Christmas Cookies!!
All…Gluten Free
This is the first year I’ve baked an assortment of gluten free Christmas cookies and I’m excited to share them all with you! I wanted to make sure to post this at least a week before Christmas so you would have a chance to make them for your holiday table.
We are hosting our annual Couples Christmas Party this year, which was my inspiration for baking these decorated treats. It’s a pretty big deal this Christmas Party…it’s been going on for 28 years and we take turns hosting every four years. We all look forward to getting together to celebrate our friendship and the magic of Christmas.
Hosting the party is also a great reason to really dazzle–up the place for Christmas…more than usual anyway. The first place to start is the front walkway of course! It’s the entrance to the party which is the start of a festive evening so lights and greens will greet them as they arrive…..
I took before and after pictures to give some fun ideas if you are hosting a party or just want to add a festive vibe to your entry.
This is after the Summer/Fall planters were removed and the steps cleared.
And these are after adding the glitz and dazzle of Christmas!
It was so much fun…and so easy! Just add lanterns, candles, and greenery.
And what better gift than receiving a whopping 11″ of fresh snow to REALLY add some Christmas Cheer! Whoopie!
And here’s a little glimpse of us from last year…
As you can see, it’s a crazy group…always too much fun. X O!
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So... about those Christmas Cookies….
I labeled each one on the tray so you can reference which one to make…I also gave a separate picture and description below.
Happy Baking…Happy Parties….and Cheers to You, your Families, and your Friends…
Have a very Merry Christmas!
XO Mary
Thumbprint Cookies with Apricot or Plum Jam
These are little buttery bites of sweet nutty goodness. The original recipe is from my girlfriend who brought them to a cookie exchange years ago. Waaalaaa…now they are converted to gluten free! Thanks for a great recipe, Kim!
Ingredients:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup Shortening (butter flavor Crisco)
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg, separated
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp all purpose gluten free flour (Gluten Free Pantry is a great brand or use my go-to all purpose GF flour blend:
- 3 cups white rice flour
- 1 1/4 cups potato starch
- 3/4 cup tapioca flour
- 2 1/4 tsp guar gum or xanthan gum
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix brown sugar, shortening, butter, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix in the flour and salt until dough holds together. Shape into 1″ balls. Beat the egg white and dip the ball in the egg white then roll in to nuts. Press thumb deeply in center of each and bake at 350 degrees until light brown 8-9 minutes. Cool and fill with jelly or frosting.
Meltaway’s
Flaky, buttery, delicate, melt-in-your-mouth yumminess!
Be gentle with these…handle with love…they are very delicate.
Ingredients:
1 cup softened butter
3/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp almond extract
1 cup all purpose gluten free flour (Gluten Free Pantry is a great brand or use my go-to all purpose GF flour blend:
- 3 cups white rice flour
- 1 1/4 cups potato starch
- 3/4 cup tapioca flour
- 2 1/4 tsp guar gum or xanthan gum
Powdered sugar for rolling
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a medium glass bowl cream the butter until fluffy. Add the cornstarch, sugar and almond extract, blending well. Beat in the flour until all combined and mixed well. Form each cookie with a 1-1/2″ diameter scoop and roll into powdered sugar before placing onto parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies slightly crack on top. Cool on baking sheet for 5-8 minutes before transferring to wire rack….be careful they are so very delicate and break easily. Frost with a powdered sugar and half and half frosting mixture with food coloring of choice added. Sprinkle with little sugar decorations. Allow frosting to set completely before gently transferring to store.
Cherry Chocolate Coconut Macaroon Bars
These bars are so easy to make and pack a coconut–chocolate-cherry punch in each bite. They’re a family favorite and you‘ll make them often because they‘re always a hit!
Click here for recipe
Peanut Butter Crisps
I created these last Christmas after my husband raved about a cookie he had at the neighbors…he described every detail for me and this is the result. Easy too!
Click here for recipe
Molasses Ginger Cookies
These are my all-time FAVORITE cookies…all year round. I created this recipe after eating a gluten free molasses cookie at Whole Foods. It was to die for! I spent hours in the kitchen trying to re-create the cookie until I got the recipe right…and ohhhhh are they right!! Crisp on the outside yet moist and chewy on the inside…with the spice of ginger and sweetness of molasses. Soooo good! It’s always fun making them as they are easy, not too many ingredients/flours, and every batch turns out perfect every time.
Click here for the recipe
Chocolate-Minty Butter Cookies
This is my butter cookie recipe glammed-up for Christmas. I just indented the center and once baked I added Andie’s Creme de Menthe Baking Chips in the middle while still warm. Then, once cooled, I melted some of the chips and drizzled them over the top and sprinkled green sugar over the top. YUM!
Happy Baking! Enjoy!!
