The Easiest Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes to Try at Home
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Time to read: 9 min
Who thought the world’s yummiest cookies happen to be gluten-free and vegan?
The world of gluten-free cookies is vast, from lemon drops to Macha shortbread and the favorite peanut butter chocolate chip- there’s no discrimination and absolutely no lack of deliciousness.
As for texture, we’ve got one for everyone in your family - from chewy to crispy and perfectly crumbly, cookies you can dunk and soft cookies that melt in your mouth.
You don’t need a ton of steps and special equipment to whip up great gluten-free cookies; just the right swaps and a few baking basics. These recipes use our signature gluten-free flour swaps and the simplest baking techniques for perfect texture without a hint of gluten.
Table of content
1. Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe 2. Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies 3. Healthy Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies 4. Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe 5. Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookies Without Gluten 6. Gluten-Free Matcha Shortbread Cookies 7. Zero Gluten Marbled Sugar Cookies Save Big with Our Detox Swap Bundles 8. Panera Lemon Drop Cookies Recipe 9. Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies 10. Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies Recipe Tips for Baking the Perfect Gluten-Free Cookies Take Away - The Best Cookies for Every Dietary Preference
Benefits of Gluten-Free Baking
Gluten is a protein found in many grains. It acts as a binding agent in baking, helps your pizza dough rise, and makes your cookies perfectly chewy. But for some people, it can cause serious digestive issues and sometimes allergy, weakness, breathing difficulty, and similar body-wide symptoms . Such individuals can only enjoy puffs and pastries through gluten-free baking.
Research indicates that about 83% of celiac disease (gluten intolerance) cases are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. It’s thousands of individuals living on the edge when all they need is a step towards a gluten free lifestyle.
The Only Treatment That’s Also Yummy
Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance has no cure or treatment. The only way to enjoy a good quality life with these issues is by following a 100% gluten-free diet. The gluten-free baking approach can not only reverse the adverse effects this protein causes but also lets us enjoy life’s sweetest gift: Desserts.
A Field Day for Your Stomach
Eating gluten (when you should not) can cause serious effects on your digestion, sometimes incurable. When you finally make the transition into gluten-free baking, your digestive tract will thank you the most. Staying true to a gluten free lifestyle can help your digestive tract recover and come back stronger than ever.
No Compromise on Any Nutrient
Gluten can damage the intestine walls, decreasing their efficacy in absorbing other nutrients like iron, folate, calcium, and vitamin D. That’s why many gluten-sensitive people also suffer from anemia and weak bones. All this can be prevented with gluten-free baking. You can create delicious desserts at home with all the essential nutrients to improve your body's health.
See Through the Brain Fog
Gluten’s side effects aren’t just limited to gas, bloating, and bowel problems; it can even affect your brain. People allergic to this protein experience more brain fog, confusion, and mental problems when they eat everyday baked goods. In contrast, eating clean, low-sugar, gluten-free cookies has no prominent effect on your brain.
A Quick Note on Gluten Replacement in Cookies
All of our cookie recipes use Detox Desserts’ signature Whole-Grain Flour Swap and Grain-Free Flour Swap, both being absolutely ZERO gluten. These swaps feature much more fiber content than traditional bakery cookies and are also free of added sugar.
1. Whole-Grain Flour Swap - It’s a nutritious blend of gluten-free grains like oats, and buckwheat, with added fiber from Whole Psyllium Husk. All of these ingredients feed healthy gut bacteria, promote digestion, and provide the feeling of fullness. Plus, they contain a protein punch too.
2. Grain-Free Flour Swap - Perfect for Keto and Paleo diets, this naturally sweet grain alternative helps you cut carbs from the diet without missing out on fiber. The three star ingredients are Whole Psyllium Husk, organic coconut flour, and almond flour–a trio packed with good fats, protein, and, of course, gut-healthy fiber.
You can choose whichever flour swap works for your dietary needs. Or use our favorite method and use both flours in equal parts! The recipes below provide instructions on baking cookies with both of these gluten-free flour substitutes as well as with healthier alternatives to sugar, butter, dairy, and eggs.
The Best Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes
Whoever said you must sacrifice freshly-baked treats being gluten-free clearly didn’t try our diet-friendly cookies. Try your favorite gluten-free cookie recipe below and rest assured, you’ll be coming back for more!
1. Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe
The festive season brings with it the warming aroma of cinnamon and the signature ‘tang’ of a traditional snickerdoodle cookie. Our take on this gluten-free cookie recipe will soon become your new Christmas favorite (though it’s beloved regardless of season).
Invest just 20 minutes and enjoy a soft, chewy cinnamon-spiced cookie you can’t get enough of.
Quick Nutrition Notes
Each cookie is gluten-free and contains only 3g of net carbs
Holds 5g protein and 6g fiber for long-lasting fullness
2. Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
Everyone loves peanut butter cookies. If you’ve been skipping them due to gluten sensitivity, it’s time to get your lost love back. This is the best gluten-free cookie recipe you can use with your favorite unsweetened PB that stays true to the traditional chewy texture.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can create your own nostalgic Nutter Butter cookies without the requisite guilt!
Quick Nutrition Notes
A hefty 7g of protein per cookie
6 times less net carbs than traditional peanut butter cookies
3. Healthy Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies
We all turn to oatmeal cookies as a healthier baking option. But here’s the moment of truth; they’re not any different.
However, this gluten-free oatmeal cookie recipe makes all the difference. Our version is packed with fiber, healthy carbs, and protein-rich satisfaction.
These aromatic cookies are baked with just the right amount of spices. The crispy edges and chewy center make it a straight-out-of-bakery luxury.
