A Frequently Requested Recipe

As I mentioned in my Gluten Free Nanaimo Bars post, in 2018 I took requests from Facebook followers on recipes they’d like to see recreated. My dear friend Gloria mentioned gluten free gingerbread cookies. So I went to my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook and set to work trying to turn this classic into a gluten free recipe.

What Is The Best Gluten Free Flour for Cookies?

People often ask “what’s the best gluten free flour.” I feel this to be a trick question. This world holds millions of people, all with different taste and texture preferences. Not to mention additional food restrictions.

So the answer to the question is “the one you like the most.” Probably not the easy answer you wanted, huh? I have multiple favorites, one of which is Cup 4 Cup flour. I chose to use it in these gluten free gingerbread cookies.

How To Measure Flour for Gluten Free Baking

Don’t scoop flour using a measuring cup. Instead, spoon it into the cup (set over parchment paper) and level it off with a flat edge. Of course, you can use a scale to weigh it, but I know not everyone has a scale. I use this Taylor Kitchen Scale daily in my home.

Can I Use A Different Gluten Free Flour Blend?

I’ve successfully made these cookies with Cup 4 Cup and King Arthur Measure for Measure. One must remember one important thing when using different gluten free flour blends. ABSORPTION. Different flour blends absorb fat and liquid differently. This especially applies to coconut and almond flours. Below are links to recipes made with different flours.

• Recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Flour
• Recipe using Namaste Flour Blend
• Recipe using Almond Flour
• Recipe using Coconut Flour

Can I Make These Gingerbread Dairy Free? Egg Free?

Now that Cup 4 Cup contains no dairy, these cookies are naturally dairy free and egg free. It uses shortening instead of butter. FYI. I did test this recipe using coconut oil, and it did NOT turn out well. The shortening keeps these soft!

Can I Use This Recipe to Make a Gluten Free Gingerbread House?

I have never attempted to make a gluten free Gingerbread House from this dough recipe. However, I assume that it would work. This gingerbread house cookie cutter set on Amazon would be a huge help. Otherwise, you could order from dedicated gluten free businesses that sell gluten free gingerbread house kits.

Can I Make Other Gingerbread Shapes?

Absolutely! One year I couldn’t find my gingerbread men cutters, and made stars instead. (I think I actually like those more!) One year my neighborhood kids baked with me, and they made tulips.

I know someone who makes Wookie gingerbread cookies, and I’ve seen others use ninja cookie cutters. (Click here for my favorite Wilton cookie cutters.)

Other Gluten Free Gingerbread Recipes

Not in the mood for cookies? Try my Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake recipe. You can use it to make cake, cupcakes, and even donuts! Bake it in this Nordic Ware Gingerbread House Pan, and then decorate it with your favorite icing and candies.

Want the taste of gingerbread cookies without the work? I HIGHLY recommend this recipe for Gluten Free White Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies from My Gluten-Free Kitchen. Her recipe may be just one of my holiday favorites!

Print

Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies

Course Recipes

Keyword gingerbread, gluten free gingerbread cookies

Prep Time 3 hours hours

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 c shortening
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1/2 c molasses
• 1/4 c water
• 2 1/2 c Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp soda
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp allspice

Instructions

• Cream shortening and sugar in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer in a large bowl. Allow it to mix for a good 2-3 minutes until it’s really creamy, and all the sugar is incorporated. 
• Add molasses, and water, and continue to blend until creamy. 
• In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, soda and spices. Whisk together, then sift into molasses mixture. 
• Mix until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. 
• Transfer dough to a large container that has a lid. (Or place on saran wrap and wrap up tightly.) Refrigerate for 2-3 hours. 
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• After dough has chilled, remove from refrigerator. Place on silpat or roll on parchment paper. Cut out cookies. If cutting on parchment paper, remove excess dough and place parchment paper, without cutout dough on cookie sheet.  
• Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool on cookie sheet, then transfer to cooling rack. Decorate if desired, once completely cooled. 

Notes

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker Cookbook

What are your favorite Christmas cookies to make? What holiday treats do you enjoy that connect you with memories of the past? Tell me your story below!

**This post is not sponsored. However, it does contain Amazon affiliate links. Purchases made through those links help support this blog with no extra expense to you. Thank you for your continued support!**

Originally Published December 2018

The post Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake

At Christmas time, the word Gingerbread usually brings cookies to mind. However, Gingerbread Cake is also very common. This year, after a Facebook follower recommended it, I researched recipes. I found many of them called for buttermilk. Which made me excited, because I was fairly certain I could use my favorite Kefir as a substitute. 

