Name: Chocolate Angel Food Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 10 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¾ cup cake flour (it does work better if you use cake flour); 1 ½ cups sugar plus 2 tablespoons, divided; ¼ cup baking cocoa; 1 ½ cups eggs whites, room temperature; 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Get my ebookwhen you subscribe to my free newsletter, Lynn's Kitchen Adventures.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Main Dish Salad Recipes

Need a quick and easy dinner perfect for summer or really any time of year? I am sharing twelve of my favorite main dish salad recipes today.

It is summer! One of the great things about summer is all the fresh vegetables that are available.

Summer produce means that dinner can be quick, healthy, and easy to make.

One of my favorite ways to make dinner easy during the heat of the summer is to serve salad. But if your family is anything like mine they want a filling salad.

They don’t want a side dish type of salad. They want a salad with lots of toppings and ingredients.

You can turn all kinds of salads into main dish salads by adding meat and extra toppings, but it is always nice to make salad extra special and a little different.

Today I am sharing some of my favorite main dish salad recipes. These are all perfect for summer.

Are these main dish salads gluten free?

Most of these recipes are also easy to make gluten free by reading labels to be sure the ingredients are gluten free, use gluten free pasta, and to use gluten free croutons or leave off the croutons on the recipes that call for them.

Main Dish Salad Recipes

Quick and easy main dish salads perfect for summer meals!

Bacon Cheeseburger Salad

All the flavors of a cheeseburger in a delicious salad that even kids will love!

Broccoli Bacon Pasta Salad

Bacon, broccoli and pasta combined in a pasta salad. Use gluten free pasta to make this an easy gluten free lunch or dinner.

Pizza Salad

A fun way to change up pizza night! All the flavors of pizza in an easy to make salad.

Chili Cheese Salad

Chili cheese salad is a quick and easy dinner any time of year.

Enchilada Salad

Enchilada sauce, sour cream, lettuce, and all kinds of delicious toppings make this a great main dish salad.

Summer Pasta Salad

Summer vegetables, homemade dressing and pasta make this a great lunch or dinner. Use gluten free pasta for an easy gluten free lunch or dinner.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Salad

The flavors of a bacon cheeseburger in a delicious summer pasta salad. Use gluten free pasta for a gluten free bacon cheeseburger pasta salad.

BLT Salad {Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Dressing}

The flavors of a classic BLT in a fun salad. Use gluten free croutons or no croutons for a gluten free blt salad.

Taco Salad with Spicy Ranch Dressing

A fun new twist on a classic taco salad.

Grilled Chicken and Spinach Salad

Grilled chicken, spinach, and vegetables make an easy summer dinner.

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad

BBQ ranch chicken salad is one of my favorite summer salads!

Greek Pasta Salad

Feta cheese, pasta, vegetables, and a homemade dressing make this a favorite main dish salad. Use gluten free pasta for a gluten free main dish salad.

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: Main Dish, Main Section, Recipes Tagged With: quick and easy dinners, salads, summer cooking, summer recipes

Menu Plan

Summer is here which means so many fresh fruits and vegetables are available. They make menu planning so much fun. Here is this week’s menu plan.

Breakfast

Strawberries and Cream Baked Oatmeal

Peaches and Cream Pancakes– I think I am going to try this with some new flavors

Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars and Yogurt

Dinner

Pizza Salad

Migas

Instant Pot Refried Beans and Mexican Rice

Oven Tacos

Oven Grilled Cheese

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Dessert Of The Week

Strawberry Brownie Trifle

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: Main Section, Meal Planning Monday Tagged With: menu plan

Gluten Free Menu Plan

This week there are several gluten free banana recipes on the menu plan. If you have bananas that need used up they are great recipes for using them.

I made notes next to the ingredients that need to be gluten free, but as always read labels to be sure the ingredients are safe for your family.

Breakfast

Gluten Free Banana Pancake Muffins

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Muffins

Dinner

Homemade Refried Beans and Quesadillas- use corn tortillas

Gluten Free Zucchini Pizza

Fold Over Cheese Enchiladas– use corn tortilla

Easy Glazed Grilled Chicken

Corn Dog Muffins– Use gluten free cornmeal and gluten free hot dogs

Breakfast for Dinner- Breakfast Bowls– Use gluten free sausage and potatoes. This also freeze great.

Gluten Free Dessert of the Week

Homemade Chocolate Covered Craisins

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: GF Menu Plan, Gluten-Free Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, Gluten-Free Section, Main Section Tagged With: gluten free menu plan

Chocolate Angel Food Cake

Need a classic dessert with a delicious modern twist? Try Chocolate Angel Food Cake.

Have you ever had the chocolate version of Angel Food Cake? It is a basic Angel Food Cake recipe made better with chocolate!

I have been making this recipe for years. I remember my best friend and I making this cake when we were teenagers. That is how long I have been making it.

