Thursday 9 February 2012

Gluten free lemon drizzle cake

This cake is fairly heavy on the carbs but is light and delicious.

200g butter
20g powdered sucralose
50g milk powder
4 eggs
175g almond flour
250g mashed potatoes
zest of 3 lemons
2 tsp gluten free baking powder
juice of 1 lemon
4 tbsp sugar

Cream together the butter, sucralose and milk powder until soft and light. Gradually beat in the eggs. Mix the almond flour, potatoes, lemon zest and baking powder and fold into the egg mixture. Pour into a greased and lined cake tin and bake at 160 oC for 40 minutes. Leave to cool in tin for 10 minutes before turning out. Dissolve the sugar in the lemon juice and drizzle over the cake before serving.

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Gluten free lemon meringue pie

I've had a bit of a sweet tooth of late, which isn't like me! My partner and children have not been complaining though... This pie was a great success - even with no gluten or added sugar.
The pastry case is based one from Elana's pantry.
The pastry and lemon filling also made some delicious jam tart style treats. Just press the pastry into a cup cake tin, add the filling and bake for 15 minutes. No need for blind baking with the little ones.

For the pastry case
2 cups almond flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter (or coconut oil)
1 tsp sweetener (I used Truvia)
1 egg

For the lemon filling
zest and juice of 2 lemons
3 level tbsp potato starch (or corn flour)
1/4 cup sweetener (if using truvia use less - I used about a quarter cup)
4 egg yolks
40g butter

For the meringue
4 egg whites
3/4 cup sweetener (I used half a cup of sucralose and 1/4 cup of truvia. Next time I'll just use the 1/4 cup of truvia)

Heat oven to 180 oC (160 for a fan oven). Put the almond flour in a food processor and add the salt and sweetener. Pulse to mix. Then add the 2 tbsp of butter (or coconut oil) in and blend until mixed well. Add the egg and process until it forms a smooth ball. Then press the dough into a loose bottomed pie dish. I found the easiest way to do this was the pull off small balls of dough and put them over the bottom of the dish, then press flat with the back of a spoon. Then form a lip around the edges in the same way. Take a piece of parchment paper and scrunch it a few times to soften it. Line the pastry case with it and fill with baking beans, or even better, loose change. Coins work best as they heat up quickly and transmit the heat well. Bake the pastry case for 10 minutes lined, then 5 minutes with out the coins and paper. Set aside and lower the oven temperature by 20 oC.
Next make the lemon filling. Fill a jug with 10 fl oz of cold water. Mix the sugar and cornflour/potato starch in a bowl and add enough of the water to make a paste. Put the remaining water and the lemon zest into a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Gradually add to the flour mix, beating all the time. Return this mixture to the pan when all the water is added and carefully bring up to a simmer, stirring all the time in case it burns. Remove from the heat when it starts to simmer. Beat in the lemon juice, then the egg yolks and finally the butter. Pour the mixture into the pastry case. Put the egg whites into a large bowl and whisk until they form still peaks. Whisk in the sweetener, a little at a time. Spoon the meringue mixture over the lemon filling and use a palette knife to make sure it's totally covered. Put into the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Allow to settle for at least 20 minutes before serving.