What is Kefir? (and Why I Prefer it to Buttermilk)

So glad you asked. Kefir is like a drinkable yogurt. It’s a fermented milk beverage, created by adding bacteria and yeast cultures. (Because of its fermentation, it’s often called the “Champagne of Dairy.”) The probiotics found in kefir help create good bacteria for the gut.

When it comes to baking, I don’t always bake items that call for buttermilk. Lifeway’s Organic Whole Milk thick and fermented Kefir is a perfect substitute for buttermilk. Buttermilk is mostly only used for baking. However, Lifeway Kefir can be used in many recipes, and more than just smoothies. One can use it in soups,  as well as my fluffy Gluten Free Biscuits!

Where Do I Find Kefir? 

You’ll find Lifeway Kefir in the yogurt section at your local grocery store. I also recommend using Lifeway Kefir’s store locator function on their website. They have over a dozen amazing flavors, and some flavors are only available at specific stores. (If you have a Fresh Thyme market, they have the largest selection of Lifeway Kefir I’ve ever seen!) 

Which Gluten Free Flour Blend Did You Use? 

For this Gluten Free Gingerbread cake, I used King Arthur Flour Measure for Measure Blend. I find it works as a great substitute for wheat flour in cake and cookie recipes. In addition, it’s fortified with vitamins and minerals, and tends to be available at most grocery stores. (That being said, I did use Cup 4 Cup to make my Gingerbread Cookies.) 

Why I Make Small Batch Recipes

The recipe, as written, makes a 6″ Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake. I prefer to make “small batch” recipes for two reasons. One, I live in a household of two. Some days I want something sweet, without a lot of leftovers. We’re at the stage of life where we’re taking care of older parents. One 6″ cake perfectly serves my husband and I and both of his parents. 

Second, gluten free ingredients can be expensive. When recipe testing, I like to make as small of a dessert as possible. In addition, I like to make small batch recipes that start with one whole egg. Then I can usually double the recipe, if I need to. (If you haven’t tried it, I recommend my small batch Applesauce Bundt Cake.) 

Can I Make This Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake as Cupcakes? 

Sure! After some research, I was fairly confident this was the case. I especially appreciated this post from Handle the Heat on Converting Cakes into Cupcakes. I love that she not only gives tips for standard size cupcakes, but also mini cupcakes as well! 

When it comes to gluten free cupcake making, I also reached out to my friend Daniela from The Gluten Free Austrian. One thing she definitely helped settle for me was using a 3 tbsp  (#20) scoop for filling your cupcake liners. (If you’re not following her, you should! She’s a trained pastry chef, who also lives with Celiac Disease.) Uniformly filled cupcakes = uniform baking times. 

Can I Make This Cake Recipe as Donuts?

Yes! Prepare the batter as directed, then pipe into donuts pans. I prefer Wilton donut pans. Then bake in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Allow baked donuts to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Once completely cooled, frost as desired. I like Baking Mischief’s Small Batch Cream Cheese Frosting recipe. (I add a smidge of nutmeg to it, as well.) 

Can I Make This Gingerbread Cake as a Bundt Cake? 

I originally focused on making this recipe because a Facebook follower requested a recipe for gluten free gingerbread cake with lemon frosting. I figured a bundt would be a beautiful presentation! New to baking bundts? Make sure to read King Arthur Baking’s “Tips on how to Prevent Bundt Cakes from Sticking.” It’s a wealth of information!  

If you choose to make this as a bundt cake, double the ingredients, and bake it in a 8 -12 cup bundt pan. A doubled recipe makes 4 cups of batter. I baked mine in a 12 cup bundt pan, but wish I had used an 8 cup pan instead. I would have resulted in a taller cake. For more on which pan to use, read this article on Bundt Pan Sizes from King Arthur.

What Kind of Frosting Should I Use? 

Try Baking Mischief’s Small Batch Vanilla Frosting. for the cake or cupcakes. Any glaze you prefer would work well with the bundt cake, or simply dust it with powdered sugar. For a lemon glaze, try this 3 Ingredient Lemon Glaze recipe from Julie Blanner. (I cut the recipe in half.) You can also use Betty Crocker frosting, which is labeled gluten free. 

In addition to the frosting, I also like topping the cake with Gluten Free Austrian’s Cinnamon Spiced Pecans. You could also do sugared cranberries like A Dash of Megnut did on her Gingerbread Bundt. If you want to really boost the ginger flavor, you can make and add Alpha Foodie’s recipe for Crystallized (Candied) Ginger on top.

