Date: September 19, 2016 | Story: Susan Darcey | Photography: Rett Peek |
Stephanie Reeves of Dapper Cookie prepares for Halloween with decadent gluten-free treats for her family, friends, and trick-or-treaters
A stay-at-home mom and the creative designer and owner of Dapper Cookie, Stephanie Reeves is passionate about her family, who are gluten-free, and providing the most adorable, decorated cookies for others who are also gluten-free. From birthday parties and baby showers to school spirit days and holiday soirees, there isn’t an occasion Reeves hasn’t decoratively adorned with her fanciful cookies, and Halloween is no exception.
To celebrate the season, Stephanie hosted a spooktacular family event with her husband, Rex, daughter, Ruby, 11, and son, Trip, 9, which included making, baking, and, of course, eating many of the hauntingly delicious foods and cookie snacks served as well as putting together custom treat bags for party guests and trick-or-treaters.
Gluten-Free Mini Cheese Crackers
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces finely grated cheddar
1 cup all-purpose gluten-free flour blend
½ stick of butter
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional)
3-5 teaspoons cold water
PREPARATION
Place all the ingredients; except the water, in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is incorporated but resembles sand. Add 3 tablespoons water and pulse until a dough is formed. If necessary, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes to an hour.
Preheat oven to 375° F. Roll out the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap to no thicker than a ¼ inch thick (keep in mind crackers will puff while baking). Use a mini-sized cookie cutter to cut out your crackers. Remove the excess dough, reroll it and repeat until all the dough has been used. Use scissors to snip the point off a toothpick and use the blunt end to poke a hole in the center of each cracker.
Transfer the crackers to a silicone or parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 17-20 minutes. Crackers should be golden brown and firm to the touch. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Baked crackers can be frozen, thawed at room temperature, and re-crisped in the oven for 5 minutes at 350°F.
Dapper Cookie, Little Rock, (501) 425-6088. Follow Dapper Cookie on Instagram: @DapperCookie
