Gluten Free Gingerbread House – A Daring Bakers Challenge
December 25, 2009 { }
Yes, I joined the Daring Bakers, which was graciously hosted by Anna of VerySmallAnna and Y of Lemonpi. It was a perfect month to complete my first challenge. I’ve never made a gingerbread house – and trying to figure out how to make one sugar free sent me for a tailspin. My first thought was to raid the sugar free candy aisle though I don’t eat malitol and it’s not my baking style at all. After e-mailing about the challenge with fellow Daring Baker and friend, Alta of Tasty Eats at Home, I decided to go all natural. This approach created the perfect little gingerbread cottage.
The gingerbread is made with amaranth flour, a recipe from I Love Dessert
I tried some different sugar free icing concoctions, and after several attempts settled on an on-the-fly cream cheese based icing that worked beautifully. I whipped room temperature light cream cheese then added 4 tablespoons of heavy cream and one tablespoon of dried egg whites.
Here’s the run down on my all-natural adornments:
- The roof is tiled with sliced almonds.
- The front door is outlined with currants. Currants are also on the top corners of the windows.
- Dried goji berries created beautiful flower boxes.
- Dried bing cherries envelope the house’s foundation.
- Dried cranberries line the front walk.
- Unsweetened carob chips make up the front walk.
- The snow covered ground is made from unsweetened coconut flakes.
- The wreath is a dried persimmon slice with raw pepitas studded with pink peppercorns.
If you’re an ‘alternative foodie’ blogger like me and you love baking, think about joining the Daring Bakers. It’s so affirming to take on a challenge and successfully complete it using non-conventional ingredients. Honestly, I almost didn’t even try this challenge because I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. Joe and I have so enjoyed looking at my little gingerbread cottage that I’m already planning on making another on next year.
What’s brought you joy this holiday season?
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Tags: amaranth flour > food decorations > gingerbread > gingerbread cottage > gingerbread homes > gingerbread house > holiday decorations > sugarless gingerbread
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36 Responses to “Gluten Free Gingerbread House – A Daring Bakers Challenge”
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Meet Amy Green
Nearly 6 years of living free of refined sugars and gluten has stopped my food cravings enabled me to maintain a 60+ pound weight loss. Today I live with enormous freedom. Join me as I create healthier food that's SS&GF and delicious. I hope to help you do the same. Read more about my story here.
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All photos and text (unless otherwise noted) on Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free are my own creations - and my intellectual property, all rights reserved. Please do not publish my work without my consent. Of course, you can use my work as inspiration to build upon (what a gift it would be to inspire others!) and in that case a link back would be appreciated. Copyright 2009, all rights reserved.
December 25th, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
See hun? I totally knew you could do it! They are a challenge (some more than others), but always very rewarding! If they don’t feel like a success, at least they can teach some valuable lessons!
Your house looks beautiful! Merry Christmas!
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December 25th, 2009 @ 8:32 pm
Wow beautiful house and all the natural adorments are incredible, congratulations and Merry Christmas.
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December 25th, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
Welcome to the Daring Bakers!! I love your house and the details–especially the pumpkin seed wreath.
Merry Christmas!!
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December 25th, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
Beautiful job. It looks so homely and yum to the dried cranberries
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December 26th, 2009 @ 12:49 am
Love your decorating, so creative!!! Your house looks gorgeous
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December 26th, 2009 @ 5:54 am
Love the little detailed decorations….so pretty.
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December 26th, 2009 @ 6:36 am
how cute! your house is adorable!
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December 26th, 2009 @ 8:57 am
Your gingerbread house has to be the most unique and beautiful house I’ve seen this year. I love the natural look of it!
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December 26th, 2009 @ 9:14 am
Awww…it’s so cute! I love seeing how you make tradtional items gluten and sugar free.
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December 26th, 2009 @ 9:32 am
Oh my Amy! That is a gorgeous Gingerbread house – and one I would actually LIKE eating! Not the rot your teeth out alternatives! Just WOW.
