Category: Brunch

Gluten Free Brunch

Gluten Free Sausage and Hash Brown Casserole

Breakfast casseroles are my go-to for morning entertaining or a light dinner.  Easy and convenient, this recipe is the perfect size for a small gathering, but you can double it for larger families (or bigger appetites).  Gluten free with no oddball ingredients to purchase, just prep the night before and bake in the morning!

9 servings

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Ingredients:

I love that you can vary the ingredients and have something a little different each time.  Today I’m using a mild Italian chicken sausage, but you can sub a spicier sausage, ham or bacon.  Shredded hash brown potatoes will give you a smoother consistency, or use the cubed for more definition.  Cheddar is a classic choice for this casserole, but any cheese will work.  I used my favorite, gruyere.  Colorful veggies like bell pepper and broccoli can be added but be sure to cook them in advance to remove some of their moisture.  With extra veggies you may need to extend the cook time.

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz. hash brown potatoes, shredded or cubed
  • 9 oz. gluten free Italian chicken sausage, or use your favorite
  • 1 tsp. olive oil
  • 3/4 cup shredded gruyere cheese, or use cheddar
  • 7 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk (I used 2%)
  • 1 tsp. gluten free breakfast sausage seasoning or seasoned salt
  • paprika
  • cooking spray

Preparation:

Coarsely chop the sausage, or pulse in an electric chopper.

Heat 1 tsp. olive oil in a nonstick skillet and brown the sausage.  Set aside to cool.

Combine the hash browns and sausage with half of the cheese and mix thoroughly.

Beat the eggs with the milk and seasoning.

Mist an 8 x 8″ square glass baking dish with cooking spray.  Spread the potato and sausage mixture evenly in the dish and pour the egg mixture over everything.  Top with the remaining cheese and sprinkle with paprika.

Cover tightly with foil and be sure to mist the foil with cooking spray first to prevent sticking.  Refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, take the dish out of the refrigerator at least one-half hour before baking (so the glass doesn’t crack).  Preheat the oven to 350º.  Remove the foil and bake for 1 hour.  If needed, bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.  Note, other items baking at the same time will lengthen the cook time.

The casserole will be golden brown with the sides pulling away from the baking dish.  Check the center with a toothpick, it should come out dry.

This casserole is a complete meal, but you can serve it with a nice fruit salad, bacon or ham.  Don’t fight over the corners!

Notes ♪♫ Frozen hash brown potatoes are a great convenience, but always check the label for gluten containing ingredients, especially if they are seasoned.  Today there are so many options for gluten free sausage, ham and bacon.  You should have no problem finding one that your family will enjoy.  Always be careful with spice blends and grate your own cheese for best flavor and no unwanted additives.

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Gluten Free Spiced Applesauce Loaf

Don’t wait for apple season to make this delicious, Spiced Applesauce Loaf!  It’s perfect for coffee breaks, brunches, and snacks.  It would be lovely to take along when visiting a friend or neighbor.  So easy to prepare, and everyone will love it, kids and adults alike.

First, check out the ingredient list.  You probably have most of these items right in your pantry!  Then, in addition to being gluten free I also give you some options to lower the sugar, as I know many of you have additional diet restrictions.

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Dry Ingredients:

Wet Ingredients:

 Preparation:

Whisk together all of the dry ingredients.  Combine the wet ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and beat until smooth.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and blend together just until moistened.

Line a 1 lb. loaf pan with parchment and scrape the batter into the pan.

Bake for 1 hour at 350°.  When it’s done, the loaf will have risen almost to the rim of the pan and the top will crack.  If you’re not sure it’s done, check with a toothpick in the center of the loaf.

Cool in the pan for 1/2 hour, then grasp both sides of the parchment and lift the loaf onto a cooling rack.

Carefully remove the parchment and continue cooling to room temperature.  Try to resist cutting into it right away, to minimize crumbling.

You could dust the top with confectioners’ sugar, or drizzle with a simple icing.  Honestly though, this cake is so moist and delicious it really needs no other adornment.  Slice with a serrated knife and arrange on a serving dish.

