The Costco Connection - December 2015

The Costco Connection

You’ll find a wide variety of ingredients to create holiday treats of all types at your local Costco warehouse.

Gluten-free ;
Confetti Cookies

¾ cup margarine

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla ½ cup applesauce

2½ cups all-purpose gluten-free flour

1 tablespoon cornstarch ½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons multicolor candy
sprinkles, divided

FILLING

½ cup margarine, softened

2 cups powdered sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla

1 strawberry, mashed

Smart cookies

creative

cooking

Combine margarine and sugar in a bowl; mix until fluffy. Add vanilla and applesauce; mix well.

In another bowl, combine gluten-free flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder and ½ cup candy sprinkles; mix well. Add the dry mix to the wet mix; stir to combine. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Prepare the filling: Combine margarine and powdered sugar. Add vanilla and mashed strawberry. Stir well.

Heat oven to 350 F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Place cookie dough on plastic wrap. Place another sheet of plastic wrap on top. Use a rolling pin to roll dough to ¼ inch thick.

Cut cookies with a cookie cutter into desired shapes. Transfer to prepared pan, spaced 1 inch apart. Top with additional sprinkles.

Bake for 9 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Place filling on the bottom side of one cookie and press the bottom side of a second cookie on top to create a sandwich. Makes approximately 2 dozen.

1 strawberry, mashed
mately 2 dozen.

By Marly McMillen

’TIS THE SEASON for baking and
cookie exchanges. This time of year,
however, isn’t always full of indulgence
for all. Everyone knows someone who
can’t enjoy typical holiday goodies due
to dietary restrictions or lifestyle
choices. “In addition to a global
increase in Type 2 diabetes, we’re also
experiencing an improved understand-
ing of the impact of food allergens and
the need for certain dietary restric-
tions,” says Costco member Megan
Gilmore, a certified nutrition consul-
tant and the creator behind the popular
healthy living blog detoxinista.com.
A 2013 study from the Centers for
Disease Control reported that food and
skin allergies nearly doubled in chil-
dren under 18 between 1997 and 2011.
“As a result,” says Gilmore, “providing
options that cater to special diets at
holiday gatherings is an important step
for every conscientious holiday host.”
If you’re not used to this style of
baking, making diet-focused cookies
that actually taste good can be a chal-
lenge. These four cookie recipes are
easy to make—and delicious enough to
share with all of your friends, regard-
less of diet. C