• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Tessa the Domestic Diva

Wholesome, Allergy-Friendly Living

  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • GF Flours,Subs, & Baking Tips
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Breads & Muffins
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Dish
    • Natural Home
    • Pantry Staples
    • Sides & Salads
    • Smoothies/Drinks
You are here: Home / Dessert / Gluten Free Empanadas

Gluten Free Empanadas

April 26, 2015 By Tessa 16 Comments

Print Recipe Jump to Recipe

Wholegrain gluten free empanadas for little hands!  By using a handful of wholesome ingredients, you will be well on your way to creating all sorts of filled pastries for your family!

empanadas cut in half and filled with jelly and dark chocolate on a white plate

 

I am not sure when I figured out that kids love almost anything in a pocket.  It’s novel, it’s cute.  It’s kind of genius.

Lately, my son has been totally obsessed with my Homemade Gluten Free Cereal Bars, and since we have been making them frequently, there have been many instances when I have had a touch of dough left.

Not one to waste any ingredients…I promptly put those scraps to use using my new dumpling presses (LOVE)!

With almost no effort, I get these adorable little hand pies perfect for little hands (and big ones too!).  Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they are vegan too!

The crust is no fuss and wholegrain…and not too hard to work with!  

We all go crazy for the low sugar berry jelly and dark chocolate combo!

a square white plate with a halved empanada filled with berries and chocolate

Filling options for sweet gluten free empanadas

  • Pie fillings – this cherry pie filling…swoon!
  • Banana, chocolate, & sunbutter (or any preferred nut butter)
  • Eggs, fresh pumpkin, sugar, and some pumpkin spice
  • The apple pie filling looks drool worthy!

a white plate filled with empanadas with a scattering of chocolate chips

TEFF FLOUR nutritional highlights

This is one of my my very favorite gluten free flours to work with, and I have it in my pantry at all times!

It has a lovely nutty flavor that blends in well to loads of recipes, and it packs a nutrition punch!!

It’s known to naturally balance hormone levels, boost immunity, stimulate digestion, strengthen bones, promote cardiovascular health and aid weight loss.

  • high in protein
  • 29% of the DV iron in one serving
  • plenty of fiber
  • vast array of vitamins and minerals

Read here about some of the great reasons YOU should have some teff in YOUR pantry too!

a white square plate with a halved berry and chocolate filled empanada

Here are some additional recipes that include teff:

  • Our favorite Soaked Teff Bread
  • Cream of NOT Wheat Cereal is my creative gluten free version of Cream of Wheat!
  •  A traditionally fermented Ethiopian flat bread: Gluten Free Inerja 
  • Gluten Free Vegan Pizelles made with teff flour!!

 

 

overhead shot of a square white plate filled with a halved wholegrain empanada, a cherry red coffee mug, and a plate of additional hand pies on a dark wooden surface

Gluten Free Empanada Recipe:

If you try these vegan empanadas, be sure to come back and leave a comment and let us know what YOU filled them with!

close up of a halved sweet empanada filled with berries and chocolate on a white plate
5 from 1 vote
Print

Gluten Free Empanada

Course Dessert
Cuisine Latin
Keyword gluten free empanadas, vegan empanadas
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 180 kcal
Author Tessa

Ingredients

  • 1 cup gluten free oat flour still need to test out an oat free version
  • 1 cup teff flour or more oat or brown rice flour If you can do gluten, I imagine spelt, and whole wheat pastry flour would work great!
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ cup palm sugar or other granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons chia meal or flax meal

Wet:

  • ½ cup applesauce
  • ¼ cup melted coconut oil or other oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

Filling:

  • Favorite jelly I used a low sugar from Trader Joes
  • Dark chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.
  3. In a liquid measuring cup, whisk the wet ingredients. Pour into the dry mix and blend until a soft dough is formed. You may add a couple tablespoons milk if it is necessary. I use my hands to knead it all together, a mixer works too.
  4. Divide the dough into two pieces.
  5. Using two pieces of parchment (or similar), roll the dough into a thin, pie crust thickness, about 1/8" or slightly less.
  6. Either using a circle biscuit cutter, or a knife, cut the dough into similar sized circles, rectangles, or squares, apx the size your palm (no exact science, just keep the pieces the same size.
  7. Fill half of one square/rectangle/dumpling, with a teaspoon or two of favorite jelly, and a few dark chocolate chips.
  8. Gently fold each piece in half and press on the edges to seal. I used my favorite dumpling/empañada makers for this task...it makes them TOO cute!! Alternately, you could place another piece of dough on top and press around the edges.
  9. Using a sturdy spatula or pastry scraper, gently lift off and place on a prepared cookie sheet. (Incidentally, those are two MUST HAVE kitchen gadgets...they scrape from stainless steel and cast iron like a charm, and help me clean more things than they should!)
  10. TIP: When I use the dumpling maker, I use some coconut oil spray on the press to keep it from sticking.
  11. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the edges are JUST beginning to brown.
  12. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Empanada
Amount Per Serving
Calories 180 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Sodium 137mg6%
Potassium 105mg3%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 47mg5%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

pinterest ready white plate close up of halved sweet empanada with jelly and chocolate

 
Any of the links in my posts may be affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I might make a commission. Your support is much appreciated and pays for the cost of running this free resource!

