Category: Snacks


Dec
2018

Cranberry Orange Quinoa Zucchini Muffins

categories: Breakfast, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks

Gluten-free, light and tender muffins made from the ancient grain quinoa and flavored with winter fruit and spice.  

Cranberry Orange Zucchini Muffins - Gluten-free, light and tender muffins made from the ancient grain quinoa and flavored with winter fruit and spice. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #healthybaking #quinoa #quinoaflour #muffin #muffins #healthymuffins #zucchini #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking

One of the easiest ways to improve our diets is to replace recipes that call for all-purpose flour with ones that call for whole grain flours. Many people need to make this switch because of food allergies, and others simply want to eat more healthfully. Fortunately, food companies large and small have answered the demand and are now producing whole grain flours that were once considered esoteric. Quinoa flour is one such flour and my grocery store just started carrying it so I couldn’t resist grabbing a bag and with it, I made gluten-free Cranberry Orange Quinoa Zucchini Muffins. These seasonal muffins are flavored with winter fruit and spice and are really delicious!

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Nov
2018

Almond Oat Cups

categories: Breakfast, Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks

A cross between a cookie, a muffin, and a teacake.  Free of gluten and eggs, and only take 10 minutes to bake.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Almond Oat Cups - A cross between a cookie, a muffin, and a teacake. Gluten-free, egg-free, and only take 10 minutes to bake. Perfect as a healthy snack or with a cup of tea. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #glutenfree #glutenfreesnack #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreesnack #oatcups #eggfree #eggfreebaking

These gluten-free, egg-free Almond Oat Cups are a cross between a cookie and a muffin, and even though they’re perfect for teatime, because they’re dainty and not too sweet (each cup has only 4 grams of sugar), they’d also be fantastic for dessert. Just imagine some fresh berries or baked apples on top, along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream – yum! One of the best things about these healthy little treats is that they only take 10 minutes to bake – the prep time is pretty quick too, 15 minutes max. I use a standard 12-cup muffin pan to make “cups” but if you don’t own a muffin pan you can also use an 8 x 8-inch square pan and make “bars” instead. Simply line the pan with parchment paper and press the mixture evenly into the pan. Once it’s finished baking, let it cool completely and then cut it into bars or squares. (more…)


Oct
2018

Honey Almond Shortbread

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Snacks

A tender, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread, sweetened naturally and gluten-free.   JUMP TO RECIPE

Honey Almond Shortbread – A tender, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread sweetened naturally and gluten-free. A quick and easy recipe. Only 10 minutes to bake with no rolling or cutting of the dough required. Perfect for afternoon tea. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #cookie #cookies #shortbread #shortbreadcookies #glutenfreecookie #glutenfreecookies #easyrecipe #glutenfreedessert #healthybaking

Shortbread has been around for hundreds of years. According to this article on the history of shortbread, the earliest documented recipe appeared in a Scottish cookbook in the year 1736. Back then nobody was concerned about the difference between natural and refined sweeteners or whether the baked goods they were eating were gluten-free, but nowadays most of us want (or need) healthier, more allergy friendly food. Thankfully shortbread can be replicated to address these modern-day concerns without any sacrifice in taste. This recipe for Honey Almond Shortbread is every bit as rich, delicious, and buttery as traditional shortbread but it’s sweetened naturally (with honey), and made with almond flour instead of wheat flour, so it’s gluten-free too. (more…)


Oct
2018

Herbed Sesame Sunflower Seed Crackers

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

Vegan, gluten-free, dairy free crackers with a wholesome taste and tender texture.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Herbed Sesame Sunflower Seed Crackers - Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free crackers with a wholesome taste and tender texture. Super nutritious. Delicious dipped in hummus. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #crackers #vegancrackers #glutenfreecrackers #dairyfreecrackers #vegansnack #vegansnacks #glutenfreesnack #glutenfreesnacks #dairyfreesnack #dairyfreesnacks #healthysnack #seeds

I put crackers into the same category as salad dressings. They’re not at all hard to make from scratch yet most people purchase these foods at the grocery store.  This is probably even more true for crackers than salad dressings. I once mentioned to a friend that I make my own crackers and she said she never once considered making crackers – that it was so easy to buy good ones, why bother.  And this is someone who loves to cook! Well, I’m here to tell you that making crackers couldn’t be simpler and you’ll be rewarded with ones that are healthier and taste so much better than store-bought crackers. These Herbed Sesame Sunflower Seed Crackers are nothing like any crackers you’ve ever purchased. They’re vegan, gluten-free, and dairy free and have a wholesome taste and tender texture. A few of these crackers dipped in Sun-Dried Tomato Red Lentil Hummus is the perfect, healthy snack to stave off those hunger pangs that sometimes strike before dinnertime. (more…)


Oct
2018

Paleo Apple Zucchini Spice Cake

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks

An incredibly moist and delicious, autumn inspired spice cake.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Paleo Apple Zucchini Spice Cake - Apple, zucchini, and warm fall spices in a gluten-free, dairy free dessert. The moistest cake you’ll ever taste. #dessert #paleodessert #glutenfreedessert #dairyfreedessert #paleo #fallfood #spicecake #zucchinicake #cake

If you’ve ever done any cooking with sour cream or yogurt, you know that when it’s called for in baking recipes the result is usually an incredibly moist and tender finished product. But there’s another food that’s just as effective at transforming what might otherwise be dry and crumbly baked goods into melt-in-your-mouth treats, and ironically, it’s a vegetable – zucchini! This Paleo Apple Zucchini Spice Cake is one of the moistest, most delicious cakes you’ll ever taste yet it contains no dairy, no oil, and no refined sugar. It’s the perfect, healthy dessert to mark to the beginning of fall. (more…)


