Gluten-free almond flour sugar cookies are light, crisp, and just sweet enough, perfect for Christmas gatherings or everyday treats. Keep them classic with a sprinkle of sugar, or dress them up with icing for a festive twist.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 1 hour 30 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 10
- 🍽 Calories: 89 kcals
- 📋 Main Ingredients: Almond flour, coconut flour, maple syrup, cane sugar, arrowroot powder.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, and vegan.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: The cookies are crisp, light, and subtly sweet all in an allergy-friendly way.
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If you’re looking for a gluten-free cookie that actually tastes like a real cookie and not a sad compromise, you’ve found it. These almond flour cutout cookies are simple, made from wholesome ingredients, and come out perfectly crisp with just a touch of sweetness, ideal for anyone scaling back on sugar but still craving a treat, kind of like these 3-ingredient protein cookies.
Personally, I love baking these with my kids because they feel festive without the sugar crash. They also make a killer dessert layered over c\peanut butter protein ice cream and topped with caramel magic shell (trust me, try it). And if you like this style of cookie, definitely check out these crispy hazelnut sugar cookies too, they’re just as snackable.
Jump To
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- 💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- Flavor Variations
- How To Make Gluten-Free Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
- Expert Tips
- How To Frost The Sugar Cookies
- Gluten-Free Almond Flour Sugar Cookie FAQs
- More Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes
- Gluten-Free Almond Flour Sugar Cookies (vegan)
💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
Allergy-friendly: The almond flour cookies are naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and vegan.
Easy to make: The recipe comes together quickly, and though they're delicate, even little ones can help do the cutouts!
Classic sugar cookie taste: These gluten-free sugar cookies are lighter than most traditional recipes but still have that classic, sweet, subtle nutty taste.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Almond flour: Though you can use almond meal for these cookies, almond flour will have a better texture and a prettier appearance. Learn the difference between ground almond and almond flour. It's also the base of protein gingerbread cookies.
Coconut sugar: Cane sugar works in place of coconut sugar if that's what you have. However, coconut sugar gives them a more "brown sugar" kind of taste.
Coconut oil: You must use coconut oil for the easy almond flour sugar cookies. Since it becomes firm when cooled, it's coconut oil that helps to hold the cookies together.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities
Flavor Variations
Extra nutty: Add some almond extract to the cookie dough before you chill it for some extra nutty flavor. This works nicely in a carrot mug cake too.
Toppings: Typically, I just sprinkle some extra cane sugar on top of our gluten-free sugar cookies. However, frosting them with dairy-free cream cheese frosting and sprinkling on chopped nuts makes them extra indulgent.
Cinnamon: Adding cinnamon gives a whole new warmth to the cookies and makes them pair perfectly with a dairy-free maple cinnamon latte.
How To Make Gluten-Free Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients for the vegan almond flour sugar cookies in a small bowl.
Step 2: Melt the coconut oil and pour in all wet ingredients. Mix well.
Step 3: Place the cookie dough onto plastic wrap. It will look crumbly!
Step 4: Press the mixture tightly, and chill for 45-60 minutes.
Step 5: Remove the cookie dough from the fridge and carefully roll it out. Cut out your cookies but be careful as they're very delicate.
Step 6: Use a silicone spatula to place the gluten-free cookies on a lined baking tray before baking for 10 minutes.
Expert Tips
I can't stress enough that the almond flour cookies are delicate. Even right from the cookie-cutting stage, they're delicate. So, you don't want to move them around too much after you use your cookie cutter. Use a thin silicone spatula to transfer them to a cookie sheet.
The cookie dough may be hard to roll coming out of the fridge. Give it 5 minutes to settle and then roll it between pieces of parchment paper. You may need to fold it over the first few times so that it sticks.
Likewise, coming out of the oven, make sure to let the gluten-free sugar cookies cool. They won't look cooked, so let them sit on the cookie sheet for a while (about 30 minutes).
If icing the sugar cookies, make sure you pipe the icing on, not smear it, or you'll break them
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone cookie mat to make it easier to remove the cookies.
How To Frost The Sugar Cookies
In an effort to keep these vegan sugar cookies healthy, I simply sprinkle a bit of extra sugar on top to give them some texture. However, you can frost them with a classic royal icing or use the healthy, dairy-free sugar cookie icing below.
