Gluten-Free Hemp Seed Wedding Cookies

Posted Dec 22, 2011 | By Cybele Pascal |

Just in time for Christmas! And, surprise, surprise -- they’re good for you too! One of my greatest challenges of living with food restrictions is getting proper nutrition into my boys. So I am always looking for ways to sneak nutrient-dense ingredients into my allergy-free recipes.

Hemp seeds (also called “Hemp Hearts”) are a fantastically nutritious source of protein and Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids, which are often hard to get enough of when you can’t eat nuts or fish. These little seeds are not only nutritional powerhouses, they are also seriously tasty, and great in baked goods in place of tree nuts and peanuts. Contrary to popular belief, they are mild and “nutty”. They are great in cookies, tossed in a salad, or sprinkled over your oatmeal. In fact, I’m beginning to think their possibilities are endless.

These cookies are not only fabulous for holiday parties, they’re good enough for any wedding, allergen-free or not. And according to my father, they also taste very much like the legendary (in our family – so I guess it’s a limited legend!) buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread almond cookies made by his grandmother Dora around the winter holidays. I hope you enjoy this modern spin on an old-fashioned classic as much as we do in our food-allergic family.

Gluten-Free Hemp Seed Wedding Cookies

(Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan, Allergy-Friendly)
Makes about 40 1 1/2 -inch cookies

These little gems are normally made with walnuts, pistachios, pecans, or almonds. This tree nut-free version is made with hemp seeds, and is equally delicious and highly nutritious. A perfect little sweet, full of “Hemp Heart,” to share with lots of love!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 1 cup milk-free, soy-free vegetable shortening
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups gluten-free flour (I use Authentic Foods GF Classical Blend, or my Basic Gluten-Free Flour Mix)
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shelled hemp seeds (I use Manitoba Harvest hemp seeds)
• Confectioner’s sugar, for rolling

1. In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar, shortening and vanilla extract. Blend well.
2. In a separate bowl, measure out flour mix by spooning flour into a dry measuring cup, then leveling it off with a straightedge, or the back of a knife. (Do not scoop the flour directly with the measuring cup or you’ll wind up with too much flour for the recipe). Combine flour mix, xanthan gum and salt. Stir flour mixture and hemp seeds into sugar mixture, stirring until dough holds together. Cover the bowl and chill about 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from refrigerator. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, pressing together like you would with Play Dough.
4. Place balls 1 inch apart on cookie sheets. Bake cookies on center rack in oven for 18-20 minutes until set but not brown.
5. Cool for 10 minutes on cookie sheets. Gently remove cookies with a thin spatula (be careful, cookies are delicate) and roll them in confectioner’s sugar. Cool completely and re-roll in confectioner’s sugar.

TIP: If cookies aren’t eaten within a day, store them in the freezer. Layer them in single layers between parchment paper. Enjoy them at room temperature.

Gluten-Free Hemp Seed Wedding Cookies © 2010 by Cybele Pascal

(Please note that all my recipes are completely free of all top allergens (wheat, milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, and gluten), so as many people as possible can enjoy them. Additionally, all the ingredients are available at Whole Foods, and online at Amazon.com. If you have trouble finding something, let me know and I’ll help you find it.)

SAFETY NOTE: Because each person’s food sensitivity and reaction is unique, ranging from mild intolerance to life-threatening and severe food allergies, it is up to the consumer to monitor ingredients and manufacturing conditions. If manufacturing conditions, potential cross contact between foods, and ingredient derivatives pose a risk for you, please re-read all food labels and call the manufacturer to confirm potential allergen concerns before consumption. Ingredients and manufacturing practices can change overnight and without warning.