Recipe 

Print

Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Cooling TimeTime 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Equipment

• USA Pan Bakeware Muffin Pan, 12-Well, Aluminized Steel
• SUNNORN Large Cookie Scoop, 3 Tbsp Scoop
• Fat Daddio’s Round Cake Pan, 6 x 2 Inch, Silver
• King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour 3 Pounds
• Organic Brown Sugar Bulk Resealable bag (3lb)
• Organic Cane Sugar Crystals (5lb sugar packet)

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 1 cup King Arthur Measure for Measure Flour blend
• 1 tsp soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp clove
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Wet Ingredients

• 4 tbsp room temp butter
• 4 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 2 tbsp white granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 4 tbsp molasses
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 c. Lifeway Organic Plain Whole Milk 3.25% Kefir (added at end)

Instructions

• 20-30 minutes prior to baking, set out your butter and egg. This will make the butter soften, and allow your egg to blend together better when mixing.
• Combine flour, soda, salt and spices in a small bowl. Give it a whisk until all ingredients are blended together, and then set aside.
• In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together softened butter and brown sugar. This will take 2-3 minutes.
• Add room temperature egg to creamed butter and sugar, and blend. Then add molasses and vanilla, and whisk again until all ingredients are creamy. *Note- I find it easier to measure molasses if i spray the measuring cup with cooking spray first. This makes the molasses come out of the measuring cup, easier.
• Alternate adding the flour mixture and the kefir to the wet ingredients, until all ingredients are added and batter is creamy.
• Preheat the oven to 350, and allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes prior to baking.
• Pour the batter into a greased 6" pan, and place on top of a cookie sheet in the oven. (I find it makes it easier to place/ remove from the oven, as well as catch any batter if it overflows.)
• Bake 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool 5 minutes in pan.
• Remove cake from pan on to baking rack to cool completely before frosting or serving.
• Frost with a buttercream or cream cheese frosting, and sprinkle with cinnamon, and/or top with candied nuts.
• To make as cupcakes, use a 3 tbsp (#20) large scoop to fill a lined muffin tin. This recipe should make 9- 10 cupcakes. Bake for 5 minutes at 400 degrees, then drop the temperature to 350 and bake for an additional 12 minutes. Remove muffin tin from oven, and place individual cupcakes on a rack to cool. (I don't recommend leaving the cupcakes in the tin to cool.)
• To frost cupcakes- I used a 1.5 tbsp (#40) small scoop to dollop on the frosting, then used an offset spatula to spread the frosting. I sprinkled them with a cinnamon and sugar blend.
• To make as a bundt – Double the recipe ingredients and bake in a greased 8-12 cup bundt pan. (I simply used cooking spray. Remember to spray the inner tube as well.) Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes (if baking in a 12 cup pan.) Standard bundt pan cooking times range from 35-55 minutes, depending on how much batter you have in the pan.
• Once the cake is full cooked, remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Then gently invert the pan onto a baking rack to allow it to compleetly cool. (You may to loosen the sides of the cake with a knife before flipping it over.
• Once cake is fully cooled, cover with powdered sugar or your preferred glaze.

Notes

Inspiration for this recipe was taken from King Arthur Baking's recipe for Gingerbread Cake.

**Lifeway Foods sponsored this post. This post does contain affiliate links. Purchases made through those links help support this blog with no extra expense to you. Thank you for your continued support!**

Originally Published Dec 2021

The post Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Michigan Businesses

Sweet Bree’s – $85 Workshop (Clinton Twp.)

Sweet Bree’s is offering a gluten free gingerbread house in-person workshop on Dec. 13th from 10 am – 1 pm. Click here to register.

They also offer gluten free gingerbread house kits for purchase. They are available for pickup on December 5th or 6th. Cost is $60.

Everything is Gluten Free – $25 (Brighton, MI)

Everything is Gluten Free is offering Gluten Free Gingerbread House Kits for $25. The kit includes baked gingerbread and frosting. Click this link to order. Pick-up is December 24th.

Everything is Gluten Free will be at the Showplace Collection Michigan Makers Market on December 13th. While they will not have Gingerbread Houses available there, they will lots of other gluten free baked goods. This includes breads and other sweet baked goods.

G 3 Food 4 All – $30? (Lansing, MI)

G 3 Food 4 All in Lansing, MI plans to offer Gluten Free Gingerbread House Kits at the Dewitt Christmas Market on December 6th, 2025. They will also be available at the Allen Street Market on December 10th & 17th, 2025.

Whippin’ Good Eats – $30 (Grand Rapids area, MI)

Whippin’ Good Eats offers Gluten Free Gingerbread House Kits that are gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and soy and coconut free.

