The Best Gluten Free Holiday Cookie Recipes
Today I am sharing the best gluten free holiday cookie recipes.
The holidays are a time to indulge in all of our favorite festive treats. However, for those that are avoiding gluten, finding delicious holiday treats can be a challenge.
Lucky for us, there is no shortage of easy gluten free holiday cookie recipes out there. Whether you’re baking for yourself, a loved one with dietary restrictions, or simply exploring new recipes, there are so many options.
Here are some of the best gluten free holiday cookie recipes, along with my best tips for making them.
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What I look for in a gluten free holiday cookie recipe:
#1: Easy to make - no complicated directions.
#2: Easy-to-find ingredients - and even better if I have all of them in my pantry already.
#3: Must be delicious - and bonus points if no one can tell that they are gluten free.
#4: The cookies look great - whether on a cookie tray or for gifting.
#5: Freezer-friendly - so you can bake ahead and take them out when you are ready to enjoy them.
Tips for Making Gluten Free Holiday Cookies
#1: Read through the whole recipe first. Does it need a certain flour? Does it need to chill before baking? Being prepared will help increase your chance of success!
#2: Use the correct ingredients. When baking gluten free, you need to use the kind of flour that the recipe calls for. You cannot interchange almond flour, oat flour, a 1-to-1 flour blend, etc.
#3: Check your cookies frequently the first time you make them. Ovens vary, so always start with the shortest recommended time for baking, and watch carefully. Keep a note of how long each cookie type takes in your oven.
#4: Be careful of cross-contamination. If you are not a gluten free household, but you're baking for someone who has to eat gluten free, be careful to avoid cross-contamination. You can do this by using very clean utensils, mixing bowls, measuring tools, and baking sheets.
What do I need for these gluten free holiday cookies?
For most of these recipes you will need a gluten free flour blend that mimics traditional wheat flour. You can get this at most grocery stores in their gluten free aisle or the baking aisle. I like to use Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Baking Flour or King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure flour.
Two of these recipes call for almond flour, which can also easily be found in most grocery stores. Almond flour produces a more dense cookie, but also provides a bit more nutrition than a gluten free flour blend. I like to get mine at Costco!
The Best Gluten Free Holiday Cookie Recipes
After 10+ years of eating gluten free, I've done the research for you, so you don't have to! These are 7 gluten free recipes that have my seal of approval.
Chewy Gingerbread Molasses Cookies
Chewy Gingerbread Molasses Cookies. These cookies are one of my absolute favorites. They are easy to make, using basic baking staples and a gluten free flour blend. They smell amazing while baking and are full of gingerbread flavor. These freeze well and would be a lovely gift for neighbors or friends in a bakery box wrapped with a festive ribbon.
Gingerbread Cutout Cookies
Gingerbread Cutout Cookies. This cookie takes a little more time, as you have to make the dough, roll and cut it out, bake and decorate. However, if you are up for a baking project, this one is great. This recipe creates an incredibly easy to work with dough, which is not always easy to find when you are making gluten free cookies. The dough comes together easily, rolls out well, doesn't crumble, and makes adorable cutout cookies. Bake the cookies and then let your kids decorate - so much fun.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Peanut Butter Blossoms. These peanut butter blossoms are easy to make and so good. In this recipe, she uses a homemade ganache to top the cookies, but I like to use the traditional Hershey kiss. These cookies are great for making with kids - my kids love to add the chocolate kiss on top. They also freeze well, if they last that long.
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies. These flourless chocolate peppermint cookies are made with almond butter and are lower in sugar than most cookies. They come together easily in one bowl, and look so pretty with the crushed peppermint.
Peppermint Fudge
Quick and Easy Peppermint Fudge. Not quite a cookie, but fits the bill for a holiday treat. If you want to whip up a quick and easy holiday treat that is no-bake, needs no special ingredients, and comes together in minutes - this is it. Made with only chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and peppermint extracts, and holiday sprinkles or crushed candy canes, this makes an indulgent sweet treat to share or gift. It's no-fail.
Healthy Snowball Cookies
Healthy Snowball Cookies. These snowball cookies melt in your mouth - they are so yummy. Made from just a few ingredients (you will need almond flour for these), they come together quickly and look great on a holiday cookie tray.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie. This is one of my all-time favorite gluten free chocolate chip cookie recipes. They are easy to make, have better-for-you ingredients (you will need almond flour for this one) and they are delicious. You could even make them with red and green M&M's in place of the chocolate chips for a festive look.
What's the best way to share and gift these cookies?
I love to package cookies in these small bakery boxes and wrap the boxes in a festive ribbon.
Get your holiday baking game on!
Those are some of the best gluten free holiday cookie recipes.
These recipes are perfect for those avoiding gluten, but honestly, they are great for everyone. They are easy holiday baking recipes that you'll love to enjoy and share with others.
For more holiday recipes, check out these easy chocolate covered pretzels and this delicious gingerbread granola.
Give them a try and let me know what you think!
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