Look at that nice moist crumb!  You’ll have to take it from me, it tastes great!

Notes ♪♫ I have always loved quick breads.  This is an old recipe of mine that I converted to gluten free.  For muffins and quick breads, I use and recommend Better Batter Original Blend gluten free flour.  When you shop Better Batter, be sure to use my Promo Code MGFC30 at checkout for 30% off full price!

 

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Gluten Free Spiced Applesauce Loaf

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: © My Gluten Free Cucina
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Diet: Gluten-Free
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Description

Don’t wait for apple season to make this delicious, Spiced Applesauce Loaf!  It’s perfect for coffee breaks, brunches, and snacks.

Ingredients

Units Scale
Dry Ingredients: Wet Ingredients:

Instructions

Whisk together all of the dry ingredients.  Combine the wet ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and beat until smooth.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and blend together just until moistened.

Line a 1 lb. loafpan with parchment and scrape the batter into the pan.

Bake for 1 hour at 350°.  When it’s done, the loaf will have risen almost to the rim of the pan and the top will crack.  If you’re not sure it’s done, check with a toothpick in the center of the loaf.

Cool in the pan for 1/2 hour, then grasp both sides of the parchment and lift the loaf onto a cooling rack.

Carefully remove the parchment and continue cooling to room temperature.  Try to resist cutting into it right away, to minimize crumbling.

You could dust the top with confectioners’ sugar, or drizzle with a simple icing.  Honestly though, this cake is so moist and delicious it really needs no other adornment.  Slice with a serrated knife and arrange on a serving dish.

Notes

For muffins and quick breads, I use and recommend Better Batter Original Blend gluten free flour.  When you shop Better Batter, be sure to use my Promo Code MGFC30 at checkout for 30% off full price!

 

Gluten Free Millet Bread

I have my favorite toasting breads for breakfast.  They are dense, hearty seeded loaves that hold up well in the toaster like Mighty Tasty Toasting Bread and Millet and Buckwheat Toasting Bread.  But as much as I love their texture, sometimes I’m craving a soft, enriched bread to make sandwiches, or French Toast.  This Gluten Free Millet Bread fits the bill.  It has a soft, cake-like crumb with just a hint of sweetness.

I used Bobs Red Mill products in this recipe.  They are widely available online and in stores.  The loaf pan is from USA Pan, made in the USA!

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Millet flour is what gives this bread that light yellow color.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Whisk together the dry ingredients, millet flour through salt and add them to the bowl of your stand mixer.  In a separate bowl, microwave 1 cup of milk for 30 seconds.  Whisk in the yeast and honey and let it stand for 10 minutes until bubbly.

Whisk the eggs, canola oil and cider vinegar into the yeast mixture.

With the mixer on low speed, gradually pour in the wet ingredients.  Once incorporated, increase speed and beat 3 minutes with the paddle attachment.  The dough will be heavy and clinging to the paddle.

I baked this loaf in a 9″ x 4″ x 4″ pullman pan, the higher sides support the loaf as it rises.  I always line my loaf pans with parchment paper, to easily remove the finished loaf.

Scrape the dough into the pan and use a wet spatula to smooth it out evenly.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional) and cover loosely with plastic wrap.  Let it rise for 1 hour.  I set my pan on top of some padding, so that it wasn’t resting directly on the cold counter surface.

Preheat the oven to 350º.  Just before placing in the oven, mist the top of the loaf with water and quickly mist the sides of the oven.  Bake for 45-50 minutes.  The internal temperature should be between 195-200º.

Look at that beautiful loaf!  I was worried that the dough hadn’t risen much but look at the oven spring!  The high sided pullman pan definitely helped with that!

Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

This is exactly what I was hoping for.  It looks like French Toast is back in the breakfast rotation!

Notes ♪♫ Need more inspiration?  Check out this French Toast Casserole with Blueberries and Cream Cheese, or this delectable Tiramisu French Toast!  Both were made with this Gluten Free Millet Bread!

