Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cut-Out Cookie Recipe
Our children have so much fun cutting out and decorating these lovely gluten-free Christmas cookies! Just look at these photos, what is not to love? This time of year takes me back to baking gingerbread and sugar cookies with my mother. My brothers and I would decorate dozens of cookies with beautiful colored sprinkles and bright white icing. I wanted to share that experience with my own children, only with a healthier, gluten-free version. Thus, this recipe was born! It uses coconut sugar as the main sweetener, along with a powdered coconut sugar icing. Although coconut sugar is definitely a low-glycemic sweetener, it is still sugar, and these cookies are to be considered a sweet treat.
My recipe below calls for sweet rice flour. This type of white rice flour is made from sticky rice, or glutinous rice. It helps hold the cookies together without the use of gluten flour or gluten-free binders. I prefer to use this superfine sweet rice flour. Superfine flours are ground so finely that they lack the grittiness typically found in other types of rice flours.
You can follow my blog post for How to Make Powdered Coconut Sugar if you would like to use a more nutritious sugar in the icing. We like to decorate these cookies with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. You can definitely get creative here with the toppings.
Gingerbread Hazelnut Cut-Out Cookies
These gluten-free cut-out cookies are fun to make with your children during the holidays! I use a powdered coconut sugar icing, which has a rich caramel flavor. You can refer to my blog post on How to Make Powdered Coconut Sugar in order to make this icing. Use currants, raisins, sliced almonds, natural sprinkles, or anything else you can imagine to decorate them. I find the dough is best if it is refrigerated overnight. You can make the dough after your children are in bed and then bake the cookies with them in the morning.
I use Bob's Red Mill Hazelnut Meal Flour. It works beautifully in baking. You can check your local health food store for it or buy it on Amazon.com.
Dry Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
Coconut Sugar Icing
cookies:
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate, smaller bowl beat with an electric mixer (or vigorously whisk) together the wet ingredients. Add the wet to the dry and mix together.
- Form into a ball, cover, and place into the refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight.
- When the dough is firm and chilled, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Place a large piece of parchment or waxed paper down onto a clean, flat work surface. Lightly flour the paper with sweet rice flour.
- Take part of the dough and roll it out to a little less than 1/4 inch of thickness. Put the remaining dough back in the fridge to keep it chilled.
- Cut the dough out using your favorite holiday cookie cutters. Carefully peel away the dough around the cut-outs.
- Then take a thin spatula and lift the cookies onto a lightly greased cookie sheet (or parchment-lined cookie sheet).
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes depending on how crisp you like them. A few more minutes of baking makes them crispy. Just watch them so they don't overcook.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Then repeat with remaining dough.
- Let cook completely before frosting.
Coconut sugar icing:
- Place powdered coconut sugar in a small bowl, whisk in the milk and vanilla.
- Use to ice cooled cookies.
- You might need to make more depending on how much icing you like on your cookies.
Use this recipe in our Meal Planner
About the Author
Ali Segersten
Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University and a Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. She is a Functional Nutritionist, the mother of five children, a whole foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them. Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book. Alissa is the founder and owner of Nourishing Meals®.Nourishing Meals Newsletter
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Love that these yummy treats are nourishing! Thanks for sharing them....
I made a double batch of these cookies and subbed chia eggs for the (chicken) eggs and coconut oil for the butter to make them vegan. They turned out beautifully! I can't believe how moist and chewy they were in the centre and crispy/buttery on the edges. And so easy to roll to the perfect thickness. Another winning recipe from you! :)
Thank you so much for the recipe. I had to alter it a bit to ingredients I had on hand (like almond meal flour vs. hazelnut flour), but they turned out GREAT! I can't wait to mail them to my mom who has Celiac. Thanks so much for the wonderful recipes.
These look delicious, thank you for sharing!
Thanks Ali,
I finally tried these tonight and they were delicious. Mine did not turn out exactly as planned though. I thought I followed the recipe exactly but I may have been distracted, I ended up with a somewhat moist batter that was too sticky to roll out, even after chilling overnight. I instead pressed balls of dough into the greased cookie sheet with a wet fork to flatten out. They are pretty good with or without the icing too ;-)
I really want to make these cookies but can't find hazelnut flour and can't afford to pay for it in amazon as you can't buy just one bag. Can I make my own flour with a vitamix dry container? any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Thank you for this recipe! I was just trolling around for a gluten-free gingerbread cookie recipe at my daughter's request and coincidentally, I had just enough hazelnut flour left over from your delicious hazelnut pancake recipe to try this out! We substituted ghee for the butter 1:1 since I'm allergic to dairy proteins and also substituted yacon syrup for the molasses since I'm allergic to cane sugar and their derivatives. Cookies turned out perfectly! Thanks again!
Gonna make these today with my kids! So happy to say YES, you can have those gingerbread cookies!!
These look great! I love your recipes, please keep them coming. My favorite so far was your chocolate cake!
We'll try substituting oat flour for the hazelnut, since we can't do hazelnut in this family.
Thanks for the recipe!
Jennifer
I love your website! Thanks for sharing wonderful recipes! Caitlin
These look fantastic.
We are having a gluten free Christmas Cookie Swap at
www.homecookedhealthy.com
with lots of amazing cookie recipes and tips.
Would you mind if I shared a link to these? I know the readers would enjoy a gingerbread cookie.
