The holiday season is not complete without Gingerbread Cookies! These classic gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free gingerbread men (and friends) are such a fun sweet treat for all to have this Christmas. Food allergies don't have to get in the way with this dessert recipe!
You can not have Christmas without GINGERBREAD COOKIES! It's like Christmas without Santa (it just can't happen). I told you all about my love for soft gingerbread men in this ginger cookie post last year and I knew I had to actually bring back that classic, a real gingerbread cookie, this year! Trying to emulate the soft gingerbread men my grandma used to have on our Christmas Eve dessert table was going to be a hard feat!
I think I nailed it, though! I was in sad gingerbread man deprivation for far too long. Plus, if you didn't already know, Santa expects gingerbread men on his plate. If he doesn't get them...he won't leave you presents! We can't have that, now can we? I mean, for all we know, Santa may have celiac disease or maybe he went vegan! We need to be able to accommodate!
Random tangent ahead: You know what isn't accommodating? High school cooking classes. I was deterred from signing up because of my food allergies (I took Interior Design instead). I remember there were 2 cooking classes: one was "gourmet" and if you took it in the Fall semester, you made gingerbread houses! The other was "basics" where you learned what a whisk was.
I could have made a killer gingerbread house (and Aced that class, mind you), but it's not like I could be in a room covered in flour...and I would never use eggs or dairy. My dreams to show off my culinary skills to my peers were dashed. Funny thing was, the interior design room was right across the hall from the cooking room. Smells of cinnamon, butter, and baked goodies always filled the air. How they did all that in a 40 minute period blows my mind, especially since no one ever starts class on time!
High school. Seems so long ago, yet also just like it was yesterday. At least I can be really grateful for the fact that I no longer have a high school "winter break". You know...the one week you get off after Christmas. Ridiculous! When we get to college we actually have a decent winter break, not just one measly week! I need time to "play" with my new presents! My brother is lamenting those winter breaks now that he has a full-time job for the first time. (Guess I'll have the house to myself...and the kitchen!) Which means I can just keep baking up gingerbread men (and friends!) If you noticed, I made men AND trees! Whatever cookie cutter you have will do! Gingerbread are meant to be fun and festive, so go crazy with shapes!
More Christmas Cookie Recipes:
- 3-Ingredient Classic Gluten-Free Vegan Shortbread Cookies
- Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
- Soft Molasses Cookies
- Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Sugar-Free Icing
- Grain-Free Italian Wedding Snowball Cookies
- Perfect Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Classic Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies
Classic Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies (Vegan)
The holiday season is not complete without Gingerbread Cookies! These classic gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free gingerbread men (and friends) are such a fun sweet treat for all to have this Christmas. Food allergies don't have to get in the way with this dessert recipe!
- Yield: Varies
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour
- ½ Cup Teff Flour
- ½ Cup Brown Rice Flour
- ¼ Cup Granular Erythritol
- 3 TB Blackstrap Molasses
- 1 TB Psyllium Husk Powder
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1 Tsp Ginger
- ¾ Tsp Cinnamon
- ½ Tsp Nutmeg
- ½ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- 6 TB Unsweetened Applesauce
- ¼ Cup Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix together well, forming a thick dough.
- Roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick on a greased Silpat (or parchment paper).
- Cut out shapes with cookie cutters, peel the extra dough away, and repeat rolling out the dough until you've used it all up.
- Bake the cookies on a Silpat-lined baking sheet for 12-15 minutes. Remove and let cool.
Notes
*If you don't have cookie cutters, you can just make these normal round cookies!
Yay! Gingerbread men and trees! You don't understand the joy I felt when I was finally about to enjoy a soft gingerbread man once again! Far too long, my friends, far too long! So roll out some gingerbread cookies, bake, grab a glass of almond milk, and dunk these special classic cookies right into have a very enjoyable holiday evening!
So tell me:
+ Gingerbread men? Yay or nay? I know some people don't like gingerbread 🙁
+ Did you take a cooking class in high school? (I don't think I missed out on much! I could have taught the class!)
