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
Email updates.
Add Comment
Comments
I also shared this on google! :)+1
I also shared this on facebook....
I can't wait to try this recipe! Thank you!
Jess
jlsaven@gmail.com
I posted to facebook. :) I'm so excited about all of these give aways! :)
These look amazing! Just what we need for a Saturday afternoon with tea. Thank you!
Anthroeats@gmail.com
These look absolutely delicious and I can't wait to try them. Your book is a bible in my household and I have turned many others onto the Elimination Diet, who all say that it has changed the way that they eat and live. Thank you for all that you do!
Thanks for the great recipe! Would love to be a winner!
Colleen M.
marsbarmom@cox.net
Can't wait to make these! We just enjoyed your buckwheat pancakes tonight for the 2nd time. Thanks! (I do not know if this is a 2nd comment or not...)
I can't wait to try these gingerbread men!
Love the recipes on the blog; i was looking for a ginger cookie recipe.
Gingerbread is something I didn't appreciate until I began gluten free baking. I love to see the different versions for it.
Posted this on ForkYes!'s twitter account. Can't wait to try it...
I am a newby to going gluten free. Your recipes look easy and delicious! Can't wait to use them.
Thank you!
Thank you! I'm a big fan of yours and recommend you to all my clients, especially since they're all curious about an elimination diet.
I have been looking for a good gingerbread cookie recipe! I can't wait to make these. Thanks for posting.
Perfect timing! I can't wait to make these with my kids.
Tweeted @healthyhomos
These look fabulous! I can't wait to try them for the holidays.
These are exactly what I've been looking for.I can't wait to try them.
I shared on facebook!
Shannon at
kgcollector@va.metrocast.net
These look incredible! Can't wait to try!
shannon at kgcollector@va.metrocast.net
I am on an elimination diet and I was just thinking about how much I'm going to miss having holiday baked goodies. This series is a wonderful idea!
I'm a big fan of gingerbread. Can't wait to try this recipe. cindym119atgmail(dot)com.
Gingerbread are my favorite! I love the way you decorated them with almonds and chocolate! Beautiful! Cant wait to try your recipe! Thanks for sharing!!!
alloeli @ yahoo dot com
Thanks for the recipe! Any nut-free suggestions to substitute for the hazelnut meal?
I posted this giveaway on FB.
Thank you for the cookie recipe! This is my first Christmas with my son being on a gluten free diet. I'm always looking for new recipes!
Thanks for the great recipe. Dee
Yay! Vitamix! I hope I win. I've been wanting one for years! : )
YUM! Hazelnut flour sounds good!!!!
Thanks for the opportunity to enter the giveaway and thanks for the great recipe! Happy Holidays!
Thanks Ali & Tom for your passion to Whole foods... you have been a blessing in my kitchen & overall health :)
facebooked
brandieq@gmail.com
I love your site and the cookbook. I followed the 28 day elimination diet and not only did I loose 14lbs, I feel great. I discovered you/your site through Whatcom Locavore. Keep up the great job. Can hardly wait for the new cookbook.
Judy.Grasso@gmail.com
I cant wait to try this recipe out!
Facebooked & googled it
brandieq@gmail.com
I found out two months ago that I am allergic to dairy, eggs, sugar, almonds, & shell fish. Its been a huge transition but I never felt better. My Naturopathic doctor recommended your website. I have tried so many recepies and love them all. My favorite was the pumpkin cheescake. I currently dont have a vitamix and have been asking my husband if we can get one, its a little on the spendy side but I can see how valuable it would be with all my new allergies.
I have posted this blog on facebook and my google account.
crossing my fingers to win ;)
Thanks for doing this. I will have to check out your Facebook page!
Laura Harmasch
I shared on FB :-)
The gingerbread cookies sound delicious! What a fun activity to do with my 4 year old.
Eliminating wheat from my diet has improved my lifestyle so much. I love all the new recipes lately that show gf food can actually be delicious.
dragonbratfly at gmail etc.
I would like to try hazelnut flour. I will be exploring your blog too, since I am new to it.
LLW
jlslwood@frontier(dot)com
I have been itching to make some gluten-free roll-out cookies. Your recipe looks wonderful!
I keep falling in love with your site. I tried GF gingerbread cookies last year with not a whole lot of success. My kids and I are chomping at the bit to try yours. Your site has become my go-to site when I'm creating menus for the week. We are proud smoothie drinkers and love your smoothie inspirations. Please let that Vitamix find a home in our kitchen. We yearn for a less chewy green smoothie. To your health!
The cookies are so cute. Always looking for new GF recipes.
Love your recipes, ideas, and the cookbook also. I tell everyone about your website.
mmm gingerbread cookies, must make now.. thanks for all the great recipes and love the links to other great bloggers.
Sharing this recipe on our company page....thanks for all the great tips!
Sharing this on our company page...thanks for all the great recipes!
I shared on Facebook!
Thanks for the recipe and the great giveaways!
I shared on Twitter
Hi
I have 2 young boys and this looks like it will be a must to try this season! thanks