21 Gluten-Free Christmas Cookie Recipes - (2024)

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More Gluten-Free Christmas Sweets: Related FAQs References

October 16, 2023November 22, 2023Updated onNovember 22, 2023

It’s the most wonderful (and sweetest) time of year! Holiday cookie platters at parties, Christmas cookie exchanges, seasonal bake sales, and simply making magical memories with our little ones are sprinkled throughout your December to-do list.

The good news is that all of your favorite cookies can be made gluten-free. This round-up of some of the best gluten-free cookies is just the beginning. Be inspired to make a gluten-free version of your much-loved cookie recipe and carry on your family traditions.

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Tips for Converting Your Family Christmas Cookies to Gluten-Free:

Use a gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum (or add ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum per cup of gluten-free flour). My personal favorite gluten-free flour for cookies is King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour.
To achieve a fluffy cookie with a nice rise, add ½-1 teaspoon of baking powder per cup of flour.
Chill the dough for at least one hour and keep it cold to get the best rise. For recipes that require prep time with the dough, such as rolled and cut-out cookies, keep half the dough in the fridge while prepping the first batch of cookies.
After baking, let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for two minutes, and then cool them completely on a wire rack.
Store cookies in an airtight container on the counter or in the freezer. Do not refrigerate unless necessary (for example a cream cheese frosting or filling) as the cookies will dry out quickly in the fridge.

Gather your cookie cutters, baking sheets, and your favorite people. Then, brighten your holiday table by baking a few (or several) of these delicious gluten-free cookie recipes.

Soft! Gluten-Free Christmas Sugar Cookies

Enjoy the soft, delicious, classic sugar cookies from your childhood. No one will be able to tell they are gluten-free! The recipe card includes instructions for an easy 2-ingredient icing. Or pick up ready-made Betty Crocker Cookie IcingandBetty Crocker Christmas Sprinkles Check the labels, as most, not all, Betty Crocker Sprinkles are labeled gluten-free.

Check out this recipe

Gluten-Free Candy Cane Cookies

Christmas cookies in an adorable red & white, candy cane shape, with hints of vanilla and almond. These traditional, crisp cookies are topped with sweet candy cane sugar sprinkles and are perfect for your gluten-free holiday cookie tray.

Check out this recipe

The Best Gluten-Free Gingersnaps Recipe

This easy recipe with simple gluten-free and dairy-free ingredients makes the most delicious, chewy gingersnap cookies you have ever tasted! I highly recommend you double the recipe. Then watch these delectable cookies disappear as quickly as you bake them!

Check out this recipe

Gluten-free Buttercream Thumbprint Cookies

Gluten-free Buttercream Thumbprints are the perfect addition to your Christmas cookie tray! Easy gluten-free Christmas cookies with a buttery, shortbread base, rolled in pecans, then topped with irresistible buttercream frosting.

Check out this recipe

More Gluten-Free Christmas Sweets:

10 Gluten-Free Christmas Cakes for Your Holiday Centerpiece
50 Festive Gluten-Free Christmas Dessert Recipes
Gather your cookies on a Simple Gluten-Free Dessert Charcuterie Board

Merry Christmas!

21 Gluten-Free Christmas Cookie Recipes - (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick to gluten free baking? ›

Mix Batters Longer

While conventional wisdom has taught us not to overmix our batters, we've found most gluten-free batters simply need to be stirred for longer. If you're worried this will turn your muffins and cakes rubbery, have no fear. Gluten-free recipes need to have more structure.

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How do you keep gluten-free cookies from falling apart? ›

Chilling helps the flours and xanthan gum absorb liquid, which makes the dough sturdier and easier to handle. Without a proper rest, your cookies are likely to crumble. Think of mix-ins as the Spanx of the cookie world. They are a sly way to ensure that your cookies look like cookies, not misshapen gluten-free blobs.

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Do gluten-free cookies take longer to bake? ›

Because gluten-free batters contain more liquid than traditional versions, they typically take longer to bake. If you remove them from the oven too soon, you may develop a gummy, mushy texture.