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Leslie
I have been following your blog for years, but I’ve never spoke up but these cookies look delicious and you’re right it’s not Christmas without gingerbread cookies and I love the little trees to. Happy Holidays!
Rebecca Pytell
Aw, thank you for the comment! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Jenna @ A Savory Feast
These look so yummy and super cute!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! A favorite!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
Pinned to save for next year, along with your snickerdoodle recipe. I love that I can make a variety of cookies and treats while using the same blends of flours. I have not worked with some of the GF varieties, and whipping up these and a few of your other recipes will give us a great treat and give me experience with working with these flours!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Any cookie is great for any time of year! Stange that you would be reading this now!
Francesca
Hello Rebecca! Thank you so much for being part of my "20 gifts you can make this holiday season" roundup
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O, thanks for including my recipe!
Mel
Your gingerbread biscuits look perfect, and rather healthy too! I'll be pinning right now so I can give them a go with the children.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Michele
I love the no guilt gingerbread cookie!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Not "no guilt", just allergy-free for all!
Lauren Gaskill
Finally, -a wholesome gingerbread cookie!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
What we all needed, right?
Liz
Yes, I love any ginger cookie! Yours are so cute! And I took a Home Ec in junior high, then another cooking classs in high schoool in the US and again when we lived in Vancouver for a year!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I think it would have been fun to do....not helpful for me...but fun!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
I love this! Simple and healthy, yet so flavorful!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are the best!
Michelle
Great recipe! It's fantastic that you came up for a recipe that GF and Vegan's can eat!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Have to for me and my readers!
Miz Helen
Your Gingerbread Cookies will be great for the season!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's what I was aiming for.
Veronika
yay vegan gingerbread cookies! say no more, I need to make these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Woohoo! Let me know how they turn out if you do 🙂
Lisa Pomerantz
This gluten free mama just bookmarked you and can't wait to try these! Thank you!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O, I'm so glad! Thank you! I hope you get to enjoy some gingerbread this year <3
Danai @ Living, Learning, Eating
Gingerbread cookies aren't my favorite to eat, but I love making cutout cookies!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
These may change you mind!
kimmythevegan
Christmas without gingerbread cookies is a travesty! And I'm so glad you have come up with a tasty gluten-free recipe for us to try - I have been deprived for far too long myself 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Exactly!
Jenni
What a great recipe if you need a vegan version! They look like they turned out good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! I was so excited about these!
Genie
These look good. I like teff flour but had never thought of using it in gingerbread cookies. I use about half buckwheat flour in mine. I like the flavor of buckwheat but I know some people don't and some do not understand that it is not related to wheat.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Lol, on Strength and Sunshine, buckwheat is a very favored flour.
Randi Tisdall
These look lovely- I think it's the first gluten-free gingerbread recipe I've seen. Thanks for sharing!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! I hope you can try them!
Marla
HI Rebecca,
These gingerbread cookies sound so tasty. Pinned & tweeted!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Aya @ A Healthy Story
Okay I LOVE these! It's so awesome that they are vegan and gluten free (thanks to my food allergies, I can actually eat them! Yay!) Your photos are so beautiful and I love that these use a combo of flours.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I knew I had to make them for everyone! I missed them so much and I know so many others do too!
Jaclyn | One Thousand Oaks
I was wanting to make some Gingerbread cookies with my daughter but she is gluten free so I was on a hunt to find a GF recipe. So glad I found yours! Can't wait to try them! I will be pinning to save for later!
-Jaclyn
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Everyone will love these! Gluten-free or not!
Emily
Becca, you have seriously amazing skillz! These are absolutely beautiful.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much!
Annmarie
Love this vegan version, they look delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Allie @ Miss Allie's Kitchen
Oh, AWESOME! So, what is Teff Flour?!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Teff is a fabulous tiny gluten-free grain.
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy
love gingerbread cookies! I have yet to make some this season...these GF recipe is perfect for my family!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This weekend then!
