A healthy, gluten-free holiday dessert

Gluten Free Therapeutics is thrilled to welcome Nathaniel Wellin to the blogging team. At Gluten Free Therapeutics, we like to say we live the life of our customers every day and Nathaniel is no exception: his brother Gus has celiac disease. Their mother Pam is a successful commercial baker who now focuses on maintaining her blog, Gluten Free Gus, a resource described by Pam as  “demystifying gluten cooking by sharing recipes, expert advice and some of my favorite products.” As a featured blogger Nathaniel will offer tried and true recipes and practical advice for those living gluten free, with a special interest in healthy eating. Welcome Nathaniel! 

Just in time for the holidays: A decadent dessert without the guilt

By Nathaniel Wellin

Eating gluten free is already difficult, but it can be especially tough this time of year as we enviously watch others devour our favorite (often gluten-filled) holiday treats. If you are looking for a great tasting, gluten-free alternative that is sure to be a success with any crowd, look no further than Uncle Howard’s Chocolate Ganache Tart from GlutenFreeGus.com.

My brother Gus was diagnosed with celiac disease fifteen years ago. After running a successful cookie company, my mother now operates a gluten-free recipe and lifestyle blog, Gluten Free Gus, filled with information, advice, and delicious gluten-free recipes.

Having celiac disease brings many hurdles but a bright spot is all of the experimentation with new food pairings and this recipe hits a home run in that department. (No one will believe you when you tell them the secret ingredient.)

Uncle Howard’s Chocolate Ganache Tart is an adaptation of a recipe from my uncle, Howard, who lives in England. It was an instant success with Gus and has become one of my mother’s “go-to” dishes for any and all occasions.

Not only is this dessert gluten-free, but it is also vegan, grain free, and sugar free, making it suitable for almost any group. It is a chocolate lover’s delight that tastes delicious, is incredibly simple to make, and is actually very healthy and satisfying. The plethora of healthy fats and fiber result in slow digestion that keeps your blood sugar steady and leaves you feeling full for hours. Additionally, each ingredient is a nutritional powerhouse, packed full of vitamins and minerals with too many health benefits to list here.

For those looking to reduce the fat content and cut out any unnecessary calories, I recommend making this dish without the coconut oil and only half the cocoa and added sweetener (agave, honey, maple syrup) to start. It will not be as “decadent” as my mother likes, but this is a great option for those who are more health conscious. You can then increase each ingredient as needed to reach your own desired taste and consistency. Adding coconut oil will smooth the ganache and improve viscosity; adding more cocoa will increase the chocolate flavor and thickness of the ganache. When adding the sweetener, keep in mind that the crust is already very sweet.

This recipe is easily modified. Try adding a teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the chocolate ganache filling or an inch of grated ginger root to the crust. Cinnamon is a perfect festive twist and studies have shown that it helps regulate blood glucose levels. It may even improve insulin function, helping combat the negative effects sugar has on the body. Ginger is an ancient medicinal root that contains powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which improves digestion and can help your body recover from the holidays.

Uncle Howard’s Chocolate Ganache Tart is a must this season and is sure to be an instant success. We look forward to hearing about all of the shocked taste testers and interesting modifications you come up with. Please share your experience in the comments below.

Happy Holidays!

Nathaniel Wellin graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies. Once a lover of Starbucks and Subway, he now spends his time researching the food he eats and trying to live as healthy as possible. He believes that food is medicine and an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

Get the recipe here

This original article is made possible by Gluten Free Therapeutics. Our mission is to educate, inform, and provide the most effective nutritional products possible to allow those with celiac disease and serious gluten intolerances to heal their bodies. CeliVites complete line of superior gluten free supplements includes multivitamin/multimineral supplements, iron supplements, and calcium supplements for people living with celiac disease. All CeliVites products are designed to help you heal, restore and rebuild your body, because going gluten free isn’t enough!