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What is the least popular Christmas cookie? ›

On the naughty list of cookies, Americans gave the lowest win records to anise cookies, which only won 29% of its matchups.

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Can I just replace flour with gluten-free flour? ›

If the original recipe calls for 260 grams of all-purpose flour, substitute with 260 grams of your blend. Beat the batter more. Because gluten-free flours provide less structure than all-purpose, the batter or dough you make with them may require more beating than that which you are accustomed.

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What is the secret of baking with gluten-free flour? ›

Use xanthan gum or guar gum: Gluten-free flours lack the elasticity and structure that gluten provides, so adding a binder like xanthan or guar gum can help to hold the ingredients together and give your baked goods a better texture.

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What makes gluten-free cookies rise? ›

2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of gluten-free flour is necessary to ensure proper leavening. Baking soda and buttermilk can be used to leaven instead of baking powder, but 1-1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar should be added for each 1/2 teaspoon baking soda used.

Should I refrigerate gluten free cookie dough before baking? ›

5. And refrigerate the dough if it's too sticky. Gluten-free cookie dough is stickier than standard cookie dough, but chilling it can help. This is because cold dough is less sticky, and it doesn't spread as easily, too.

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What holds gluten-free cookies together? ›

As I mentioned, you'll need a 1-to-1 / measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend to make this gluten free sugar cookie recipe. When you see the term “1-to-1” or “measure-for-measure” it usually indicates that the flour contains a binder such as xanthan gum to keep your baked goods from falling apart.

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What gluten-free flour is best for cookies? ›

Oat flour is best for cookies and quick breads, though you can use it for other things in combination with other gluten free flours. When making yeast bread, you'll need extra yeast to make the dough rise, and other recipes need about 2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder per cup of oat flour.

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Which flour has no gluten? ›

For flours that are made from grains (amaranth, buckwheat, corn, millet, quinoa, rice flours, sorghum, and teff), always buy them labeled gluten-free, since many are grown, harvested and processed in facilities that also manufacture wheat, barley, or rye and cross-contact can occur.

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What does cream of tartar do in gluten-free baking? ›

When combined with baking soda, it becomes a leavening agent (the stuff that makes baked goods puff up in the oven) by producing carbon dioxide gas. If you ever run out of baking powder, you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar for 1 teaspoon baking powder.

What is the 1 cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

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What is the most Googled Christmas cookie? ›

Italian Christmas Cookies grow as top cookie

Zoom in: Italian Christmas Cookies were the top cookie in 13 states, more than double the six states from 2022, Google Trends curator Katie Seaton told Axios. Seaton said the Italian cookies dominated the East Coast both this year and last year.

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What is the #1 cookie in the United States? ›

The chocolate chip cookie is far and away America's favorite cookie This should come as no surprise to anyone who enjoys the tasty treat. More than 53% of American adults prefer the cookies over the next most popular kind, peanut butter.

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What are the challenges of gluten-free baking? ›

Owing to the challenge of gluten-free flours to form a protein network that provides structure and strength to dough, breads produced in the absence of gluten tends to be flatter, denser, crummier, less chewy and less tasty.

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Is it harder to bake with gluten free flour? ›

Gluten-free baking is a lot harder than traditional baking because gluten protein is what gives baked goods their structure.

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Does gluten free flour bake the same as regular flour? ›

These breads take longer to bake because the gums and fiber in Gluten-Free Bread Flour hold onto water more than gluten (which is typical of gluten-free flour), so they take longer to fully bake and “dry out.” If you have a digital thermometer, the internal temperature should be between 208°F to 212°F.

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What are the rules for gluten-free cooking? ›

When cooking gluten-free, there are two important things to remember:

Be sure to read all ingredients label to ensure you are not accidentally using a product that contains gluten. ...
Make sure that you are not causing cross-contact by using foods, utensils and other cookingware that has been contaminated by gluten.

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