Easy Gluten-Free Almond and Tart Cherry Granola

prep: 15 minutes
cook: 40 to 50 minutes

makes about 7 cups

you’ll need…
⅓ cup brown sugar
½ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup canola or vegetable
½ cup whole almonds
5 cups gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats (DON’T use instant, quick or steel-cut oats)
½ cup sliced almonds
1 cup dried tart cherries (or your favorite dried fruit like cranberries, raisins, currents)

let’s get to it…
Place one of the oven racks about 6 to 8-inches from the top or in the top 1/3 of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, oil and whole almonds together in a large bowl.
Add oats one cup at a time, stirring gently with a rubber spatula so that the oats are completely coated.
Spread oat mixture evenly onto lined baking sheet and press down mixture with a rubber spatula.
Bake for 20 minutes and rotate pan. Continue baking 20 to 30 minutes longer, or until lightly browned.
Remove from oven and sprinkle sliced almonds and cherries evenly on top. Press down on the fruit using a rubber spatula. Cool in the pan for 2 hours.
Break into pieces and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Caramel Apples

prep: 15 minutes
cook: 1 hour

makes 6 caramel apples

you’ll need…
6 medium apples (about 2 pounds)

6 wooden craftsticks, chopsticks, or popsticks

1 cup sugar

½ cup light corn syrup

1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

chopped nuts, candy sprinkles, cranberries, coconut for decorating

let’s get to it…

Line a baking sheet (or plate) that will fit into your refrigerator with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside. If you’re decorating your apples after dipping them in caramel, place the decorations on separate plates; set aside.

Place apples in a colander and poor boiling hot water over them. Let cool for a minute and dry completely. Insert a stick in stem end of each apple and place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Place in refrigerator.

Cook sugar, corn syrup, condensed milk and salt in a heavy 2-quart saucepan over low heat stirring constantly with a silicone spatula or long wooden spoon until temperature reaches 240° (remember, sugar will continue cooking). Immediately remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Cool for 1 to 2 minutes.

Dip apples into caramel, using a spoon or ladle to coat completely. Let excess drip back into the pan. Return to parchment paper. As soon as you’ve finished dipping each of the apples (about 10 to 15 minutes), roll the apples in the decorations or use your palm to press the decorations onto the apples. Let cool for 1 hour before serving.

Cherry Pie Ice Cream 

prep: 1 hour
freeze: 4-5 hours

serves 8

for the ice cream you’ll need…
2 cups whole milk, divided
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon conrnstarch
3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
⅛ teaspoon sea salt
1¼ cups heavy cream
⅔ cup sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 can (21 ounce) cherry pie filling

for the streusel you’ll need…
½ cup light or dark brown sugar
1 cup flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ pound (1 stick) butter, chilled and cut into ½-inch cubes

let’s get to it…
Whisk 2 tablespoons milk and the cornstarch in small bowl; set aside. In medium bowl, whisk the cream cheese and salt until smooth; set aside. Fill a large bowl ice and water.
Boil the remaining milk, cream, sugar, corn syrup and vanilla in a large saucepan on medium high heat for 4-minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in the milk and cornstarch mixture. Return to heat and boil for 1 minute until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
Whisk the hot mixture into the cream cheese until smooth. Pour mixture into a 1-gallon Ziploc freezer bag and seal tightly. Submerge into the ice and water and chill 30 minutes to 45 minutes.
Pour the chilled mixture into a frozen ice cream canister or machine and spin until thick and creamy. When thick and creamy, stir in the cherry pie filling. Spoon ice cream into a storage container, press a piece of parchment paper directly on the ice cream and freeze for at least 4 hours.
Place oven rack in the middle of the oven. Heat oven to 350°F.
Mix the sugar, flour and cinnamon until blended. Quickly rub the butter into the flour mixture with fingers until the mixture looks like coarse sand.
Spread mixture on an ungreased baking sheet. Break up any large pieces. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally so mixture doesn’t burn. Mixture should be toasted and brown. Cool at least 20 minutes.
Spoon ice cream into individual bowls. Sprinkle with struessel just before serving.