Gluten Free Cupcakes Cookbook Giveaway and Review

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It’s taken me awhile to get to my giveaway of Elana Amsterdam’s gorgeous new book, Gluten-Free Cupcakes, but trust me, it was worth waiting for.   This book is my favorite new cookbook, and it now sits snuggled up next to my other favorite cupcake book, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World.  These two adorable mini baking bibles should be the book ends to every cookbook collection.

So how is this new cupcake cookbook different from Vegan Cupcakes, and why would I want both on my shelves? And why should you, for that matter? Because Gluten-Free Cupcakes is completely different. COMPLETELY.  While VCTOTW relies heavily on wheat flour and sugar, Guten-Free Cupcakes is 100% GLUTEN-FREE, and Elana uses agave nectar as her sweetener of choice.  50 delectable cupcake recipes that are all Gluten-Free and Refined Sugar-Free. With luscious photographs, many kid-friendly favorites, and some truly brilliant cupcakes concepts (Cookie Suprise Cupcakes p.36!) this book is sweetness itself.  In fact, my favorite thing about this cookbook is the “Sweetness Meter” included in every recipe.  That’s right, you can choose your cupcake recipe based upon your sweet craving. If I’m feeling like eating a medium-sweet treat, all I have to do is flip through Elana’s new book and find that perfect Strawberry or Chocolate or Red Velvet medium-sweet cupcake recipe.  But for my son Lennon who likes things extra sweet, I can make the White Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes (p.40), and for my other son Monte, who likes things not-too-sweet, I can bake up the savory cupcakes.

How can you get your own copy of this lovely book?  Go like me on my FACEBOOK page here, then come back and leave me a comment below letting me know you did so, and I’ll enter your name in the drawing. It’s that simple.  If you already like me on facebook, then suggest to your friends on facebook that they also like me, Cybele Pascal, The Allergy-Friendly Cook (yes, you can call me that), and again, come back and leave me a comment, letting me know you did so.

Below is just a sample recipe of what’s inside the covers of this mini-masterpiece.   Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Meringue Frosting. Please note that this cookbook is Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, and Sugar-Free. Many recipes are also Dairy-Free, and all are Soy-Free.  It is also Fish-Free and Shellfish-Free (though this might seem like an “of course”, remember some of the recipes are savory!).  This is NOT an Egg-Free cookbook, nor is it a Nut-Free cookbook.  I chose to bake the cupcakes made with Coconut Flour, which most allergists don’t consider to be a tree nut (please see “A Few Words About Coconut” here). There are several Vegan, Egg-Free recipes, but for a complete collection of Vegan Cupcakes, see VCTOTW.  But again, we all need both books in our collection, so go FB me, and I’ll put your name in the pot for a FREE copy of Gluten-Free Cupcakes by Elana Amsterdam!

Strawberry Cupcakes

Makes 8

Sweetness: Medium

  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup agave nectar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 8 muffin cups with paper liners.

In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, arrowroot powder, salt, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, agave nectar, and vanilla extract. Blend the wet ingredients into the coconut flour mixture with a handheld mixer until thoroughly combined, then fold in the strawberries.

Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into each prepared muffin cup.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 1 hour, then frost and serve.

 

Strawberry Meringue Frosting

Makes 3 cups

Sweetness: High

My younger son eats this straight out of the bowl!

  • 1/4 cup agave nectar
  • 2 egg whites
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh strawberries

In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the agave nectar to a boil, stirring constantly. Decrease the heat to low and simmer for 6 to 10 minutes, watching constantly and stirring occasionally, until the agave nectar darkens slightly from its original amber color, then remove from the heat and set aside.

In a deep bowl, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks using a handheld mixer. Be sure to push the beaters around the bowl to incorporate air into the whites. This step is important; if your egg whites are not whipped to stiff peaks, the recipe won’t work. Stop whipping as soon as the egg whites are stiff; overwhipping will result in egg whites that are dry and grainy. The foam of the whites will be stiff enough to stand up in well-defined, unwavering peaks.

Drizzle the warm agave nectar very slowly into the egg whites, while whipping with a handheld mixer, to keep the peaks stiff. The meringue will become pearlescent

Reprinted with permission from Gluten-Free Cupcakes: 50 Irresistible Recipes Made with Almond and Coconut Flour. Copyright © 2011 by Elana Amsterdam, Celestial Arts, an imprint of Ten Speed Press, a division of the Crown Publishing Group, Berkeley, CA. Photo Credit: Annabelle Breakey.

43 Responses

  1. Mandee says:

    I just liked your facebook page, Cybele! I’d love a copy of this book but I was wondering if this giveaway is open to international readers? I live in Australia.

  2. Beth says:

    I just liked you on facebook. We’re just entering the allergy arena so I’d love to enhance my cookbook library.

