Gluten-free Christmas cookies taste just as delicious as the traditional versions, only without the wheat! Learn how to make perfect almond flour sugar cookies, or try one of the other 16 holiday cookies below.
Tips for Making Gluten-Free Cookies
While gluten-free flour blends can be convenient, they don’t always work as a perfect 1:1 swap for all-purpose flour. The recipes below use a variety of different gluten-free options, like buckwheat flour, chickpea flour, almond flour, and oat flour, without relying on special ingredients like xanthan gum.
If you’re not already familiar with gluten-free baking, these tips may help you get started.
- Don’t swap the flour in a recipe. If a recipe calls for almond flour, don’t expect to get the same results if you use a gluten-free flour blend. Instead, find a recipe that already calls for the flour you want to use.
- Oat flour doesn’t work for everyone. While oats are naturally gluten-free, not everyone with celiac disease can tolerate them. If you can use oat flour, make sure the package is labeled “certified gluten-free” to make sure there is no cross-contamination during processing.
- Don’t make extra modifications. Gluten-free baking is trickier because there’s no gluten to act as a binder. That means it’s more difficult to leave out the eggs, and if you cut back on the sugar in a recipe, the cookies won’t spread as expected.
If you need a vegan or Paleo recipe, I’ve labeled them for you below! I hope these gluten-free cookie recipes will make your holiday season easier.
Gluten-Free Christmas Cookie Recipes
Almond Flour Sugar Cookies (Vegan & Paleo)
These grain-free cookies can be cut out just like the traditional version, or you can drop them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let them spread into circles as they bake.
Add some sprinkles before baking, or decorate them with frosting after they have cooled.
Almond Flour Gingerbread Cookies (Vegan & Paleo)
Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and molasses, these gluten-free cookies taste even better than the classic version. They make the perfect holiday dessert!
Flourless Chocolate Crinkles (Vegan & Paleo)
These rich chocolate cookies are made with almond butter instead of flour, for a nourishing gluten-free and dairy-free treat. Since they’re made without eggs, you can taste-test the cookie dough, too!
Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies (Vegan & Paleo)
These classic cookies are filled with your favorite jam for a bright and fruity flavor. With a subtle hint of almond extract, they are hard to resist.
These chocolate cookies have a chewy texture and rich chocolate flavor. You can add chocolate chips for a double chocolate cookie, or roll them in powdered sugar for a crinkle.
Oat flour is an affordable flour that makes delicious gluten-free sugar cookies! To help hide the “oat” flavor, these cookies feature almond and vanilla extract. Cut them out to decorate or roll them in sugar for an easy drop cookie that will spread on the pan.
Almond Flour Snickerdoodles (Vegan & Paleo)
Made with protein-rich almond flour, these cinnamon-sugar cookies have a chewy texture you’ll love.
Coconut Macaroons (Vegan & Paleo)
Classic macaroons are made with sweetened condensed milk and egg whites, but this recipe is vegan-friendly using coconut butter and maple syrup, instead. They almost taste like a Girl Scout cookie, especially when you dip them in chocolate!
Chocolate Coconut Macaroons (Vegan & Paleo)
If you love chocolate and coconut, this cookie is for you. It has a rich chocolate flavor and takes just a few minutes to stir together!
Chickpea Flour Peanut Butter Cookies
These peanut butter cookies are irresistibly chewy and happen to be gluten-free. Chickpea flour is NOT delicious before it’s baked, so don’t snack on the gluten-free cookie dough with this one. (But trust me when I say you’ll love the final results!)
Flourless peanut butter cookies become extra-decadent when you stuff a dark chocolate peanut butter cup inside! They taste like an upgraded peanut butter blossom.
Date-Sweetened Peanut Butter Cookies. (Vegan)
These gluten-free peanut butter cookies are fruit-sweetened, with a rich and tender texture. Press a few chocolate chips in the center (or a Hershey’s Kiss) to make easy gluten-free peanut butter blossoms.
Buckwheat flour doesn’t often make it into cookies because it can have a distinctive earthy flavor. Adding cocoa powder to this recipe gives it a delicious brownie flavor!
These no-bake cookies are made with coconut sugar instead of white sugar and have a surprising twist. They will disappear quickly, so you might want to make a double batch.
Almond Flour Biscotti (Paleo)
Biscotti has a very crispy texture that makes it perfect for dunking into coffee or tea. These almond flour cookies are double-baked and would make a delicious DIY holiday gift, especially when dipped in dark chocolate.
Flourless Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
If you love chocolate mint desserts, this cookie is for you. It has a chewy texture without using any flour and is the perfect addition to holiday cookie platters when you sprinkle some crushed candy cane on top.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you love a batch of classic chocolate chip cookies, be sure to try my Oat Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies or my Almond Flour Cookies for some gluten-free options.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, a flour like Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 baking flour will not work in a recipe that calls for almond flour. In general, try to choose a recipe based on the flour you have, rather than trying to change a recipe.
Yes, almost all cookies freeze well! You can make them up to a month in advance, then let them thaw in the fridge at least 24 hours before you plan on serving them. I prefer to decorate them after freezing, so the frosting won’t get smooshed in storage.
Baking powder is commonly made with cream of tartar and cornstarch, which helps baked goods rise extra tall. Baking soda is more commonly used in cookie recipes, to help them spread.
If you replace the sugar in a cookie recipe or even cut-back on the amount used, it will change the texture, flavor, and appearance of the cookie. Sugar causes cookies to spread out, so you may need to flatten your cookie dough by hand if you make changes.
Looking for more gluten-free recipes? These gluten-free Cinnamon Rolls are the best you’ll ever try, and my Gluten-free Pretzels make an excellent appetizer!
Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies: Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups blanched almond flour
- ¼ cup arrowroot starch
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- 5 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, baking powder, almond extract, and salt. Stir well until the batter looks uniform.
- For cut-out cookies, place the bowl of dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up. (Sometimes I skip this step, and it still turns out okay if you're in a hurry. Just keep in mind the dough will be more fragile to work with.)
- Place the dough between two large pieces of parchment paper and use a rolling pin to roll it out. I like my cookies to be on the thicker side, about a 1/4-inch thick, but you'll get crispier cookies (and more of them) if you make the dough thinner. It's up to you!
- Press your favorite cookie cutters into the dough, then carefully remove the excess. Transfer the cut-out shapes to the lined baking sheet. Squish the remaining dough together, roll it out again, and repeat the cut-out process until you've used it all.
- Bake the cookies at 350ºF for 8 to 10 minutes. The shorter baking time will produce cookies with a softer center. Let them cool completely on the pan to allow them to firm up. Once the cookies are cool, you can frost them with your favorite icing. (There's a simple powdered sugar option in the notes below.)
- Leftover cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. They will soften when left at room temperature, so store them in the fridge or freezer for a firmer cookie.
Notes
Nutrition
If you try one of these gluten-free Christmas cookies, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them!
Thank you so much for the healthy cookie recipes! I tried several of the recipes and they are excellent, no small feat when attempting gluten free and healthy. Tips for everyone else: 1. follow these recipes exactly 2. Do not expect the dough to behave like wheat dough Comments: When I mix the flax and water I use hot water. I’ve broken a Cuisinart blade on dates, so I just chop them and then squish them into a ball. I used organic gluten free rolled oats to make oat flour in the food processor. Happy Holidays!