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December 26th, 2009 @ 10:13 am
Wow, just…wow! I’m so impressed. It’s so beautiful! Great job, Amy, you definitely knocked this one out of the park! I really must get that book. Going on my Wish List right now!
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December 26th, 2009 @ 10:42 am
Beautiful–very whimsical. What a great start to the Daring Bakers.
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December 26th, 2009 @ 11:31 am
Wows. Your wreath is so creative!
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December 26th, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
I love your use of non-candies to decorate! 500 times healthier and just as yummy!
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December 26th, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
Miz Amy,
Your cottage is warm and cozy. It invites you to come in and enjoy the season. Very good use of color.
Happy Holidays!
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December 26th, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
This is the most beautiful, remarkable, creative and unique Gingerbread House I have ever seen. My Christmas Joy has been the children. I wrote about it at http://www.aunt-sandy.blogspot.com anyone can visit the site if you’re totally bored and looking for something to do I’d love for you too. Blessings for the New Year!
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December 26th, 2009 @ 5:27 pm
Amy, you are such an overachiever in ALL your efforts. That house is incredible–fantastic job!
Shirley
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December 26th, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
I love this idea! How cool! Making gingerbread houses has always been a tradition in my family too- and though candy looks pretty I’ve never wanted to eat it afterwards- even before I didn’t eat sugar! This looks delicious though and pretty! Thanks! Great job! I will have to use this idea with my own future family someday.
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December 26th, 2009 @ 10:54 pm
this is beautiful! such a creative way to decorate a gingerbread house, it looks so natural.
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December 27th, 2009 @ 12:49 am
Wow! I am really impressed that you made your beautiful gingerbread house without sugar or gluten. It is beautiful with the persimons, pepitas and other natural ingredients.
Congrats!
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December 27th, 2009 @ 6:05 am
wow, i love your gingerbread house, its my first time to see one decorated the way you did it and i’m really impressed. great job!
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December 27th, 2009 @ 6:54 am
I love how you made this without sugar! Your house looks beautiful – goji berries and pumpkin seeds are very clever choices for decorating
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December 27th, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
What a wonderful gingerbread house! I’m so glad you chose to go the natural route. Fabulous!
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December 27th, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
Love your house! Especially the rosette window!
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December 27th, 2009 @ 6:40 pm
Wow, that is just amazing! Catching up on all your posts! Everything looks yummy! As always
Merry Christmas to you and Joe!
~Liz
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December 27th, 2009 @ 7:16 pm
Amy you are my hero! I love that you did this sugar-free! It is so darn cute. You inspire me. Talk about thinking outside of the box. You rock!
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December 27th, 2009 @ 9:00 pm
Wow! Really the most beautiful natural decorations I’ve seen on a gingerbread house. I love it!
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December 27th, 2009 @ 10:00 pm
Yea for joining the daring bakers, and what a fun month for your first challenge. Beautiful job and I love how creative you were using sugar free decorations. Well done.
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December 27th, 2009 @ 10:31 pm
Your house is beautiful, fruitfull, and precious!
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December 28th, 2009 @ 7:54 am
Great job Amy! So happy you are now a member of the DB too…it’s fun!
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December 28th, 2009 @ 11:35 am
What a beautiful gingerbread house! And it’s a lightened version! It doesn’t get much better than that!
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December 30th, 2009 @ 6:35 am
Not only is your GB house beautiful, but I love all the berries and the cream cheese royal icing. A gingerbread house that doesn’t rot your teeth..lol! Great job!! Have a wonderful New Year!
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December 30th, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
You did a great job for your first challenge, loved your house.
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December 31st, 2009 @ 6:39 am
Very well done! I love the healthy take of the gingerbread house. Congrats!
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January 7th, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
I love your house. It’s beautifully natural.
For the Alt DBers, we are posting our finished DB things on both forums. The second posting of a finished challenge on the Alt DB forum is so we can more easily find other Alt DBers and share the love.
Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go
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Amy Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
@Natalie, Thanks so much! Looking forward to seeing everyone’s DB results this month.
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