You don't have to sacrifice fresh-baked treats because you're giving up gluten. Just make one of these gluten-free cookie recipes for a sweet pick-me-up!
Our Best Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes
Updated on May 09, 2024
Our favorite gluten-free cookie recipes show off a huge range of flavors and textures—from thin and crispy to chewy and chunky, sturdy cookies you can dunk and fragile cookies that melt in your mouth. These recipes use many different gluten-free flours and baking techniques to achieve the perfect flavor and texture—no wheat flour required.
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
With just three pantry ingredients and zero flour required, this recipe is perfect for anyone new to gluten-free baking. The recipe might seem too simple to work, yet it’s among our most popular and top-rated recipes, period.
1/18
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Our gluten-free version captures the best of this classic recipe. With a rich, buttery flavor and the perfect, slightly chewy texture, these cookies will vanish from the plate without anyone knowing they’re gluten-free. Use your favorite store-bought gluten-free flour mix.
2/18
3/18
Gluten-Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 dozen cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These gluten-free chocolate crinkle cookies are a family favorite. The ground almonds make them even better. —Karen Kelly, Germantown, Maryland
These cocoa-rich cookies are made with two healthy gluten-free flours: protein-rich almond flour and paleo-friendly coconut flour. We love how the coating of powdered sugar crackles as the cookie rises while baking, making them a simple yet attractive addition to a holiday dessert plate.
4/18
Gluten-Free Almond Crispies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a wonderful treat everyone in the family can enjoy. Ideal with milk or tea, these cookies have cinnamon and maple in every crunchy bite. —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin
These cookies are packed with almond flavor thanks to the addition of almond flour, almond extract and chopped almonds. A hint of maple syrup and cinnamon make them slightly autumnal. This recipe contains only whole grain brown rice flour along with the almond flour, making it a healthy option without refined starch.
5/18
Gluten-Free Fig Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These special cookies definitely don’t taste gluten-free. For added appeal, I soak the figs overnight in a mixture of port and pomegranate juice. Twinkle30 - Tasteofhome.com community
Miss the classic packaged fig cookie? The homemade version is even better. The recipe is slightly complex but totally manageable, perfect for a weekend baking project. Plan ahead, as the figs need to soak overnight.
6/18
Mocha-Walnut Macarons
Total Time
50 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This cookie perfectly captures the chocolaty, nutty flavor of my favorite gourmet coffee. —Christine Venzon, Peoria, Illinois
This classic French recipe is such a patisserie staple you might assume it contains gluten—but it doesn’t! Macarons are made from ground nuts gently folded into whipped eggs whites, yielding their distinctive texture and domed top.
7/18
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will stand in line to kiss the cook when these treats are served!
For a change of pace, try them with chunky peanut butter, too. —Canada60, Tasteofhome.com Community
This crowd-pleasing recipe is a holiday staple, but it’s too tasty not to make all year. The rich, moist dough adapts well to gluten-free ingredients, and they’ll keep in the tin for several days. It’s a great recipe to make with kids: have them unwrap and press the Kisses.
8/18
Gluten-Free Snowballs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I took a classic holiday cookie and made it gluten-free. It’s now my husband’s favorite Christmas cookie. They’re so buttery, nutty and sweet—and everyone loves how they crumble in your mouth.
—Joan Sarge, Asheville, North Carolina
Another holiday favorite, buttery, nutty snowball cookies might be even more tender when made without gluten. The trick to making perfect snowballs is to chill the dough thoroughly before baking. After mixing the dough, the butter will soften quite a bit, and baking too soon will result in flat, spreading cookies. Chill for at least one hour (or longer, especially if your home is warm). To ensure success, you can add a second chill after shaping the cookies.
9/18
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I can’t consume gluten, so I’ve transformed my favorite recipes to fit my diet. I came up with these cakelike cookies, and no one ever guesses they’re gluten free. —Becki DiMercurio, Martinez, California
These bite-sized treats satisfy the biggest cake cravings. They’re rich with chocolate, walnuts and coffee, making them a more adult treat perfect for serving at parties or a book club. Note that the batter will be wetter than usual, actually resembling frosting.
