My kids love the tradition of making and decorating gingerbread men. I was scared that we wouldn’t be able to continue the tradition when my son was diagnosed with celiac disease. Luckily we can do it and they taste great. Even our non- gluten free friends have enjoyed them!
There are some great gluten-free cookbooks and websites out there and I make recipes from them often, but sometimes you have that recipe that you have made over and over and want to transform it. I love Martha Stewart’s gingerbread cookies, so I adapted it to be gluten free…and they came out great! They are a soft, cake like cookie.
Gingerbread Cookies (adapted to be gluten free from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook)
Ingredients
3 cups sifted all-purpose gluten free flour (I use Cup4Cup)
½ teaspoon of baking soda
¼ teaspoon of baking powder
½ cup of butter, unsalted (one stick)
½ cup packed dark-brown sugar
½ Tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ Tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon of ground cloves
Pinch of finely ground black pepper
½ teaspoon of kosher salt
2 large eggs
¾ cup of molasses
Directions
In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder and set aside. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix spices and salt in. Beat in eggs and molasses. Add flour mixture on low speed until thoroughly combined. Divide dough into thirds and wrap into plastic. Chill for at least an hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a floured work surface, roll the dough to 1/8 inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Place on parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool and decorate as desired.
You also don’t have to give up gingerbread houses! You can make the gingerbread yourself, but in our family no one every really eats the gingerbread. This recipe might be a little soft for it though.
I found these plastic houses at Santa’s Village gift shop a couple of years ago from The Candy Cottage. We just cover it with frosting and decorate it with our favorite GF candies.
Let the cookie baking season begin! What are your favorite holiday treats? Do you have a holiday treat that you would like to adapt to be gluten free? Contact me via email or comment!
