Some Christmas cookies are just regular cookies with Christmas decorations on them — like sugar cookies with red and green frosting. They look like Christmas, but they don’t taste like Christmas. I like a Christmas cookie to TASTE like Christmas. And nothing fits that bill like a gingerbread cookie or ginger snap. The gingersnap is the only holiday cookie that can really claim to be the cookie of Christmas. And this grain-free ginger Christmas cookie is no exception.
I love gingersnaps. Gingerbread, ginger cookies — ginger anything. I’ve tried for years to make a great ginger cookie at Christmas and I’ve made some that were ok, but this attempt really wins the gauntlet. This grain-free ginger cookie is chewy, crispy on top, not too gingery but gingery enough. The kids loved them too. I ate way too many of them in one day and have zero regrets. I am making another double recipe for a Christmas party, and plan to keep a stash at home for my own personal “use.”
I wanted a grain-free ginger Christmas cookie recipe because the richness of all of the holiday food that surrounds us in December can be too much, and something without refined flour is a nice change of pace. I used almond flour and arrowroot powder to make them grain-free and the combo came out just right. Note that these must, MUST, be chilled at least a half hour to an hour before baking, or they will spread out too thin on the pan. The last step of coating them in coarse sugar really gives them an extra crunch and makes them sparkle beautifully. I paired these with a lemon cream in a pretty bowl to spread on top and it was a real crowd pleaser. Happy holiday baking!
I am a mom of two and wife to a martial arts school owner, full-time social media professional and avid cook and gardener. I love creating recipes and involving my kids in the process. The food we cook is usually dairy-free and gluten-free, and sometimes paleo, but we make exceptions (ahem, sourdough bread). The “hippie” part of this blog comes into play in the ingredients we use—I’m pretty vigilant about the health of my family and you could even call me “crunchy.” The “modern” part is that I am busy! You won’t catch me making my own nut milk or churning butter (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I’m more than happy to take the shortcuts provided by our lovely grocery stores and online shopping —especially in the midst of this global pandemic.
