Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cut-Out Cookie Recipe

Ali Segersten Dec 01, 2011 456 comments
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. 

Recipe from our Meal Planner

Gingerbread Hazelnut Cut-Out Cookies

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Hazelnut Cut-Out Cookies
Servings
24 cookies
Cook Time
12 minutes
Prep Time
30 minutes

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.

Tip

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.  

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

2 cups hazelnut meal
1 cups sweet rice flour
½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoons ground ginger
1 pinches ground nutmeg

Wet Ingredients

1 cups coconut sugar
½ cups butter
¼ cups blackstrap molasses
1 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Coconut Sugar Icing

½ cups powdered coconut sugar
3 teaspoons non-dairy milk (I use almond milk)
½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions

cookies:

  1. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  2. 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.
  3. Form into a ball, cover, and place into the refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight. 
  4. When the dough is firm and chilled, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  5. Place a large piece of parchment or waxed paper down onto a clean, flat work surface. Lightly flour the paper with sweet rice flour.
  6. 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.
  7. Cut the dough out using your favorite holiday cookie cutters. Carefully peel away the dough around the cut-outs.
  8. Then take a thin spatula and lift the cookies onto a lightly greased cookie sheet (or parchment-lined cookie sheet). 
  9. 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.
  10. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Then repeat with remaining dough.
  11. Let cook completely before frosting.

Coconut sugar icing:

  1. Place powdered coconut sugar in a small bowl, whisk in the milk and vanilla.
  2. Use to ice cooled cookies.
  3. You might need to make more depending on how much icing you like on your cookies. 

Use this recipe in our Meal Planner

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Posted In
Christmas cookies Coconut sugar dessert gluten-free holidays Thanksgiving Recipes xanthan-free recipes recipe
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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®.

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Comments

Amelia Grace (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 1:24pm

Your site has transformed my kitchen! Thanks for your great Momma perspective on whole food eating and living.

Rebecca (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 1:23pm

I miss gingerbread men! That's one of the things i have to put on my to-bake list!

Beth (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 1:19pm

I love gingerbread cookies! My family makes these every year. I have not tried the Hazelnut Flour before. I will have to get some and make these cookies.

Ronnda (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 12:45pm

I can't wait to bake these during Christmas vacation. Thank you for sharing your recipes! :O)

Ronnda (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 12:44pm

I can't wait to try these during Christmas vacation! Thanks for sharing your recipes.

Tracy (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 12:43pm

Looks delicious!

Unknown (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 12:35pm

I love your blog and have become a more confident cook in part due to your recipes. Your ideas for substitutions and how to use what you have available fresh has made me more comfortable experimenting and overall enjoying the results! I also keep kosher and since most of your recipes are dairy-free, it is very easy for me to make things that I can have with a meat meal. Although not GF, your blog has been a great resource for me for healthy recipes. Thank you!

I also posted on Facebook.

amaritrosin@gmail (dot) com

bitt (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 12:28pm

the cookies look delcious! thanks for this giveaway

bittofraw@gmail.com

Anonymous (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 12:19pm

I have been gluten free for a few years and yours is one of the blogs that helped me get started. This recipe looks not only yummy, but fun, too!
Arleen
amsmmiii@gmail.com

Desiree (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 12:00pm

I posted earlier, but I'm adding another one because I shared on facebook, and also need to add my e-mail: dezihall@hotmail.com.
Thanks again. Since finding out I am intolerant to a lot of food, I have looked to your site so much for food ideas and knowledge; it has made me enthusiastic about nutrition and cooking! It's pretty difficult being a young person surrounded by friends and family who do not understand food issues, but with the knowledge that is out there on the internet, people like us can live fairly functionally in a society based around wheat.

Deb (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:59am

Hi, I really do not understand this whole blogger thing but I'll learn. Hopefully almond flour will work for this gingerbread cookie recipe. I look forward to trying it. Thank you.

Lisl (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:54am

This looks really good, Ali. I'm sure your kids had a lot of fun decorating...
I love using coconut sugar as a sweetener. And the hazelnut meal is a great idea -- it makes the recipe almost grain-free! ;-)

Kathryn (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:54am

Thanks for posting! Have you ever tried to make a ginger bread house using this recipe?

Half Dozen Mama (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:54am

FB it too.

Half Dozen Mama (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:51am

Great recipe. I just put dd to work on it ;)

Abbie (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:43am

Just posted on fb too!!

Anonymous (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:39am

Love your cookbook and your website! Would love to try this recipe. Can I substitute almond flour for the hazelnut flour?

April
apriltan@pacbell.net

Allie~Ma (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:39am

I'm in love with your blog and I check it just about everyday to try new recipes and read about the information you post. I don't usually enter in the drawings but today is different I guess! Hope I win something so I can use it to cook for my family! Cheers :)

Debra (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:33am

I just recently bought a bag of hazelnuts. I think this would be an excellent recipe to try it out with! :)

Deb (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:32am

I was thinking of trying almond flour inplace of the hazelnut flour. If anyone has tried it and it didn't work, please let me know.

