Today is November 1st. In this house, that can mean only one thing besides the fact that it’s perfect weather for cuddling on the couch after a long night of ghoul dodging.

Christmas is almost here!

I know, it sickens you doesn’t it? You think I’m a total shill for the commercial holiday industry, but in reality I just love all that this season brings into my home. We love the decorating, the music, the food, the family and friends, the parties, the celebrating. We love everything about Christmas, but we don’t really buy a lot. I swear. Last year, we gave away family portraits and cookies as gifts. Each made with love and hard work. (Damn, it took me eight freakin’ hours to make all those cookies!)

This year, I may be doing something a little different, but I have plenty of time to figure it out. In fact, I totally stole the idea from Joy the Baker. She did these lovely cards filled with recipes for her family, and that is totally something I want to do for mine.

But what of the most recent celebratory day, like the one that happened yesterday? Some people feel about Halloween like I feel for Christmas, but we just don’t have that drive. We bought a pumpkin to carve, but it is totally still whole on top of my bookshelf. I think I will make that pumpkin soup again. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy and it’s totally cold and dreary out lately, perfect weather for soup.

We did do the trick or treating thing though, I mean that’s what you have kids for right? So you can go trick or treating without anyone looking at you like your a pathetic creature, out making a ruckus. We give the kid some too though…

I mean, how could we not feed the dolphins?

I don’t mind giving him a little candy after all the work he did hauling that giant bag around, pressing doorbells, knocking on doors and showing off his tail. After all that candy though, it will be time for a change, back to the healthier snacks and treats he knows and loves.

One of those treats will be these amazingly simple gluten free oatmeal cookies made with ghee. Ghee is not often used in North America as a baking ingredient, but it really does add a wonderful flavour profile to cookies and cakes. It’s also very easy to work with, shelf stable and available at just about every grocer. I used a wonderful organic ghee from Pure Indian Foods made from the milk of cows who are completely grass fed, the best part is you can order it online!

Try replacing butter with ghee the next time you make a baked good, you will definitely notice the difference.

Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies

Yield:  One dozen cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15-18 minutes

4 oz (1 cup) all purpose gluten free flour (like Bob’s Red Mill Brand)
2 1/2 oz (1/2 cup) sweet rice flour
1 1/2 oz (1/2 cup) gluten free oat flour**
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 tsp guar gum
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup ghee
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
3.5 oz gluten free rolled oats

1. Measure out the flours, coconut, guar gum, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices into a bowl and whisk to incorporate a bit of air and to get potential lumps out.
2. In a separate bowl cream the ghee with the sugars. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
3. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet in two additions, then stir in the oats.
4. Scoop out 1 1/2 oz balls using an ice cream scoop (if you don’t have a scoop, imagine the size of a ball between a golf ball and a tennis ball), form into balls, flatten slightly and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes. You may need to slightly flatten out the cookies after baking to avoid weird shapes.

** If you cannot find gluten free oat flour, make it yourself by weighing out the GF oats and whizzing them in a coffee grinder until a fine powder forms.

Similarly delicious recipes from other blogs:

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies on Elena’s Pantry
Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies on Gluten Free Goddess
Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge Cookies on Gluten Free Mommy
Gluten Free Roll Out Cookies on Gluten free Gobsmacked
Gluten Free Sugar Cookies on Gluten Free Cooking School