These soft gluten free gingerbread cookies are melt-in-your-mouth amazing. Warm ginger and cinnamon spices, with a pillow-y soft almond flour base. These cookies are about to be your new favourite!
If you didn't hear me say it here, gingerbread is one of my favourite festive flavours. The mix of warming spices always reminds me of Christmas lights, cozy movies, and spending time with my family. As much as I do love gingerbread, I'm actually only a fan of the crunchy variety when it's part of a gingerbread house competition! Given my love for soft cookies, I knew I had to share my gluten free gingerbread cookies, perfect with a cup of tea or hot cocoa on the side.
Table of contents
Why You Need These Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Soft, warming and delicious, you NEED to give these cookies a go!
- Gluten free- While I'm not gluten free myself, I love making treats that accommodate all my family's dietary restrictions. Everyone deserves to enjoy holiday cookies, regardless!
- Healthy fats- Thanks to the almond flour, this recipe has tons of healthy fats.
- Simple- I love baking but sometimes it's nice to just whip out a simple recipe. This one is super beginner friendly! It's gingerbread without the hassle.
Main Ingredients
- Almond flour- This is what makes the recipe gluten free. I haven't tried any other flour, but if you do let me know how it went in the comments.
- Coconut oil- You can also swap with another neutral-tasting oil or butter if you are not dairy-free.
- Molasses and maple syrup- Molasses is important for the gingerbread flavour, but I like the extra warmth that comes when you mix it with some maple syrup.
- Spices- As you might have guessed, we're bringing in all the essentials: cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg! If you don't have one of them it's fine to leave out, but definitely keep in the cinnamon and ginger.
- Coconut sugar- I know not everyone has this on hand, so I'd recommend swapping for brown sugar.
How to Make These Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies
*Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.*
In a medium bowl combine combine almond flour, baking powder, spices and salt and set aside.
In another medium sized bowl, combine coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla and molasses and whisk until smooth.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredient mixture and stir until combined.
Place dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (this is important- do not skip this step)!!
Once chilled, remove dough and roll into 12 balls (about 2 tablespoon worth).
Roll balls in coconut sugar and place on a prepared baking sheet.
Gently press down on each cookie dough ball using the palm of your hand (until dough is about ½ an inch thick).
Bake for about 12 minutes at 350F.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store these gluten free gingerbread cookies in the fridge. Alternatively, you can roll out the dough and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months (Yes, they bake from frozen!).
Since this is a soft cookie recipe, I'm not sure how well it would work if you roll it out and use cookie cutters. Definitely let me know in the comments if you try it!
More Holiday Recipes You Might Like
Are you caught up on cookie week? Let me bring you up to speed!
- Day 1: 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Day 2: Gluten Free and Vegan Sugar Cookies
- Day 3: Gingerbread Air Fryer Cookie (exclusive to social media)
- Day 4: White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
P.S. I LOVE SEEING MY RECIPES IN ACTION! IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE THESE GINGERBREAD COOKIES, DON’T FORGET TO TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM -@NOURISHEDBYNIC OR LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!
📖 Recipe
Soft Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon Nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl combine almond flour, baking powder, spices and salt and set aside.
- In another medium sized bowl, combine coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla and molasses and whisk until smooth
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredient mixture and stir until combined.
- Place dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (this is important- do not skip this step)!!
- Once chilled, remove dough and roll into balls (about 2 tablespoon worth).
- Roll balls in coconut sugar and place on a prepared baking sheet, gently press down on each cookie dough ball using the palm of your hand (until dough is about ½ an inch thick).
- Bake for about 12 minutes at 350F.
Alex says
I'd love to make your cookies, but I have a few questions first:
If I didn't want to use coconut oil (2 tablespoons melted) could I straight swap for 2 tablespoons of melted butter please?
If I didn't have molasses (1/4 cup), can I just add more brown sugar instead please? (So 1/2 cup of brown sugar in total?)
Thank you in advance for your reply, I can't wait to make these soon!
Nicole Addison says
Hi Alex! Yes butter can absolutely be used in place of the coconut oil. For the molasses substitute I have not tested this version however you shouldn't have a problem swapping the two! If you decide to try, please let me know how they turn out.
Karen Jeffers says
Too dry and just crumble. ☹️
Nicole Addison says
Hi Karen- Sorry you didn't love these! Did you perhaps skip chilling the dough? I always find this is a very crucial step to ensure the dough is as moist as we want it and the cookies hold together well!
Sharon says
Hi, just putting in my substitution ten cents worth...
I substituted a dark honey (stringy bark) for the molasses and the texture was lovely and chewy. May need to cook for a bit longer at 170 Celsius.
I also used grated fresh ginger which was very successful and left out the cloves as my husband doesn’t like the flavour.
Nicole Addison says
Hi Sharon- great ideas thanks for sharing!
Jennifer says
Really easy and delicious!
Leandra Scaccia says
This is the second time I’ve made these and they’ve been a hit both times!!! My guests loved the cookies and they’re sooooo easy to do. Love the good ingredients too- it’s nice to know that good things are going into these cookies 🫶🏻
Melody Stewart says
Really liked these! Thanks for the gluten free recipe!!
Leandra Scaccia says
SO GOOD! And super simple recipe to follow. Loved this! Definitely going to make it again for Christmas. #nourishedholiday