--- title: Gluten-Free Desserts for the Holidays description: Thanksgiving and Christmas are a time to share those special holiday recipes. Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB, shares a few of her favorite gluten-free desserts. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/11/17/gluten-free-desserts-holidays#) # Gluten-Free Desserts for the Holidays Nov 17, 2016 1:30:47 PM  |  by [Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/margaret-rose-realy-obl-osb) !["Gluten-Free Desserts for the Holidays" by Margaret Rose Realy (CatholicMom.com)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/scones-417791_1280.jpg?width=800&height=415&name=scones-417791_1280.jpg) Image via [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/en/scones-butter-lunch-bread-tasty-417791/), CC0 Public Domain Here come the holidays, gathering with friends, and sharing some of our favorite dessert recipes reserved for Thanksgiving and Christmas. [Tweet "Need a #glutenfree dessert idea for #Thanksgiving? @realym shares 3 recipes."] If you are sensitive to wheat, as I am, you probably have your go-to dishes for those get-togethers. Here are a few of mine. ### **Midnight Pumpkin Pie** 1-15 oz. can pumpkin 1-12 oz. can evaporated milk 1 egg, lightly beaten ¼ c. molasses ½ c. sugar ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp cumin ¼ tsp ginger ¼ tsp. nutmeg 1/8 tsp. cloves (1 Tbl. GF baking mix, optional for thickening the filling) Buy or make one gluten-free pie crust (or divide up the filling into small custard cups) Combine wet ingredients, in separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Add dry to wet and mix thoroughly. Pour into unbaked pie shell or custard cups. Bake at 450º for 20 minutes, reduce heat to 350 º and bake 30-40 minutes longer for pie, 20-30 minutes longer for custard. Cool completely on wire rack. Serve with fresh whipped cream. This recipe can be adapted to your own biscuit and scones recipe. I buy a small bag of *Pamela’s Biscuit & Scone Mix* and fancy it up! ### **Date Pecan Scones** 1-13 oz bag *Pamela’s Biscuit & Scone Mix* 8 Tbl. cold butter 1 c. ½ & ½ (or milk, but not low fat!) ½ c. brown sugar ¼ tsp. allspice ½ tsp. cinnamon ½ c. pecans, chopped loosely 8 oz. bag dates, diced (avoid buying pre-diced dates, they are hard and dry, and often coated to prevent sticking) Mix together sugar and spices with pecans, set aside. Cut cold butter into baking mix. Incorporate dry ingredients, milk, and dates. The dough will be really stiff and sticky! Using a large cookie scoop, drop dollops on to buttered non-stick baking sheet (or line with parchment paper). Using a glass with base dipped in sugar; flatten each ball to about 1” thick. Bake 375º 20-25 minutes until slightly browned. Will make about 24-26 scones. My grandmother would make this wonderful rice custard for Thanksgiving—since somebody else always brought the pumpkin pies. This rice dish tastes nothing like the rice puddings we usually enjoy. ### **Grandma’s Rice Custard** 1 c. rice cooked in 2 c. water. When cooked, place in 4 qt. ceramic baking dish. ¾ c golden (or regular) raisins, steamed (place raisins in about ¼ c. water, simmer for 3-5 minute until plumped and soft, drain off liquid) Custard: 6 eggs 1 ¼ c. sugar 2 ½ c. milk Combine raisins into cooked rice, mix in custard. Bake 350 º for 30 minutes, slide out shelf and stir, sprinkle top with a little nutmeg, continue baking for another 45 minutes or longer until knife inserted comes out clean (top will be lightly browned).   **May our Lord bless you and all of yours and shower you with peace through this season of grace!** *Copyright 2016 Margaret Rose Realy* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F17%2Fgluten-free-desserts-holidays%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F17%2Fgluten-free-desserts-holidays%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F17%2Fgluten-free-desserts-holidays%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Gluten-Free%20Desserts%20for%20the%20Holidays) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F17%2Fgluten-free-desserts-holidays%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F17%2Fgluten-free-desserts-holidays%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Margaret%20Rose%20Realy%202022.jpg) ### [Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/margaret-rose-realy-obl-osb) Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB lives an eremitic life and authored [A Garden Catechism](https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Catechism-Plants-Christian-Tradition/dp/1681925567), [A Catholic Gardener’s Spiritual Almanac](http://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Gardeners-Spiritual-Almanac-Cultivating/dp/1594714843/linkCode=as2%26tag=patheoscom04-20),  [A Garden of Visible Prayer: Creating a Personal Sacred Space One Step at a Time](http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Visible-Prayer-Creating-Personal/dp/1939221234/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425010682&sr=1-1&keywords=9781939221230), and  [Cultivating God’s Garden through Lent](http://www.amazon.com/Cultivating-Gods-Garden-through-Lent/dp/1939221099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359826349&sr=8-1&keywords=cultivating+gods+garden+through+lent). An award-winning author, Margaret has a master’s degree in communications, is a Certified Greenhouse Grower, Master Gardener, liturgical garden consultant, and workshop/retreat leader. ## Related Blog Articles [ Celebrate Summer Feast Days with Summertime Pies Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/celebrate-summer-feast-days-with-summertime-pies) [ Feed Me. Now! Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/08/14/feed-me-now) [ Creating an Archangel Garden Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/15/creating-archangel-garden) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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