It's not Christmas without the smell of gingerbread cookies baking in the oven. This recipe is my go-to for Gluten Free Gingerbread Men Cookies every holiday season.
It is perfect for making gluten free gingerbread cut-out cookies that hold their shape and are always fun to decorate!
If you are looking for an easy step-by-step gluten free gingerbread recipe then look no further. This recipe is so easy, and fun when baking with the kids, and makes delicious soft but firm gingerbread cookies that hold their shape.
Use your preferred cookie cutters for your desired cookie shape. I have used this not only for gluten free Christmas cookies, Gluten free gingerbread men cookies but also to make gluten free Halloween cookies, and also using small cookie-cutters to top my gluten free gingerbread cupcakes with a small gingerbread star cookie.
If like me you love baking cookies at Christmas then you will also love these gluten free shortbread, gluten free oatmeal cookies, and gluten free chocolate chip cookies.
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⭐ Why we love this recipe
- Festive Flavor - These gingerbread cookies are packed with warm, aromatic spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, creating a cozy holiday flavor.
- Hold Their Shape - Not only do they taste amazing but hold their shape when using your favorite cookie cutters and are great for making a gingerbread house.
- Family Fun Time - Gingerbread cookies are practically a family tradition. Bake 'em together, decorate 'em together – it's a guaranteed good time.
- Chewy-Crunchy Combo - Strikes that sweet spot between chewy and crunchy, giving your taste buds a little adventure.
- Gluten Free - Uses only gluten free ingredients but no one can ever tell. It is loved by family members who are not gluten free.
🏚️ Gluten free Gingerbread House
Every year we make a gluten free gingerbread house and it has become a fun tradition in my house and a great Christmas activity to do with the kids. I have adapted this recipe to make a fun gingerbread house. See my post for gluten free gingerbread house for the recipe and a free printable house template.
📋 Ingredients Notes
- Gluten Free All Purpose Flour - AKA Gluten free plain flour in the UK. I used a Gluten free flour blend from Doves Farm Freee from range. Which is a flour blend of Rice, Potato, Tapioca, Maize, and Buckwheat flour. I have had reports that others have used King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour, Cup4Cup Gluten-Free Flour, Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour, with my recipes. The flour blend I used does not contain xanthan gum but if the flour blend used contains xanthan gum then there is no need to add more so you can omit this from the ingredients.
- Brown sugar - I used light brown sugar. See is brown sugar gluten free if you want more information on brown sugar.
- Spices - Ground Ginger, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg all create a beautiful flavor when combined not to mention the festive smell that will fill the kitchen.
- Baking soda - Also known as Bicarbonate of soda. Always check that the brand used is gluten free as some brands may contain gluten.
- Butter - I used unsalted butter and added the salt to the recipe. If you use salted butter then omit the additional salt. Use dairy free butter block as an alternative if required.
- Molasses - Use black treacle if in the UK. I also used Golden syrup in this recipe along with Molasses but you can use either just Molasses or golden syrup just substitute the same amount required in the recipe. The color of the finished cookies will be slightly darker if using only molasses or slightly lighter if using only golden syrup.
- Egg - I recommend using a large egg at room temperature.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and quantities.
⚡ Substitutions & Variations
- Dairy Free - To make dairy-free cookies use your preferred dairy free butter block.
- White Sugar - If you don't have brown sugar to hand you can use superfine (Caster) sugar. Using white sugar will result in cookies that are a bit crisper and have a lighter color compared to those made with brown sugar.
- Gingerbread House - For a gingerbread house, you might want the pieces to be a bit sturdier, so a slightly longer baking time would be beneficial. I recommend baking a sample piece first to get your desired firmness.
🥣 Step by Step Instructions
Below is a brief step-by-step process with photos of how to make gluten free gingerbread Men cookies.
See the recipe card below for more detailed recipe instructions.
Make the Cookie Dough
Step 1: In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients together.
Step 2: Then add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon.
Mix well and knead together with your hands if needed to form a dough.
Chill then Roll Out
Step 3: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for 45 minutes.
Step 4: Remove the dough from the fridge and on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin roll out the dough until around ¼ inch thick.
Cut then Chill
Step 5: Press the cookie cutter firmly into the rolled-out dough, creating the desired shapes. Lift the cutter straight up to ensure clean edges.
Step 6: Carefully lift each cut-out shape and transfer it to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving enough space between cookies (See image 6). Place in the refrigerator for 15 mins to firm up again as this will help them keep their shape when baking.
Bake then Decorate
Step 7: Preheat oven to 170°C/325°F/Gas mark 3
Place the baking tray in the oven for 12-15 minutes until the cookies look golden brown. The gluten free gingerbread men cookies will feel slightly soft when removed from the oven. Leave the cookies on the baking sheet to fully cool as they will firm up as they cool.
Step 8: Once the cookies have fully cooled decorate as desired.
💡 Pro Recipe Tips
- Tip #1: Quality Ingredients - Use high quality butter, spices and molasses for the best flavor. The quality of the ingredients can make a significant difference in the overall taste of your cookies.
