Gluten-Free Strawberry Dumplings Recipe

Gluten-Free Strawberry Dumplings…sweet strawberries inside pillowy dumplings coated with lightly sweetened ground nuts and fresh strawberries.

This strawberry dumpling recipe is a twist on the classic with extra health benefits. This recipe is prevalent in Eastern Europe, and the dumplings are typically made with potatoes. To keep this gluten-free dumpling recipe healthier, I replaced the potatoes with sweet potatoes and added flaxseed. The sweet potatoes added natural sweetness without adding white sugar to the recipe.

the topping…

The topping is often made using breadcrumbs mixed with white sugar and toasted in butter or oil. I replaced the bread crumbs with ground nuts and sweetened them lightly with coconut sugar. By using nuts, I added fiber, protein, and more flavour. If someone in your family is allergic to nuts, use the breadcrumb mixture. Simply mix 1 cup of gluten-free breadcrumbs with 1/2 cup of sugar and lightly toast with butter or olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium-low heat.

the dumpling…

The fresh tasting sweet strawberries are cooked inside a potato dough. The recipe takes a little work, but the gluten-free strawberry dumplings are well worth it. Trust me on this! In Hungary, the dumplings are made with small fresh damson or Italian plums. So feel free to replace the berries with plums.

how to choose a strawberry…

One thing to keep in mind when choosing strawberries, they do not continue to ripen once they are picked. So what you see is what you will taste. Look for bright red plump strawberries with fresh, bright green leaves. Look for mold! The size of the berry doesn’t matter. Sometimes the smaller the strawberry, the sweeter it is. And, always check the top and bottom of the box when buying strawberries. Often they start to mold on the bottom. And lastly, if your budget allows it, always buy organic because strawberries are on top of the dirty dozen list.

gluten-free strawberry dumplings – the details…

Typically strawberry dumplings are made with potatoes and wheat flour. I wanted to add extra nutrients and less sugar, so I made them with sweet potatoes, and by using rice flour, I kept them gluten-free. The sweet potatoes are cooked, then mashed with coconut oil or butter, ground flaxseed, eggs and mixed with rice flour.

Once the gluten-free dumpling dough is ready, wrap it around each strawberry. The dumplings are then cooked in boiling water. 

The topping is super easy. Slice a few more strawberries and place them in a microwave for about thirty seconds to soften them. The strawberries are then poured over the cooked dumplings and topped with lightly sweetened ground nuts. My preference is pecans, but walnuts are just as delicious!

I hope you enjoy these delicious gluten-free strawberry dumplings as much as my family does. Strawberry dumplings is an Eastern European dish I grew up with, and it is typically served as a main. But in our home, we love the dumplings as a dessert or as a snack. You can serve the dumplings warm or at room temperature.

For more recipes that originated in Eastern Europe, check out these gluten-free recipes.