  3. Jessica says:

    I just “liked” you on FB. I could’ve sworn I was already linked up there… Oh well..now I am!!
    Hope I win!!! I have got to show the glutenized mamas at school that allergy friendly can still be delish!! 🙂

  4. Jodie M says:

    Liked your FB page.6 months GF and looking to rebuild my cooking library!

  5. Jessica Jansen says:

    I suggested you to all of my friends!! 😀 (Pick me!)

  6. SusanH says:

    Liked you on facebook – would love to win a copy of the Gluten Free Cupccakes. My daughter and family would “benefit” greatly!!!!

  7. Pilar says:

    I like you 🙂 and all you do.

  8. Kristin says:

    I like you on Facebook and have recommended you to friends.

    Thanks for all of the great recipes! It’s so helpful to find something specific when you need to eliminate more than one food allergen!

  9. Ray says:

    I just liked your page and would love a copy of the book. Thanks for all your recipes and postings.

  10. I told all my FB friends to like you. 🙂

    I have tried the Strawberry Cupcakes and they are delicious!

  11. Suzanne says:

    I like you on Facebook. I’ve made a few of Elana’s recipes and they’re great.

  12. Jennifer says:

    I liked you on Facebook.

  13. Heather says:

    If you are accepting entries from Australia, please enter me as I have liked your page.

  14. Kelly says:

    Oh, I already liked your blog plenty, but now I like you on FB, too…:-)

  15. Cheryl Gray says:

    I just recommended you to my friends on facebook. Thanks for all your allergy-friendly recipes. They have made our allergy-free journey much more delicious since we discovered your recipes!

  16. Marina@QCne says:

    Liked you on facebook! I love your blog! greetings from Tuscany

  17. What a wonderful book! Just liked you on FB!

  18. Margie says:

    I’ve “liked” you for a while now! 🙂

    Question: Do these recipes generally bake up well with egg replacer?

  19. Pip Hunt says:

    I just liked your fb page! I just came across your blog via Elana’s, I’m always excited to find new recipes!

  20. Marsha A. says:

    I liked you on facebook. Thanks for the great giveaway.

  21. Penny says:

    I like you on facebook! 🙂

  22. Erin says:

    Hi Cybele
    I just liked you on FB. Im dying to make those strawberry cupcakes!

  23. I liked you on facebook (countingOurBlessings) and I would love a copy of this cookbook! My daughter has celiac disease and i am always striving for new ways to feed her “normal”

  24. liked you on facebook! 🙂 one of my goals this summer is to learn gluten free baking!

  25. domestic diva says:

    This looks so great. I’m putting it on my want list. I almost wish I had a FB account so I could enter. 🙂

  26. Ali King says:

    Liked your page! 😉
    I’ve had my eye on that book for a while now…

  27. Rebecca says:

    ooo pick me – I’m a total newbie to allergen free cooking and need all the help I can get! Liked your page 🙂

  28. I like you on Facebook. Thanks!

  29. Iratxe says:

    Hi Cybele,
    I did it, I liked you on Facebook!.
    Pick me, pick me, pick me…
    Thank you!.

  30. Carla Bray says:

    Hi, I just liked you on Facebook. Thanks for offering the cookbook, here’s hoping! 🙂

  31. Carla says:

    Hi, I just liked you on Facebook. Thanks for offering the cookbook, here’s hoping! 🙂

  32. Diane M says:

    Hi, I just liked you on facebook. I have Elena’s other almond flour cookbook and would love to have this one too. Thanks!

  33. Kim C. says:

    I just liked you on FB! Thanks for doing this cookbook giveaway!

  34. Leah says:

    I liked your Facebook!!

  35. Nora says:

    I just liked you on FB. Love your allergy friendly recipes. Even though we are not able to do eggs at the moment, I would love a copy of the cookbook for future use. Hoping my son outgrows his egg allergy some day.

  36. Sherry says:

    Liked your Facbook page and added it to my website’s Facebook page.

  37. Sonya says:

    Liked your page on FB

  38. reverta says:

    With so many food ingredients creating health problems for so many people, it’s great to see so much interest in gluten-free and allergen-free cooking. You have a great site!

  39. VirtueB says:

    I am not sure if you have already done the giveaway… Nevertheless, I just liked your Facebook page 🙂

  40. Jodylynne Rowswell says:

    Hi Cybel, i posted on your facebook page .. is it tooo late to be entered into the contest for the free glueten free cupcake book? here is a bit of a bio on me.. my family calls me bubble girl i can’t eat anything with glueten lactose, sulfer, refind sugar, preservatives,i have a nose thermetor, as soon as i eat something that my body rejects it turns bright red like rudolf but itches and burns… not fun.. sometime i think i should have been born a cow and just let out to pasture to eat the grass( just a bit of bubble girl humor..)i have created an organic garden in my back yard but being we are in florida the growing season is over now for the hot summer till aprox oct so i keep trying new recipes and i can’t wait to start experimenting with yours thanks for listening to my blah blah blah… best regards Jodylynne Rowswell

  41. Patsy Herr says:

    I liked your FB page!

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