Make the most of your holidays by baking up gluten-free Christmas cookies that everyone can enjoy!
One of the best parts of Christmas is the food: decadent Christmas mains and sides, festive appetizers and cocktails, and, of course, Christmas cookies. But if you have a gluten allergy, at times it can feel as if your options are limited or nonexistent.
Our gluten-free Christmas cookies are here to save the day because no one should miss out on the fun of making and decorating cookies because of an allergy! In this collection, you’ll find gluten-free holiday cookies like snowballs, pumpkin cookies and crinkle cookies to bake and enjoy worry-free. You’ll even find allergy-friendly recipes for classic Christmas cookies, including gingerbread men, spritz and shortbread.
These gluten-free festive cookies will be welcome additions to your gluten-free dessert spread and will have even your non-allergic family members coming back for more.
1/30
Christmas Macarons
From the Recipe Creator:
Even decorated simply—a sprinkle of sugar, a drizzle of icing—these stylish beauties are part of our creative Christmas cookies collection. They will be the showstoppers on any cookie tray. —Josh Rink, Photo Stylist Taste of Home
If you’re looking for gluten-free Christmas cookie recipes, macarons are an Insta-worthy must. Here, homemade buttercream is sandwiched between light almond cookies for a stylish holiday showstopper. Play with the cookie coloring and filling flavor to make a version all your own.
2/30
Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These gluten-free gingerbread cookies taste just like the classic version. The aroma of them baking in the oven is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
3/30
Amaretti Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These amaretti cookies are slightly crispy on the outside with a soft and chewy center. The classic Italian cookies are mildly sweet with a pleasant almond flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Thanks to their crackly, sugar-dusted tops, amaretti look especially wintry—a shoo-in for your cookie platter. Plus, these Italian Christmas cookies are traditionally made with almond flour, so they’re naturally gluten-free. No flour substitutions needed!
4/30
Sparkly Meringue Snowmen
From the Recipe Creator:
For my son’s first Christmas home from Iraq, I wanted everything to feel magical. He loves meringue cookies, so I made a big batch of minty snowmen and snowflakes. —Patricia Lindsay, Independence, Kansas
These sweet little snowmen are made with four simple ingredients—no flour in sight. They’re crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and super-duper cute!
5/30
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These yummy pumpkin cookies are light and fluffy, almost like cake cookies, and they are not overly sweet. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
6/30
Gluten-Free Almond Crispies
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a wonderful treat everyone in the family can enjoy. Ideal with milk or tea, these cookies have cinnamon and maple in every crunchy bite. —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin
These crunchy Christmas cookies are sweetened with maple syrup and cinnamon. They’re not as sweet as traditional cookies, but they have a nice almond flavor.
7/30
Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Gluten-free shortbread cookies couldn't be easier to make. They are delicious on their own, or you can dress them up by dipping them in or drizzling them with melted chocolate. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
8/30
Almond-Pecan Date Truffles
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughter and I came across a date candy recipe when she was learning about ancient Egypt. We changed some of the spices and nuts to suit our tastes. My dad was a beekeeper and Mom always made a coconut date ball for Christmas. The truffles remind me of past Christmases and are ideal for something quick yet festive on a holiday tray. —Lori Daniels, Beverly, West Virginia
This no-bake recipe has only six ingredients! Ready in under a half hour, they’re flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg for a Christmas touch.
9/30
Air-Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
An iconic American cookie, this version is so easy to mix up and bakes even faster in the air fryer. Cookie cravings can now be satisfied in mere minutes. —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
This version of the iconic cookie bakes even faster in the air fryer. With just three ingredients—egg, sugar and peanut butter—these cookies are ready in minutes.
10/30
Gluten-Free Fig Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These special cookies definitely don’t taste gluten-free. For added appeal, I soak the figs overnight in a mixture of port and pomegranate juice. —Twinkle30, Tasteofhome.com Community
Thanks to a flaky crust and a rich filling, these cookies don’t taste gluten-free. Plan ahead for this recipe—the figs need to be soaked overnight, but the results are worth the wait.
