Make the most of your holidays by baking up gluten-free Christmas cookies that everyone can enjoy!
28 Best Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies
Updated on Oct. 06, 2024
French Macarons
If you’re looking for gluten-free Christmas cookie recipes, macarons are an Insta-worthy must. Here, homemade buttercream is sandwiched between light almond cookies for this stylish holiday showstopper. Play with the cookie coloring and filling flavor to make a version all your own.
1/28
Amaretti
Thanks to their crackly, sugar-dusted tops, amaretti look especially wintry—a shoo-in for your cookie platter. Plus, these Italian Christmas cookies are traditionally made with almond flour, so they’re naturally gluten-free. No flour substitutions needed!
2/28
3/28
Sparkly Meringue Snowmen
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
About 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
For my son’s first Christmas home from Iraq, I wanted everything to feel magical. He loves meringue cookies, so I made a big batch of minty snowmen and snowflakes. —Patricia Lindsay, Independence, Kansas
These sweet little snowmen are made with four simple ingredients—no flour in sight. They’re crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and super-duper cute!
4/28
Gluten-Free Almond Crispies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a wonderful treat everyone in the family can enjoy. Ideal with milk or tea, these cookies have cinnamon and maple in every crunchy bite. —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin
These crunchy Christmas cookies are sweetened with maple syrup and cinnamon. They’re not as sweet as traditional cookies, but have a nice almond flavor.
5/28
Almond-Pecan Date Truffles
Total Time
20 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughter and I came across a date candy recipe when she was learning about ancient Egypt. We changed some of the spices and nuts to suit our tastes. My dad was a beekeeper and Mom always made a coconut date ball for Christmas. The truffles remind me of past Christmases and are ideal for something quick yet festive on a holiday tray. —Lori Daniels, Beverly, West Virginia
This no-bake recipe only has six ingredients! Ready in under a half hour, they’re flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg for a Christmas touch.
6/28
Air-Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
An iconic American cookie, this version is so easy to mix up and bakes even faster in the air fryer. Cookie cravings can now be satisfied in mere minutes now. —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
This version of the iconic cookie bakes even faster in the air fryer. With just three ingredients, egg, sugar and peanut butter, these cookies are ready in minutes.
7/28
Gluten-Free Fig Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These special cookies definitely don’t taste gluten-free. For added appeal, I soak the figs overnight in a mixture of port and pomegranate juice. Twinkle30 - Tasteofhome.com community
Thanks to flaky crust and a rich filling, these special cookies don’t taste gluten-free. Plan ahead for this recipe—the figs need to be soaked overnight, but the results are worth the wait.
8/28
Gluten-Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 dozen cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These gluten-free chocolate crinkle cookies are a family favorite. The ground almonds make them even better. —Karen Kelly, Germantown, Maryland
Ground almonds give these classic crinkle cookies a nutty flavor and a tender bite. They take just 30 minutes to make!
9/28
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will stand in line to kiss the cook when these treats are served!
For a change of pace, try them with chunky peanut butter, too. —Canada60, Tasteofhome.com Community
Our Test Kitchen and community reviewers love that these chocolate kiss cookies taste just like the classic gluten-filled version. They’re so good, in fact, we named them among our top 10 gluten-free recipes.
10/28
Gluten-Free Spritz Delights
Total Time
35 min
Servings
8-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughter has Down syndrome and loves hosting parties, especially on holidays. Cookies always took center stage until she was diagnosed with celiac disease. I decided then to take on gluten-free baking, and these are the best yet—a cross between a shortbread and a sugar cookie. —Cheryl Costilow, Amherst, Ohio
A cross between a sugar and a shortbread cookie, these light, melt-in-your-mouth treats are a holiday must. Even without frosting, they’ll demand attention on a gluten-free Christmas cookie tray.
11/28
Chocolate Meringue Stars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These light, delicate chocolate meringue cookies are always a hit. Their big chocolate flavor makes it difficult to keep the kids away before they're on the cookie tray! —Edna F. Lee, Greeley, Colorado
These chocolate meringues have a delicate texture but big cocoa flavor. We love the star shape—a whimsical wink to the holiday season.
12/28
Gluten-Free Snowballs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I took a classic holiday cookie and made it gluten-free. It’s now my husband’s favorite Christmas cookie. They’re so buttery, nutty and sweet—and everyone loves how they crumble in your mouth.
—Joan Sarge, Asheville, North Carolina
Buttery, nutty and sweet, these snowball cookies crumble in your mouth. Make them for Christmas or any time the snow flies.