What a great idea. Would love sharing it with my readers at www.homecookedhealthy.com
We're working on a gluten free cookie swap with lots of great recipes for the holidays. Would you mind if we linked in for others to also receive?
[I meant to post this question here instead of on the powdered sugar recipe!] These look so yummy, Ali! Sadly I am allergic to hazelnuts - do you think ground almonds or sunflower seeds would work? Thanks! P.S. I absolutely LOVE all of your recipes and have been cooking dinners almost exclusively from your cookbook! When is your new cookbook due out? I can't wait!
Also - I posted on fb! Thanks!
I can't wait to try this one!!!!
wildcraw@gmail.com
I'm facebooking your link next! Thanks for opportunity
I love your website again!!Thanks
wildcraw@gmail.com
I am so happy my friend recommended this blog to me a while back. I've made so many delicious recipes and next on my list will be these gingerbread cookies! Yum!! Many blessings to you and as always, I will share your post on my facebook page (this little lark) and my twitter (@thislittlelark) :)
Thanks a bunch for the recipes! I love this site! :)
- Julie
Wow my GF would love this- she is new to the GFree diet!
trista1@hotmail.com
love this!
tristazmail yahoo com
Thanks for all the recipes! I share posts from your blog with my patients all the time :)
I've shared the gingerbread recipe on facebook, retweeted it and I am now publically following your blog as Dr. Janice Davie ND. (drjanicedaviend@gmail.com)
janea.sherman@hotmail.com Thanks for sharing this recipe with us. Looks great! Would love to win any of these books as I am in the process of switching over to more gluten free diet due to some digestive issues
I shared this on Facebook! :)
What a great giveaway! Thanks for some more wonderful recipes!
Oh, and on Twitter, too! I'm heading out now to buy some of the missing ingredients! Yumm...
I hope I'm not too late! But I also posted on FB. :)
I've been looking for a recipe to make a GF gingerbread house this year so I'm going to try this out! I always love your other recipes and can't wait to try this one!
Dear Kitchen :) thank you for te fabulous recipes. The book selection is getting swept up into my library. I am a holistic practitioner who finds gfwf diet greatly enhance recovery from a host of inflammatory conditions and injuries. Posted your link to my profile, and have shared many in the past. Keep up the good work and happy holidays!
a vita mix was the best christmas we have ever received and its used just about every day in our house. do you by chance have a gf gingerbread house recipe?
What a delicious-looking recipe and amazing giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love the look of these cookies and can't wait to make them with my daughter this year.
Sheri
Just tweeted and posted recipe on FB!! Love your recipes!!
dmcfit@gmail.com @veganwaynet and The Vegan Way on FB!
Happy Baking!! LOVE all of your recipes!!
I was looking for another gluten free vegan holiday cookie to create this year. My search has ended. You most so many recipes which inspire me to create delicious healthy recipes!! Thanks and Happy Baking!!
Thank you for making gluten-free a tasty and enjoyable experience! Going gluten-free was one of the hardest decisions I had to make but I am so glad I did! And the best part? I get to enjoy the same "types" of foods I remember as a kid with only a few substitutes - including coconut! Makes a great flour sub and has the added nutritional value to whatever I am baking or cooking. Happy Holidays! And please add me to the contest to win some great books! Diana diana(at)onsitermt(dot)com
I was looking for another healthy gluten free version of a holiday cookie last night. Logging on this morning and seeing this post on FB ended my search. Thank you! Your post always inspire me to create so many healthy delicious recipes! Happy Baking!
Planning on making these cookies next weekend for a little holiday treat. Since going gluten free 3 years ago, I am feeling really good physically. It is the best thing I ever did for my health. I enjoy reading your website and have made quite a few of your recipes. I want to thank you for taking the time to put all this out on the internet for people to learn and enjoy.
This is my favorite blog and my kids will love making these cookies for the holiday. Thanks so much!
Dear Santa,
For Christmas I would like a Vitamix.
Thank you!
I work as a Holistic Health counselor in a wellness clinic with clients who have food sensitivities. Just wanted to say thank you for your amazing blog and cookbook! I use them all the time and recommend to clients! Happy eating :)
optimalhealthcounselor@gmail.com
Although not a gluten free family, I find your site inspiring to take time and feed my family healthier and more wholesome grains.
Shared this on Facebook
What great prizes! Thanks for the opportunity! Will pass onto my Mom.
Leahsnorwex @ gmail (dot) com
Leah
Hi. Thanks for the opportunity! The prizes are amazing and the gluten free recipes are great. I will pass onto my Mom.
Leahsnorwex @ gmail (dot) com
Leah
anxiously awaiting your next cookbook! love your blog!
just shared this post on Facebook!
brandee
bsimmang@comcast.net
Thanx,lisa making a fun night with my son making these cookies... :)
Thanks for all the delicious recipes and fantastic giveaways! Happy Holidays!
misty_crowley@sbcglobal.net
You have been facebooked. veronic_provencher@Yahoo.ca
Thanks for the recipe! I am going to make these for my work cookie exchange!! That giveaway is amazing!
Sfoster@ojrsd.com
Can't wait to build a gingerbread house with this recipe!!
Shared this on facebook
Really appreciate you doing a giveaway, and happy to see so many following you. Lowers my chances at winning, but we all win by choosing healthy!! My dream is to see attitudes change towards nutrition by coming up with YUMMY options. Thanks again.