Gerbs Eating Well Blog

You are here: Home / Archives for Dessert

Dessert

Apple-Cranberry Crisp

by Leave a Comment

 

It’s almost Thanksgiving! Whether you suffer from allergies or you’re hosting a guest with allergies, holidays and other social events can be stressful. To help, we’ve created some great resources on Gerbs’ Allergy Hub, including a Guide to Hosting a Gluten-Free Thanksgiving.

 

This downloadable resource contains a sample menu (with links to recipes) as well as useful tips for hosting a safe gathering. Did you know that November is gluten-free diet awareness month?

Cooking and eating without gluten can be tricky. Thankfully, awareness of the diet has grown in recent years and consequently, there are more gluten-free products available than ever before. Gerbs entire line of products are gluten-free- and, they are adding new, delicious products to the line-up including snack mixes, bread crumbs, pumpkin seed butter and FLOUR. Just in time for the holidays!

I know all of our gluten-free friends out there are especially excited about the flour because baking can be one of the biggest challenges! We’re excited to test out the new products and will be coming up with some fun new recipes for you soon!

One Thanksgiving favorite at our house is Apple Crisp. Fortunately, with a few slight tweaks, apple crisp can easily be made gluten-free. One trick us to use Gerbs Chia Seed Powder as a thickening agent, in place of flour. Have you tried this? We absolutely LOVE using Chia Seed Powder as a thickener in recipes- and, it’s a great way to sneak in some added omega-3s, protein and fiber- a win all around! Check out our Apple-Cranberry crisp recipe below and let us know what you think!

Print Recipe
 Apple-Cranberry Crisp
This recipe screams fall and would be the perfect ending to your Thanksgiving dinner. Using Gerbs gluten-free oats will ensure that your entire family can enjoy!
apple-cranberry crisp
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings
servings
Ingredients
  • 6 large Apples, peeled & cored
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, divided
  • 1/2 tsp Gerbs Cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon Gerbs Chia Seed Powder
  • 1/3 cup Gerbs Dried Cranberries
  • 1.5 cups Gerbs Rolled Oats
  • 1/3 cup Roasted Unsalted Gerbs Pumpkin Kernels
  • 2 Tablespoon Butter, melted & cooled
  • 1 tsp canola or avocado oil
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings
servings
Ingredients
  • 6 large Apples, peeled & cored
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, divided
  • 1/2 tsp Gerbs Cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon Gerbs Chia Seed Powder
  • 1/3 cup Gerbs Dried Cranberries
  • 1.5 cups Gerbs Rolled Oats
  • 1/3 cup Roasted Unsalted Gerbs Pumpkin Kernels
  • 2 Tablespoon Butter, melted & cooled
  • 1 tsp canola or avocado oil
apple-cranberry crisp
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
  2. Using a fork, combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, chia seed powder and cinnamon in a bowl. Add cubed apples and dried cranberries and toss to coat. Place apple mixture in bottom of prepared baking dish.
  3. In a separate bowl combine oats, remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, pumpkin kernels, butter and oil. Toss well. Spoon onto apple mixture.
  4. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown. Enjoy topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt or your favorite non-dairy whipped topping!
Share this Recipe

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Gluten Free Berry Chia Crisp

by Leave a Comment

May is Celiac Awareness Month, and the theme this year is “What I Wish You Knew.” This holds special importance to me because my niece Jackie lives with Celiac Disease, and I have seen firsthand out tough it can be both on Jackie and on my sister’s entire family. You can imagine how excited Jackie was when I told her about becoming a Gerbs Nutrition Mom!

 

Here’s what you need to know about Celiac Disease:

Symptoms of Celiac Disease are triggered by consuming gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. People with Celiac Disease also need to avoid many brands of oatmeal on the market due to cross contamination. And that’s why Gerbs is such a saving a grace for folks with Celiac – because there is zero chance of cross contamination with Gerbs…aka peace of mind.

When people with Celiac Disease consume gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the villi of the small intestine. This hinder’s the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, which can lead to nutrient depletion.

Celiac disease puts people at risk for all kinds of nasty stuff: anxiety, additional autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, intestinal damage and even certain cancers. The scary part?  It’s estimated that 83% of the people with Celiac Disease in the US are not diagnosed yet or are misdiagnosed.

But for those few who are properly diagnosed, like my niece Jackie, the only thing they have to do is avoid gluten. Plain and simple! Clear as day! Right? NOPE. Not right. It’s way more complicated than that.

