Being gluten-free can put a real damper on the holidays—especially when you’re suddenly surrounded by piles of tempting but gluten-filled cookies. But there’s really no reason that people on gluten-free diets should miss out on the fun. There are lots of ways to make favorite cookies gluten free, and plenty of new, gluten-conscious recipes are emerging with each new holiday season. We’ve rounded up our favorite recipes that sacrifice gluten but nothing else: the cookies are every bit as tasty as they should, by all rights, be. Gluten-free eaters rejoice: This is the beginning of your best cookie tray ever!
4.2 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 13 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 25 min
- Total time: 5 hr 25 min
- Ingredients: 7
- Servings: 36
We infused perfect hot cocoa flavor into these light and frothy cookies, and even went so far as to top them with mini marshmallows—which no cup of cocoa is complete without, as far as we’re concerned. These striped, piped cookies are eye-catchers on any cookie tray, but they’ll be especially appreciated by gluten-free cookie lovers, who can enjoy them without worry.
3.9 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 16 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 1 hr 20 min
- Total time: 4 hr 20 min
- Ingredients: 7
- Servings: 72
Chocolate cookies are awfully good, but chocolate cookies rolled in powdered sugar and baked until scenic little crackles form? The best! This gluten-free version of one of our most beloved cookies gets its body and tenderness from gluten-free Bisquick mix and its flavor from robust baking chocolate. To keep these cookies safe for your gluten-free guests, be sure to use gluten-free powdered sugar (not any old bag will do!).
3.7 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 41 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 60 min
- Total time: 1 hr 25 min
- Ingredients: 7
- Servings: 48
Russian Tea Cakes are as traditional as anything during the holiday season. Maybe your grandma made them (or even your great-grandmother?) before you, but whether you’re gluten-free or not, this version of the legacy cookie is a winner. The secret is using gluten-free Bisquick mix as the base of your dough; with the rest of the classic ingredients added, you’ll end up with a cookie that’s a balance of tender, buttery and crumbly, just like a Russian Tea Cake should be.
4.1 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 16 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 25 min
- Total time: 2 hr 0 min
- Ingredients: 10
- Servings: 24
Sweet, sweet sugar cookies, how do we love thee? Well, if we count the ways by counting sugar cookie recipes on the Betty Crocker website … it’s a lot. This one is special, though, because it brings back into the fold gluten-free bakers who love to celebrate the holidays through cookies. This just-right recipe is the perfect palette for creating festive designs and decorations, but most importantly, despite being gluten-free they’re as tender and delicious as you want a sugar cookie to be.
5.0 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 3 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 45 min
- Total time: 5 hr 45 min
- Ingredients: 9
- Servings: 60
For as light and airy as these pretty pink meringues are, you’ll be amazed by the depth of raspberry flavor they’re packing. The secret is in using freeze-dried raspberries, which capture the sweet-tangy balance that makes the berries so delicious. And because chocolate and raspberry pair so well together, we’ve added mini chips and a dip in chocolate as a finishing touch. These gluten-free goodies are guaranteed to draw oohs and aahs on the cookie tray, and even more when you taste them.
4.3 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 20 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 55 min
- Total time: 55 min
- Ingredients: 11
- Servings: 54
Everyone needs a good chocolate chip cookie recipe—and gluten-free bakers are no exception. The vast majority of the ingredients are the same as what grandma would have put in her chocolate chippers, but a few switches (Betty Crocker All-Purpose Gluten Free Rice Flour Blend, gluten free baking powder and xantham gum) make these safe for everyone to enjoy. We bet they’ll be the go-to for a whole new generation of bakers!
4.7 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 4 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 15 min
- Total time: 55 min
- Ingredients: 12
- Servings: 48
Warmly spiced and sweetened with rich molasses, these cookies are all-time classics, just with a gluten-free switch. Made with a rice flour blend and xanthan gum to give them the body and texture everyone expects from a molasses cookie, they’re the perfect cold-weather cookie to make everyone feel cozy. A finishing touch of coarse sugar on the outside provides a little extra sweet crunch that we find irresistible (and we think you will too!).
3.7 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 7 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 15 min
- Total time: 1 hr 15 min
- Ingredients: 7
- Servings: 32
An update to a classic cookie bar that lets gluten-free eaters get in on the fun. Brown sugar and butter lend rich flavor to the base while Bisquick Gluten Free mix adds texture. The finishing touch is easy to pull together too. A sprinkle of chocolate chips on the just-out-of-the-oven bars quickly melts into a spreadable topping. Give them a final flourish with an offset spatula and some chopped nuts and you’ve got a Christmas-party-perfect shareable treat.