Quick Nutrition Notes
Packed full of heart-healthy, fiber-dense, slowly digesting carbs
Absolutely 0g added sugar and 0mg of cholesterol
4. Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
I know you miss chocolate chip cookies since you turned gluten-free. It’s the perfect go-to sweet snack for most, so I created a recipe no one would miss.
This gluten-free chocolate cookie recipe creates heavenly, delicious treats without wreaking havoc on your body. The cookies are a balance of sweet, salty, and buttery–a taste combo even picky eaters can’t ignore.
Quick Nutrition Notes
3x more fiber than traditional chocolate chip cookies
Only 3g net carbs per cookie made with grain-free swap
5. Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookies Without Gluten
You can’t call yourself a Swiftie if you haven’t tried a diet-friendly version of the popular Taylor Swift chai cookies! Our version stays true to the original pop star's favorite, minus everything unhealthy.
This Gluten-free sugar cookie recipe with a hint of chai spice will take over as your household’s go-to fall favorite. People in my town love it at festivities, with evening coffee, or whenever they are in the mood for spice-filled sweets.
Quick Nutrition Notes
6x more fiber and only 3g net carb per cookie
Dairy-free yet creamy icing
6. Gluten-Free Matcha Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread lovers, hear me out. This matcha cookie recipe is going to be your new crumbly partner for an energetic day.
Matcha gives these small, buttery shortbread cookies a lightly sweet flavor, their signature green color, and an extra dose of antioxidants. But don’t add too much matcha; the cookies can turn bitter, and your mind will get overly alert.
Basically, if you’re sensitive to caffeine, only eat these cookies in the morning (or before a sweaty workout) because you will be stimulated.
Quick Nutrition Notes
Double the amount of protein than regular matcha cookies
Dairy-free, sugar-free, and vegan
7. Zero Gluten Marbled Sugar Cookies
Can’t decide between vanilla or chocolate? You don’t have to with this marbled sugar cookie recipe! Plus, this gluten-free sugar cookie recipe is ACTUALLY SUGAR-FREE!
They’re dense and chewy with a slightly crispy edge… just the way marble cookies should be! Made with a handful of simple ingredients, these homemade cookies take just 20 minutes to whip up. Their double-flavor fun can satisfy both chocolate and vanilla lovers.
Quick Nutrition Notes
A sugar cookie recipe with absolutely no trace of sugar
It contains far fewer calories, only 3g net carbs, and 6x the fiber
Save Big with Our Detox Swap Bundles
8. Panera Lemon Drop Cookies Recipe
Oh, sweet tang, these lemon drop cookies are life! They have all the softness of a pillowy cookie base with crisp edges that crumble with every bite. Plus, the zesty flavor is a showstopper.
The recipe requires a few amazingly simple ingredients and gets ready within minutes–right at your snack time. You can store them for days; the taste only gets better!
P.S. If you don’t mind some extra vitamins and minerals, top the cookies with lemon icing to add excitement.
Quick Nutrition Notes
Only 2g net carbs per cookie; a keto dream!
Double the amount of protein and far fewer calories than the traditional version
9. Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Always a crowd pleasing treat, these gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are perfect for the holiday and gifting season.
In a few simple steps, you will get a mouth-watering combination of the two most beloved flavors. Dunk these chewy cookies in hot coffee or your favorite plant milk for a hearty snack any time of day.
Quick Nutrition Notes
7g of protein and 8g of fiber to satisfy and fuel your body
Dairy-free, sugar-free, and vegan
10. Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies Recipe
This Gluten-free shortbread cookie recipe version is definitely up to par with regular gluten-filled delights you might miss on special occasions.
Snowball cookies are elegant sweets that are the stars of the festive season. However, our version is equally irresistible on regular days, too.
The recipe strikes the perfect balance of a crumbly, chewy texture that is often absent in gluten-free cookies. Yet, it’s sugar-free and tastes as special as your big day!
Quick Nutrition Notes
Snowball cookies with zero added sugar and a balanced sweetness
5g protein and only 3g net carbs per pair
Tips for Baking the Perfect Gluten-Free Cookies
Keep your Butter Swap at room temperature before making your cookies. Note that oil separation is normal in Butter Swap, and if it won’t stir well, give it a quick blend.
Always mix your Egg Swap with hot water. This helps the fiber in the flour swap to open up and absorb the moisture.
If your shortbread cookie dough is too dry to stick together, add avocado oil or extra-virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp at a time until you get a perfectly sticky dough.
Let your dough rest for 5 minutes after mixing the wet and dry ingredients. Then, mix for another minute before scooping and shaping your cookies.
Use a cookie scoop to keep the cookies the same size. This ensures your cookies will bake evenly.
If you plan to coat the cookies with powdered sugar swap, let them cool on the cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes first before rolling them in your preferred topping.
Watch your first batch closely to avoid overbaking. Remove your cookies when the tops start to crack or they get golden in color. They will continue to bake on the hot cookie sheet.
Make your cookies a day before you plan to indulge. Refrigerate them overnight to get the best taste and texture.
Take Away - The Best Cookies for Every Dietary Preference
Baking is fun, and nourishing sweets should help you feel great! If you don’t feel good after a sweet indulgence, gluten may be the culprit. Baking delicious gluten-free cookies is easy and will help avoid the gluten hangover.
If you don’t know where to start, stop hesitating and pick your favorite gluten-free cookie recipe from above. Get your ingredients ready and start whipping. Yes, it’s that simple!
Our recipes are made to suit people of all ages with varied dietary preferences. Plus, they’re many times more rewarding for your body without sacrificing any of your love for sweets.