Gluten is hidden in many products – cross contamination is a huge culprit and even beauty products like lip gloss could trigger a response. Many restaurants can’t guarantee a gluten free experience, and with so many people choosing to avoid gluten for reasons other than Celiac Disease, the growing trend is making cross contamination an even bigger concern because many companies are trying to offer “gluten-free” foods but are not trained in food safety. Sigh…

I asked Jackie what she wished people knew about Celiac Disease. She said, “It’s stressful to eat out with my friends because a lot of places still don’t have gluten free even though it’s becoming more common.” Jackie is 18-years-old and stressed out about eating at restaurants. As her auntie it makes my heart sink to hear that. And as a registered dietitian, it fuels my passion to provide nutrition guidance to those living with food allergies, like many of you.

That’s why Sheri and I developed this new recipe – just in time for Memorial Day. It’s a berry chia crisp using Gerbs chia seeds, gluten-free oatmeal, and cinnamon. It also uses gluten-free flour, beautiful fresh berries, and lemon zest.

I had a blast cooking this today with my two little ones. My toddler was especially happy about it!

The combination of berries and chia seeds give this “special treat” a boost of omega-3 fatty acids and powerful antioxidants. That’s something I can certainly appreciate!

This colorful recipe would be a perfect addition to your Memorial Day celebration later this month. And I can tell you from experience – those living with Celiac Disease will be oh so happy to celebrate with you!

ENJOY!


Print Recipe
 Gluten Free Berry Chia Crisp
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
approximately
Ingredients
  • 4 cups fresh berries (I used blackberries and blueberries)
  • 1/4 cup Gerbs Chia Seeds
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 tbspn lemon zest
  • 2 tbspn maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup Gerbs Rolled Oats
  • 2 tbspn brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup Gluten Free Flour
  • 2 tbspn Gerbs unsalted, roasted sunflower kernels
  • 1/4 tspn Gerbs Cinnamon
  • 4 tbspn cold butter or you could use applesauce to sub for the butter
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings
approximately
Ingredients
  • 4 cups fresh berries (I used blackberries and blueberries)
  • 1/4 cup Gerbs Chia Seeds
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 tbspn lemon zest
  • 2 tbspn maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup Gerbs Rolled Oats
  • 2 tbspn brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup Gluten Free Flour
  • 2 tbspn Gerbs unsalted, roasted sunflower kernels
  • 1/4 tspn Gerbs Cinnamon
  • 4 tbspn cold butter or you could use applesauce to sub for the butter
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine berries, chia seeds, lemon juice, lemon zest and maple syrup in a bowl. Mix well and set aside.Combine the rest of the ingredients and cut in cold butter using a fork or a food processor until crumbly.Coat an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray. Add filling, followed by topping.Bake for 30 minutes or topping is golden brown.Let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving
Recipe Notes

Shop for your ingredients!

Rolled Oats: https://www.mygerbs.com/product-category/grains-oats/

Cinnamon: https://www.mygerbs.com/shop/cinnamon-powder/

Chia Seeds: https://www.mygerbs.com/product-category/seeds/black-chia-seeds/

Share this Recipe

A Spring Treat- and a lesson in moderation

by Leave a Comment

Parenting during the holidays is never easy. Everywhere you turn, there are sugar-laden treats tempting your little ones and undermining your efforts. With Easter and Passover just around the corner, it’s a good time to share some tips for teaching your children how to indulge wisely. As a dietitian and mom, I believe that the key to raising healthy eaters is moderation. Here is how my family practices moderation, so we can indulge in occasional treats (like the Spring Sunflower Cups, below!) without worry.

Everyday foods are healthy foods.

Making the healthy choice an easy choice is important- for kids and parents! In my house, this starts with meal planning and keeping plenty of nutritious options on hand. We stock our refrigerator with washed, sliced fruits and vegetables that the whole family can easily enjoy. The pantry is filled with snack-sized portions of dried fruit, pumpkin or sunflower seeds and whole-grain crackers.

Avoid using food as a reward or punishment.

It can be tempting to use food to encourage or discourage behavior but it’s not a great idea. Rewarding with treat foods simply puts that food on a pedestal and increases your child’s desire for it. Keeping a neutral attitude about all foods will help kids learn moderation and decrease the chances that they will become adults who are constantly “rewarding” themselves with food.

Be a good role model.

What happens when YOU overeat? As parents, our actions speak louder than our words. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and try not to show signs of guilt or make a big deal out of your own indulgences. We are all human and food is something to be enjoyed, not vilified.

When it’s time to indulge- choose wisely! 

