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Nov 21, 2023
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Here’s everything you need to know about making gluten free Christmas cookies! I’ve been baking dozens and dozens of cookies for decades. So I’ve included tips and tricks plus my best GF Christmas cookie recipes to make this season one to remember.
The Best Gluten Free Christmas Cookies
Cookies and Christmas just go together. I love making all sorts of gluten free cookies and putting out plates for my friends and family all throughout the holidays. It’s fun to bring a cookie charcuterie board to a party. Plus, I also love to package them up and give them away to friends, and neighbors!
You can easily make the dough or bake cookies in advance by following my tips below to help your holiday baking run smoothly.
From gluten free sugar cookies to gluten free gingerbread people to chocolate chip cookie cups to flourless peanut butter cookies, you’re sure to find just the right mix of gluten free Christmas cookies to bake this season. Learn how to bake the best gluten free Christmas cookies, and explore my favorite recipes!
Tips for Making Gluten Free Christmas Cookies
Here are some tips that will help you make the best gluten free Christmas cookies:
- Buy fresh baking powder and baking soda. It’s so important to use fresh baking powder and baking soda when you’re baking cookies (or anything else). Check the expiration dates on the packages in the pantry and if they’ve expired, or are close to expiring, discard them and buy new boxes.
- Check to make sure your other ingredients are fresh, too. The same goes for your other ingredients like flour or eggs. For the best final result, you’ll want to use fresh ingredients.
- Use good-quality butter. If you can, use good butter, especially in recipes like sugar cookies or butter cookies where butter is a featured ingredient. You’ll be able to taste the difference!
- And good chocolate. A good chocolate, such as Guittard, will elevate your gf Christmas cookies into something sublime!
- Choose unsalted butter, too. I prefer to use unsalted butter in my baking so that it doesn’t overpower the other flavors.
- Invest in a decent 1:1 gluten free flour mix. I like to use Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 gluten free flour in my cookies, and it works so well in all of my recipes on this site. King Arthur Flour also has a great gluten-free flour mix that will work well.
- Cream the butter correctly. For the lightest and best gf Christmas cookies, cream the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This will give you wonderful results when the cookies are baked.
- Rest the dough in the fridge before baking it. The longer cookie dough rests in the fridge, the more the flavors will develop. This is also helpful when you’re baking gluten free cookies because gluten free flour benefits from resting. This allows it to hydrate and will produce smoother cookies.
- Then rest the cookies after baking. Thoroughly cool your cookies after they’ve baked so that they firm up and the texture is perfect. Once the cookies are completely cooled you can store or serve them.
- Freeze your dough. To help save time, you can prepare your cookie dough well in advance of when you plan to bake your gluten free Christmas cookies. Then, when you’re ready to bake, defrost the cookie dough in the fridge and proceed with the recipe.
- Try vanilla bean paste in sugar cookies. Sugar cookies, which are less flavorful than peanut butter or chocolate chip cookies, benefit from the concentrated burst of vanilla that comes from using vanilla paste rather than vanilla extract.
Making Christmas Cookies in Advance
If you’re attending a cookie swap or simply want to help yourself save some time during the holiday rush, you can make GF Christmas cookies in advance. You can either bake them and store them according to my directions outlined below or prepare the dough and place it in the freezer or fridge until you’re ready to use it. Read on to learn how to bake and store gluten free Christmas cookies in advance.
How to Store Gluten Free Christmas Cookies
You can store gluten free Christmas cookies in the fridge or freezer, depending on how far in advance you would like to share them. Here are a few tips to help keep your cookies fresh-tasting and perfect no matter when you bake them:
- Don’t frost your cookies. If you wish to make cookies more than a few days in advance of serving them, don’t frost them right away. To store cookies longer than 7 days, keep the frosting separate. To store frosted cookies, place them in an airtight container for up to 7 days, then discard them after that time.
- Store different kinds of cookies separately. When you store your cookies, keep different kinds separate from one another so that the flavors don’t combine.
- You can freeze cookies for up to 6 months. I’ve detailed how to store cookies in the freezer below, but to summarize, you can keep your gluten free Christmas cookies in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- How to store cookies at room temperature: Place layers of cookies in an airtight container with a piece of wax paper or parchment paper separating each layer. You can store cookies in this way for up to 2 weeks.
Can You Freeze Christmas Cookies?
Yes! Most cookies can be frozen after they’ve been baked. Here’s how to freeze GF Christmas cookies:
- Freeze cookies – Cool the cookies thoroughly and place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container in a single layer, then place a piece of parchment on top of the cookies and add another layer (the parchment will keep the cookies from sticking together). Store the cookies in the freezer for up to 6 months. Make sure to thaw the cookies in the fridge completely before serving them.
- Freeze dough – You can also freeze cookie dough. Place the prepared dough in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag, press the dough to flatten it, and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost the cookie dough in the fridge before baking the cookies.
25 Best Gluten Free Christmas Cookies
Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
These are the best gluten-free sugar cookies for the holidays perfect for cutting and decorating with your favorite seasonal toppings.
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Crackly Gluten Free Gingersnaps
The classic molasses and spice cookie with a crackled sugar topping that makes them extra special. Made the easy way by using a traditional recipe and a 1-to-1 gluten free baking flour, these cookies are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.