Heather H (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:24am

This looks wonderful! I was just planning to bake a big batch of gingerbread cookies with my boys.

Anonymous (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:21am

Great idea. love working with coconut sugar...

Elizabeth (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:13am

I am subscribed and LOVE it!!!
Kiddos will have soooo much fun making these.
Peace and Raw Health,
Elizabeth
eyetooth@embarqmail.com

meg (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:10am

I also shared this post on Facebook. I love finding awesome local resources! (Yay Bellingham!)

meg (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:08am

Thanks for this wonderful cookie recipe - it looks delicious and simple, and I can't wait to make it with my daughter.

meg (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:08am

These cookies look fabulous! I can't wait to make them with my daughter.

TZollars (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 11:04am

this is wonderful and would hep me so much - newbie to this clan!

tristazmail yahoo com

Tracy Cereghino (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:59am

thanks, ali! looking forward to trying this recipe with the girls! i'll let you know how it works with a dairy free butter substitute!

Yvonne de Maat (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:56am

I am looking forward to making these with my girls, ali! i love hazelnuts so am excited for that flavor - and i will let you know how they work with a dairy free butter substitute as i am now GF and dairy free (they definitely seem to be triggers for my migraines, sinus issues, etc). thanks for the great recipe!

Heather (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:55am

Thanks for the recipe. Can't wait to make it with my little one.

Heather500089888@aol.com

Abbie (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:50am

I am in LOVE with your blog! I make your raw caramel dip about every other day!! Thank you for all the amazing recipes!!

Abbie
gardinerabbie@gmail.com

Bob the Frog (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:43am

this is amazing! thank you for the recipe and the chance to win! :)

Barry and Laura (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:42am

I am so thankful I found your blog (and face book page)! The recipes and "welcoming" attitude of your posts have been a blessing! I am new to gluten free and don't feel as limited now :).

Can't wait to bake this holiday treat with my daughter!

Laura J.

Alison (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:39am

Just posted on my FB account too!

Thanks so much,
Alison

Rachel Blom (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:38am

Great giveaway! Loving the recipe since we're new to gluten-free.
racblom@juno(dot)com

Alena M (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:38am

Look like excellent cookies! Can't wait to see more
Alena M

Alison (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:37am

These cookies look fantastic. I have one son who is gluten intolerant and now it looks like both his older and baby brothers are also showing signs of intolerance, so I am in the process of converting my whole family to gluten-free. My husband was lamenting about the lack of Christmas cookies last night...he will be thrilled when I show him this recipe!

Thanks for all you do!
Alison

terri (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:33am

I was just looking for a gingerbread recipe! Yippeee!!

Tomi (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:32am

I love your recipes! I am not gluten/egg/dairy free but cook from your website multiple times per week and love the results!!!!! I love experimenting with new flours/grains. Thank you! Can't wait to try this recipe.
Tomi
tsalami77@yahoo.com

Ari and Gabe (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:26am

Mmmm... ginger is my vice. Have you attempted to make this into a house? Certainly one of my favorite glutenous childhood memories. I'd love to figure that one out!

Elizabeth (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:25am

I can't wait to try this! We are dairy free so I will try coconut butter. I would love to win! E.hair.estrella(at)gmail (dot)com. Thanks!!

Sara (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:24am

Oh, these look amazing! I might have to track down some hazelnut flour. Does anyone know if it can be found in Bham?

Sarah K (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:24am

The cookbooks looks great and boy would I love to win a Vitamix! Sarah.kloss @ hotmail dot com

yohope (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:23am

I love your site and your cookbook! I have been following along for almost a year... since I've gone GF. You've not only made the transition easier but fun. I have never felt so good!!! I'm never going back. Can't wait to try the cut out cookies with my kids! : )

rhamrin (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:20am

Thanks for the great recipes and the giveaways. Can't wait to try these cookies!

Natalie (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:20am

Your cookies look delicious. I will absolutely be trying them with my son this year. Thanks.

aliejudd@yahoo.com

Margaret (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:16am

Thanks for having a giveaway! I LOVE to win things :-)

Here is my email address so that you can contact me when I have won. loveoncampers@yahoo.com

Happy Holidays and Warm Tidings!!

Janis (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:09am

I like you on facebook.

Palmira (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:08am

Living gluten-free has been a challenged, but my body is really happy about it, I am not feeling sick! Now I got the cookie cutters to prepare the gingerbread cookies with my son! Thank you!! Merry Christmas!

Just Me (visitor) Dec 01, 2011 | 10:08am

I'm new to gluten free - just a few months, but was lamenting the lack of spicy gingerbread cookies this year. I'll have to try this.

Shared on facebook too.

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