19 Gluten-Free Cookies And Holiday Candy Recipes - Chatelaine (2024)

Recipe Collections

From flourless chocolate cookies to decadent fudge, there's a gluten-free recipe for every holiday occasion.

ByAmy Grief

Updated December 15, 2020

19 Gluten-Free Cookies And Holiday Candy Recipes - Chatelaine (1)

Photo, Erik. Putz.

Gluten-free cookie recipes let everyoneenjoy one of the most delicious parts of the holiday season: dessert! From Viennese-inspired chestnut meltaways to seriously impressive homemade candy, these gluten-free cookie recipes are showstoppers you'll want to make year after year. Best of all, for some of these recipes, you don't even need to turn on your oven!

Gluten-free amaretti cookies

These sweet almond cookies can be shaped into stars or small rounds (just roll the dough into 3/4-in. balls, coat in extra sugar and arrange on a baking sheet) depending on what equipment you have. Get our gluten-free amaretti cookie recipe.

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Photo, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Eshun Mott. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.

Christmas meringue swirls

These elegant Christmas meringue swirls will make you the toast of the holiday party season. Best of all, this meringue recipe needs only five ingredients. Get our Christmas meringue swirls recipe.

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Photo, Liam Morgan.

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Gluten-free roasted chestnut meltaway cookies

Inspired by Vienna’s charming markets and enchanting Alpine traditions, these beautiful and festive cookies with a rich chestnut centre will make an impression at the cookie exchange. Get this gluten-free roasted chestnut meltaway cookies recipe.

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Photo, Erik Putz.

Chocolate peanut butter balls

Use gluten-free peanut butter to make these bite-sized treats that'll be scooped off the dessert table in a flash. Get our chocolate peanut butter balls recipe.

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Skip the truffles this year.

Flourless chocolate snow mountains

These ultra-chocolaty, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are a great make-ahead treat. They last for a month in the freezer, or a week in an airtight container on the countertop (but they'll disappear long before that). Get our flourless chocolate snow mountain cookies recipe.

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Photo, Roberto Caruso.

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Gluten-free crispy and chewy chocolate-chip cookies

Why mess with tradition? Our gluten-free version of this classic cookie is chewy, crispy and pairs perfectly with a cool glass of milk (or your favourite milk alternative). Get our gluten-free crispy and chewy chocolate-chip cookies recipes.

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Photo, Michael Alberstat.

Gluten free shortbread cookies

Our gluten-free take on this classic holiday cookie uses ground almonds and brown rice flour. Get our gluten-free shortbread cookies recipe.

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Photo, Sian Richards.

Peppermint meringue kisses

These gorgeously festive peppermint meringue kisses rely on a simple meringue recipe and a few tricks with a piping bag. They’re as fun to make as they are to eat! Get this peppermint meringue kisses recipe.

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Photo, Roberto Caruso.

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Macarons

A box filled with handmade French-style macarons would make for a beautiful, edible gift! Mix-and-match flavours for a patisserie-inspired present. Get out pistachio-cream macarons and our raspberry-chocolate-ganache macarons recipes.

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Photo, Roberto Caruso

Turtle fudge

This no-bake Christmas dessert is simply irresistible. (And using packaged caramels makes it incredibly easy.) Get our turtle fudge recipe.

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Photo, Erik Putz.

Chestnut marzipan rum balls

Chestnut marzipan rum balls are the no-bake Christmas dessert you didn't know you needed. The flavours of chestnut and almond marry beautifully, while a little flaky sea salt adds crunch and contrast. Get our chestnut marzipan rum balls recipe.

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Dark chocolate cherry cordials recipe

These cocoa-coated truffles add an eye-catching flourish to the dessert table, and with their sweet cherry centre, they’ll disappear in no time. Get our dark chocolate cherry cordials recipe.

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Photo, Erik Putz.

Chocolate-hazelnut salami

Make this heavenly chocolate-hazelnut indulgence the centrepiece of a dessert “charcuterie” board topped with sweet gluten-free biscuits, fruits and other treats. Get our chocolate hazelnut salami recipe.

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Photo, Sian Richards.

Chewy chocolate coconut bars recipe

Once you add these homemade bars to your holiday repertoire, there’s no going back. Delicious and oh-so-easy to make, we think they may just be the start of a new holiday tradition. Get our chewy chocolate coconut bars recipe.

