Gluten Free

37 Gluten-Free Cookies for All the Fun, Without the Wheat

Whether you’re craving melt-in-your-mouth meringues or easy peanut butter cookies, we’ve got all the festive holiday treats you need—hold the gluten.

By The Editors of Epicurious

November 23, 2021

Looking to bake some gluten-free cookies, but not sure where to start? We have enough options for gluten-free Christmas cookies and gluten-free all-the-time-cookies to fill your cookie jar many times over. Scroll down for our best recipes for GF gingerbread, wheat-free oatmeal cookies with chocolate chunks, flourless chocolate cookies, cute little sugar-dusted pyramid cookies from baking maven Dorie Greenspan, and more options. Wrap these cookies up to give as gifts, or put ’em in lunch boxes for lucky kiddos.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
1/37
No-Bake Pistachio–White Chocolate Cookies
These no-bake, gluten-free cookies rely on nut butter and white chocolate for their creamy, chewy texture. Pistachios add crunch, oats add chew, and cranberries add a zingy sweetness.
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Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
2/37
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Studded with chocolate and with a crisp yet yielding texture, these gluten-free chocolate chip cookies could compete with any classic version.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
3/37
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
These classic gluten free cookies are as simple as 1-2-3. The active prep time is just 20 minutes, and all you need is peanut butter, sugar, and an egg. Line your rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper before you start to avoid sticking.
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Photo by Tara Donne
4/37
Gluten-Free Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
You don't have to get through the holiday season without gingerbread—even if you're avoiding wheat. These fan favorites combine all-purpose gluten-free flour, rice flour, and arrowroot for a light, crisp texture. In even better news: you can share them with your vegan friends, because they're dairy and egg-free.
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Photo by Tara Donne, Food styling by Liza Jernow
5/37
Gluten-Free Citrus Sugar Cookies
These pretty (gluten-free!) butter cookies come in three flavors: lime, lemon, and grapefruit. Or just pick one variety and triple the amount of zest and juice. You'll find psyllium-husk powder, flax seed, chia seed, and rice-based gluten-free flour at most natural foods stores.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch
6/37
Peanut Butter Coconut Cream Cookie Sandwiches
Make your favorite gluten-free Christmas cookies a little more glam with an easy blender frosting that's also dairy-free.
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Chris Craymer
7/37
Tuckers
These little cookies from baking expert Dorie Greenspan start with unsweetened shredded coconut, egg whites, sugar, and vanilla. They're scented with rose extract, which is optional but delightful.
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Tara Donne, food styling by Liza Jernow
8/37
Gluten-Free Lacy Oat Sandwich Cookies
These crisp and buttery cookies will class up any cookie plate. The soft chocolate filling has a touch of Cointreau for orange flavor.
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photo by Con Poulos
9/37
Flourless Oatmeal Chocolate-Chunk Cookies
Oatmeal cookies are even better with chocolate chunks. Santa might devour a whole plateful—you might want to double the batch.
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Photo by David Japy
10/37
Ginger and Almond Bars
Fresh and candied ginger team up to make an uplifting, zesty treat that can be prepared in any season. This quick yet impressive dessert lends itself to endless reincarnations, using various dried fruits and citrus zests, or even cocoa for chocolate lover.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
11/37
Double-Decker Peanut Butter Brownies
These two-layer flourless brownies are endlessly customizable. Top with chocolate chips, chopped pretzels, or any crunchy snack you have in the pantry.
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Dan Forbes
12/37
Fudgy Meringue Cookies
These rich chocolate cookies are best eaten the day they're made. Which won't be a problem, since they're so delicious.
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Tara Donne, food styling by Liza Jernow
13/37
Gluten-Free Pistachio Truffle Cookies
These naturally gluten-free cookies are a cross between two favorite holiday delights: truffles and macaroons.
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Leigh Beisch
14/37
Buckwheat Linzer Cookies
These pretty little numbers look as though they are fussy to make, but they are actually slice-and-bake cookies, with holes cut from half of them about halfway through the baking. Buckwheat pairs well with any dark berry or cherry flavor, so feel free to try different preserves.
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