free Macaroon Cookies
Another great treat to tuck away in the lunch box is Wheat-Free Macaroon Cookies. Here’s what you’ll need:
4 egg whites (save the yolks for later use)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups shredded coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Beat together the egg whites and salt until stiff peaks form. Add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until the sugar is entirely dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients and gently combine; don’t beat them.
Place a sheet of parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Drop the mixture onto the paper by teaspoonfuls. Bake the cookies for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool for a while before you remove them from the cookie sheet. After they’ve cooled a while, remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Peanut Butter Cookies
Does your child love peanut butter cookies but hasn’t been able to eat them lately? These easy to make Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies will bring a smile to your child’s face. The following ingredients are needed:
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Put all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix it together. Make small or large balls of the dough. Place them on cookie sheets and then flatten them with a fork. Bake them for 20 minutes, remove from the cookie sheets, and allow them to cool.
There’s no doubt a family’s diet changes when a wheat allergy is discovered. Your child can still enjoy these and other wheat-free treats for lunch boxes. Be prepared, however – these treats are so good, you may be making them often.
