Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread, a holiday classic! Use this gluten-free recipe, courtesy of our friends at the Gluten-Free Palate, to make celiac-safe gingerbread houses and gingerbread people. Decorating the cookies will be almost as enjoyable as eating them!

Ingredients

Gingerbread dough

• 3 cups 1 to 1 gluten-free flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup butter, room temperature
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• ½ cup molasses
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Icing

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 Tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Mix the flour, spices, baking soda and salt in a medium mixing bowl; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together.
3. Add in the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract. Cream until smooth.
4. Add in half the flour mixture and mix until combined.
5. Add in the remaining flour mixture and continue to mix until combine.
6. Shape dough into a ball and divide in half.
7. On a piece of parchment paper, pat the dough down into a 1-inch disk. Repeat with the other half of the dough.
8. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours, or until cold and firm.
9. Once the dough has chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and place a piece of wax paper on top. Using a rolling pin, roll dough out to ¼ inch thickness.
10. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
11. Remove the wax paper from the top of the dough. Using cookie cutters, cut shapes into the dough. Use a spoon or butter knife to remove the extra dough from around the shapes. Roll extra dough back into a ball, and place the wax paper back on top, and roll into ¼ inch thickness. Repeat until all dough is used.
12. Transfer the parchment paper with the gingerbread cookies onto a baking sheet.
13. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are firm and the centers are set. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature.
14. Make the icing: mix all ingredients in a small mixing bowl until smooth. Spoon icing into a piping bag with a small tip.
15. Decorate cooled cookies with icing and, if you have them, gluten-free sprinkles or candies.
16. Let the icing set for a couple of hours before storing. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.