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Gluten Free Red Velvet Cookies
Soft and chewy Gluten Free Red Velvet Cookies are a twist on a classic chocolate chip cookie. Cocoa powder and food coloring in the batter turn them into a vibrantly colored take on the favorite sweet, and impart the lightly chocolate flavor of red velvet treats. These pretty, tender little bites are studded with white chocolate chips for color and extra sweetness.
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Gluten Free Gingerbread Men Cookies
These crisp and crunchy Gluten Free Gingerbread Men are the adorable and allergy-friendly holiday treat you've been looking for.
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Flourless Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies
I love this fun twist on traditional peanut butter blossoms, made from chewy gluten-free peanut butter cookies with sugary Reese’s cups in the centers. Peanut butter lovers always gobble these up!
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Gluten Free Rainbow Cookies
These fun layered gluten free rainbow cookies are an adorable and festive treat perfect for holiday baking.
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Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies
Crisp, buttery Shortbread Cookies have a lightly sweet, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes them hard to stop eating. These cookies are easily made gluten-free and are perfect for dunking into a cup of tea or a cold glass of milk.
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Gluten Free Snowball Cookies
Also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies, these Gluten Free Snowball Cookies have the classic buttery, nutty flavors of the traditional Christmas cookie recipe. But they are easy to make gluten free using a basic 1:1 flour blend. Only six ingredients and packed with walnuts, they are sweet, tender, and literally melt in your mouth.
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White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
These White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies are simple to make, but they are fully-loaded. A crisp, chewy flourless gluten free oatmeal cookie recipe gets an upgrade with brown butter. And it is studded with loads of white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and chopped cashews. These festive gems will be a lovely addition to your holiday cookie platter.
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Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
Soft and chewy Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies are so easy to make and full of rich peanut butter flavor! Perfect for dunking into a tall glass of milk.
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Gluten Free Chai Cookies
This festive cut-out cookie recipe filled with warm chai spice is perfect for the holidays and beyond. It’s an easy way to kick your classic sugar cookies up a notch!
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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
These chewyGluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookieswill make your heart skip a beat! Filled with just the right amount of melty chocolate, they come together in just 20 minutes.
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Gluten Free Almond Crescents
Tender, buttery Gluten Free Almond Crescent Cookies have a delicious nutty flavor that will make them one of your favorite Christmas cookies. They are dipped in dark chocolate and decorated with sprinkles to make them extra delicious and festive. Plus, you only need a few simple ingredients!
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Peppermint Meringue Cookies
Light and airy with a burst of fresh flavor, Peppermint Meringue Cookies are extra festive after a dip in chocolate and crushed candy canes. These peppermint kisses are naturally gluten free and just so pretty! This recipe is made without cream of tartar or raw egg whites by instead using meringue powder.
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Gluten Free Sugar Cookies Bars
With this easy recipe and a 1-to-1 gluten free baking blend, you can bake these buttery Sugar Cookie Bars that are simple to make and fun to decorate. Use your favorite store-bought or homemade frosting, gather some sprinkles, and get the kids in the kitchen to help. No chilling, rolling, or cutting required.
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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups are the perfect easy dessert! These bite-sized cookie cups are crispy outside, chewy inside, and studded with mini chocolate chips. Baked in muffin pans and ready to fill with your favorite toppings!
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Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Irresistibly tender and chewy Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are a cozy treat brimming with wholesome oats, cinnamon, and sweet raisins.
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Flourless Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
These aren't your basic Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies! Three kinds of chocolate chips make these flourless peanut butter cookies even better. And since they have no flour, not only are they naturally gluten free, but they have a totally amped-up peanut buttery flavor. Gather a few basic pantry ingredients, and in no time you'll be enjoying them for dessert!
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Classic Crispy Snickerdoodle Cookies
The classic buttery cookie coated with cinnamon sugar, made simple gluten free with a 1:1 flour blend. Ths easy recipe and technique produces a thin and crispy cookie that you just can't resist. Perfect for dunking in a cup of tea or milk.
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Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
Soft and chewy, these flourless Mexican hot chocolate cookies are loaded with all the sweetness and spice you crave. Deliciously chocolaty with a little kick, they'll be your favorite gluten free cookie recipe from now on for the holidays, Cinco de Mayo, or any time you want a quick and easy treat.
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Gluten Free Oreos
These homemade Gluten Free Oreos are so much better than what you’ll find in a store! An easy gluten free cookie recipe made with smooth and creamy vanilla icing sandwiched between crispy chocolate cookies.
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Almond Joy Macaroons
These sweet and chewy Almond Joy Cookies have only four ingredients and taste like a candy bar. Start with basic flourless coconut macaroons that take just minutes to make. Then add almonds and dark chocolate for an easy, delicious, and naturally gluten free cookie recipe that is sure to be a favorite!
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Flourless Peanut Butter Nutella S’Mores Sandwich Cookies
Take S’Mores to a new level with Nutella and marshmallow buttercream sandwiched between two intensely peanut buttery flourless peanut butter cookies.
Flourless Chocolate Almond Cookies
A crisp, chewy and rich treat that’s naturally gluten free for an after school snack that the kids will love. Plus there’s plenty of protein and not a lot of sugar, so they are definitely a healthier treat that still tastes indulgent.
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Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies
Thick and chewy, these Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies will remind you of graham crackers. But these are soft and tender, with extra fall flavor from real pumpkin, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice. The kids will love this healthy snack, especially when they dunk them in a glass of milk.
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