Offering crisp edges with soft & thick centers, and the foundation for smooth icing decorating, these soft gluten free sugar cookies will be loved by all. Using your favourite cookie cutters and luxurious royal icings, every holiday can include sugar cookies at the dessert table.
Enjoy an irresistible buttery vanilla flavour or add extra touches like cinnamon, maple, almond and more. Bake ahead and freeze these gluten free sugar cookies for every occasion.
Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose gluten free flour
- ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum exclude if flour blend includes
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- lukewarm water as needed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Line a large baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, place the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and whisk to combine well.3 1/2 cups all-purpose gluten free flour, 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum, 1/3 cup cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- In a separate bowl, blend butter and sugar until smooth.1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, 1 cup unsalted butter
- Add eggs and vanilla, and mix to combine.2 eggs, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Combine wet with dry mixture.
- Add water by the half-teaspoonful and mix it in as necessary to bring the dough together.lukewarm water
- Chill for an hour or overnight.
- Place the plain dough between two sheets of unbleached parchment paper and roll out the dough about 1/4-inch to 1/3-inch thick.
- Remove the top sheet of parchment paper and cut out shapes using a floured cookie cutter.
- Transfer the rounds to the prepared baking sheet, placing them about 1 1/2 inches apart.
- Place the baking sheet in the center of the preheated oven and bake until lightly golden brown on the edges and firm to the touch (about 12 minutes).
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on the baking sheet before serving.
Nutrition Details
Recipe Notes
Tried this gluten free recipe?
Let us know how it was!These gluten free cut-out sugar cookies remain soft because we recommend rolling them out to about 1/4 inch thick or just under 1/4 inch thick. This is on the thicker side and helps produce that extra thick, soft cookie. Not interested in rolling out cookie dough? Make as drop cookies and press instead!
Room temperature butter is essential for this gluten free cut-out cookie recipe. Room temperature butter is cool to the touch. If the dough is too sticky, the butter may have been too soft.
Searching for an all-purpose gluten free flour? Find a great selection of APGFF options online including Cup4Cup, Bob’s Red Mill and more. The all-purpose gluten free flour you choose will play a big roll in the flavour of your crusts, so take the time to find something you love.
Special Kitchen Tool Recommendations for Making Cut-Out Cookies
When making cookies, the easier it is, the better. Using a handheld or counter-top electric mixer is beneficial. Some additional gluten free kitchen essentials include Silicone Baking Mats, Parchment Paper, Edgeless Baking Sheets, Rolling Pins (adjustable), Cookie Cutters (of course), and Disposable Piping Bags.
Looking for Halloween shaped cookie cutters? We love the 5-piece metal cookie cutter set by Ann Clark. They are super cute and easy to use, plus are lots of fun for all ages.
Can Gluten Free Sugar Cookies Be Frozen?
Plain or decorated cookies freeze well up to 3-6 months. It is recommended to let the icing set completely before layering between parchment sheets in a freezer-friendly container.
Made these for Easter Cookies! Works as hoped
Simple, quick and delicious!
Hands down the best sugar cookie recipe I’ve ever used. So much fun for the grandkids to decorate. (Hint) make sure you chill your dough
These are the very best sugar cookies to roll and cut out.
It’s really nice.I added a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon to flour because I added white chocolate chips.
Really easy and tasty!!!
My family and I absolutely love this recipe. Cookies were perfection and addicting
The best sugar cookie recipe ever! So easy to make and it turned out perfect! The cookies also taste fantastic!
These were AMAZING! I didn’t actually taste them [ as I took them to a party and they were gone in 10 min ] , but everyone said they were the best , butteriest sugar cookie they had tasted. Thank you <3 Sam!
I love this recipe for decorating cookies! I made them back at Christmas and am making them again for an event at our towns local taproom where we are one of several sponsors hosting the event
Easy recipe, turned out perfectly. When I roll mine out I put the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap. that way you don’t use any extra flour for the next roll. you can also use parchment paper.
Made these and brought them to work! Everyone loved them! Even my bf who claims he doesn’t like gluten free cookies really enjoyed them!!
Great recipe!!! Best sugar cookie recipe I’ve ran across in awhile!!
This is an amazing recipe. Thank you so much! I would send a picture but I ate them all.
Delicious! Just made these with my 3 year old daughter. Easy to follow recipe and will be my go-to for sugar cookies! Only difference was adding rainbow sprinkles (the round ones) to the sugar to roll the balls in before baking.
Delicious!!! Highly recommend this one right here 🙂