SUBSCRIBE to get a free 30 minute meals eBook!

Awesome! Check your email to confirm and get your eBook!

SUBSCRIBE to get a free 30 minute meals eBook!

Get my 30 Minute Meals e-book free and tons of easy, healthy recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maria says

    August 10, 2020 at 4:29 PM

    These look really good! Will definitely try to make these being a big fan of empaNadas (please fix name, no “ñ” in empanadas) I’ve been looking for a good gluten free version. Thanks Tessa!

    Reply
  2. Tash says

    December 21, 2019 at 8:06 PM

    Greetings! Do you think you could make these savory?

    Reply
    • Tessa says

      December 22, 2019 at 4:45 AM

      Definitely! Drop the sweetener, add some savory spices…use 1/2 cup oil and 1/4 cup applesauce. Why filling were you thinking?

      Reply
  3. Elise @frugalfarmwife.com says

    May 4, 2015 at 7:11 PM

    Yum! We haven’t made hand pies in forever. Thanks for the inspiration and for linking up with Waste Not Want Not Wednesday!

    Reply
  4. swathi says

    May 4, 2015 at 4:25 PM

    Delicious vegan, gluten free empanadas, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop. pinning, tweeting and sharing with google plus

    Reply
  5. Bethany says

    May 1, 2015 at 2:59 PM

    Wow! These look absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  6. Audrey @ Unconventional Baker says

    April 30, 2015 at 8:35 AM

    Oooh, I love the look of that filling! I make raspberry chocolate chip hand pies sometimes too — so good. And lol on the kids liking anything in a pocket — I think I’m with them on that one 😉

    Reply
  7. Krystal says

    April 28, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    I’ve been meaning to try teff flour but it’s so difficult to get where I live. I do have some teff grains so I might try grinding them down coz I really wanna try making these!

    Reply
    • Tessa Simpson says

      April 28, 2015 at 10:55 AM

      Krystal…it SO tasty..order some on iherb.com or amazon, you will definitely use it all…and I have more recipes that use it (I even use it in my all purpose often!). Teff is super tiny and will not mill well in my experience!

      Reply
  8. Steph @ Steph in Thyme says

    April 27, 2015 at 7:18 PM

    Scrumptious! Thank you for such a lovely gluten-free vegan recipe, I’m a sucker for these kinds of baked goods!

    Reply
  9. Cassidy @ Cassidys Craveable Creations says

    April 27, 2015 at 11:24 AM

    Wow Tessa, These look AMAZING!!! I’ll have to get some Teff flour 🙂

    Reply
    • Tessa Simpson says

      April 27, 2015 at 1:08 PM

      Teff is a must….and knowing how similar our tastebuds are Cassidy, you HAVE to get some!!

      Reply
  10. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

    April 27, 2015 at 8:45 AM

    These are so fabulous Tessa! I love that they’re allergy-free and vegan! Perfection!

    Reply
    • Tessa Simpson says

      April 27, 2015 at 1:08 PM

      Thanks Rebecca!

      Reply
  11. Minnie@thelady8home says

    April 27, 2015 at 8:23 AM

    5 stars
    Excellent. They look so yummy and best part, they are glutton free. Loved it.

    Reply
    • Tessa Simpson says

      April 27, 2015 at 1:09 PM

      Thanks Minnie!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome, I am happy you are here!

My name is Tessa, I am a momma and teacher who learned to cook allergy friendly foods when her third kiddo needed it.   Real food is my obsession. Gluten free, dairy-free, vegan, paleo, and keto recipes for families. Read More About Me An My Family’s Real Food Allergy Journey Here.

Search My Site

Pinterest

Want My Free E-book?

Awesome!!

Want My Free E-book?

Get my 30 Minute Meals e-book free and tons of easy, healthy recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

Popular Posts

  • 5 Minute Paleo Muffins
  • Paleo Almond Joy Bars
  • Coconut Butter Recipe
  • Homemade Sunflower Seed Butter
  • Paleo Peanut Butter Cups

Categories

Copyright © 2023 Tessa The Domestic Diva · Wordpress Theme by Hello Yay!