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Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies that the whole family can enjoy including those with gluten allergies and intolerances. The ultimate Christmas cookie without the gluten.
Remember when I promised to diversify my recipes? Well you’ll have to forgive me. The next few weeks will be all about cookies and breakfast. We’re going to disregard any prior statements until after the New Year. Why? Because tis the season for all things baked and sweet…and because I said so.
Here’s the deal with this recipe. I tried to lower the sugar and made them gluten-free, but by no stretch of the imagination are these healthy. There exists no comparable substitute for butter so don’t even bother trying! In my opinion Christmas is not complete without shortbread and for people who can’t eat or are avoiding gluten, there is absolutely no reason they shouldn’t be able to enjoy some too.
I think it’s important for us to not get too worked up about our eating habits during the holidays. Try to get in your fruits and veggies and watch your portions, but don’t beat yourself up over eating a few too many cookies. Christmas only happens once a year so eat real shortbread. You won’t be throwing all of your health goals out the window in one night! Wake up the next day and go for a walk, enjoy the company of friends and family or just laugh a lot. Laughing is the best workout after all 🙂
Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies
- Prep Time: 40 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 52 mins
- Yield: 2 dozen 1x
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup icing/powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup + 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any milk)
- 2 1/3 cup brown rice flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch (or any starch will work)
- 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 tbsp sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer combine butter and icing sugar until soft.
- Add in vanilla and beat for another minute.
- On medium speed add in each egg individually. Make sure first egg has been mixed in before adding second. Then add in milk.
- In a separate bowl combine brown rice flour, xanthan gum, cornstarch and salt.
- Slowly incorporate flour mix into butter-egg mixture.
- Beat until just combined. Stir in sprinkles if desired.
- Roll dough into a log that is about 2 inches thick. I find it easier to roll it into two separate logs.
- Wrap log in saran wrap and place in freezer for 30 mins.
- Dough can be kept frozen for months.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Remove dough from freezer and with a sharp knife slice into 24 cookies.
- Place 12 on a cookie sheet and bake in the middle rack for 12-14 mins.
- Keep remaining dough in fridge while cookies are baking.
- Let cool on tray for 5 mins before removing and letting cool completely on a wire rack.
- Will keep for 1 week in an airtight container.
I so agree about letting some things go for the holiday season. It’s all about moderation and balance! Too much good food to pass it all up!
I love shortbread cookies but I’d have to say my favorite is snickerdoodles!! They are soooo super delicious. I do indulge in the holidays…I had a slice of chocolate peppermint loaf as I sat down to do blog stuff just down and started to feel a little guilty but your post came just in time as a nice reminder to loosen the reigns just a little bit. Thanks Davida!! 🙂
No guilt! Tis the season and there’s always tomorrow 🙂 What fun would life be if we didn’t let loose every now and then?!?!
Real shortbread for the win! BF and I are making our traditional sugar cookies this weekend… real butter and sugar and all (and I’ll probably eat half the batch by myself). Like you said the holidays are for celebrating and the includes REAL good REAL treats 🙂
Damn straight! Back on track in January amIright?
I am loving all of these Christmas cookie recipes!!
THESE LOOK SO GOOD!!!! I can’t WAIT to make them!!!!
I love love love shortbread cookies (seriously, can you tell how excited I am for this gluten free recipe?!) for the holidays, and the classic chocolate chip. 🙂
xoxo
Lisa @ The Skinny on Health
Thanks girl! Shortbread and CCC are my fav too..oh wait, and snickerdoodles, and oatmeal. Okay I just like cookies. Bring it on Christmas (we both know I don’t celebrate Christmas but I’ll take any excuse to eat ALL THE COOKIES)!
oh lala! so pretty and love the holiday colors! I always like a GF option! indulged during the season cause… can’t get around it ! haha 🙂
The coconut dream bars…still having a hard time getting over those and would literally do anything to have a plate of them in front of me!
These look great! So pretty and of course I am loving that there is no mint choc flavour in sight 😉
These are so pretty and festive! You’re going to hate me but I don’t eat butter. I feel like everyone is riding a butter train and I was the one left behind…
I forgive you but only because you like cheese 🙂 Otherwise we’d have a problem!
I just saw these on IG and headed right over to the blog! These look so, so, sooo good!
These look beautiful and delicious…and so in season 😉