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Photo, Erik Putz.

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Chocolate sea salt almond clusters

This recipe contains just three ingredients, making it a perfect last-minute treat to whip together. Get this chocolate sea salt almond clusters recipe.

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Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Meltaway candy cane mints

Yes, you can make your candy! Freshen up your holiday menu by making these mints that keep well in an airtight container for up to one month. Get our meltaway candy cane mints recipe.

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Photo, Erik Putz.

Peppermint sparkle marshmallow recipe

Add a little extra sparkle to your holidays with minty homemade marshmallows. Try them on their own—or use them to add a holiday finish to a steaming cup of hot cocoa. Get our peppermint sparkle marshmallow recipe.

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Photo, Erik Putz.

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Naughty marshmallow coals

Black as coal and sugary-sweet, these marshmallow confections are a surprising—and fun—family dessert. Get our naughty marshmallow coals recipe.

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Photo, Erik Putz.

Almond meringue pavlova wreath

This beautiful (and delicious!) almond meringue pavlova is the perfect centrepiece for any holiday dinner table. Get our almond meringue pavlova wreath recipe.

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Photo, Eric Putz.

Watch: How to make gluten-free meringue swirls

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19 Gluten-Free Cookies And Holiday Candy Recipes - Chatelaine (2024)

FAQs

How do you get gluten-free cookies to stick together? ›

Binding agents (such as xanthan gum, guar gum, or flax) help give gluten-free baked goods the elasticity needed to create structure — so if your favorite gluten-free flour mix doesn't contain one, you'll probably want to add one.

What are gluten-free cookies made of? ›

Ingredients that can replace the structural-setting functionality provided by wheat proteins in gluten-free cookies include: Rice flour (brown or white) Resistant starch. Oat flour and gluten-free oat starch.

What holds gluten-free cookies together? ›

Best Gluten-Free Flour for Sugar Cookies

When you see the term “1-to-1” or “measure-for-measure” it usually indicates that the flour contains a binder such as xanthan gum to keep your baked goods from falling apart. That said, be sure to read the label and locate “xanthan gum” before purchasing.

What are the binding agents for gluten-free cookies? ›

Xanthan Gum

It serves many roles in gluten-free baking. Because gluten-free flours have less protein than wheat flours and are not capable of forming the same network required to stretch and surround starch granules, they need reinforcement. Xanthan gum strengthens these networks and also makes them more elastic.

What is the best flour for gluten-free cookies? ›

Oat Flour. With its creamy, earthy flavor and delicate texture, gluten-free oat flour is a staple of my gluten-free baking recipes. It bakes up soft and smooth, adding necessary starch to many GF baked goods and keeping them moist and tender due to its high fat content and stable protein structure.

Which gluten-free flour works best in cookies? ›

Almond flour is a grain-free, protein-rich flour that lends well to cookies, cakes, and more! Almond flour is made from blanched almonds, meaning without skins (as opposed to almond meal, which is made from raw almonds with skins). This is why it has a fluffy, light texture and pale golden color.

What happens when you use gluten-free flour in cookies? ›

Gluten free flours often contain lots of water grabbing gums and starches so we have to ensure that there is enough water present to fully hydrate the gums and gelatinize the starches. When starches do not gelatinize, the baked good can have a gritty texture, and this commonly happens with flours such as cornflour.

How do you fix crumbly gluten-free cookies? ›

Use a Binder. Binders like xanthan gum and guar gum provide structure in gluten-free baking to make up for the missing gluten. This prevents cookies from being too crumbly plus it also helps with freshness.

How to fix crumbly gluten free cookie dough? ›

7- If your cookie dough is too dry and crumbly, just add back to the mixing bowl and stir in a couple tablespoons of your favorite milk or an egg. Add more if needed – the dough needs to hold together, but most cookie doughs shouldn't be sticky.

How to make gluten-free cookies less dry and crumbly? ›

Add extra liquid: Gluten-free flours tend to absorb more liquid than regular flour, so you may need to add more liquid to your recipes to compensate. This can help to keep your baked goods moist and prevent them from becoming dry and crumbly.

How do you make cookies stick together? ›

Put the cookie pieces together on the baking sheet. Gently mush the edges together to "glue" the cookies into each other as they bake. Sometimes gluing the cookies together is enough, if they are interlocked and share enough edges. Sometimes though... you need to add some "tape."

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