Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies for Christmas

Delicious gluten-free shortbread cookies are a quintessential holiday treat that really encapsulates the warmth and joy of the festive season. These delicate, buttery delights melt in your mouth, leaving behind a rich and crumbly texture that’s both comforting and indulgent. Each bite brings a burst of nostalgia and the magic of Christmas. Adorned with lots of gluten free sprinkles, we like to cut them into stars, snowflakes, and reindeer. Whether enjoyed with a cup of hot cocoa by the fireplace or shared with loved ones during gatherings, shortbread Christmas cookies are a cherished tradition that adds a touch of sweetness to the holiday festivities.

Recipe card and text updated 8/17/23

Traditional Shortbread Cookies, Now Gluten Free

Shortbread is on my short list of must-have cookies in my family. In fact, they are the only cookies I remember making with my mom. They were our version of the ubiquitous decorated sugar cookies that everyone seems to make this time of year. We would roll out the dough together, all the while my mother would admonish me to be careful not to work it too much or the cookies would become tough. I, in turn, have passed down this little nugget of info to my own children, who always seem to want to pound and roll the dough into oblivion. But this year, something dawned on me–does it really matter if the cookies are tough? Who eats them anyway? The kids, and Santa of course, but I know him very well (wink wink) and I think that Santa would eat tough cookies anyway because he knows they were made with love. (And also, I’ve relaxed a bit this year because gluten free cookies are less likely to get tough because you can’t overwork the gluten, now can you?)

I made a gluten free tart crust from Blackbird Bakery to go with a Cranberry Frangipane Tart that we enjoy every year at Thanksgiving. One bite told me that the crust would make perfect shortbread cookies–and it does. My kiddos can’t even tell the difference. Neither can Santa.

More gluten free holiday recipes to try:

• Gluten-Free Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake Recipe
• Gluten Free Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies
• Easy Pumpkin Gingerbread Cake – Gluten Free

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Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies

Alison Needham

These cookies are crisp and taste like buttah….just like shortbread cookies should. Roll them out and cut them into shapes, or press the dough into a large tart pan, score into wedges, prick with a fork before baking for a more traditional shortbread. You will need to increase the baking time, obvs.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 36 cookies

Calories 88 kcal

Equipment

• Stand Mixer

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons tapioca starch sometimes called tapoica flour
• ¾ cup cornstarch
• ¼ cup sweet rice flour plus more for dusting
• 6 tablespoons millet flour
• pinch of sea salt
• 1½ teaspoons xanthan gum
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup cold butter diced (2 sticks)
• 1 large egg beaten
• gluten free sprinkles for decorating

Instructions

 

• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the tapioca starch, cornstarch, sweet rice flour, millet flour, sea salt, xanthan gum and confectioners’ sugar. Beat on low to combine. Add the butter and continue to mix on low until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg and mix on medium-high until the mixture just comes together.
• Turn out onto a (rice) floured board and knead for several turns. Wrap in plastic and shape into a disk. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the dough from the fridge and take off the plastic wrap. Dust a board (or the table or counter) with rice flour and roll dough out to between ¼ and ⅛ inch thick. Cut into desired shapes and place 1-inch apart on a cookie sheet that’s been lined with parchment paper. Decorate with gluten free sprinkles, if desired.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cookies are very lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a rack. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cookiesCalories: 88kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 0.4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 46mgPotassium: 8mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 164IUCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mg

Keyword christmas cookies, gluten free christmas cookies, gluten free shortbread, gluten free shortbread cookies, holiday baking, holiday cookies, sprinkles

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