Gluten-Free Almond Flour Sugar Cookies (vegan)

Light, crispy and oh so delicate! These almond flour sugar cookies make the perfect addition to your dessert table. Sprinkle them with sugar to keep them classic or lightly ice them. Either way, they're delicious!

If you're looking for a light, gluten-free sugar cookie you've found it!

These almond flour sugar cookies are made from mostly whole-food ingredients, and they come out ultra-light.

As a Certified Nutrition Coach, I try to scale back sugar with my kids. One of the reasons that we love this recipe is that the cookies come out indulgent but not too sweet.

They're the perfect way to indulge without feeling over the top.

Fact: almond flour cookies are also freaking delicious when crumbled over cashew ice cream and topped with my caramel magic shell recipe. Just sayin' 😉

Ingredients You'll Need

Almond flour: though you can use almond meal for these cookies, almond flour will have a better texture and they'll look better. Learn the difference between ground almond and almond flour. It's also the base of protein gingerbread cookies.

Coconut flour: a little bit goes a long way with coconut flour and because there's not a lot, these cookies come out extremely delicate.

Arrowroot powder: because the almond flour cookies are egg-free, this helps to hold them together.

Baking powder: the cookies will rise every so slightly but then deflate a bit. This is what makes them crispy.

Coconut sugar: cane sugar works in place of coconut sugar if that's what you have.

Vanilla extract: adds a hint of classic flavor to the cookies. The more potent the vanilla, the better the flavor.

Coconut oil: this will make the texture change a bit during cooking and cooling.

Maple syrup: make sure to grab real maple syrup so that it brings out a sweet but subtle flavor.

Cane sugar: you just need a hint to sprinkle on top so that they sparkle!

Step By Step Photos

How To Make The Cookies

1. Melt the coconut oil and mix everything in one bowl.
2. Place the mixture into saran wrap and mold it into a very tight ball.
3. Place in the fridge for 60 minutes.
4. Let the mixture thaw 3-5 minutes then place the ball between two pieces of parchment paper and roll until ¼ inch thick.
5. Use a cookie cutter to make desired shapes. The cookies are extremely soft so use a spatula to lift and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake for 10 minutes.
7. Remove and let sit on the tray for 30 minutes to firm up.

Icing Almond Flour Sugar Cookies

In an effort to keep these vegan cookies healthy, I simply sprinkle a bit of extra sugar on top to give them some texture.

The almond flour sugar cookies are extremely delicate.

This means, that if you are going to use icing, I would do it with a piping bag and not a utensil. I don't think that trying to "spread" the icing on would work very well as they're really delicate.

If you want to ice your sugar cookies traditionally, you'll want to make royal icing and color it.

Royal icing is still dairy-free and gluten-free but it is LOADED with sugar. In contrast, you'll notice that this gluten-free sugar cookie recipe is actually not that sugar-dense. Sweet but not sugar-based.

Likewise, I also do my best to use natural sugars (honey and maple syrup) when I can. Thus, royal icing is not something I would use.

However, there is another option below.

Dairy-Free Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe

If you want to "fancy-up" the almond flour sugar cookie recipe and give it some icing, this dairy-free sugar cookie icing recipe is perfect.

It's made from coconut milk powder which is a great healthy fat. Thus, it's dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. 

Nevertheless, some coconut milk powders contain sugar so take a peek at the back of the ingredients! I personally use one without added sugar.

For the sugar cookie icing simply whisk together:

• 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!

Such a simple alternative to anything fancy and much, MUCH, healthier.

Color Options For The Sugar Cookie Icing

If I want to color the sugar cookie icing I use:

• a tiny bit of beet powder (it makes everything pink)
• crushed EnergyBits tablets (a light green, use code mamabear to save some money and learn more about why these tabs are a staple in my diet!)
• Blue spirulina powder

Regarding this, I find that you only need a tiny bit of the powders (¼ teaspoon ish) to get a nice light color.

But again, use what you're comfortable with!

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Mixing bowls
• Silicone spatula
• Baking sheets
• Measuring spoons
• Cookie Cutters

 

Important Teaching Tips

I can't stress enough that the almond flour 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.

Don't skip the coconut flour. Though there isn't a lot, coconut flour bulks up the recipe to give it a "carb feel" without the actual carbs (read more about the difference between coconut flour vs almond flour).

Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone cookie mat to make it easier to remove the cookies.

Frequently Asked Questions About Almond Flour Sugar Cookies

Other Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes

• Candy cane fudge
• Hazelnut sugar cookies
• Coconut flour sugar cookies
• No-bake peppermint patty squares
• Healthy keto fudge
• White chocolate fudge
• White chocolate protein truffles
• Dairy-free s'mores cups
• Hot chocolate bombs
• Cashew cookies with chocolate frosting
• Chocolate coconut drop cookies
• Chocolate magic shell
• Healthier dessert recipes