11/30
Gluten-Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These gluten-free chocolate crinkle cookies are a family favorite. The ground almonds make them even better. —Karen Kelly, Germantown, Maryland
Ground almonds give these classic crinkle cookies a nutty flavor and a tender bite. They take just 30 minutes to make!
12/30
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blossoms
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will stand in line to kiss the cook when these treats are served!
For a change of pace, try them with chunky peanut butter too. —Canada60, Tasteofhome.com Community
For a change of pace, try them with chunky peanut butter too. —Canada60, Tasteofhome.com Community
Our Test Kitchen and community reviewers love that these chocolate kiss cookies taste just like the classic gluten-filled version. They’re so good, in fact, we named them among our top 10 gluten-free recipes.
13/30
Gluten-Free Spritz Delights
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughter has Down syndrome and loves hosting parties, especially on holidays. Cookies always took center stage until she was diagnosed with celiac disease. I decided then to take on gluten-free baking, and these are the best yet—a cross between a shortbread and a sugar cookie. —Cheryl Costilow, Amherst, Ohio
A cross between a sugar and a shortbread cookie, these light, melt-in-your-mouth treats are a holiday must. Even without frosting, they’ll demand attention on a gluten-free Christmas cookie tray.
14/30
Chocolate Meringue Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These light, delicate chocolate meringue cookies are always a hit. Their big chocolate flavor makes it difficult to keep the kids away before the treats are on the cookie tray! —Edna F. Lee, Greeley, Colorado
These chocolate meringues have a delicate texture but big cocoa flavor. We love the star shape—a whimsical wink to the holiday season.
15/30
Gluten-Free Snowballs
From the Recipe Creator:
I took a classic holiday cookie and made it gluten-free. It’s now my husband’s favorite Christmas cookie. They’re so buttery, nutty and sweet—and everyone loves how they crumble in your mouth. —Joan Sarge, Asheville, North Carolina
Make these snowball cookies for Christmas or any time the snow flies.
16/30
Peppermint Meringue Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Peppermint lovers won't be able to get enough of these light and airy delights. They make terrific Christmas gifts or lovely treats to pass around when guests drop in. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois
17/30
Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Only four ingredients and one bowl are needed for these healthy peanut butter cookies. If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, make sure the oat bran was made in a certified gluten-free facility. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
These four ingredient cookies are surely worth any effort with their sweet maple flavor.
18/30
Church Window Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These church window cookies are a hit with kids—the little ones just love the colored marshmallows! —Emmilie Gaston, Wabash, Indiana
19/30
Festive Meringue Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These festive treats sparkle not only during the holidays but for other occasions year-round. Use colored sugar or food coloring to change things up. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
20/30
Cashew Butter Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These cashew butter cookies are on a more sophisticated level than peanut butter. They are vegan and gluten-free, so you'll be able to share with all your friends. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
21/30
Mocha-Walnut Macarons
From the Recipe Creator:
This cookie perfectly captures the chocolaty, nutty flavor of my favorite gourmet coffee. —Christine Venzon, Peoria, Illinois
These chocolaty and nutty cookies are a coffee lover’s dream. Be sure to store them in an airtight container to make them last just a little longer.
22/30
Cherry No-Bake Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
I always loved my no-bake cookie recipe, but I was never able to place at the fair with it. So I mixed in some maraschino cherries, added almond extract and voila! I won a blue ribbon at the county fair in 2010. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
Because these gluten-free cookie balls don’t need an oven, you can roll up a batch while another treat bakes. Cherries lend sweetness (and a touch of holiday color!) to these easy chocolate-peanut butter bites.
23/30
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses
From the Recipe Creator:
Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea. —Amy Tong, Anaheim, California
With only five ingredients, these gorgeous, glossy meringues are easier to make than they look. They taste like chocolate-covered strawberries—unlike any other Christmas cookie you’ll try.