 

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Gluten Free Millet Bread

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: © My Gluten Free Cucina
  • Category: Gluten Free Bread
  • Diet: Gluten-Free
Print Recipe

Description

This Gluten Free Millet Bread fits the bill.  It has a soft, cake-like crumb with just a hint of sweetness.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Instructions

Whisk together the dry ingredients, millet flour through salt and add them to the bowl of your stand mixer.  In a separate bowl, microwave 1 cup of milk for 30 seconds.  Whisk in the yeast and honey and let it stand for 10 minutes until bubbly.

Whisk the eggs, canola oil and cider vinegar into the yeast mixture.

With the mixer on low speed, gradually pour in the wet ingredients.  Once incorporated, increase speed and beat 3 minutes with the paddle attachment.  The dough will be heavy and clinging to the paddle.

Bake in a 9″ x 4″ x 4″ pullman pan, the higher sides support the loaf as it rises.  I always line my loaf pans with parchment paper, to easily remove the finished loaf.

Scrape the dough into the pan and use a wet spatula to smooth it out evenly.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional) and cover loosely with plastic wrap.  Let it rise for 1 hour.  I set my pan on top of some padding, so that it wasn’t resting directly on the cold counter surface.

Preheat the oven to 350º.  Just before placing in the oven, mist the top of the loaf with water and quickly mist the sides of the oven.  Bake for 45-50 minutes.  The internal temperature should be between 195-200º.

Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

Notes

Need more inspiration?  Check out this French Toast Casserole with Blueberries and Cream Cheese, or this delectable Tiramisu French Toast!  Both were made with this Gluten Free Millet Bread!

 

© My Gluten Free Cucina * All Rights Reserved

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

Maple Sorghum Cereal Flakes

When I first had to go gluten free, one of my biggest disappointments was breakfast.  I have always enjoyed whole grain wheat cereals, so I was shocked to find that gluten free cereals did not measure up.  Many are made with refined flours and are full of sugar, kid stuff!

I want an adult cereal with great flavor, texture and fiber.  So, after 2 years of choking down sugary cardboard flakes I decided to try making my own.  Why not?  I began by thinking about my favorite cereals “BC” (before Celiac!).  What did I like about them?  Not too sweet, great chew, whole grains and seeds.  I started brainstorming grain combinations that I thought would be tasty and got to work.

The result, my first homemade, from scratch gluten free cereal!  I tasted the crunchy flakes and thought, this is what I’ve been missing.  While I waited impatiently for breakfast, I wondered if the flakes would get soggy in milk but no, they stayed crispy as well as any of the box brands.

Now I can hear you groaning, you make your own cereal, really? Let’s be honest friends, this wasn’t hard to do.  Making the dough was simple.  Spreading it out in a thin layer took some patience but I got through it quickly.  The oven did the rest.

Seriously, you have got to try this!

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Yield 9 oz. – about 6 servings

Ingredients:

  • 114 g. Sorghum flour
  • 57 g. Brown rice flour
  • 14 g. Teff grain, ground
  • 13 g. Flax seeds, ground
  • 29 g. Almond flour
  • 30 g. Cassava flour
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp. Canola oil
  • 1-1/3 cups water

Preparation:

I chose sorghum as the predominant grain because I love it in my bread baking, along with brown rice.  Teff has always reminded me of cereal.  It has a strong taste that can easily overpower a recipe, but I knew that adding just a little would boost the flavor profile.  I ground the Teff grain and flax seeds in a coffee grinder.

To make the dough, I first whisked together the dry ingredients.  Then I added the maple syrup and canola oil to the bowl of my stand mixer and began combining with the flour mixture using the paddle attachment.  I added water, 1 tbsp. at a time until I had a wet dough, like pancake batter.  In all I used 21 tbsp. of water, about 1-1/3 cups.

I lined 2 large baking sheets with parchment and divided the dough between the 2 sheets.  I then used a wet spatula to spread the dough out into a very thin layer.  Start in the middle and spread the dough outward to the edges of the parchment.