It is so good and it makes a very impressive dessert.

I was recently adapting this recipe to be gluten free and I realized that I had never post the original recipe on my site. I knew I needed to fix that because this is too good of a recipe not to share with you.

This cake is perfect on it’s own, but if you want to make it even more special, you can serve it with berries and my chocolate whipped cream.

And for my gluten free readers you will want to check out the gluten free recipe Chocolate Angel Food Cake that I also shared today.

Yield: 10 servings

Chocolate Angel Food Cake

Chocolate Angel Food Cake is a classic Angel Food Cake made better with chocolate!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

¾ cup cake flour (it does work better if you use cake flour)
1 ½ cups sugar plus 2 tablespoons, divided
¼ cup baking cocoa
1 ½ cups eggs whites, room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

In a bowl whisk together flour, ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and cocoa. Whisk until well combined and has no lumps. Set aside .
In a large mixing bowl beat egg whites, cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla until foamy.
Add remaining ¾ cup sugar 2 tablespoons at a time.
Continue beating until stiff peaks form.
With a rubber scraper fold in flour cocoa mixture a few tablespoons at a time. Mixture will be thick, but do not over beat the mixture. Gently fold in the flour.
Spread into a 10 inch tube/angel food cake pan (not a bundt pan)
Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until the top of the cake springs bake when lightly touched.
Immediately invert the cake and leave upside down in the pan to cool.
Once cooled run a knife a long the sides of the pan and remove cake.
Serve with fruit and whipping cream if desired.

Adapted from Taste Of Home. Originally posted July 2011. Updated June 2019.

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: Cakes, Desserts, Recipes Tagged With: cake, chocolate desserts, chocolate recipes, Desserts, summer desserts

Gluten Free Chocolate Angel Food Cake

Gluten Free Chocolate Angel Food Cake is a classic Angel Food Cake made gluten free.

I have been making Chocolate Angel Food cake for years. I have actually been making this since I was a teenager. My best friend and I used to make it all the time.

Since it was a recipe I loved and had made for years, I knew it was a recipe that I needed to adapt to be gluten free.

I recently gave it a try and it turned out perfectly!

The gluten free version was just as good as I remember the regular version being. It might actually be better than the original recipe.

I have served the gluten free version to company and everyone loves it. No one can tell that it is gluten free. It is that good.

This is great served on its own, but you can make it a little more special and serve it with fruit and homemade chocolate whipped cream.

Yield: 10 servings

Gluten Free Chocolate Angel Food Cake

A classic Angel Food Cake made gluten free!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

½ cup potato starch
½ cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 ½ cups sugar plus 2 tablespoons, divided
¼ baking cocoa
1 ½ cups eggs whites, room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

In a bowl whisk together potato starch, cornstarch, xanthan gum, ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and cocoa. Whisk until well combined and does not have lumps.
In a large mixing bowl beat egg whites, cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla until foamy.
Add remaining ¾ cup sugar 2 tablespoons at a time.
Continue beating until stiff peaks form.
With a rubber scraper fold in flour cocoa mixture a few tablespoons at a time. Mixture will be thick but do not over beat the mixture. Gently fold in the flour.
Spread into a 10 inch tube/ Angel food cake pan (not a bundt pan)
Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until the top of the cake springs bake when lightly touched.
Immediately invert the cake and leave upside down in the pan to cool.
Once cooled run a knife a long the sides of the pan and remove cake.
Serve with fresh fruit and whipping cream.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10 servings

Serving Size:

1 piece
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 231 Total Fat: 4g Saturated Fat: 1g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 136mg Sodium: 111mg Carbohydrates: 45g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 30g Protein: 5g

Originally posted July 2011. Updated June 2019.

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: Cakes, Gluten Free Dessert, Gluten-Free Recipes, Gluten-Free Section, Recipes Tagged With: gluten free cake, gluten free chocolate recipes, gluten free desserts

Homemade Chocolate Whipped Cream

Need a simple way to make your dessert more special? Try homemade chocolate whipped cream!

I have been making homemade chocolate whipped cream for years. It is so good!

If you need an easy way to take a simple dessert or cake and more it special you need to try making chocolate whipped cream.

Chocolate whipping cream can be used for many different things. You can serve it with a bowl of fresh fruit or berries. You can use it as a fruit dip.

It is also delicious served with Angel food cake, pound cake, pie, or any other dessert that you would serve whipped cream on.

I have even spread it on top of cake for an easy and different type of frosting.

I have used it as a fun way to make hot chocolate or coffee more fun. I have several family members that love a spoonful of this in their coffee.

Chocolate whipping cream is actually an easy way to make coffee and hot chocolate a little special during the holidays or anytime you have a group of friends or family over.

No matter how you serve it, it is an easy way to make dessert extra special.