When it is time for a little treat, be sure it is something truly delicious! These simple, allergen-friendly Spring Sunflower Cups are the perfect addition to your springtime celebrations.  Naturally portion-controlled and made with high-quality Gerbs Dark Chocolate and Homemade (or store bought) Sunflower butter, they are worth the splurge!


Print Recipe
 Spring Sunflower Cups
These delicious, no-bake, allergen-friendly treats are the perfect addition to your spring celebrations! The key to this recipe is creating a "piping bag" using 2 gallon-size plastic bags. Check out our no-fuss tips for clean piping!
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings
Sunflower Cups
Ingredients
  • 2.5 cups Gerbs Dark Chocolate Chips 2.5 cups = 1 lb bag Gerbs' chocolate chips
  • 1 cup Sunflower Seed Butter
  • 1/4 cup Gerbs Sunflower Seeds (for garnish)
Materials
  • 2 gallon-size plastic bags
  • 40 mini cupcake liners
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings
Sunflower Cups
Ingredients
  • 2.5 cups Gerbs Dark Chocolate Chips 2.5 cups = 1 lb bag Gerbs' chocolate chips
  • 1 cup Sunflower Seed Butter
  • 1/4 cup Gerbs Sunflower Seeds (for garnish)
Materials
  • 2 gallon-size plastic bags
  • 40 mini cupcake liners
Instructions
  1. Heat chocolate in microwave-safe bowl for 2 minutes or until melted smooth. Let cool slightly.
  2. Place cupcake liners on a cookie sheet.
  3. Line two tall glasses with a gallon-size plastic bag. Scoop all of sunflower butter into one bag and 1/2 of the melted chocolate into the other. Remove liner from glass and twist bag to secure closed. To begin piping, cut a small hole in one edge of each bag.
  4. Pipe enough chocolate to cover the bottom of each cupcake liner.
  5. Pipe a layer of sunflower butter on top of the chocolate layer.
  6. Refill the chocolate bag with remaining melted chocolate and pipe over the sunflower butter. Smooth tops of each cup using the back of a small spoon, if necessary.
  7. Garnish each cup with a few sunflower kernels and cool in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes

SHOP: Gerbs Dark Chocolate Chips- Miniatures

Use HOMEMADE SUNFLOWER BUTTER in this recipe!

Share this Recipe

Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins

by 2 Comments

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Chip Muffins - GERBS EATING WELL BLOG

Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins using Gerbs Chocolate

These Dark Chocolate Muffins are real gluten-free muffins and they use GERBS DARK CHOCOLATE MINI CHIPS and GERBS COCOA POWDER.

Muffins are tiny individual quick breads. Even though they look a lot like cupcakes, muffins aren’t nearly as sweet as their small cake cousins. They aren’t meant to be. Muffins have a more dense texture than a cupcake, not as much sugar in the batter and tend to be a touch heartier. There’s no frosting on a muffin, either. You can however, sprinkle on a healthy portion of Gerbs Dark Chocolate before baking. Don’t skip that step!

In this recipe, you can use your favorite gluten-free flour. This recipe is free from gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts and corn.

Adapted from GLUTEN FREE GIGI

…

Read More »

Grandmothers Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Sweet Bread

by Leave a Comment

GERBS DARK CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN SWEET BREAD RECIPE

Grandmothers Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Sweet Bread

This Allergen Friendly Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Sweet Bread comes straight from Gerbs Grandmother Lorraine’s kitchen.

GERBS KIDS ALLERGEN FRIENDLY RECIPES
The Gerbs kids LOVE it especially in Fall after collecting pumpkins. It uses 3 Gerbs products and you can buy them all on the Gerbs website:

1. PUMPKIN SEED MEAL (flour)
2. DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS
3. RAW PUMPKIN SEED KERNELS
This recipe contains the following allergen: eggs. If you or a loved one is living with an egg allergy, please refer to this resource on egg substitutions. As always, please check with your allergist or registered dietitian about how to manage your specific food allergy/allergies.
 
…

Read More »

Red, White & Blue Macarons by Lauren Warmke

by 2 Comments

July 4th Macarons - GERBS EATING WELL BLOG

Perfect for July 4th guests!

MACARONS – Don’t confuse them with Macaroons

It’s high time we set the record straight: the word “macaron” is not an alternate spelling of macaroon. In fact, the two terms refer to distinctly different things. Both macarons and macaroons are confections, and both names are derived from ammaccare, which is Italian for “to crush” — but that’s where the similarities end.

…

Read More »