- 5 tbs coconut milk powder
- 2 tbs coconut oil (measured solid and then melted)
- 2 tbs cane sugar
First, heat the coconut oil and ensure there are no clumps in the coconut milk powder. Then, mix together all the ingredients until ultra-smooth. Finally, place the sugar cookie icing into a plastic bag, cut the corner, and pipe it on!
Gluten-Free Almond Flour Sugar Cookie FAQs
Almond flour sugar cookies do not puff up since there is no baking powder in the recipe. After you use your cookie cutter and transfer them to the baking tray, they will mostly stay the same shape.
Almond flour sugar cookies hold together well once cooled. However, until fully cooled, they're very delicate. Take extra care when transferring them to the baking tray and let them cool fully before you try to move them once they're done baking.
Almond flour sugar cookies are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They freeze well, as well, but make sure to store them in a container because they break so easily and need protection.
You cannot omit the coconut flour and use more almond flour. The coconut flour gives the cookies a bit of bulk, and using only almond flour would make them unable to hold together.
More Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes
If you tried this Almond Flour Sugar Cookie Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Gluten-Free Almond Flour Sugar Cookies (vegan)
Video
Equipment
- Silcone spatula
- Cookie sheet
Ingredients
- ¾ cups Almond flour
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Arrowroot powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Sea salt
- 1 tablespoon Coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons Coconut sugar or cane sugar
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons Coconut oil measured solid
- 2 teaspoon Maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Cane sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Combine all the dry ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
- Melt the coconut oil in a shallow dish and mix it with the rest of the wet ingredients.
- Pour wet into dry and mix until everything looks somewhat wet. You need to really stir, and it will still look a tiny bit dry.
- Place the mixture into plastic wrap and mold it into a tight ball. Place in the fridge for 45-60 minutes.
- Pre heat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Let the mixture thaw 3-5 minutes then place the ball between two pieces of parchment paper and roll until ¼ inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter to make desired shapes. The cookies are extremely soft and delicate so use a thin silicone spatula to lift, and place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Sprinkle the top of the cookies with the cane sugar.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let sit on the tray for 30 minutes to firm up.
Notes
- The cookie dough looks crumbly after adding the coconut oil. That's normal. However, the harder you press it into a ball to chill the better it will stay together. Add 1 teaspoon water only if absolutely needed.
- I can't stress enough that gluten-free sugar cookies are delicate. Even right from the cookie cutting, they're delicate.
- You don't want to move them around too much after you use your cookie cutter. Use a thin silicone spatula to get the job done.
- Likewise, coming out of the oven make sure to let them cool. They won't look cooked so let them sit on the cookie sheet for a while.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone cookie mat to make it easier to remove the cookies.
- Make sure to keep the dough in the fridge as specified or it won't hold together as well.
- Makes 9-11 cookies depending on the mold.
- Store the healthy sugar cookies in an airtight container on the counter.
- You can grab all these ingredients from my Pantry Staples.
- If icing the sugar cookies, make sure you pipe the icing on, not smear it or you'll break them
- Nutrition breakdown does not include icing.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Shelby S says
This is our go-to sugar cookie recipe for the Holidays. They're insanely light and I never make enough.
Alison says
These look great! It's so hard to find gluten free baked goods that are actually appealing, so thanks!
fitasamamabear says
Yes, the struggle is real! These ones are tasty and I have a hazelnut one being posted shortly which make me kind of drool thinking about 😉 Enjoy!
Filiz Leonor Aydogdu says
They looks very tasty!! Thank you for this gluten free recipe!
fitasamamabear says
No problem! They're really yummy and light!
Jennifer@ Jenron-Designs says
I will be pinning this recipe for the holidays. I have so many neighbors that are gluten free, and I usually make Christmas cookies for my neighbors, this recipe will insure they can actually eat them. Thanks!
fitasamamabear says
Yay! Glad I could help! I have a couple more gluten free cookie recipes coming so check backs soon!
Krissy says
I try and do mostly gluten free. I will definitely need to try these. I'm a big fan of almond flour.
Krissy
fitasamamabear says
I hope you enjoy them! They're so light they're addictive 😀
Jen | My Healthy Homemade Life says
I'm always on the lookout for healthy, gluten free cookies for the holidays! I can't wait to try these!
fitasamamabear says
Mmm these ones are super tasty so enjoy them!