Tomorrow I will be sharing the recipe for the chocolate angel food cake in the picture. It is so good. I will be sharing the gluten free version as well!

Yield: 20 servings

Chocolate Whipped Cream

Chocolate Whipped Cream is an easy and delicious way to make a simple dessert special.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

3 cups of heavy whipping cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa

Instructions

Sift powdered sugar and cocoa. You must sift this to avoid lumps in the whipped cream.
If you don't have a sifter us a whisk to combine sugar and cocoa and whisk out any lumps.
Whip cream in a mixer on medium speed for about 1 minute.
Then slowly add sugar/cocoa mixture to whipped cream about 2 tablespoons at a time until the whipped cream is whipped well.
Do not over whip or you will have chocolate butter. You want it stiff, but not too thick.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 53 Total Fat: 2g Saturated Fat: 1g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 7mg Sodium: 1mg Carbohydrates: 8g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 6g Protein: 1g

Originally published November 27, 2009. Updated June 15, 2019.

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: Desserts, Gluten Free Dessert, Recipes

No Bake Cookie Bars

Classic no bake cookies turned into no bake cookie bars!

It is summer in Oklahoma, which means it is hot outside. The kind of heat where I dread turning on the oven because it heats up the house so much.

Every summer I try to come up with some easy, no bake, summertime desserts that I can make without using my oven. No one wants to use their oven when it is crazy hot outside.

No bake cookie bars are a recipe I came up with years ago based on my no bake cookies. It is the same basic recipe, I just tweaked it a little bit and turned it into bars.

My family thinks they are even better this way. I love them because making them into bars makes them even easier to make.

They are also an inexpensive dessert to make. I also usually have all the ingredients on hand, so they are easy to make any time I need a quick dessert.

If you want to make these peanut butter free, use my peanut butter free no bake cookies and just spread them into a pan like the directions below.

Need more no bake recipes? Try one of our favorites.

Yield: 18 servings

No Bake Cookie Bars

A classic no bake cookie recipe made into bars. No bake cookie bars takes the original recipe and makes it even easier.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
½ cup milk
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups quick oats ( I use gluten free quick oats to make them gluten free)
⅔ cup peanut butter ( You can use sunbutter to make them pb free)
1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

Bring first four ingredients to a boil and cook 1 minute.
Add vanilla, oatmeal, and peanut butter and stir until combined. Then stir in chocolate chips.
Spread into a 9x13 pan or for a thinner bar spread into a jelly roll type pan.
Refrigerate until firm.
Cut into squares.

Originally published August 13, 2009. Updated June 13, 2019.

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: Cookie Bars, Cookies, Gluten Free Dessert, Recipes Tagged With: chocolate desserts, gluten free chocolate desserts, gluten free no bake desserts, no bake cookies, no bake desserts

Menu Plan

Need some easy recipes for the week? This week’s menu plan is full of quick and easy recipes like banana baked oatmeal, five ingredient burritos, Chex granola bars, cheeseburger salad, banana pie, and more.

Here is the plan.

Breakfast

Baked Banana Oatmeal

Chex Granola Bars

Eggs and Sausage

Dinner

Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken

5 Ingredient Burritos

Yeast Raised Pancakes

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken

Bacon Cheeseburger Salad

Shrimp Pizza

Dessert of the Week

Banana Pie

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: Main Section, Meal Planning Monday Tagged With: meal plan, menu plan

Chocolate Chip Bread

Chocolate Chip Bread is a dessert or snack your kids are sure to love! Let’s just keep it real. Everyone will love this chocolate chip bread. It is a treat big and little kids will enjoy.

Quick breads are great because they make a delicious snack, dessert, or even special breakfast treat.

I have made various versions this bread for years, but I recently realized that I had never shared one with you. I knew I needed to fix that by sharing my favorite chocolate chip bread.

And not only am I sharing my recipe, I am also sharing how I make it gluten free. The gluten free chocolate chip bread is so good. No one will know that it is gluten free!

What exactly is chocolate chip bread?

This bread is a quick bread. It a cross between a cake and a muffin baked in a loaf pan. It is more of a dessert or snack, but my kids have been known to eat it for breakfast. Although it is definitely more of a special treat breakfast.

Can I make gluten free chocolate chip bread?

Yes, this bread is delicious gluten free. In fact the gluten free version is so good that no one will know that it is gluten free.

Can chocolate chip bread be made ahead?

Yes, this is a great recipe to make ahead because it freezes great. If you keep desserts like this in the freezer you can have an easy dessert anytime.

Just make the bread as directed, let it cool completely, wrap it up well, and freeze it. You can also slice the bread and freeze one or two pieces per package. You can then take it out for lunches or snacks.

Need more quick bread recipes? Try one of our favorites.

Now for the recipe!