- Tip #2: Chill the Dough - After mixing the gingerbread cookie dough, allow it to chill in the refrigerator for the recommended time. Chilled dough is easier to handle, and it helps the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
- Tip #3: Flour the Surface - Flour your rolling surface and rolling pin to prevent the dough from sticking. You can use a mix of flour and powdered sugar for a sweet touch.
- Tip #4: Rolling Thickness - Roll the dough to a consistent thickness to ensure even baking. Aim for around ¼ to ½ inch thick, depending on your preference for softer or crisper cookies.
- Tip #5: Chill Cut-Out Shapes - Don't skip this step if you want your gingerbread cookies to maintain their shape, make sure your dough is well-chilled before baking.
- Tip #6: Cool Completely - Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set without breaking.
❔ Recipe FAQs
It is so easy to make these cookies gluten free and dairy free. Replace the butter with your preferred dairy free block to make dairy free and gluten free gingerbread cookies.
Yes, To make gingerbread cookies without molasses (black treacle) you can substitute with golden syrup. The cookies will turn out slightly lighter in color but will still be delicious. I have used both Molasses and golden syrup in this recipe but you can use whichever you have available to you.
Yes, I have made these cookies using only Molasses (Black treacle) and they turn out slightly darker in color but it still works well. Just substitute the golden syrup with molasses.
To freeze the cookies wrap well and store in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing undecorated as the icing may crack when frozen.
To freeze the gingerbread dough wrap well and store in a freezer-safe bag or container for u to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight.
🍪 More Gluten Free Cookie Recipes
If you tried this Gluten free Gingerbread Men Cookies recipe. Please leave a star🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page or tag me on Instagram.
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Gingerbread Men Cookies
Nutritional information is meant as a guideline and all information is approximate.
Equipment
- cookie cutters (use your preferred shaped cutter)
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
Gluten free gingerbread cookie dough
- 350 grams Gluten free All purpose Flour AKA Gluten free plain flour in the UK
- 160 grams Light Brown Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- ½ Teaspoon Baking Soda AKA bicarbonate of soda. Always check that the brand used is gluten free as some may contain gluten due to cross-contamination.
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Xanthan Gum Omit if the flour blend already contains xanthan gum.
- 125 grams Unsalted Butter (Melted) Use dairy free alternative if required
- 2 Tablespoons Golden syrup
- 2 Tablespoons Molasses Black Treacle in the UK.
- 1 Large Egg Room temperature
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients together.
- Melt the butter in the microwave. Then add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon.
- Mix well and knead together with your hands if needed to form a dough.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for around 45 minutes.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin roll out the dough until around ¼ inch thick.
- Press the cookie cutter firmly into the rolled-out dough, creating the desired shapes. Lift the cutter straight up to ensure clean edges.
- Carefully lift each cut-out shape and transfer it to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving enough space between cookies (See image 6). Place in the refrigerator for 15 mins to firm up again as this will help them keep their shape when baking.
- Preheat oven to 170°C/325°F/Gas mark 3
- Place the baking tray in the oven for 12-15 minutes until cookies look golden brown. The cookies will feel slightly soft when removed from the oven. Leave the cookies on the tray to fully cool as they will firm up as they cool.
Cookie decorating
- The cookies can be decorated with ready made decorating icing that can be purchased from most shops.
- Alternatively, for a quick and easy icing Mix 150g powdered sugar (icing sugar) with water adding 1 teaspoon at a time until you get the desired consistency of icing.
Notes
- Tip #1: Quality Ingredients - Use high quality butter, spices and molasses for the best flavor. The quality of the ingredients can make a significant difference in the overall taste of your cookies.
- Tip #2: Chill the Dough - After mixing the gingerbread cookie dough, allow it to chill in the refrigerator for the recommended time. Chilled dough is easier to handle, and it helps the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
- Tip #3: Flour the Surface - Flour your rolling surface and rolling pin to prevent the dough from sticking. You can use a mix of flour and powdered sugar for a sweet touch.
- Tip #4: Rolling Thickness - Roll the dough to a consistent thickness to ensure even baking. Aim for around ¼ to ½ inch thick, depending on your preference for softer or crisper cookies.
- Tip #5: Chill Cut-Out Shapes - Don't skip this step if you want your gingerbread cookies to maintain their shape, make sure your dough is well-chilled before baking.
- Tip #6: Cool Completely - Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set without breaking.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is meant as a guideline and is always an approximate calculation. Recipes may include information of various products used. It is your responsibility to check that ingredients you use when making a recipe are gluten free.
I hope you enjoyed this Gluten free gingerbread cookies recipe.
Deb Lampert says
Love, love, love!
Amanda says
Thanks Deb I am so glad you love the recipe.
Nicole says
Is xantham gum required if the gluten free flour I use already has it in it?
Amanda says
Hi Nicole, That's a great question. If you already have xanthan gum in your flour mix. It's likely you won't need to add any more to the mix.
Kat says
Love that it is gluten free.