8 Best Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes for Christmas to Prepare with Kids

Written by Olena Lastivka

Written by Olena Lastivka

Olena is a nutrition and healthcare writer, runner, and gym enthusiast. She is keen on health and fitness research, modern studies on sports and nutrition, and various physical activities. 

on December 20, 2022

Fact checked by Ievgeniia Dobrynina

Fact checked by Ievgeniia Dobrynina

Ievgeniia Dobrynina is the Head of Nutrition and a fact checker at Unimeal.

The Unimeal team works to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information. All texts are reviewed by a panel of experts and editors and updated according to the latest research. Only evidenced-based and verified sources of leading medical publications and universities get into the article materials.

Preparing Christmas dishes can be exhausting for children. But if you find the right recipe and approach, your kids can become the best helpers in the kitchen. In this article, we will explain the gluten-free diet and share useful lists of cooking motivation hacks, decoration tips, and top recipes. 

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Gluten-free cookies: who needs them 

There is nothing bad about gluten for an average person. It is a protein typically found in wheat that makes it "sticky." People without gluten intolerance can easily consume gluten without health risks¹Niland B, Cash BD. (2018, February 14). Health Benefits and Adverse Effects of a Gluten-Free Diet in Non–Celiac Disease Patients. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). PMID:29606920.  

About 1% of the world's population has Celiac disease (or gluten intolerance). It is a hereditary autoimmune health condition that leads to the body's immediate response to gluten. The main symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia, and headache²Peter H.R. Green, M.D., and Christophe Cellier, M.D., Ph.D. (2007, October 25). Celiac Disease N Engl J Med. DOI:10.1056/NEJMra071600. 

Before running to conclusions, better consult a gastroenterologist to determine whether you have gluten intolerance. Unfortunately, there is no unified gluten sensitivity test that can verify your gluten intolerance. 

See also: Gluten-Free Grains and Alternatives: A Complete Guide 

How to motivate your kids to prepare Christmas cookies together 

Use these tips to inspire your children to cook with you: 

• Buy interesting utensils. Children adore everything new because they are so curious. When you choose your cooking gear, think about your children. Besides, kids' hands are smaller, so you might require additional utensils for their comfort. 
• Prepare the cookies of their choice. Let them choose what they like and make their decision important. Instead of ruling the process, only gently guide your kids and supervise them. Children will instantly be more enthusiastic and happy. 
• Make a competition. Create a cooking contest with prizes if you have two or more kids. If you have only one child, you can compete with them yourself. It adds a bit of spice and adrenalin to the cooking process. 
• Let them learn and have fun. Don't blame your children for being children. Be ready to buy a bit more ingredients than a recipe requires. It's completely ok if they mess up with dough, spill something, or eat half of the cookies before baking them. 

How to decorate your Christmas cookies 

There are plenty of ways to make your cookies more good-looking. As for Christmas recipes, we recommend the following edible decorations: 

• Coconut flakes. They taste good and look like snow. Just make sure it matches the taste of the dessert. 
• Edible glitter. You can add it to the icing or just sprinkle it over the cookies. You can also find some bigger shiny edible beads in the confectionary section. 
• Nuts. Use a food processor or a blender to make chopped nuts. Add some honey or icing if you want them to stick to the cookies. 
• Cookie icing. Prepare cookie icing at home or buy packaged powders in a supermarket. They come in different colors and textures, creating a great space for creativity. 
• Cookie frosting. This is another excellent decoration to sprinkle over your cookies (but not as healthy as nuts). Usually, there is a big choice of cookie frosting before any holiday. 
• Hot chocolate. Pour it over the cookies to create a geometrical design on your cookies. If you want an even chocolate layer, dip the cookies into a bowl of hot chocolate. 
• Whipped cream. This decoration can create extra volume when you serve the cookies. You can add some extra decorations on top of whipped cream, as they can stick to it pretty well. 

Christmas gluten-free cookie recipe ideas

Cookie recipes can be very engaging for children as they love to play with dough. They also will be more motivated to cook as most kids have a sweet tooth and will enjoy their efforts' results. 

Here are some cookie recipe ideas you might want to try this Christmas: 

• Chocolate chip cookies. It is a classic American recipe that is always relevant, especially during holidays. Add some extra cinnamon and dried cranberries if you want to create a winter version of the dessert. 
• Gingerbread cookies. They smell and taste like pure Christmas. Your children will especially love the decorating part. 
• Snowballs. Super-easy to make and so good-looking! This recipe perfectly fits younger children as it can occupy them with rolling perfect balls. 
• Meringue cookies. This recipe is so simple but still looks impressive on any table. Add some red or green food coloring to invite the Christmas spirit. 
• Peanut butter balls. These cookies don't need baking! It also has a decent amount of healthy fats and will definitely win the hearts of crunch lovers.
• Sugar blossom cookies. Bright and versatile, these cookies can be of any size and color. You can make them look like Christmas tree decorations or even Christmas trees. Everything depends on your ideas and inspiration.  
• ​​Oatmeal cookies. Nothing goes better with milk than oatmel cookies, especially if you add some chocolate drops. Learn how to prepare the cookies the easy way and don't forget to teach your kids! 
• Vegan gluten-free cookies. You can never really tell that these double chocolate cookies are vegan or gluten free. Their taste and texture and texture is similar to regular cookies, but they are an easier fit to any diet.