Sep
2018

Sun Dried Tomato Red Lentil Hummus

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Sauces, Dressings, Condiments, Snacks, Vegan

A healthy appetizer made from red lentils and infused with savory sun dried tomatoes. Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy free.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Sun Dried Tomato Red Lentil Hummus – An easy, healthy appetizer with savory flavor and vibrant color. Great for parties. |QueenofMyKitchen.com|#dip #appetizer #appetizers #easyappetizer #easyappetizers #veganappetizer #glutenfreeappetizer #dairyfreeappetizer #vegan #glutenfree #dairyfree

When it comes to nutritious, plant-based appetizers, hummus reigns supreme, and thankfully, for health-minded people who love to snack, there’s no shortage of tasty and creative ways to make it. Most recipes call for chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) as the main ingredient,  but you can also make hummus with another pulse, red lentils, and it’s every bit as delicious as traditional hummus with the same smooth and creamy texture. This recipe for Sun Dried Tomato Red Lentil Hummus is proof! Make sure you have plenty of crackers and cut up vegetables on hand before you make this dip because you might not be able to stop eating it. I ran out of things to dip the first time I made it and resorted to using my fingers! It’s that good! (more…)


Aug
2018

Maple Flax Animal Crackers

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Snacks

The Recipe Redux is a group of like-minded food bloggers whose mission is to inspire the food lover in every healthy eater and inspire the healthy eater in every food lover. Each month members post recipes to their blogs following a theme set by the group moderators. This month’s theme is healthy, crunchy snacks. Click the Recipe Redux logo at the bottom of this page to see links to all the posts for this month’s challenge.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Maple Flax Animal Crackers – A healthier version of the iconic childhood snack. Gluten-free and no refined sugar. Perfect for lunch boxes. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #animalcrackers #glutenfreesnack #glutenfreesnacks #glutenfreecookies #lunchboxsnack #lunchboxsnacks #kidssnacks #kidsnacks #norefinedsugar

One of the most nostalgic childhood snacks of all-time is undoubtedly animal crackers. There are several brands on the market now but back when I was a kid the only game in town was Barnum’s Animal Crackers by Nabisco. Who could forget the little red box with circus animals on the front of the package and the delicate string handle. I must have enjoyed eating the crackers but what I really remember is how much I loved carrying that box around like a little purse! (more…)


Aug
2018

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Flax Nut Bars

categories: Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks, Vegan

Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free nut bars.  Sweet, salty, chocolaty and delicious!  The perfect healthy snack.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Flax Nut Bars - Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free nut bars. Sweet, salty, chocolaty and delicious! Stop buying nut bars and make your own with this easy recipe. The perfect healthy snack.| QueenofMyKitchen.com|#vegan, #glutenfree, and #dairyfree #snack #snacks #snackbar #snackbars #nuts

Some people love to have a sweet treat after dinner but for some strange reason I’ve always had this craving following lunch. In my younger years this usually meant having a cookie or candy bar, but as I got older, and made a conscious effort to eat more healthfully, I sought out nutritious alternatives to satisfy my midday sweet tooth and this is when I got hooked on KIND snack nut bars. For years I had one almost every day after lunch and discovered, much to my delight, that they did a great job of keeping full until dinner (not true when I was in the habit of having a cookie/candy bar). But one day I realized how much money I was spending on them and decided to start making my own nut bars. These Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Flax Nut Bars are one version I came up with and they are REALLY delicious! (more…)


Jul
2018

Sweet and Spicy Chile Lime Popcorn

categories: Healthy, Snacks, Vegetarian

A healthy, delicious, whole grain snack that can be ready to eat in under 10 minutes!  JUMP TO RECIPE

Sweet and Spicy Chile Lime Popcorn - A healthy, delicious, whole grain snack that can be ready to eat in under 10 minutes! The whole family will love this snack. Great for movie night. | QueenofMyKitchen.com #popcorn #snack #healthysnack #movienight #sweetandspicy #healthysnacks #wholegrain #wholegrainsnack #wholegrainsnacks

I believe one of the keys to maintaining a healthy diet is to always have wholesome, nutritious snacks available. Most of the time when we overindulge in unhealthy foods it’s because we’re so hungry that we’ll eat whatever is available at that moment and if there are no healthy choices in front of us, that’s when the trouble begins. There are lots of great options for healthy snacks, but one of the best is good old-fashioned popcorn. Not the kind you get at the movie theatre (read this article to see what’s actually in movie theatre popcorn), and not the kind that comes in microwavable paper packets, (read here about these), but popcorn kernels cooked plain, and then coated with REAL melted butter and seasonings, and maybe even a little bit of unrefined sugar to make it more of a treat than a snack. I’m talking about something like this Sweet and Spicy Chile Lime Popcorn. (more…)


Jul
2018

Paleo Patriotic Teacakes

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy, Holidays, Snacks

A healthy, festive treat for any patriotic holiday.  Great for parties.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Paleo Patriotic Teacakes - The perfect healthy treat for any patriotic holiday. An easy, gluten-free and paleo friendly recipe. So festive – your guests will love them! | QueenofMyKitchen #paleo #glutenfree #July4th #IndependenceDay #MemorialDay #LaborDay #patriotic #patriioticfood

I am the worst planner and someone who often waits until the last minute to get things done. These Paleo Patriotic Teacakes, perfect for the 4th of July, are a case in point. Any food blogger knows that holiday recipes need to be posted at least a couple of months ahead of time but I am just now getting around to publishing this – right under the wire! The good news is these teacakes are simple to make so even if you’ve already planned your July 4th menu you can quickly throw these together and, with the exception of the strawberry fruit leather, you probably already have what you need to make them in your pantry right now, especially if you follow a paleo diet. (more…)