20 Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes

Substitutes and creative adaptations yield delicious results

By
Teri Gruss, MS
Teri Gruss, MS
Freelance writer and nutrition expert Teri Lee Gruss, M.S. has written hundreds of recipes focusing on healthy gluten-free cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/3/21
Chocolate quinoa breakfast cookie

The Spruce

A gluten-free diet no longer means restricting cakes, cookies, and other batter- and dough-based treats. A variety of wheat-flour substitutes and creative recipe adaptations can put cookies in the hands of people following gluten-free diets. Although the recipes all call for naturally gluten-free ingredients, cross-contamination can occur during processing of some products, such as oats. If this is a concern, be sure to check the packaging for a gluten-free label and reach out to the manufacturer with questions. Choose from recipes ranging from simple to sublime the next time you need to satisfy a sweet tooth.

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  • 01 of 20

    Gluten-Free Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

    Gluten-free pink frosted cut-out sugar cookies

    D. Sharon Pruitt / Pink Sherbert Photography / Moment Open / Getty Images

    Take advantage of the fun cookie cutters on the market and use this cookie recipe year-round to make homemade gluten-free cookies for special occasions and special people. Make them even more festive with colored icing and confetti-like sprinkles.

  • 02 of 20

    Gluten-Free Giant Lemon Ginger Crisp Cookies

    Gluten-free giant lemon ginger crisp cookies

    The Spruce / Teri Lee Gruss

    Gorgeous and delicious, these giant gluten-free lemon ginger cookies contain plenty of freshly grated lemon zest, finely chopped candied ginger, sugar, and butter for a flavor explosion that tastes like summer sunshine.

  • 03 of 20

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Walnut Truffle Cookies

    Gluten-free chocolate walnut truffle cookie

    The Spruce / Teri Lee Gruss

    Brownie lovers, rejoice. This recipe for gluten-free chocolate walnut truffle cookies delivers a dense, chocolaty bite. And here's something else to love: It contains just 6 tablespoons of gluten-free all-purpose flour but yields 2 dozen cookies.

  • 04 of 20

    Gluten-Free Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Gluten-Free Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo 

    Almond flour takes the place of wheat in these chocolate chip cookies, making for a thin and crispy snap with a slightly chewy texture. The soft dough spreads considerably in the oven, so space the scoops with plenty of room to grow.

    Continue to 5 of 20 below.
  • 05 of 20

    Gluten-Free Toll House-Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Gluten-free chocolate mint chip cookies

    The Spruce / Teri Lee Gruss

    There's something extra-special when chocolate and mint meld inside a buttery chocolate chip cookie. This gluten-free recipe builds on the classic Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe but starts with naturally gluten-free buckwheat flour. If you prefer a classic chocolate chip cookie, replace the mint extract with vanilla.

  • 06 of 20

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Sunbutter Cookies

    Chocolate chip sunbutter cookies with a glass of milk

    The Spruce / Miri Rotkovitz

    These gluten-, dairy-, and nut-free chocolate chip sunbutter cookies deliver the flavor you want without the need for specialty ingredients. Oats replace the wheat flour while sunbutter adds a roasted flavor. Be sure to source gluten-free oats and disclose ingredients to anyone with food allergies as some people experience similar reactions to sunflower and other seeds.

  • 07 of 20

    Gluten-Free Coconut Flour Cookies

    Gluten-free coconut flour cookies on a kitchen towel

     The Spruce / Jessie Sheehan

    These gluten-free coconut flour cookies get big flavor from sweetened shredded coconut and roughly chopped chocolate. They easily satisfy the urge for something sweet when wheat sensitivities put conventional cookies on the no-no list.

  • 08 of 20

    Gluten-Free Vanilla Wafers

    Five square-shaped gluten-free vanilla wafers

    Louis Hiemstra / Getty Images

    This simple recipe, adapted from a madeleine recipe, calls for basic ingredients found in most home refrigerators and pantries—a real plus when you crave a classic vanilla wafer cookie with minimal fuss.

    Continue to 9 of 20 below.
  • 09 of 20

    Gluten-Free Flourless Gluten-Free Amaretti Cookies

    Gluten-free amaretti cookies paired with a hot drink in a metal mug

     Lisovskaya Natalia / Getty Images

    Almond paste anchors this recipe (look for a gluten-free brand as some contain gluten as a thickener). These sturdy, crunchy little Italian almond cookies love to travel. Adorn them with Spanish Marcona almonds, a softer, sweeter variety with a more buttery texture than the woody California ones.

