This may very well be the most attempts I have ever taken to create one recipe. Ever. Which is crazy ’cause it’s not even a fancy complicated entrée or anything. It’s a dessert. And an ice cream dessert at that! But man, this GF baking biz can be tough, and I wanted it to be exactly as I imagined. So I experimented, and experimented, and got dough all over the place, and ghee scatters everywhere, and then experimented some more. (On the positive, I’m pretty positive I accidentally discovered a gf English muffin recipe along the way, and some decent gf crepes too.)
What I couldn’t get down though was the right texture for these little bowls…. man oh man, it was killin’ me. I came pretty close after the seventh go round… I’d tried a tortilla method a good few times (thick dough, flattened with a heavy pan), I’d tried baking soda (which made me a good dozen pancakes), and I’d tried ’em eggless (aiming for a tortilla-like outcome). I thought I’d tried everything. With only minimal improvements. So decided to back away and take a break. The next day I went back at it for a fresh start. I took all I’d learned the day before and went for it. There it was. Yes, eight batches later, but there it was. A light crispy shell to act as a bowl for my ice cream. Whew. I can now rest. 😉
Why so determined for a little bowl of ice cream you ask? As you may know, each week I create a recipe using the Whole Foods sale item of the week. I get one ingredient as the focus, then I craft away. This Friday, the Whole Foods One Day Sale (in Nor Cal stores) is Three Twins ice cream. I love the stuff. So I decided to get crafty and create some gf bowls. I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this one, but I had fun trying. I love a good challenge. 😉
Just to make things extra fun in my kitchen this week, I also created a sorbet & ‘scream layered dessert too… see it HERE if you want more ice cream madness to make. ♥
Once made, the bowls could be filled with anything… ice cream of any kind, sorbet, yogurt and fruit, trail mix, granola, bla bla bla. See, anything. 🙂
Some of my many attempts…. tortilla crusts, crepe trials, and some crazy pancake bowls too… 😮
I finally decided what I’ve made is a gf crepe… that when baked with some ghee, turns into a crisp. 🙂
makes 5-6 “crepes”
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup arrowroot starch/flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp melted ghee
1 tbsp melted coconut oil
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup water
plus…
1/4 cup coconut sugar (or other sugar you like)
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp melted ghee
you’ll need ramekins + coconut oil or ghee to grease them
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Add the dry ingredients to a bowl and mix
(Coconut flour through salt)
Add the wet ingredients
(Ghee through water)
Stir until smooth and creamy
Lightly grease a medium-sized pan over medium heat
(I brush a little of the melted ghee over it)
Once the pan is hot, pour approx 1/4 cup batter over the surface, rolling it to spread it evenly
(Like a crepe)
1/4 cup was perfect for my pan… you may need to adjust a wee to suit yours 🙂
Cook for 1 1/2 minutes, then flip and cook for another 1 1/2
(Again, adjust things if needed- 90 seconds over medium heat is perfect on my stove)
Continue until all “crepes” are made
Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl
Lay a “crepe” on a plate, then brush the top with melted ghee
Sprinkle the top with some of the cinnamon-sugar (approx 2 tsp, or until lightly covered)
Flip and repeat (brush ghee and sprinkle cinnamon-sugar)
Grease the bottoms and sides of ramekins
Plop the “crepe” in the center, arranging it so it form a little bowl
There will be some overlapping… you can keep it, but that area
won’t get as crisp if you do, so I rip any extra stuff off
Like so…
Bake on the middle rack for approx 20 minutes, until golden brown and crisp
(The center will become more crisp as it chills)
Let it cool for a bit in the ramekins
(If pulled out when still hot, the mold may loosen and become more of a wobbly plate)
Once cool and crisp, top with your favorite ice cream, fresh fruit, and/or chocolate sauce
Enjoy!
(As the ice creams melts, it will seep from the bottom a bit… if needed,
stick them in the freezer while you prep the remaining ones to serve)
