Food and Nutrition

Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies On The Run

Shathiso @thegaboronerunner.com

Yes, you read the title correctly! This non-savvy baker was back in the kitchen. After my successful endeavour at making gluten-free granola bars, I tested my shaky skills with some gluten-free gingerbread cookies. I got the whole family involved and we had so much fun on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. As usual, I hunted for the simplest recipe and this time it came from The Banana Diaries. Not only did we have an enjoyable afternoon in the kitchen, the cookies turned out as promised – a beautiful warm-spiced flavour, not too sweet, crisp and with a great snap to them! We followed the recipe with a few variations and chose the non-vegan options.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cup gluten free flour (I used a mixture of cassava and quinoa flour with a dash of gluten free self-raising flour)
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 cup softened butter and coconut oil
  • 1 Tbsp molasses
  • 1 egg

Instructions

1/ Whisk the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, and sea salt. Set aside.

2/ Make the gingerbread cookie dough: In a medium bowl, beat together the butter, coconut oil and sugar until combined. Add in the molasses and egg, and continue to beat until completely combined. Add wet ingredients into dry and combine into a sticky dough. Round dough into a ball, and wrap with plastic wrap. Place the dough into the fridge and chill for 30 minutes.

3/ Roll out the gingerbread dough: When the dough is chilled, lightly flour a clean surface and rolling pin, and roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick (it doesn’t have to be exact!). Choose your cookie cutters, lightly flour the side that is going to be cutting into the dough, and press the cookie cutter into the dough. Repeat for the remaining dough, rolling out the dough with the extra scraps until all of the dough is gone. 

4/ Bake: Place the gingerbread men cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (you can use a spatula if it’s hard to pick them up!). I didn’t have enough parchment paper so buttered the tray where the parchment paper didn’t reach).

Place the cookies back into the fridge to chill while the oven preheats to 350F. When the oven is preheated, bake the cookies for 12 -14 minutes or until slightly puffy and slightly tough to touch (they shouldn’t be soft). 

5/ Cool and decorate: Let the cookies cool for 15 minutes! I didn’t have icing sugar for decorating so I simply dusted the cookies very lightly with castor sugar.

Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. With the loss of my mum and then the pandemic, the last couple of Christmases have been a struggle. But this year, I’ve been so determined to bring back all the things I love about Christmas – especially the exciting build-up with all fun and charitable Advent activities. I absolutely LOVED this whole experience with the kids and they were so proud of their efforts, as I was with mine! It was the beautiful end to a weekend composed of Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, making cards, decorating the tree and house, and putting up all the Christmas lights.

A special thank you to The Banana Diaries for this awesome recipe!

Are you baking this Christmas Season? What are your favourite Christmas treats? Do you like your gingerbread cookies soft or hard? Let me know if you try out this recipe!

I’m joining Kooky Runner and Zenaida on their link up, Tuesday Topics! Be sure to read their blogs and catch up with other runners from around the world.

25 thoughts on “Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies On The Run”

  2. I love that your recipe is simple! And it’s so nice to see that your kids had fun, too. I’m sure they will always remember this every time they have a gingerbread cookie.

    I don’t bake, but I love eating All The Cookies. I especially love the Swiss “Mailänderli” – very simple butter cookies. https://www.helvetickitchen.com/recipes/2015/12/10/mailanderli
    The closest biscuit I can find to it in South Africa is shortbread, which I love too! 🙂

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  3. I love the photos of your kids in their Christmas hats! My mom was a great baker, as was her mom before her. But she didn’t do it with us (we are also Jewish, btw, so Christmas doesn’t mean much to us). I became a self taught “great” baker. I don’t bake as much anymore, although sometimes, and mostly much healthier stuff.

    I did make some chocolate (of course) almond balls last week, though. They’re good! I even had to improvise a bit, but Mr. Judy liked them and he can be a tough critic.

    I’m so glad that this Christmas you are making good memories, Shathiso.

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    1. Have felt that I’ve been faking Christmas the last couple of years but this year I’m really trying to put my heart into it. And doing these activities helps!

      I love that you became a self taught great baker! Even though my mum was a great baker, I had no interest so didn’t pick up anything. I will probably never have the patience for it but did enjoy my last two baking adventures. So there may be hope for me yet 🤣🤣

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      1. I think love of food is a great motivator. 😊

        I think it’s totally understandable that you struggled the last couple of years. Holidays can be hard — glad that you’re finding your holiday spirit again!

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  4. I used to bake cookies when I was a kid. I remember the dough on the kitchen table, the cookie cutters, etc. Not sure why I stopped. I am happy to see this was a fun activity with your kids. I am sure they will remember this special and great times with you.

    Thank you for linking up with us!

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  5. What a fun family activity!! My kids never were much interested in baking, even at Christmas time…so I didn’t have much “help” in the kitchen. I’m behind on holiday baking this year, but we’re not doing the usual extended family get together this year (several family members are going through health issues), so it will just be my immediate family (and my parents & sis) this year. I love the “Fat Pants!” Is that a napkin or towel?

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    1. My kids are definitely more interested in baking than I am so I think they will push me to bake more 🤣 Not sure what I think of that, LOL! Sorry to hear about family going through health issues but glad you’ll still have close family around. It’s a paper napkin! I bought them a few years ago and have used them sparingly! Haven’t seen them around since I bought them!

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  6. Your cookies turned out great! I miss baking with the boys. I’ll start my baking this weekend. I’m definitely cutting back tho, since it’s just me and the hubs at home.

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  7. That’s funny, I just posted about my vegan Christmas cookies! I have my eye on another recipe from The Banana Diaries- good to know the recipes are reliable. These cookies look delicious, and the texture seems perfect without the gluten.
    I also LOVE the “fat pants” napkin- that is hilarious. Goes perfectly on a cookie platter.
    Glad you’re enjoying this holiday season. i know how hard it is without your mom- it can take a couple years until you get used to it. Remember, she would want you to enjoy Christmas with your kids! Have fun.

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    1. We were clearly on the same wavelength today Jenny!! Always so worried about texture with GF stuff but this worked out well. My mum WAS Christmas – she had so many amazing traditions that we will always keep. It’s so tough without her but doing these activities really helps. Feels like she is still here in a way.

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  8. I make sugar cookies but the ones with the store bought dough! It’s just easier for me but I have made cookies from scratch. These sound easy and tasty!

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  9. I don’t do much baking anymore now that my girls are grown. I do like gingerbread cookies though so I might give these a try.
    Btw, I made the granola bars and they are so good. They will be a regular go-to snack now. Thanks.

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  12. Pingback: Bake with Me for Christmas | Coconut & Amarula Desert Balls – The Gaborone Runner

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