Being a vegan during the holidays is hard, but being vegan and gluten free is worse.
This is not my first vegan Christmas, and it certainly won't be my last, but it is my first gluten free, vegan Christmas. A few months ago I was told that I had a gluten intolerance that was triggering my IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, and making it worse. I cut everything containing gluten from my diet. Every Christmas we make cookies at my house, but because of my dietary restrictions, I can't have the same cookies as everyone else. Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to make your holiday cookies both vegan and gluten free:
Instead of using eggs, use ground flax seed! Mix 1 tbsp of ground flax seed with 2 tbsp of water to replace one egg. Let this sit for 5 minutes, and then it's ready to use! I suggest adding a dash of cinnamon to the mixture, it helps to prevent a lumpy flax seed "egg".
Instead of using oil, use unsweetened applesauce! Unsweetened applesauce is a healthier alternative to using vegetable oil in your cookies. You don't taste the applesauce at all in the finished product, and it leaves the cookies super moist!
Another good substitute for vegetable oil is coconut oil. Coconut oil adds so much to baked goods. Not only does it leave cookies moist and delicious, but it's the healthiest oil option, too.
Finding a delicious alternative to gluten might seem like a nightmare, but it doesn't have to be. The simplest alternative is to just use gluten free flour. It works just as well as regular flour, and won't cause a flare-up.
Another really good alternative is nut flour. You can make flour out of almost any kind of nut by simply roasting it, and then grinding it into a fine powder. Many stores also sell coconut flour and almond flour pre-made already, also. This alternative is going to leave you with a little bit of a grainier consistency than just gluten free flour, but it's also going to leave your cookies tasting better.
All of these ideas can be used to modify any cookie recipes to make them gluten free or vegan! Having dietary, and lifestyle restrictions, shouldn't stop you from making the cookies you love!
