This recipe is about a memory. Of my long-ago childhood home, when my younger self would arrive home from school to find that my mother had been baking. Of the aroma that filled the kitchen, the table covered with racks holding dozens and dozens of these fragrant Italian treats just out of the oven. We would devour them still warm, when they had the consistency of a soft cookie. Later, when fully cooled they would firm up to a crisp exterior perfect for dunking in coffee!
Why do I remember this particular recipe so fondly? Like most women of her generation my mother embraced convenience foods, and her cookies and cakes were usually made from a boxed mix. Not these Wine Biscuits though, they were always made from scratch!
It’s a popular recipe and an easy one too! Every Italian has their own little variation, but the basic ingredients include a cup of sugar, a cup of oil and a cup of wine. My mother used eggs in hers. I know that others do not, but I think the egg definitely helped with the consistency in this gluten free makeover.
It was a challenge to recreate the exact texture of these biscuits with a gluten free flour. Although we call them biscuits, they are actually a shaped cookie. The dough had to be workable enough to roll into thin ropes, to form the traditional twist and knot shapes. A tall order for gluten free!
This post contains affiliate links.
The Flour
In keeping with the simplicity of my mother’s recipe, I did not want to make a 20-ingredient flour blend. So, I used Better Batter Original All Purpose Flour and was very pleased with the taste and texture of the wine biscuits. They got a big thumbs up from family and friends who sampled them! Please note that other gluten free flour blends may work, but since every brand is different, you may not achieve the same results with another flour.
When you shop Better Batter and use my Promo Code MGFC30 at checkout, you will receive 30% off any non-sale item!
CLICK HERE to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to try the flour that I call my little miracle in a bag!
Yield: 2 dozen
My mother’s original recipe made 4 dozen wine biscuits and believe me, in those days they disappeared before having a chance to cool down! I decided to cut the recipe in half, and it was just the right amount for a small get together. You can double it for a larger group or holiday baking.
Ingredients:
- 300 g. (or 2-1/2 cups equivalent) Better Batter all-purpose flour
- 2-1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup neutral oil (I used canola)
- 1/2 cup red wine
Plus . . . . . . . . . . . .
- additional flour for dusting and rolling
- 1 beaten egg, for egg wash
Preparation:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the egg, sugar, oil and wine.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to wet and beat until a soft dough forms.
Lightly flour a cutting board, and scoop out one rounded tablespoon of dough at a time. Roll each piece into a rope, about 1/2″ thick and 10″ long. Keep the board and your fingers lightly floured while handling the dough.
You can shape the ropes into a knot or a twist. My mother would simply form a round and pinch the ends together, that works too! You should have enough for about 2 dozen.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment and arrange the formed wine biscuits, leaving a few inches of space in between. Refrigerate for 1 hour before baking. Keeping them cold helps the biscuits retain their shape.
Preheat the oven to 325º. Whisk together 1 egg with 1 tbsp. water and lightly brush the wine biscuits with the egg wash.
Bake for 22-25 minutes. Cool in the pan 10 minutes then transfer to a rack. Enjoy them warm or at room temperature.
Store airtight at room temperature 2-3 days. I imagine they would freeze well but this batch did not last long enough to find out!
Notes ♪♫ My mother made these biscuits with my grandfather’s homemade red wine. 🍷 There was always a bottle in the refrigerator. Even when the wine was past its prime, it was good for cooking, and this was how it usually got used up! You can use any red wine that you enjoy drinking (i.e., not cooking wine!).
Heat the butter and olive oil in a 
To finish, add 2 tbsp. gluten free BBQ sauce and toss to coat.
While the chicken was cooking, I made my fried rice. 
Next we’ll make the meatballs. Combine the beaten egg and Italian seasoning. In another bowl combine the bread crumbs and potato flakes.
Don’t crowd the pan, you want to get some good color on the outside (if the pieces are too close together the meat will steam in its own liquid). I did my beef in 2 batches.
Once the beef goes into the crock-pot, you will see some nice browned bits on the bottom of your skillet.
Pour 1/3 cup of the wine mixture into the hot pan to deglaze, using a spatula to scrape up all of the browned bits, they are full of flavor!
Pour the liquid into the crock-pot and add more olive oil to the skillet. Begin browning the veggies, a few minutes each starting with the onions.
When the chicken has browned on all sides, add a splash (1/4 cup) of white wine to the pan and toss until the liquid evaporates. Remove from the pan and set aside.
When they have a little color, add the broccoli, garlic and diced tomatoes. Add another splash of white wine, then season with salt and pepper, basil and Italian seasoning. Cover and cook 10 minutes, until the broccoli is crisp tender.
While the vegetables are cooking, add the pasta to the boiling water. Use your favorite (
Coat a 
Remove the chicken when almost cooked through and add the onions and peppers to the skillet. Sprinkle with seasoning.
Cook 2-3 minutes, then push the veggies aside to make a clean spot in the center of the pan. Add the tomato paste and let it toast for a minute before stirring it into the veggies with 1/2 cup of the chicken broth.
Stir everything together, then add the remaining 1-1/2 cups chicken broth along with the zucchini.