The “5”W x 6″H House Kit includes: House pieces (1 front, 1 back, 2 walls, 2 roof sides, 1 door, 2 gingerbread men), 2 YumEarth mini candy canes, 1 YumEarth giggles, 2 Red Bird peppermint candy puffs, 0.5 oz Watkins natural rainbow sprinkles, 2 – 5 oz bags icing glue, cake board and instructions.”

She “will be selling only a handful along with other goodies at the “Lights on Creston” (Grand Rapids, MI) on December 17, 4–8 PM, Creston Neighborhood’s Christmas Event.

Pre-orders for pick up will be available on her Facebook page starting December 2nd – December 9th. Pick-up only (Wyoming, MI) will be December 19 – 21.

Businesses Outside Michigan That Offer Nationwide Shipping

Little GF Chefs – $35 *Top 9 Allergen Free, Certified Vegan

This certified gluten free kit from Little GF Chefs comes in one adorable decorative house box that includes all of the dry ingredients, house cookie cutters, and decorating supplies you’ll need! That includes cookie mix, white chocolate icing, and candies for decorating.

Click here to order the gingerbread house kit, and also take a look at the other GF Holiday Baking kits they have to offer! SAVE 10% WITH THE CODE MIGFGAL.

Annie May’s Sweet Cafe – $65 *Top 9 Allergen Free

Annie May’s kit is free from the top 9 allergens, and corn. It includes pieces for one house, one bag of white frosting, the decorating board and candy. I’ve tried her baked goods and their amazing! Click here to order. Last Day to Order – Dec 15, 2024

A & J Bakery – $49.95 (currently on sale for $44.98)

A & J Bakery makes many holiday gluten free treats. Their gluten free Gingerbread House kits includes pre baked walls, but does not include frosting. Click here for more information.

BabyCakes/ Erin McKenna- $139.95 (Yes, $139.95)

Erin McKenna’s gluten free bakery, BabyCakes, is the stuff of legend. If you’d like to have one of their gluten free gingerbread house kits, you can order them through GoldBelly.

Yum Earth – $29.99 *Top 9 Allergen Free

2021 marks the first year that Yum Earth has offered their Allergy Friendly Gingerbread House Kit. It contains a gluten free gingerbread mix,. instead of cut out pieces.

“Our kit includes all of the dry ingredients, house shaped cookie cutters, disposable piping bag, parchment paper, festive sprinkles and our Candy Cane Lollipops and Jelly Beans to decorate your house!”

Free from the top 9 allergens. It also contains no high fructose corn syrup or artificial dyes. Order directly from their website.

Nuflours Gluten Free Gingerbread House Kit – $38.50

Make Your Own GF Gingerbread House From Scratch

GF Jules Graham Cracker / Gingerbread Mix – 11.99

GF Jules doesn’t sell gluten free gingerbread house kits with premade walls. However,  she does explain how to make a gluten free gingerbread house with her gingerbread mix. Her website shares templates for cutting the walls and making the frosting.

Wilton Cookie Cutter Set – $16.99

Don’t want to fuss with templates? This Wilton Gingerbread House Cutter set (affiliate link) allows you to easily create the walls of your gingerbread house. Use GF Jules mix, or my gluten free Gingerbread Cookie Recipe. Or try this with peppermint candies! Get a guide from Sugartown Sweets.

Gluten Free Graham Cracker Gingerbread House

Of course, you can also make a gingerbread house out of graham crackers. Grab decoration instructions from Eat At Our Table’s Easy Gluten Free Gingerbread Houses blog post. Can’t find gluten free graham crackers in your local store? You can now order them online thru the Schar website!

**This post is not sponsored. However, it does contain affiliate links. Purchases made through those links, or the Amazon search bar above, help support this blog with no extra expense to you.  Thank you for your continued support!**

Originally Published November 2023

The post Gluten Free Gingerbread House Kits appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

A while back, I asked my Facebook friends which cookies they eat during Christmas time. Many of the Cultural Gluten Free Christmas Cookies listed below are suggestions from them. For transparency, I have not made each of the recipes listed here. However, I do know many of these bakers well, and I guarantee they won’t steer you wrong!

P.S. Some of these Cultural Gluten Free Christmas Cookies may be attributed to cultures other than what you are used to. I simply listed them based on the research I did (a.k.a. their blub on Wikipedia.) Regardless of where these cookies originate, I think we can all agree they taste wonderful. Happy baking!

German Gluten Free Christmas Cookies  – Zimtsterne

I recently shared this recipe for Gluten Free Cinnamon Stars (Zimtsterne) on my blog. In addition, I shared how these naturally gluten free (and dairy free!) cookies brought me such great joy when a close friend and her mother made them for me. They require a bit of work, but are well worth it!

