The holidays are about twinkling lights and candlelit nights. Snow-covered trees and doors decked with wreathes.
Oh, and cookies. Let’s not forget the cookies.
If you’re cutting grains from your diet this holiday season, though, you might be having a tough time in the cookie department. Traditionally, grain-free treats are a bit, well, bland. Take out that pure white flour, the recipes order. While you’re at it, that perfectly sweet sugar, too. And what do you often get? Desserts that are dry, chalky, and downright (and ironically) grainy.
But don’t lose your cheer, my dear: We have some cookies for you. Grain-free, gluten-free, made without refined sugar, and dipped in dark chocolate, our recipe for no-puff sugar cookies is one that Mrs. Claus would be happy to share with her round and plump hubby.
Thankfully, it has a short ingredient list. This is a big relief: Grain-free baking can call for some pretty crazy ingredients, sometimes requiring a full day of shopping just to hunt down hard-to-find items. This recipe calls for ingredients that are now carried in most traditional grocery stores. You may have to check the organic aisle for the almond flour, coconut flour, and coconut sugar, but they should be easy to find.
The other thing we love about this recipe is the way is comes together—and comes out. With a simple stir, you’ll have a soft, not-too-sticky dough that’s ready to cut into any shape you desire (we went with a miniature star cutter). Our final cookies were just a little larger than an inch wide, and they made perfect one-bite morsels. Once baked, they were soft with a touch of crispiness around the edges. Truly a perfect sugar cookie!
While using icing is fine, too, you can keep the healthy vibe going by dipping them into grain-sweetened chocolate candy coating. A little bit of coconut oil, too, will keep that chocolate perfectly smooth and help it dry without mottling. The cookies will look as good on your party table as they did in your kitchen.
When it comes to decorating, we kept it pretty simple by using holiday-colored sprinkles, but the sky is the limit here. Hit the baking aisle in your local craft store, and let your imagination fly! Nonpareils, jimmies, or even shaped sprinkles are just a’waitin’ to be put on your creations!
Ready to snack this winter? Read the recipe below, then keep scrolling to find a few more grain-free recipes that are perfect for your grain-free holidays.
Grain-Free, No-Puff Sugar Cookies
Yield: 40 1″ star cookies
Total Time: 30 minutes
- 6 Tbsp. butter, melted
- 1 ½ cups almond flour
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ tsp. almond or vanilla extract
- ¾ cup grain-sweetened chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
- Sprinkles
Heat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, stir together melted butter, almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, egg, and extract. Once a soft (but not sticky) dough forms, turn out onto a separate piece of parchment, knead slightly, then cover with parchment and roll to ¼” thick.
Using any cookie cutter you prefer, cut shortbread into shapes. Transfer to the baking sheet. Bake for 5–7 minutes, or just until the edges turn a light golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil together in 20-second bursts, stirring in between, until smooth. Dip cookies into chocolate.
Transfer to a piece of parchment. Sprinkle. Refrigerate or allow chocolate to harden. Enjoy!
A Few More Grain-Free Favorites
Honey Gingerbread Cookies
You will be shocked at how beautifully this recipe for paleo honey gingerbread cookies bakes up!
You might think it’s impossible to build a truly tasty gingerbread house without flour and sugar, but this honey-sweetened recipe is as scrumptious as gingerbread can be.
Added bonus: It bakes up into the most crisp, perfect pieces that don’t puff once baked. So you can finally print those gingerbread house plans from the internet and create a homemade house that looks just like it does on Pinterest. Paleo win!
Lemon Macadamia Nut Cookies
Looking for a truly stunning holiday cookie? Brighten up the dessert table with these zesty lemon macadamia nut cookies.
They’re so gorgeous, you’d never guess they are grain-free! Friends who love lemon bars are going to go ga-ga over these tasty little bites. They’re a mouth-watering addition to classic holiday flavors. They look beautiful surrounded by sugared lemons, too!
Sea Salt Maple Chocolate Chip Cookies
Upgrade classic chocolate chip cookies with a seasonal maple flavor. These simple sea salt maple chocolate chip cookies are grainless, and they may be the best you’ll ever share.
It’s hard to stop noshing on these lovely little cookies, which are a bit like chocolate shortbread. The coconut and almond flour add a lot of flavor. These delectable treats are great for packaging and gifting to grain-free friends.
Mexican Hot Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Can we say hot-hot-hot? These Mexican hot chocolate sugar cookie showcase some of the most delicious flavor combos every married in a cookie. We’ve already got a glass of chilled almond milk in hand, and we’re ready to dip!
These cookies add a fun flavor twist to the usual sugar cookie. Since they’re totally gluten free with an avocado somehow thrown in the mix, we’re all in all kinds of love with this recipe.
Wholesome Brownie Gingerbread Men
Okay, okay. These wholesome brownie gingerbread men technically aren’t cookies, but you do get to use a cookie cutter for these no-flour, chocolately dudes. Plus, they’re cute, so we’re counting them.
Made with a gluten-free flour blend and cocoa powder, these sweet little gingerbread men are a great way to give your chocolate craving some serious attention. Just bake up a pan of fudgy brownies, let them cool, and cut them into the timeless gingerbread man shape. As much an activity as they are treats, these cute little guys are a party must!
Paleo Thumbprint Cookies
What would the holidays be without pretty thumbprint cookies to complete the treat table? We love these Linzer torte paleo thumbprint cookies, which are made with a dollop of store-bought, all-fruit jam.
Lexi’s Clean Kitchen used seedless berry jam in the examples above, but feel free to switch up your centers and make a whole array of colorful cookies. Orange, apricot, blackberry, and raspberry all make for beautiful little bites.
Happy Cookie Season!
With so many cookie possibilities, it’s going to be a great grain-free holiday! Can’t wait to see what you cook up in your own kitchen. And, as always, we’d love if you’d tag us in in your creations—@healthwaymedia on Instagram.
Happy, happy baking!