Gluten-free gingerbread cookies are by far my favorite GF Christmas cookie recipe to make. This recipe is rich yet delicate. Gingerbread is a classic for a reason. The perfect mix of soft gingerbread dough and just the right amount of snap and structure. You can decorate with royal icing, decorative stamps, or use sanding sugar for a custom look
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If you enjoyed my gluten-free gingerbread cake recipe, then this GF cookie is for you. But if you need more reasons, here are a few reasons why we love this recipe.
Jump to:
- 📖Why My Recipe Works
- 🧾Ingredient Notes
- Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Gingerbread Cookies
- ⏲️How to Make Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies
- 👩🏻🍳 Gingerbread Tips
- How to Decorate Gingerbread Cookies
- Gluten-Free Gingerbread House
- 🌡️Storing and Freezing
- More Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies
- 💬Frequently Asked Questions
- 📖 Recipe Card
- ⭐Reviews
📖Why My Recipe Works
- True Gingerbread Flavor- Rich flavor that can be adjusted to your specific taste, I prefer a stronger taste so I use a darker molasses and a pinch of pepper.
- Dairy-Free- The dairy-free option is just as good as the original.
- Versatile- Can be used to make gluten-free gingerbread houses or gingerbread men.
🧾Ingredient Notes
Gingerbread gets its unique flavor not just from ginger but also from cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Molasses and dark brown sugar give this recipe moistness and flavor.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend - I used my cup-for-cup blend for this recipe but cookies are forgiving and any gluten-free measure for measure flour blend should work fine. If your flour mix does not contain xanthan gum, you will need to add it.
- Molasses- I prefer the richer flavor of blackstrap molasses but you can use regular unsulphured molasses.
- Dark Brown Sugar- You can use light brown sugar but dark has more flavor. You can also substitute coconut sugar.
- Baking Soda and Baking Powder- Yes, you need both.
- Spices and Seasonings- Dried and ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, salt, and vanilla extract,
- Black Pepper (optional)- Black pepper is found in many old-fashioned gingerbread recipes. I really love it, but you can omit it if you find things too spicy for your liking.
Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Gingerbread Cookies
This recipe can be made using Earth Balance Baking Sticks or any vegan butter of your choosing. Just like with my gluten free cut out cookies, these cookies turn out great every time even when made dairy-free.
I am not a fan of using shortening in gingerbread cookies as the best gingerbread has a slightly buttery flavor.
⏲️How to Make Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies
We are going to do a basic cookie method of dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately mixed, with one exception.
When making gingerbread cookies I always put the spices in with the wet ingredients. Because how much flour I use is dependent on the humidity in my kitchen and I don't want to skimp on the flavor.
Dry Ingredients
Sift together flour, xanthan gum (if needed), baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl. Set aside. If you don't have a sifter or fine-mesh sieve be sure to use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup to ensure you don't add too much.
Cream Butter and Brown Sugar
Put your softened butter and dark brown sugar in the bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. This typically takes about 3 minutes. When using a stand mixer use the paddle attachment.
Add Wet Ingredients
Mix in the salt and spices. Then add the egg, molasses, and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix until fully incorporated.
If you live in an extremely dry area you may to need to add an extra egg yolk to the dough. I find this is a trial-and-error fix for dry dough.
Mix Wet and Dry
Add flour mixture a cup at a time. Mix on low until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix.
You may use more or less of the flour by a tablespoon or two, depending on the humidity of your environment.
Chill
Scoop out the dough, and split it between two pieces of plastic wrap. It may be very sticky so it helps to have wet hands.
Press into a ball and flatten into two discs. Wrap tightly and chill for 1 hour. You can also let the dough chill overnight.
Roll and Bake
Lightly flour your work surface. I find it helps to roll out on a silicone mat or Silpat if the dough is sticky or between two pieces of parchment paper.
Roll the dough a ¼ inch thick. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut into your desired shapes. Think beyond gingerbread men!
Cool and Decorate
Space your cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
Bake at 350 F degrees for about 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool for 3 minutes on their baking sheets before moving them to a wire rack to completely cool.
👩🏻🍳 Gingerbread Tips
- For chewy soft gingerbread cookies, reduce the flour slightly and roll it thicker.
- For gingerbread cookies with more snap, roll thinner and use all the flour.
- It can be hard to tell when gingerbread cookies are done. Place a spare piece of dough on each cookie sheet to test. This way you don't ruin your adorable cut-outs!
- Always weigh your flour for an exact recipe. If you are unsure go a tad bit lighter than the recipe calls for. You can easily add more flour during rolling.
- Cook the gingerbread in batches. Don't let the raw dough sit on a hot cookie sheet, it will melt the butter.
- Chilling the dough prevents the cookies from spreading.