Meg
These look great! My MIL is gluten and dairy free so these would be great to make for her!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm sure she will appreciate that!
Anne
I like gingerbread and like even more that you didn't decorate them with sugary icing. They look great as is.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I like it simple and rustic!
Amanda
Yes to gingerbread and no to the cooking class....but I was homeschooled and I did a lot of the cooking anyways...does that count?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Self-taught cooks are the best in my opinion!
Carol
Sounds great - pinned and shared
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Cathy
I'm delighted that you've developed gluten, dairy, and egg free gingerbread cookies! I think you're more than making up for missing that high school cooking class!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I think so too 😛 xo
Casey the College Celiac
Your baking powers never cease to amaze! YUM!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you!
Hannah
These look perfect! I had to laugh though...we tried to make gingerbread houses last weekend and they were such a disaster! Like, how I was able to do it with ease as a kid I'll never understand haha
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I want to make one so bad!! Haha! But I bet I would fail just as well 😉
Audrey
What would the holidays be without gingerbread cookies? Mmmm!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So right!
Sarah @ Accidentally Crunchy
I love that you included psyllium husks in this recipe! (Always happy to find more recipes to add them to).
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's one of the best egg replacers!
Sarah @ Accidentally Crunchy
Will have to try that! I've been so smitten with aquafaba that I just stopped experimenting! (but I have a huge tub of psyllium husks taking up space in my fridge, so experiment I will!)
Amanda
Gluten free...woohoo! My mom gave me her gingerbread man cookie cutters. I love this recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Get gingerbread making then!
Linda @ Veganosity
You're absolutely right! The holidays call for gingerbread people, it's just how it's done. 😉 These look yummy!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes!! Gingerbread men (and other shapes!) literally never fail to make me smile and feel merry!
Sabrina | The Tomato Tart
These sound so great !!! Perfect for the season. Yum!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, thank you!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health
how adorable are these. i was planning on baking this past weekend but its been delayed..#life.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Still plenty of time!
nadia
I agree Christmas is not complete without some sort of gingerbread flavoured treat! And nothing beats a good old gingerbread man! 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Gingerbread man season is just the best <3
Kortney // Allergy Girl Eats
I have yet to bake anything cinnamon or gingery! This needs to change.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O my goodness! Get on it!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
I love gingerbread cookies!! So yum!! A must for the holidays. Add them to my list of indulgent yet healthier desserts!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, true true!
Donna
Ahh I haven't had any gingerbread men yet this season, I sooo need to change that! Craving some big time now, these sound delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes you do and there is still plenty of time!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
These are adorable! I love how healthy you make everyday baked goodies.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Healthy is my middle name!
Julia Mueller
I completely agree - Christmas isn't Christmas without gingerbread cookies! I'm loving this delectable recipe! Definitely on my To Bake list!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is just a MUST! Santa would be so disappointed otherwise!
Thank you, Julia! xo
Farrah
Totally with you there--gingerbread is such a classic holiday treat! I'm so happy I got to try em'! 😛 It was super good! <3
I didn't take cooking class in high school but it was right across the hall from me when I was in journalism, so I was always a happy camper when they came by to sell their treats for 25 cents! 😛
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They SOLD you treats!? Should have just taken them!!
I think WE should join the cooking class/club here at school! I'll need to look into that 😉
Farrah
Do they have one!?!?
Mandy
Yay for gingerbread men AND trees!!! These are adorable!! <3 I'm with you...Christmas just isn't Christmas without gingerbread treats! And by the looks of these, I'd say you definitely nailed it!!! Haha...well, high school for me was 20 years ago, but I do vaguely remember a very lame cooking class my freshman year 😉 and at the time I was vegetarian without any known allergies...my, how things have changed! Willow just saw the pics in this post and said, "Oooooh, Mom! Can we make these??" xo
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Make some tigernut ginger-ys!!!! Have a "homeschooled" cooking class with Willow 😉
Tiffany
These look very tasty! Saving this recipe for my GF friends!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic!