10/18
Citrus Almond Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These frosted goodies were a "must" every Christmas in my mother's family. I think the blend of milk chocolate, toasted almonds, lemon and orange is cookie perfection.
Citrus-zested recipes are a perfect pick-me-up during the winter months. Like other recipes on this list, these citrus almond cookies are actually made without any flour. Instead, either grind almonds or use a store-bought almond meal. (Purchased almond flour may be too dense for this recipe.)
11/18
Peanut Butter Coconut Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These four-ingredient peanut butter coconut cookies are easy to make, so you'll always have time to make a quick batch. Bonus: No flour means they're also gluten-free! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
You’ll only need four ingredients to make these chewy peanut butter cookies, and you should have most on hand: sugar, peanut butter, an egg and shredded coconut. The result is a healthy, filling cookie just right for an afternoon snack.
12/18
Italian Orange-Fig Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of the first holiday cookies I made when I found out I could no longer eat gluten. In those eight years, six of my family members and friends have also had to give up gluten, so these delicious Italian cookies have now become a treasured holiday tradition for all of us. By the way, no one will know they're gluten free unless you tell them! The cookies last for weeks if stored in a dry place. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Almond fans, get excited! These delicately flavored cookies are packed with almond paste. You may use store-bought or make homemade almond paste. Apricots, figs and citrus combine for a floral flavor that pairs well with a cup of tea. Rare among gluten-free cookies, they’ll even keep well for weeks on the countertop.
13/18
Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I had been searching for a dessert to make for my brother's girlfriend (who is gluten intolerant), and I came across a naturally gluten-free dessert—a flourless peanut butter cookie. After tweaking the recipe a bit and adding Nutella and a sprinkling of sea salt, I finally found the perfect cookie for her. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
The secret ingredient in these thumbprint cookies? Nutella! While we love baking with Nutella, you can also swap your favorite jam or plain melted chocolate to fill the thumbprints.
14/18
Gluten-Free Almond Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My friend loved these gluten-free almond cookies so much, she had to ask for the recipe! Quick and easy, they taste as good as the decadent treats I make using puff pastry and almond paste. Everyone loves them! —Sherri Cox, Lucasville, Ohio
These delicate cookies look and taste impressive, but they’re actually quite simple. They call for only four ingredients, mixed in a single bowl. Make sure to preheat the oven before you start mixing, so you can immediately portion and bake the dough before the egg whites deflate.
15/18
Cinnamon Roll Macarons
Total Time
55 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These macarons are a fall and winter staple for me. Inspired by the classic cinnamon roll, they are a delicious treat for a cold or snowy day. These pair well with a mug of tea, and you can enjoy them as a dessert or just a snack. Other fillings would work well with this too—including custard, mousse, ganache or another buttercream.
—Elizabeth Ding, El Cerrito, California
Light, decadent macarons are a showstopping dessert that’s naturally gluten-free, as they’re made with almond flour and egg whites. This recipe calls for sandwiching the macarons with a fluffy cream cheese frosting, though you may also use the more traditional ganache or buttercream.
16/18
No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Total Time
10 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I have to be super careful when cooking for my daughter because of food sensitivities, so I make these no-bake peanut butter oatmeal bars with certified gluten-free oats. Everyone loves these bars when we go to picnics or potlucks, and I know there will be a dessert for my daughter! —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
Bar cookies are a staple of potlucks, picnics and birthday parties. This recipe calls for just three ingredients to make a chewy bar that’s a cross between a peanut butter cookie and a granola bar. Make sure to use oats that are certified gluten-free; though oats are technically gluten-free, they’re often cross-contaminated during processing.
Meringue cookies look fancy, but they’re actually quite simple to make. The only trick? Whipping the egg whites well. Bring them up to room temperature first for the best results, and make sure to watch for glossy peaks.
18/18
Cashew Butter Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
20 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These cashew butter cookies are on a more sophisticated level than peanut butter. They are vegan and gluten-free, so you'll be able to share with all your friends. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
These rich, nutty cookies have a secret ingredient: flaxseed meal. Often used as an egg substitute, especially in vegan baking, flax meal works to bind ingredients together in baked goods. It also adds healthy fiber. Don’t worry, you won’t taste the flax; buttery cashews and maple syrup are the star flavors here.
