A great gluten free cut out sugar cookie recipe is a must in our family, and I know for many of you, too.
We find any excuse to make gluten free cut out sugar cookies to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Halloween, of course, but then there’s Ground Hog Day, Arbor Day, St. Patty’s Day, Election Day, Wednesday, birthdays, a sunny day, a cloudy day, rainbows … you get the idea.
The key to any good cut out sugar cookie dough is that it must be easy to roll and cut, resilient, elastic, never crumbly and of course, oh so yummy. Most gluten free flours make this task impossible, but not with my gfJules Gluten Free Flour.
I’ve led gluten free cooking classes with elementary schoolers and pre-teens using my gfJules Flour and this recipe, and they have all had such fun with this dough! It really is a wonderful recipe, rolled thin for crispy cookies, or thicker to make a softer, cakier cookie.
While I already have another popular gluten free cut out cookie recipe, the origin story behind this one lies with a special request from my gluten-eating son. He loves my regular recipe, but started in on a kick that he wanted me to make gluten free sugar cookies “just like the grocery store cookies!”
I thought — Eww. But I also realize that lots of people crave store-bought favorites from the past. There’s no shame in that.
So, ok Mr. teenager who doesn’t care about mile-long unpronounceable ingredient labels on store-bought cookies. Sure, I’ll make some cookies for you like those store-bought ones. But without all those junkie ingredients!
Not being able to taste those store-bought wheat-based cookies for myself, I had to rely on him to confirm that when I roll this dough to about 1/4+ inch thick, these indeed do taste like the ones he’s been craving. I must admit, I actually really, really like them that way, too.
Soft, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth yummy. And at least they have a cleaner label.
If you need a vegan egg-free dough option, hop over to my Gluten-Free Vegan Cut Out Cookie Recipe. Or you know you can always rely on my easy, delicious gfJules Gluten Free Cut Out Cookie Mix that seems to sell out every holiday like Valentine’s Day!
With my gfJules Sugar Cut Out Cookie Mix, roll the dough thicker to be more akin to this store-bought cookie, and use my easy homemade cookie icing recipe for that perfect crackle-topped icing we all grew up with!
Gluten Free Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe (just like the store-bought kind)
Gluten Free Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
Just like the store bought kind, these thicker cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and the dough is so easy to work with!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup shortening OR butter OR vegan butter
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil of choice
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks (or vegan egg substitute)
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cup (236 grams) gfJules™All Purpose Gluten Free Flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 3 Tbs. water (as needed)
- food coloring (optional)
- colored sugar or frosting (optional)
- gluten free sprinkles
Instructions
- Cream shortening, sugar and oil several minutes with an electric mixer, until very fluffy.
- Add egg yolks, vanilla extract and food coloring, if using. Mix in the dry ingredients, adding in tablespoons of water only as needed to keep the dough together and avoid dryness (err on the side of this dough being wetter).
- Pat the dough into a disc shape to roll or to cover tightly with plastic wrap to refrigerate or just roll out immediately.
- Preheat oven to 350º F (static) or 325º F (convection).
- Lightly flour a clean surface or pastry mat with gfJules™ All Purpose Flour. Roll the dough to a little more than 1/4-inch thickness and dust cookie cutters with gfJules Flour before using to cut out shapes. You may also roll thin coils of dough of different colors and braid into candy cane or other fun shapes.
- Place cut cookies onto parchment-lined cookie sheets and decorate with colored sugar, if desired.
- Bake approximately 8-10 minutes, but remove before they begin to brown at the edges. Cool on a wire rack and frost with gluten-free frosting, if desired.
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Based on 18 Review(s)
Was wondering if I can make this recipe but replace it with the same measurement of your Nada Flour? Thanks for all you do to give my family options!
Hi Brandi, I’m so happy to do it! And yes, Nada Flour will work for cut out sugar cookies. You can actually see it in my Gluten Free Fruit Pizza Recipe — I’ve given the measurements. Have fun and be sure to post pics in the comments or as a review for Nada Flour, I’d love to see your cookies!
~jules
This is what it looks like….
What does this mean…(err on the side of this dough being wetter).
Do we want it wetter then normal or just enough to keep it together and not dry?
Yes, just make sure it’s not crumbly when you make the dough. If it holds together well and doesn’t crumble (forms a ball like yours) then it should be good to go! You don’t want it to be sticky or wet.
~jules
Thank you! They came out perfect!
So glad to hear it!!! Happy holidays!
~jules
There’s no need for baking powder? Just checking. Thanks.
Never hurts to check, but no, there’s no baking powder in this recipe. Makes for the perfect cookie texture!
~jules
Could you email me a sugar cookie recipe – either for a drop or rolled cookie? I don’t need a recipe for cut-out cookies. I use your gf Jules flour. Thank you!
Hi Sandy, you can use any of the sugar cookie recipes on my site or my gfJules Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Mix and roll the dough into balls in sugar and bake rather than rolling out and cutting with shaped cutters instead. This recipe for Sugar Cookie “Nests” is also another great option you should try!
~jules
I noticed that the sugar cookie recipe has changed. Just curious why the change?
Hi Barb, I have TWO gluten free cut out sugar cookie recipes — maybe you’re used to using the other one? Here’s the link for my other gluten free cut out sugar cookie recipe to check and see if that’s the one!
~jules