Cricket Plunkett
You know, I've never made ginger bread men just ginger snaps. Maybe i'll change that this year with your recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well that was me too! Just plain soft ginger cookies, but never full on gingerbread (men) cookies!
Eileen
Love seeing gluten, dairy and egg free recipes! We stay away from all of those due to my son's allergies. Are these cookies hard or soft? Also do you have another other cookies you recommend for the holidays? Thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Soft as I said!
Just take a look at my recipe page!
Kelly @ TastingPage
Super cute and healthy. I think you could go back to your high school now and teach allergy friendly cooking classes!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know right? My true calling 😉
Chloe
Oooh these seem so yummy and cute! Definitely want to try making these for my who is Vegan, haha!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well everyone is sure to love them!
Megan
I've never cooked with teff flour--I should really branch out!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea, you're really missing out on quality flours!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner
Tis the season for gingerbread for sure!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You bet!
The Food Hunter
It wouldn't be Christmas without them
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So right!
Courtney
Yay, gingerbread! I haven't made a batch of gingerbread cookies yet this season, but I can't wait! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ah!! Get on it!
Demeter | Beaming Baker
You most certainly cannot! Love how adorable and festive these cookies came out! Thank you for making them deliciously vegan and gluten free. These are so ready for the holiday gift giving season! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, oops, forgot to make enough to "give" 😉
Evi @ greenevi
OMG, you are a genius, Rebecca! These cookies look fantastic and so crazily cute 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you!!! I think these are my favorite I've ever made!
Raia
Cute! I bet my kiddos would love to make these with me. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes they would!
Nico @ yumsome
I love gingerbread, so I'm very much a 'gingerbread - yay!' kind of person! Plus, I live near the Alps... it's kind of required!
And I *did* teach Home-Ec classes when I was in high school. And sewing too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I wish we had sewing! Still have no idea how to do that task 😛
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
I love gingerbread cookies! The holidays are not the same without them.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Agreed!!
Kate | The Veg Space
Oh I LOVE gingerbread men at this time of year, and how lovely to find a vegan recipe - will definitely be trying this. Thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We couldn't have the holidays without our gingerbread men!
Colette
I am not a huge gingerbread fan, but that's because the cookies always seem to come out hard as a rock. Yours look perfect (and very cute!)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
These are soft and perfect!
Ro
I'm always looking for gluten free options and can't wait to try these, thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You will love them!
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands
Yes sugar cookies and gingerbreads are a Christmas cookie must in our house! We are baking with friends next weekend and I cannot wait. These look like they would be so perfect with a coffee or cocoa right now.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Just all the cookies! I never want to stop!
Sarah | Well and Full
My high school didn't even offer cooking classes!! 🙁 It's a bummer that you weren't able to do the class because of your dietary needs :/ But look at you go now!! Cooking classes be damned! 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
No one needs "formal" training 😉
Celeste
I love gingerbread cookies! This looks like a fun and healthy twist.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The best! Thank you!
Choclette
It's all about the mince pies on this side of the pond and that's what Santa gets too, but I now really feel I need to make some gingerbread men 🙂 Well done for coming up with a tasty version you can eat and enjoy.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think I need to try my hand at some mince pies 😉
Megan - The Emotional Baker
Gingerbread cookies are essential for the holidays!!! & your school is so silly to exclude students from taking a cooking class! Well, their loss because you would've been top of the class 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think that's why! I would have just taken over the class with my skill 😉
rachel @ Athletic Avocado
I love gingerbread cookies! They are my favorite holiday-ish cookies but I only like them when they are soft just like these! I didn't take a cooking class in high school either but I already knew how to cook so I wasn't missing much lol.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Exactly 😉 We could just teach the class....to make wonderful soft gingerbread 😉
Kate
These gingerbread cookies look fantastic. And great that anyone can enjoy them regardless of allergies.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's what I wanted! Finally achieved!