Into the Great Unknown: Star of Wonder

Epiphany is the culmination of Christmastide, a celebration of the arrival of the Magi, who followed the Star of Wonder to Jesus Christ. In many cultures, Epiphany is as important as Christmas Day, a joyful exchanging of gifts, food, family and friends.

Celebrate Epiphany:

Celebrate by exchanging small gifts letting your friends and family know that you care.

Buy chocolate gold coins and fortune cookies with bible verses...bake Epiphany themed treats like the Epiphany Cake (King's Cake) or Star Cuts or Camel Sugar Cookies.

Los Reyes - King's Cake: In France and Spanish cultures, on Epiphany a cake is baked with trinkets (traditionally a single bean or 'baby' to symbolize Christ) In France a pastry cake is made, but in other cultures it various. As I'm Gluten Free, I played around with two traditional cake recipes, including my standby white cake recipe and an alternate cake recipe from BHG I made gluten free.

Flour Mix (multiple and mix); Each cup of AP GF flour = 1 cup of regular AP flour
1/4 cup Brown Rice Flour
1/4 cup White Rice Flour
1/4 cup Corn Starch (or Potato Starch)
1/4 cup Sorghum Flour
1/4 cup Tapioca Flour

Adele's Light Cake Recipe: This is a moist cake that is light and airy and tastes good with an essence of vanilla, orange or lemon...

- 4 large eggs

- 2 cups granulated sugar

- 1 cup of milk

- 1 cup of canola oil or olive oil (I do half and half)

- Vanilla

- 2 ½ cups AP GF flour

- 1 tablespoon BP

- 2 teaspoons xanthan gum

- Pinch of salt

Beat eggs and sugar for 3 to 5 minutes, then beat in oil and milk

In a separate bowl:

Whisk xanthan gum, baking powder and flour, then slowly add to wet mixture and and beat in.

Use If You Care Cups for cupcakes or spray cake pan of choice with Olive Oil or Canola Oil

Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (higher altitude it cooks quicker) The top should be lightly browned. Let it rest for 20 minutes, or cool until icing. Tastes delicious plain with Greek Yogurt or preserves. With olive oil or canola oil this is a fairly healthy cake.

You can ice the cake with your choice of frosting or glaze.

My favorite (decadent) frosting:

- 2 sticks butter room temp.

- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar

- 1 teaspoon vanilla

- 2 tablespoons milk

Beat until it becomes thick, store for up to 5 days in refrigerator

Yellow Cake, a slightly thicker cake - works great too:
3/4 cup butter, softened

3 eggs

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (Gluten Free)

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (I use Rumford's, if you live at a higher altitude, above 4,000 feet, you might have to play around with BP - I used 1 1/2)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla (use organic if possible, and add a dash of nutmeg)

1 1/4 cups milk (I use 1/% Organic Valley Milk)

Trinkets - you can go to craft stores and buy Epiphany kits in the baking aisle - just be aware to warn guest to check their cake - so they don't swallow the 'prize'

Directions

1. Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grease and lightly flour two 9 x 1-1/2-inch or 8 x 1-1/2-inch round cake pans or grease one 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set pan(s) aside. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at time, beating on medium speed until well combined and scraping sides of bowl. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes more. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition (about 1 minute total). Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Spread batter into the prepared pan(s).

3. Bake in a 375 degree F oven 20 to 25 minutes for 9-inch pans; 30 to 35 minutes for 8-inch pans; 25 to 30 minutes for 13x9x2-inch pan or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool layer cakes in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove layer cakes from pans. Cool thoroughly on racks. Or, place 13x9x2-inch cake in pan on a wire rack; cool thoroughly. Frost with desired frosting. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

Citrus Yellow Cake::

4. Prepare as above, except stir 2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel or lemon peel into batter.

Star Cuts and Camel Cookies:
This basic holiday sugar cut out cookie recipe works the best. Sugar cookies tend to dry out for GF, if you prefer a mix I recommend Mama's Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix or Pamela's. Use a Camel or Star shaped cookie cutter and decorate with icing (royal icing or the frosting for the cake) and sprinkles.http://www.edwardandsons.com/ld_shop_sprinkelz.itml

Holiday cut-out cookies

- 3/4 cup sugar

- ½ cup butter

- 1 egg

- 2 cups GF AP Flour

- ½ teaspoon salt

- ½ teaspoon baking powder

- 1 xanthan gum

- 1 teaspoon vanilla

- 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions:

1. Beat sugar and shortening in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in egg

2. Combine flour blend, salt, baking powder, xanthan gum in medium bowl. Gradually beat into sugar mixture. Beat in vanilla and 2 tablespoons milk. (Add in additional milk if dough is too dry). Refrigerate for fifteen minutes

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use parchment paper

4. Roll out each half of dough between sheets of waxed paper. Cut out shapes with desired cookie cutters. Place on prepared baking sheets

5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

6. Decorate as desired.