Yield: 1 loaf

Chocolate Chip Bread

Chocolate Chip Bread is a quick and easy dessert or snack you are sure to love.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour (for gluten free version use Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 gf flour blend)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup butter milk
1/3 cup oil
1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a loaf pan and set aside.
In a bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl stir together eggs, milk, and oil.
Stir in flour mixture just until combined.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Spread batter into loaf pan.
Bake for 55- 60 minutes or until tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let cook in pan 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to finish cooling.

Notes

To make gluten free use Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 gluten free flour blend. Other gf blends may work, but I have only tried this with Bob's Red Mill Blend. Also be sure the your chocolate chips are gluten free.

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: Breads, Gluten Allergies, Gluten Free Dessert, Gluten-Free Recipes, Gluten-Free Section, Main Section, Quick Breads, Recipes Tagged With: bread recipes, chocolate desserts, gluten free desserts, gluten free quick bread, quick bread

Peanut Butter Free No Bake Cookies

Classic no bake cookies made without peanut butter! If you had to give up no bake cookies because of a peanut allergy these Peanut Butter Free No Bake Cookies are for you. They are the classic no bake cookies without the peanut butter.

I have been making no bake cookies since I was a kid. They were one of the first recipes that I learned to make and I have made them many times since then.

They are one of my favorite cookies to make and to eat!

No bake cookies make a perfect summertime cookie. Kids love them. At least all the kids I know love them.

I love that no bake cookies do not require you to use an oven. That is something I look for in a summertime dessert, but really these are a quick and easy cookie to make anytime of the year.

Can I make no bake cookies without peanut butter?

Yes, you can make no bake cookies without peanut butter and today I am sharing how I turned a classic no bake cookie into a peanut butter free no bake cookie.

The recipe that I have been making for years comes from my mom, and it contained peanut butter.

It was one of those recipes that I knew I was going to miss when my daughter developed her peanut allergy back in 2010, but then I started wondering why if I could make them without peanut butter.

I figured that the worst that could happen would be that they might be a little dry or have a slightly different texture. I decided to give my mom’s no bake recipe, that I had been making for years, a try without the peanut butter.

I simply followed my mom’s recipe, but left out the peanut butter.

Well, okay I added a few chocolate chips, but they are the same basic recipe. I thought the chocolate chips might help the texture since I took out the peanut butter. Plus more chocolate is always a good thing!

They turned out so good without the peanut butter. I was a little surprised at how well they turned out. We loved them.

Even those that can eat peanut butter enjoy these. I make these all the time and everyone enjoys them. Both those that are peanut free and those that aren’t.

Can I make no bake cookies gluten free?

If you are gluten free, you can easily make no bake cookie gluten free by using gluten free oats. Make sure your chocolate chips are gluten free as well. Most are but always read labels.

Can I make no bake cookies dairy free?

Yes, you can make no bake cookies dairy free? I have made them dairy free and it works great. I shared my dairy free no bake cookie recipe a few years ago and it is one of my daughter’s favorite quick and easy dairy free desserts to make.

If you need an easy and delicious dessert for those with a peanut allergy these no bake cookies are delicious!

Want to make these even faster to make? Make them into bars like I do for my no bake cookie bars.

Yield: 30 cookies

Peanut Butter Free No Bake Cookies

The classic no bake cookies made without peanut butter. Peanut butter free no bake cookies are perfect for those with a peanut allergy.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 minute

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 36 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
½ cup milk
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups quick oats ( I use gluten free quick oats)
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

Bring first four ingredients to a boil and cook 1 minute.
Add vanilla, oatmeal, and chocolate chips, and stir until combined and chocolate chips have melted.
Drop onto cookie sheet using 2-3 tablespoons of mixture.
Refrigerate until firm.
Serve and enjoy!
These will keep in the refrigerator for several days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 157 Total Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 17mg Sodium: 69mg Carbohydrates: 21g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 16g Protein: 1g

Posted July 2010. Updated June 2019.

Leave a Comment »

Filed Under: Cookies, Desserts, Gluten-Free Desserts, Nut & Peanut Allergies, Recipes Tagged With: gluten free cookies, no bake cookies, nut allergies, peanut allergy, peanut butter free no bake cookies

Bacon Cheeseburger Salad

Broccoli Bacon Pasta Salad

Pizza Salad

Chili Cheese Salad

Enchilada Salad

Summer Pasta Salad

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Salad

BLT Salad {Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Dressing}

Taco Salad with Spicy Ranch Dressing

Grilled Chicken and Spinach Salad

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad

Greek Pasta Salad

Ingredients

Instructions

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

Need more no bake recipes? Try one of our favorites.

Ingredients

Instructions

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Can I make no bake cookies without peanut butter?

Can I make no bake cookies gluten free?

Can I make no bake cookies dairy free?

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

About Lynn