- Resting the gingerbread cookie dough allows the flour to rehydrate. Rehydrating the dough is a critical step in gluten-free baking.
How to Decorate Gingerbread Cookies
Personally, I like to keep it gluten-free and use a basic white royal icing with meringue powder and add a little sanding sugar to mimic snow. In the below picture, I am using this Icing Bottle with Tips to make decorating easier.
But you can get as elaborate and as colorful as you like. Just be sure the cookies are completely cool before icing.
Gingerbread also looks great with a stamped pattern and is dusted with sugar.
Gluten-Free Gingerbread House
You can use the recipe as-is for a gingerbread house. However, I prefer to reduce the baking soda to ¼ teaspoon to reduce puffiness and increase the flour by 1 to 2 tablespoons for a drier, and therefore sturdier dough.
It also helps to overbake by one or two minutes. Smaller houses are more stable. Here is a gingerbread house template that is perfect for home use.
🌡️Storing and Freezing
Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to two weeks at room temperature. Unlike most gluten-baked goods I found that these cookies stay soft for over 10 days!
Freezing Cookies
This recipe can also be frozen. Store baked cookies in a plastic bag with the air pushed out. They will keep in the freezer for 3 months.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this gluten-free holiday baking recipe. Here are a few more gluten-free (and dairy-free) recipes to try this holiday season!
More Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies
💬Frequently Asked Questions
Is gingerbread gluten-free?
No, gingerbread is not gluten-free. This recipe replaces wheat flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make a gluten-free version.
Can you use the same dough for a gingerbread house as gingerbread men cookies?
Yes, you can use the same dough. Slightly reducing the leavening agent, in this case, baking soda, will reduce the puff of the dough and make a sturdier dough that can be used for making gingerbread houses.
I don't have cookie cutters can I make this GF gingerbread cookie recipe?
Yes, simply roll the dough into a log and chill. The log should be 2 inches or so in diameter. Cut and bake. See my gluten-free lemon cookies for a tutorial.
What is the best flour for gluten-free cookies?
Cookies are one of the easiest things to make gluten-free. For the perfect GF sugar cookie use a 1:1 flour blend containing xantham gum. Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Cup for Cup, and King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure all work well for cookies.
Did you enjoy making this recipe? Show it some love with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment! Hungry for more FLAVORFUL recipes?
📖 Recipe Card
Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 15 ounces gluten free flour blend about 3 cups
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your flour blend contains
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup packed dark-brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoons ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon finely ground pepper optional
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup blackstrap molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Royal Icing
- Sanding sugar for sprinkling if desired
Instructions
- Sift together flour, xanthan gum baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.15 ounces gluten free flour blend, ½ teaspoon xanthan gum, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. About 3 minutes. Mix in spices and salt, then add the egg, molasses, and vanilla. Reduce speed to low.½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup packed dark-brown sugar, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ¾ teaspoons ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon allspice, ¼ teaspoon finely ground pepper, 1 large egg, ½ cup blackstrap molasses, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. You may use more or less of the flour by a tablespoon or two, depending on the humidity of your environment.
- Divide dough and form into 2 flat discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a ¼-inch thick. If the dough is sticking you can roll out between two pieces of parchment paper. Cut into desired shapes. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
- Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheet for 3 to 5 minutes before moving on to wire racks. Wait until fully cooled to decorate.Royal Icing, Sanding sugar for sprinkling
Video
Notes
- Blackstrap molasses provides a richer flavor and deeper color. Regular unsulphured molasses can be substituted for a lighter color and flavor.
- Cookies can be made one day and decorated another.
- It is recommended you let the cookie dry overnight when making gingerbread houses.
- Cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
T.Yoder says
Please finish this: 1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum (omit if flour blend contains....contains
what??
Royal Icing - What is this? A brand? Is there a recipe?
Thank you!
Jen Wooster says
if it contains xanthan gum, all 1:1 GF flours should already have it. Click on the link in the ingrdient section or in the post if you need a royal icing recipe.
Jenna says
Hi,
I may be missing it, but I can’t seem to find the amount of vanilla extract I should be using. Thanks!!
Jenna
Jen Wooster says
Well that is odd... It disappeared. I added it back- 1 teaspoon!
Annie S. says
Oh my gosh... these were so amazing!!! This was my first time ever making gingerbread cookies from scratch and I was blown away by the delicious texture and spice! SO MUCH BETTER THAN STORE-BOUGHT. Honestly, you can’t even compare store bought gingerbread cookies with these homemade ones. Thank you so much for this recipe! I will be using it all throughout the Christmas season. ❤️
Jen says
I am thrilled that you picked our recipe for your first gingerbread from scratch. I agree- much better than storebought. Thanks for the review!