I baked it for 45 minutes at 300 degrees, rotating the pans and alternating oven racks every 15 minutes.  When I removed the pans from the oven, I let them cool for 5 minutes.  The sheets of dough were already cracking in places, and it was easy to finish breaking them into flakes with my hands.

For the last step I spread the flakes out and put them back into the oven, lowering the temperature to 250 degrees.  I baked the flakes for another 10 minutes to get them completely dried out and crispy.

When the flakes are completely cooled, store in an airtight container.  I’m not sure how long they would last, I finished eating them in about 3 days!

Not only did my homemade flakes taste great but I know I saved money by making them at home.  I may give up on store bought cereal all together.  Please do try the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments!  I love hearing from you!

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Sausage and Egg Mini Quiche

Let’s get the day started with an easy recipe that you can prep ahead and bake in the morning!  It’s a great savory dish for a casual breakfast or Sunday Brunch.  The recipe will yield one dozen mini quiches, perfect for a 12 cup muffin pan.  Completely gluten free with no oddball ingredients to purchase, everyone will love this family favorite!

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Ingredients:

  • ½ lb. gluten free Italian sausage, casings removed
  • ½ small onion, chopped fine
  • 1 tsp. olive oil
  • 1 package (8 oz.) white mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 package (5 oz.) baby spinach
  • 10 large eggs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2-3 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
  • gluten free breakfast sausage seasoning
  • Cooking spray

 Preparation:

Brown the sausage in a large nonstick skillet, breaking up the meat with a spatula.  Remove from the pan, reserving the fat.

Set the meat aside to cool, then pulse it a few times in a food processor or mini chopper, just enough to finish breaking up the meat.

Add a little olive oil to the reserved fat and begin cooking the onion.  When the onions are translucent, add the mushrooms and cook until they release their liquid.  Sprinkle with seasoning.

Remove the mushrooms and onions from the pan, drain in a colander and set aside.  Wipe the pan clean.  Add 2-3 big handfuls of spinach with 1/4 cup water.  It will cook down!  Cover and steam for 1 minute, just until the spinach is wilted.  Drain the spinach well and pat it dry with paper towels.

Note! You can prepare up to this point and refrigerate the night before.

When the mushrooms and spinach have cooled to room temperature, preheat the oven to 375º and coat a muffin tin with cooking spray.  Whisk the eggs in a large bowl and stir in the sausage, mushrooms, onions, spinach, seasoned salt and half of the cheese.

Spoon the mixture into 12 muffin cups and sprinkle tops with the remaining cheese.  Bake 25-30 minutes until set.

The quiche will puff up during baking and may deflate a bit when removed from the pan.

Carefully scoop out the quiches with a spoon and transfer to a serving dish.  They should slide right out.  Serve hot or at room temperature.

This is a very easy recipe that you can double or triple to feed a crowd for brunch.  I used Italian sausage, but you can substitute any sausage you prefer, or bacon or prosciutto!  Be sure to pin this easy and delicious recipe for your next Sunday brunch!

Notes ♪♫ There are many gluten free sausage seasonings on the market, but you may find them high in sodium.  If you are interested in making your own seasoning blend, check out my Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties post.  It includes a recipe for a blend of individual spices that you mix together, and you can adjust the salt content to your liking.

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Gluten Free Banana Waffles

I have always loved pancakes and waffles, going all the way back to my childhood when Dad made us pancakes for breakfast on Sunday.  Back then I would devour a whole stack!

As an adult I have continued this Sunday tradition, even after my Celiac diagnosis.  At first, I went with a popular gluten free pancake mix.  Ugh!  I continued trying different brands and some were better than others, but all were expensive.

Finally, I decided to make my own gluten free blend from scratch.  Still pricey for sure, but in the end, it cost much less per serving than a packaged mix.

The main ingredients, almond flour, coconut flour and tapioca starch are staples in my gluten free pantry.  I think the taste and texture of my waffles are better than any prepared mix, and the banana provides moisture, flavor and sweetness!  This is a great recipe to use up bananas that are past their prime.