  • 10 of 20

    Gluten-Free Sesame Crisp Cookies

    Sesame Crisp Cookie Recipe

     The Spruce

    These sweet sesame crisp cookies taste delicious but keep things light by calling for only a little bit of light buckwheat or sweet sorghum flour and butter. The toasted sesame seeds add a welcome boost of nutrition along with their distinctive flavor.

  • 11 of 20

    Gluten-Free Molasses Ginger Cookies

    Gluten-free molasses and ginger cookies on a serving plate

    K. Miller Photographs / Getty

    This recipe produces a sturdy cookie with big molasses flavor, perfect for lunch boxes or travel snacks. Include guar gum or xanthan gum if your flour blend does not already contain it. A small ice-cream scoop makes it easy to portion the dough for evenly sized cookies.

  • 12 of 20

    Gluten-Free Cinnamon-Glazed Pumpkin Cookies

    Gluten-free glazed pumpkin cookies on a plate

    Shannon Miller / Getty Images

    Spice cake and pumpkin pie lovers must try this soft cinnamon-glazed pumpkin cookie. Enjoy one midafternoon with a cup of tea, or pack a couple into a school or work lunch box. This calls for gluten-free all-purpose flour. Many blends contain guar gum or xanthan gum, but be sure to check, and add it if yours does not.

    Continue to 13 of 20 below.
  • 13 of 20

    Gluten-Free Toasted Coconut and Oatmeal Cookies

    Gluten-free toasted coconut oatmeal cookies on a napkin

    1MoreCreatve / Getty Images

    This coconut and oatmeal cookie recipe calls for freshly ground gluten-free oat flour, which you can buy or prepare at home. Be sure to source gluten-free oats, though. Do yourself a favor and make a double batch of dough; refrigerate or freeze the extra for convenient gluten-free cookies anytime.

  • 14 of 20

    Gluten-Free Easy Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies

    Gluten-free easy chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies in a bowl

    The Spruce

    Kids love to pitch in and help when you make these easy chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies. They also freeze well, so you can double the batch and always have a quick treat on hand. Be sure to use oats verified as gluten free.

  • 15 of 20

    Gluten-Free French Madeleine Cookies

    Madeleine cookies on a wire cooling rack

    Glasshouse Images / Getty Images

    This recipe relies on a standard gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to give the French madeleines their signature soft sponge cake texture. Madeleine baking pans produce the scalloped shell edges.

  • 16 of 20

    Gluten-Free Gingersnap Cookies

    Gluten-free gingersnap cookies on a plate

    The Spruce / Teri Gruss

    Garbanzo bean and sorghum flours provide the structure for these spicy gingersnap cookies. You can make the dough a few days in advance and bake cookies on demand so you always get that fresh-from-the-oven flavor.

    Continue to 17 of 20 below.
  • 17 of 20

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Almond Macaron Cookies

    Gluten-free chocolate almond macaron cookies right from the oven

    Martin Norris / Getty Images

    Classic macaron cookies contain no flour, making them naturally gluten free. This recipe yields a traditionally almond flavor cookie but with the added richness of chocolate.

  • 18 of 20

    Gluten-Free Keto Shortbread Cookies

    Gluten-free keto shortbread cookies on a decorative plate

    The Spruce /  Kristina Vanni

    Almond flour and a keto-friendly sugar substitute make these gluten-free shortbread cookies keto, but you can replace the stevia or xylitol with granulated sugar at a ratio of 1-to-1 if you prefer.

  • 19 of 20

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Quinoa Breakfast Cookies

    A stack of gluten-free chocolate peanut butter quinoa breakfast cookies

    The Spruce 

    Cooked quinoa adds density to these chocolate peanut butter cookies. The extra protein means they make a better-than-average grab-and-go breakfast choice. Just be sure to verify that you're using gluten-free oats.

  • 20 of 20

    Gluten-Free Flourless Chocolate Peanut Butter Kisses

    Glulten-Free Flourless chocolate peanut butter kisses cookies cooling on a rack

    m01229 from USA / Wikimedia Commons

    A deceptively short list of ingredients yields big peanutty flavor in these Christmastime favorites welcomed all year. Top these peanut butter cookies with unwrapped Hershey's Special Dark Kisses or other favorite variety.