joy

noun

a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

The word ‘joy’ gets thrown around a lot during this time of year. It’s weaved into many Christmas songs, shows up on holiday greeting cards, and is spelled out in holiday decor items.

Yet it can seem nearly impossible to feel joy when feelings of stress abound. How can we access the feeling of joy during the holidays when we are constantly occupied and preoccupied with shopping, budgeting, working, partying, and traveling?

Joy can be found during this stressful time if we allow ourselves to be in the ‘here and now’, the space where we can just BE. If we slow down, even for a few minutes, we can be present with our breath, the comfort of family and/or friends we will soon be spending time with, the glimmering and festive decorations that permeate landscapes, and the anticipation of eating our favorite delicious holiday foods.

Gluten-free + Dairy-free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Making these gluten free and dairy free chocolate chip cookies, for yourself, your friends, family and loved ones can provide instant joy!

I know I felt an incredible sense of achievement and joy when the umpteenth tweak to a King Arthur Flour gluten-free recipe finally resulted in the chewy, pillowy and satiating cookies I was yearning. I am sharing this tweaked recipe with you and hope you and your taste buds respond with joy!

Best wishes to all of you for a holiday season where moments of joy, peace and grace can be felt and shared,

~ Cyndi

Recipe

Ingredients

2-¼ cups of King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour (in a bag, not box)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda, aluminum free
¾ cup organic cane sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
¾ cup Spectrum organic shortening
⅛ cup Spectrum organic shortening
⅛ cup Spectrum organic canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large organic eggs
2 cups Guittard baking chips, extra dark chocolate

Instructions

Combine the flour, salt and baking soda in a bowl; set aside.
Cream together the shortening, oil, sugars and vanilla using a mixer. This may take a few minutes to ensure the sugar is thoroughly dissolved in with the oils.
Add eggs, one at a time.
Slowly add the flour mixture into the oil/sugar/egg mixture while the mixer is on a low setting. Do not mix too long at this step but also long enough that the flour is sufficiently mixed in.
Add in the chips and nuts using a large wooden or stainless spoon (do NOT use the mixer).
Set the cookie dough into the refrigerator for at least one hour (and no more than 12 hours).
Pre-heat the oven to 360 degrees
Using a utensil teaspoon, scoop out cookie dough into the palm of your clean hands and briefly roll the dough into a small ball.
Place the dough ball onto an ungreased cookie sheet; gently press the ball with your hand, spatula or spoon to slightly flatten the ball.
Once cookie sheet(s) are full, place them into the middle rack of 360 degree oven.
Bake for 10-12 minutes … check about 9 minutes in to determine how much longer they should be in.
Remove from oven and let them cool for 3-5 minutes; gently remove with spatula and place onto wire cooling rack.

Serving size = 1 cookie

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