13/28
Peppermint Meringue Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Peppermint lovers won't be able to get enough of these light and airy delights. They make terrific Christmas gifts or lovely treats to pass around when guests drop in. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois
14/28
Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Only four ingredients and one bowl are needed for these healthy peanut butter cookies. If you want to make this recipe gluten free, make sure the oat bran was made in a certified gluten-free facility. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
If you want to make this recipe gluten free, make sure the oat bran was made in a certified gluten-free facility. These four ingredient cookies are surely worth the effort with their sweet maple flavor.
15/28
Church Window Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These church window cookies are a hit with kids—the little ones just love the colored marshmallows! —Emmilie Gaston, Wabash, Indiana
These festive treats sparkle not only during the holidays but also for other occasions year-round. Use colored sugar or food coloring to change things up.
17/28
Cashew Butter Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
20 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These cashew butter cookies are on a more sophisticated level than peanut butter. They are vegan and gluten-free, so you'll be able to share with all your friends. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
These cashew butter cookies are on a more sophisticated level than peanut butter. The fork prints make for a nice pattern on the cookies
18/28
Mocha-Walnut Macarons
Total Time
50 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This cookie perfectly captures the chocolaty, nutty flavor of my favorite gourmet coffee. —Christine Venzon, Peoria, Illinois
These chocolatey and nutty cookies are a coffee lover’s dream. Be sure to store them in an airtight container to make them last just a little longer.
19/28
Cherry No-Bake Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I always loved my no-bake cookie recipe, but I was never able to place at the fair with it. So I mixed in some maraschino cherries, added almond extract and voila! I won a blue ribbon at the county fair in 2010. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
Because these gluten-free cookie balls don’t need an oven, you can roll up a batch while another treat bakes. Cherries lend sweetness (and a touch of holiday color!) to these easy chocolate-peanut butter bites.
These cakelike goodies are wonderful with a cold glass of milk. You can also use this recipe as a base and mix in dried cranberries or cherries, nuts or other extracts.
20/28
21/28
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.—Amy Tong, Anaheim, California
With only five ingredients, these gorgeous, glossy meringues are easier to make than they look. They taste like chocolate-covered strawberries—unlike any other Christmas cookie you’ll try.
22/28
Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These chilly gluten-free ice cream sandwiches are perfect for hot, sunny days. The gluten-free chocolate cookie is so tasty you could eat it plain…but you won't want to miss out on the ice cream! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
The gluten-free chocolate cookie is so tasty you could eat it plain…but you won’t want to miss out on the ice cream! They’re perfect for a night by the fire.
23/28
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I can’t consume gluten, so I’ve transformed my favorite recipes to fit my diet. I came up with these cakelike cookies, and no one ever guesses they’re gluten free. —Becki DiMercurio, Martinez, California
These nutty, sugar-dusted cookies taste like a grown-up version of chocolate cake! Kahlua delivers an extra pop of flavor.
24/28
Meringue Kisses
Total Time
45 min
Servings
44 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
There's a nice chocolaty surprise inside these sweet kisses. They're my husband's top choice each Christmas.—Tami Henke, Lockport, Illinois
You’ll find a chocolaty surprise tucked inside each of these gluten-free cookies. Make them red and green for Christmas, or stick to white to highlight that dusting of cocoa.
25/28
Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I had been searching for a dessert to make for my brother's girlfriend (who is gluten intolerant), and I came across a naturally gluten-free dessert—a flourless peanut butter cookie. After tweaking the recipe a bit and adding Nutella and a sprinkling of sea salt, I finally found the perfect cookie for her. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
Rejoice: These flourless peanut butter cookies are naturally gluten-free. Nutella filling and a shower of sea salt make them an upscale option for a Christmas cookie platter.
26/28
Winter Fruit Macaroons
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Coconut macaroons with sweetened condensed milk instead of egg whites are my version of a recipe my mom loved. All you do is mix, drop and bake. —Veronica Miller, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Jammy dried fruit adds loads of flavor to this holiday spin on coconut macaroons. The recipe has a secret ingredient, too: Sweetened condensed milk makes them extra rich!
27/28
Gluten-Free Sugarplums
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Lots of moist, fruity flavor and nutty crunch give these sweet/spicy bites a
kind of gumdrop richness. They make a delicious addition to cookie trays. Sneak one early—they’ll be gone before you can lick the sugar off your fingers!
—Corleen Heidgerken, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The deeply fruity flavor makes us think of gumdrops when we eat these sweet and spicy bites. Sneak one early—they’ll be gone before you can lick the sugar off your fingers!
28/28
Gluten-Free Almond Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My friend loved these gluten-free almond cookies so much, she had to ask for the recipe! Quick and easy, they taste as good as the decadent treats I make using puff pastry and almond paste. Everyone loves them! —Sherri Cox, Lucasville, Ohio
Quick and easy almond cookies are a simple addition to your Christmas cookie suite, but they work beautifully at any time of year. They’re crisp, light and look good on any table.
