♪♫♪ On the first day of Christmas I’m going to share with you: Cran-nut squares that are gluten-free. ♪♫♪

GF Cranberry Nut Squares

Yum! Gluten-free Cranberry Nut Squares – a gluten-free adaptation of a recipe from Canadian Living Magazine. Sort of like date squares, but made with cranberries for a festive twist.

Nut crust:                                                                         Cranberry Filling:

1 cup (150 g) roasted whole hazelnuts                          340 g/~4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

1 cup (100 g) roasted whole almonds                            1 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup gluten-free flour                                                  1 tsp grated orange zest

½ cup granulated sugar                                                    1/3 cup orange juice

½ cup packed brown sugar

½ tsp each cinnamon and ground ginger

2/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed

To make filling: In saucepan bring cranberries, sugar, orange zest and orange juice to boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally until cranberries burst and mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes.

To make crust: In food processor, pulse together nuts, flour, sugars, cinnamon and ginger until the nuts are finely chopped. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press half of mixture into the bottom of a parchment paper-lined 9-inch square cake pan. Bake in 350°F oven until golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.

Spread cranberry filling over crust and sprinkle with remaining nut mixture. Bake in 350°F oven until topping is golden, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely in pan then cut into squares. Enjoy!

Laugh every day. Love every minute. – Linda

My guest author today is Jessica Jefferson – Welcome!

Taming Miss Tisdale by Jessica Jefferson

Miss Tamsin Tisdale believes herself to be completely unsuitable for London life. After a myriad of social mishaps, and the potential ruination of her family name, she’s shipped away to her cousin’s northern estate. Only after she accepts the type of existence Society dictates she must follow will she be welcomed home.

Marcus Winston, the Duke of Grayson, has a lackluster reputation. The last in a dying line, he’s endured a protected life—rank with privilege, but encumbered by isolation. After a brief encounter with rebellion, he learns the devastating consequences of his carelessness and willingly accepts living life from inside his gilded cage.

However, a chance meeting with the brazen Miss Tisdale gives Marc the opportunity to reinvent himself into the man he’s always dreamed of being. But when his deception comes to light, and ghosts from both their pasts threaten to unravel the intimacy they’ve come to cherish, will either of them set their fears aside long enough to embrace love? Or will Miss Tisdale’s stubbornness divide them?

Pick up your copy today at Amazon.

As part of The 12 Days of Christmas celebration, Jessica donated a $10 Starbucks card, paired with an autographed PB of Marked from Jeanne Hardt to the prize list. Click HERE for this and many more random drawings. To follow the celebration, find a new recipe, pick up a holiday decorating or shopping tip, click HERE.

About the Author

Jessica Jefferson makes her home in northern Indiana, or as she likes to think of it – almost Chicago. Jessica originally attended college in hopes of achieving an English degree and writing the next great American novel. Ten years later she was working as a registered nurse and reading historical romance when she decided to give writing another go-round.

Jessica writes likes she speaks – which has a tendency to be fast paced and humorous. She is heavily inspired by sweeping, historical romance novels, but aims to take those key emotional elements and inject a fresh blend of quick dialogue and comedy.

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