Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

Last Updated on December 30, 2020 by Kayla Berman

These Gluten Free Sugar Cookies have a bit of a story as to how they came about! As you guys know if you follow me on instagram, @wellnessbykay, I have been baking up a storm recently! I’m finished with the spring semester of my sophomore year of college and also basically quarantining in my house as most of us are. The combination of the two means there is literally nothing better to do than bake!

I’ve been making my own recipes and also making others, which has been so fun. I have definitely branched out recently and have started baking with more ingredients and making more complicated recipes like cinnamon rolls and my homemade peanut butter and jelly pop tarts. When I made these recipes I had to use a wine bottle because I didn’t have a rolling pin, but my sister actually bought me one the other day because she thought it was time I had one! So these sugar cookies were actually created because I wanted to develop a recipe that required the use of my new rolling pin.

two gluten free sugar cookies, one with a bite taken out

Turns out that I didn’t actually need to use the rolling pin! I was originally planning to use a cookie cutter on dough that needed to be rolled out. However, once I started the dough I quickly realized that this would not be the case! The process of making these cookies turned out to be a lot simpler than I thought, only needing to make the dough, chill it for a few minutes, and then roll into balls. These cookies can be ready in under an hour and are absolutely delicious! They have that classic buttery sugar cookie taste, a soft melt in your mouth texture, and a fun icing and sprinkle situation on top! A total crowd pleaser.

a white plate of gluten free sugar cookies

What you need for these Gluten Free Sugar Cookies!

  • butter
  • almond flour
  • oat flour
  • egg
  • vanilla extract
  • maple syrup
  • powdered sugar
  • almond milk
  • baking powder
  • salt

These Gluten Free Sugar Cookies actually don’t require many ingredients at all. They are obviously gluten free and definitely healthier than your traditional sugar cookie as they swap refined white sugar and all purpose flour with better-for-you substitutions. The use of almond flour and oat flour, as long as it or are the oats you are making it from are gluten free, is what makes these cookies gluten free. I love the combination of these two flours and tend to use it a lot, the texture it creates is incredible! Next up I used butter as the fat in these cookies because I just think a sugar cookie needs butter to be a sugar cookie. You know? I’m all about swaps like nut butter or coconut oil to make dairy free treats, but sometimes you need the real deal. And these cookies are definitely one of those times.

a plate of gluten free sugar cookies with one with a bite taken out

Then for flavor and sweetness we got maple syrup, loads of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Sugar cookies traditionally use white sugar, but I don’t really use that in my recipes. I wanted to go with one of the refined sugar free options that I love, so I used pure maple syrup. The maple syrup works perfectly in these and you won’t even miss the regular sugar! I also chose maple syrup over coconut sugar because coconut sugar would have given the cookies a darker brown color which I didn’t want. The maple syrup helps these gluten free sugar cookies keep their classic look. Lastly these cookies have a generous amount of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. I’m a sucker for vanilla, I put it in almost everything I bake, and the salt helps to balance and bring out the sweetness in the cookies!

a hand holding a sugar cookie over a white background with a plate of more cookies

Then to top it all off these sugar cookies have a delicious icing and fun sprinkles! I think it makes them look just like those store bought ones we all know and love. The icing is made with powdered sugar, almond milk, and vanilla extract. The use of powdered sugar here is why these cookies aren’t completely refined sugar free.

How to make these Gluten Free Sugar Cookies!

  1. Set the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine the softened butter, egg, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. It may be a little clumpy and not entirely mixed in but thats okay.
  3. Combine the almond flour, oat flour, baking powder, and pinch of salt.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine until a dough forms
  5. Place the dough in the fridge to chill for about 10 minutes.
  6. Remove the dough from the fridge and roll into about tablespoon sized balls. You should be able to make 15.
  7. Place the balls onto a greased or parchment paper lined baking tray. Flatten the balls with your fingers into a cookie shape.
  8. Bake for 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  9. While the cookies are baking make your icing. Simply combine the powdered sugar, almond milk, and vanilla extract. It may seem like you need more liquid at first, but you most likely don’t so just keep mixing until smooth. If you actually do need more liquid, just add a tiny bit more almond milk.
  10. Remove the cookies from the oven and let cool.
  11. After the cookies have cooled, dip in the icing and evenly coat the top of each cookie. Top each cookie with sprinkles immediately after you dip the cookie in the icing because the icing will harden quickly. (Essentially ice and apply sprinkles to the cookies one at a time.)
  12. Let the icing set and enjoy!
a pile of gluten free sugar cookies, one with a bite taken out

Check out some of my other cookie recipes!

Connect with me!

If you make these Gluten Free Sugar Cookies or any of my other recipes I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on instagram, so I can see and share your recreations!!

a hand holding a sugar cookie over a white background with more cookies
Print

Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

These Gluten Free Sugar Cookies have that classic buttery sugar cookie taste, a soft melt in your mouth texture, and a fun icing and sprinkle situation on top!  They are full of better-for-you ingredients like almond flour, oat flour, and pure maple syrup. A true crowd pleaser!

  • Author: Kayla Berman
  • Prep Time: 40 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 15 Cookies 1x
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 1/3 cup butter softened
  • 2 cups almond flour
  • 1/2 cup oat flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • pinch of salt

Icing

  • 6 tbsp powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp almond milk
  • 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
  • colorful sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Set the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine the softened butter, egg, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. It may be a little clumpy and not entirely mixed in but thats okay.
  3. Combine the almond flour, oat flour, baking powder, and pinch of salt.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine until a dough forms
  5. Place the dough in the fridge to chill for about 10 minutes.
  6. Remove the dough from the fridge and roll into about tablespoon sized balls. You should be able to make 15.
  7. Place the balls onto a greased or parchment paper lined baking tray. Flatten the balls with your fingers into a cookie shape.
  8. Bake for 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  9. While the cookies are baking make your icing. Simply combine the powdered sugar, almond milk, and vanilla extract. It may seem like you need more liquid at first, but you most likely don’t so just keep mixing until smooth. If you actually do need more liquid, just add a tiny bit more almond milk.
  10. Remove the cookies from the oven and let cool.
  11. After the cookies have cooled, dip in the icing and evenly coat the top of each cookies. Top each cookie with sprinkles immediately after you dip the cookie in the icing because the icing will harden quickly. (Essentially ice and apply sprinkles to the cookies one at a time.)
  12. Let the icing set and enjoy!

Notes

  • You can make your own oat flour by simply blending oats in a high speed blender or food processor until fine.

Keywords: sugar cookies, gluten free sugar cookies, healthier sugar cookies, almond flour, oat flour, healthy baking, gluten free dessert, gluten free baking, dessert, cookies, baking

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One Comment

  1. I have a nut allergy, can I use just oat flour or another flour?

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