German Gluten Free Christmas Cookies- Spritz

Recently I shared these Gluten Free Spritz Cookies by my friend Flippin Delicious on my Facebook page. It practically went viral! Apparently, many people miss these cookies and have been looking for this recipe. Having made spritz cookies over the years, I can attest that they are fun to make. Most cookie presses also have disk shapes for other parts of the year, so pin this recipe to keep it handy!

English Gluten Free Christmas Cookies – Gingerbread Cookies

Regardless of where these Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies originate, Christmas isn’t the same without them. Gingerbread originated in Greece, while the cookies we know and love started with Queen Elizabeth the first. My above recipe uses shortening, and no eggs. Which makes them vegan! So get on a roll and get baking!

Dutch Gluten Free Christmas Cookies – Pfeffernusse

If you Google Gluten Free Pfeffernusse Cookies, this recipe from my friend Sandi at Fearless Dining tops the list. She explains in her post how Pfeffernusse cookies were part of this childhood. However, now he needed them recreated into a gluten free version. Of course she obliged, and the rest is history! She has a plethora of other cookie recipes on her site you should check out as well!

French Gluten Free Christmas Cookies  – Macarons

Like many other cookies on this list, these Gluten Free Peppermint Macarons from What the Fork start with almond flour. Which therefore makes them naturally gluten free and grain free! Macarons (one “o”) originate from France. (Fun note- my husband and I met in French class in college!) They do not contain (usually) coconut, lest you confuse them with macaroons. (two “o”s) These take a steady hand, and some practice, but are worth attempting!

Belgian Gluten Free Christmas Cookies – Speculaas

Peter Bronksi, of “No Gluten, No Problem,” shared his family recipe for Gluten Free Belgian Speculaas. Pretty special, considering it dates back to the 19th century! The spelling “Speculaas” is a variation of Speculoos, the foundation of the Trader Joe’s cookie butter we all wish we could eat. Would it be odd if we made a batch of these cookies, just so we can have cookie butter? I don’t think so!

Austrian Gluten Free Christmas Cookies – Linzer Cookies

These cookies always impressed me. I love the window of jam, sandwiches between two cookies. In addition to being gluten free, these Gluten Free Linzer Cookies from The Pretty Bee are also vegan. No dairy! No eggs! Now that will put a Christmas jingle in your step!

Russian Gluten Free Christmas Cookies – Tea Cakes

These Cultural Gluten Free Christmas cookies go by many names. Mexican Wedding Cookies. Snowballs. Russian Tea Cakes. On Facebook, people raved about how much they love these cookies. Therefore, I knew I had to include this recipe for Gluten Free Russian Tea Cookies by The Real Food Dietitians! Nuts + powdered sugar = delicious!

Scottish Gluten Free Christmas Cookies – Shortbread

Traditional Scottish shortbread starts with Oat Flour. However, I had a follower ask for a shortbread cookie recipe that did not include rice. I found this recipe for Gluten Free Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies by King Arthur Flour. (Which is ironic, because I used Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour to make these, lol.) They came together easily, and my non-gf husband said they tasted delicious!

Italian Gluten Free Christmas Cookies – Pizzelles

Many mentioned on Facebook that they miss pizzelles. If you want a quick fix, Bella Lucia makes certified gluten free pizzelles in a range of flavors. However if you want to make a batch with the family, check out this recipe for Gluten Free Pizzelle from my friend, GF Jules.

Polish Gluten Free Christmas Cookies – Kolaczki

Michigan is home to a large Polish community. Therefore, I am no stranger to Kolaczki. Many purchase them from Rumi’s Passion in greater Detroit. However, if your family tradition involves making them, you’ll want to view this Polish Kolaczki Apricot Filled Cookies recipe from The Well Essentials. People use various filings for these Cultural Gluten Free Christmas Cookies, and you don’t have to stick with apricot.

Jewish Gluten Free Cookies – Rugelach

Technically, rugelach are a Jewish dessert. And since Jews celebrate Hanukkah and not Christmas, one may not technically call these Christmas cookies. However, some of my Facebook followers stated they make rugelach this time of year. Therefore, I chose to add this recipe for Chocolate Gluten Free Rugelach by Bakerita to the list. Most recipes on her site are gluten, dairy and refined sugar free. (These rugelach, however, do contain dairy.)

What traditional, cultural gluten free Christmas Cookies do you make in your family? Please leave a note, and a recipe link, below! 

The post Cultural Gluten Free Christmas Cookies appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.