24/30
Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
From the Recipe Creator:
These chilly gluten-free ice cream sandwiches are perfect year-round. The gluten-free chocolate cookie is so tasty you could eat it plain … but you won't want to miss out on the ice cream! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
These gluten-free ice cream sandwiches are perfect for a night by the fire.
25/30
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
I can’t consume gluten, so I’ve transformed my favorite recipes to fit my diet. I came up with these cakelike cookies, and no one ever guesses they’re gluten-free. —Becki DiMercurio, Martinez, California
These nutty, sugar-dusted cookies taste like a grown-up version of chocolate cake! Kahlua delivers an extra pop of flavor.
26/30
Meringue Kisses
From the Recipe Creator:
There's a nice chocolaty surprise inside these sweet kisses. They're my husband's top choice each Christmas. —Tami Henke, Lockport, Illinois
You’ll find a chocolaty surprise tucked inside each of these gluten-free cookies. Make them red and green for Christmas, or stick to white to highlight that dusting of cocoa.
27/30
Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints
From the Recipe Creator:
I had been searching for a dessert to make for my brother's girlfriend (who is gluten intolerant), and I came across a naturally gluten-free dessert—a flourless peanut butter cookie. After tweaking the recipe a bit and adding Nutella and a sprinkling of sea salt, I finally found the perfect cookie for her. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
Rejoice! These flourless peanut butter cookies are naturally gluten-free. Nutella filling and a shower of sea salt make them an upscale option for a Christmas cookie platter.
28/30
Winter Fruit Macaroons
From the Recipe Creator:
Coconut macaroons with sweetened condensed milk instead of egg whites are my version of a recipe my mom loved. All you do is mix, drop and bake. —Veronica Miller, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Jammy dried fruit adds loads of flavor to this holiday spin on coconut macaroons. The recipe has a secret ingredient too: Sweetened condensed milk makes them extra-rich!
29/30
Gluten-Free Sugarplums
From the Recipe Creator:
Lots of moist, fruity flavor and nutty crunch give these sweet/spicy bites a kind of gumdrop richness. They make a delicious addition to cookie trays. —Corleen Heidgerken, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The deeply fruity flavor makes us think of gumdrops when we eat these sweet and spicy bites. Sneak one early—they’ll be gone before you can lick the sugar off your fingers!
30/30
Gluten-Free Almond Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
My friend loved these gluten-free almond cookies so much, she had to ask for the recipe! Quick and easy, they taste as good as the decadent treats I make using puff pastry and almond paste. Everyone loves them! —Sherri Cox, Lucasville, Ohio
Quick and easy almond cookies are a simple addition to your Christmas cookie suite, but they work beautifully at any time of year. They’re crisp and light, and they look good on any table.
Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies FAQ
What Christmas cookies are gluten-free?
Many Christmas cookies are naturally gluten-free, including macarons, meringue cookies, amaretti and peanut butter cookies. But you’re not limited to those!
Holiday favorites like gingerbread cookies, shortbread, spritz and thumbprints can be made gluten-free by swapping in gluten-free flour for the all-purpose flour.
What is the best gluten-free flour for cookies?
The best gluten-free flour is King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten-Free Flour because you can use it cup-for-cup with regular flour, no conversions or additional ingredients needed. Just make sure to double-check that any decorations you top your cookies with, like frosting, sprinkles and candy pieces, are also gluten-free.
If you’re new to allergy baking, check out our guide to gluten-free baking for tips and guidance.
Can you freeze gluten-free Christmas cookies?
Yes, you absolutely can freeze gluten-free holiday cookies. To freeze cookies, mix and bake your gluten-free Christmas treats as directed, then allow them to cool completely. Place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and pop them in the freezer for 30 minutes or until they are frozen solid. Transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe container with a piece of parchment between each layer. The cookies will last in the freezer for up to three months.
Our tip for freezing cookies: Avoid freezing cookies that are decorated with thick frosting or are particularly delicate, like meringue cookies. They can lose their texture after being frozen and defrosted. Undecorated cutout cookies, drop cookies and cookie bars are your best bet.
