DIY Gluten-free wedding favors

DIY wedding favors
Gluten-free wedding favors

Delight your gluten-free wedding guests with wedding favors that they can freely eat. No need to find a specialty caterer -- simply gather your BFFs and make these gluten-free wedding favors.

Gluten-free wedding favor heart-shaped cookies

Invite your best gal pals over for an afternoon of wedding favor cookie baking. Buy a selection of double-heart cookie cutters, make the following gluten-free cookie dough, cut, bake and decorate.

Yields 4 dozen depending on cookie cutter size

Ingredients:2-1/4 cups white rice flour, plus more for rolling1/2 cup cornstarch1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar3/4 teaspoon salt1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature, plus more for greasing1/2 cup vegetable shortening1-1/4 cups granulated sugar2 eggs1 tablespoon pure vanilla extractDecorating icing or sugar of your choiceDirections:

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar and salt. Set aside.In the bowl of a standup mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and shortening to combine. Add sugar and beat until creamy.Beat in eggs one at a time, and then beat in vanilla until well-combined.Add flour mixture and blend on low until just until combined.Shape dough into two balls, flattening each into a disk. Wrap disks tightly in plastic wrap and chill dough for at least two hours.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly grease four large baking sheets.Place disks on a lightly floured surface and roll each out until it is 1/4-inch thick.Use cookie cutters to make double-heart cutouts. Gather scraps, re-roll and cut more cookies. Place cutouts two inches apart on prepared baking sheets.Bake for six to eight minutes, rotating baking sheets after three to four minutes until cookies are golden at the edges.Cool cookies on the baking sheets for five to six minutes. Transfer to wire racks to continue to cool.When cookies are completely cool, decorate as desired. If using icing, allow icing to set completely before placing cookies in wedding favor bags or boxes.

Wedding favor quinoa chocolates

Little ribbon-tied mesh bags of silver-wrapped Hershey's Kisses are certainly the easiest DIY gluten-free wedding favor you can make, but going the extra step to make your own chocolate wedding favor offerings is as easy as choosing a few candy molds, melting chocolate... and adding popped quinoa to give your chocolate a welcome crunch. This recipe is inspired by quinoa queen Wendy Polisi, author of The Quintessential Quinoa Cookbook.

Yields 50 to 120 depending on the candy molds*

Ingredients:1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed and dried1 tablespoon coconut oil1 pound white, milk or dark chocolate (or a mix), cut into equal-size pieces1 cup almonds, toasted and chopped1 teaspoon sea saltDirections:

Rinse quinoa and spread it out on a baking sheet to dry. You can also cook rinsed quinoa in a skillet until dry.Place oil in a popcorn popper or saucepan and heat over medium-high. Add quinoa and cook in popper for five minutes or until quinoa is lightly browned. If using the skillet, place quinoa in skillet, cover and cook, shaking skillet frequently until quinoa is lightly browned.Spray candy molds with cooking spray.Place chocolate in a double boiler and cook, stirring often, until chocolate is melted and smooth.Remove chocolate from heat and stir in quinoa, almonds and salt.Pour chocolate mixture into molds and allow to sit for at least two hours until firm. You can also place in the refrigerator to speed up setting time.Invert chocolate from molds and allow to cool completely. Store them in an airtight container layered with parchment paper until ready to assemble.To assemble wedding party favors, simply place two chocolates in mesh wedding favor bags and tie bag shut.

* Be warned: The number of chocolate/candy molds is dizzying so consider going with the simple heart-shaped or square candy molds or wedding theme candy molds.

Gluten-free wedding favor seedlings

Give your wedding guests a gluten-free gift that keeps on giving. Live seedlings make a fun and unusual wedding favor that signifies life, growth and great taste. If you have enough lead time, buy seedling trays and sprout your own herbs, veggies, fruit or edible flowers (see growing instructions for each herb to see how long it takes to go from seed to seedling) or you can order seedlings from your local nursery.

Yields 100

Ingredients:100 herb, vegetable, fruit or edible flower seedlingsPlastic wrapRibbon or thin twine100 small burlap bags 100 mini notecardsDirections:

Be sure seedlings have been watered ahead of time so water has drained or been absorbed.Cut out squares of plastic wrap large enough to cover the seedling roots and soil.Set seedling on plastic wrap, bring sides of plastic up around soil, and secure with ribbon or twine.Set seedling in a burlap bag.Write the name of the seedling on the mini notecard along with any other wedding message.Tie notecard to burlap bag with the burlap bag string and pull string to secure around the stem of the seedling.

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