8 servings (serving size = 1 waffle)

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Ingredients:

  • 1 cup tapioca starch 105g
  • 2/3 cup coconut flour 65g
  • 1-1/3 cup almond flour 135g
  • 1 tsp. baking powder 6g
  • 1 tsp. baking soda 6g
  • 1/2 tsp. Salt 3g
  • —————————————
  • 2 large eggs 100g
  • 2 ripe bananas, mashed 150g
  • 2 tbsp. Canola oil 22g
  • 2 tsp. Vanilla 7g
  • 1-1/2 cups 2% milk 350g
  • Cooking spray

Preparation:

I often eat half of a banana and throw the rest in the freezer.  After a couple of weeks those bananas pile up and it’s time to make more waffles!

Before you begin, preheat your waffle iron to 350°.  Whisk together the dry ingredients.

In a separate bowl, mash the banana with a fork and add the egg, oil, vanilla and milk.  Whisk well to combine.

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet with a spatula, just until moistened.

Coat both sides of the waffle iron with cooking spray.  Spoon the batter into the center and use a spatula to spread it into the corners.

Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes, remove and transfer to a cooling rack.  Repeat with the remaining batter.

You can serve them immediately or cool to room temperature and freeze for later.  I like to make a big batch and store in freezer safe bags.

The waffles are filling, one is more than enough for our small appetites.  I serve them with fresh fruit and candied walnuts.  You can reheat them in the microwave, oven or toaster.

Always use real maple syrup!

Notes ♪♫ Gluten free pancakes and waffles take longer to cook than the wheat version.  I struggled at first with pancakes that were cooked on the outside and gummy in the middle, until I realized that I needed to adjust the time.  Then I decided to use my waffle iron, and that was the magic.  Since both sides cook at once, 5 minutes at 350° is usually perfect.

Substitutions: You can substitute 2/3 cup part skim ricotta for the banana, it makes a light fluffy waffle.  In the fall I like to use pumpkin puree.

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Veggie Omelette

I have always loved Saturday mornings, especially back in my working days, when it meant having the luxury of extra time to make something special for breakfast.  Omelets have long been a weekend favorite of mine, and since the ingredients are naturally gluten free, they continue to be a healthy breakfast option.  I love adding fresh veggies like onion, bell pepper, spinach and mushrooms.  During the summer, I add zucchini and fresh chives from my herb garden.  Use your favorites or what you have on hand!

Serves 1 or 2, depending on your appetite!

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Ingredients:

  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup egg whites
  • 2 tbsp. milk
  • 3/4 cup diced veggies such as onion, mushroom, zucchini, bell pepper
  • fresh or dried herbs such as chives, dill
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp grated cheese, optional
  • gluten free seasoning of choice
  • salt and pepper

Preparation:

Chop the veggies evenly into small dice and sprinkle with salt and pepper, or your favorite gluten free seasoning.  It may look like too much but remember, the veggies will shrink during cooking.

Heat a 10″ skillet with a little olive oil.  In a bowl, whisk together the egg, egg whites, milk and fresh or dried herbs.  Season with salt and pepper.

When the skillet is ready, add the veggies and sauté over low heat until their liquid has evaporated, and they are beginning to brown.  Take your time, you want as little moisture as possible, and this step develops the flavor.

Spread the veggies in an even layer, then pour the egg mixture in slowly so that they don’t all shift to one side of the pan!  If you like grated cheese, sprinkle some over the top and set your timer for 5 minutes.  As the omelet cooks, use a thin spatula to gently lift the edges, allowing the liquid to run underneath. This is how you want it to look before you fold it over, it should slide easily when you shake the pan.

Now pick up one side of the omelet with a spatula and gently fold it in half.  Don’t worry if it breaks, it will still taste great!

Turn the omelet once more after folding.  To make this easier, you can cut it in half or use 2 spatulas.  For smaller appetites, this omelet is enough to share. It’s quite filling!  Now that you know how easy it is, put away the cereal and treat yourself to something special this weekend.

Notes ♪♫ A good non-stick skillet is essential for making an omelet.  I have a 10″ Oxo skillet that is my dedicated omelet pan, I don’t use it for anything else!

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