Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men

It’s the 1st of December, and you know what that means… it’s officially Christmas in our house! Time to whip out the baking trays, crank up the festive tunes, and fill the kitchen with the comforting aroma of ginger, cinnamon, and treacle. Holiday baking has always been one of my favourite ways to soak up the magic of Christmas and these Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men are the perfect place to start!

These adorable little biscuits are soft and chewy, packed with warm spices and a hint of sweetness. The best part? They’re gluten-free, so everyone can join in on the festive fun, even Santa! My kids absolutely love decorating them with royal icing and sprinkles (and maybe sneaking one or two in the process). This recipe is a tradition we look forward to every year, and I hope it becomes part of your Christmas kitchen too.

The dough is easy to handle and rolls out like a dream,perfect for using cookie cutters in all shapes and sizes. Just a little tip: keep an eye on your baking time! If you’re using smaller cutters, aim for the lower end (around 10–12 minutes), but for larger ones, you might need a minute or two extra. Either way, your house will smell like a festive dream.

I’m actually so pleased with the texture of these gluten-free gingerbread men that I genuinely believe they’d work beautifully for building a gingerbread house too. And of course, don’t forget to set a few aside for Santa on Christmas Eve as he’s a big fan of the spicy-sweet combo too, I’ve heard.

If you love a ginger kick as much as we do, make sure to also check out my Gluten-Free Jamaica Ginger Cake, another cosy classic for this time of year.

Tried this recipe? I’d love to see your delicious creations! Tag me on Instagram @laurasglutenfreekitchenblog – I might even share your post!

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 12 mins

Total Time 32 mins

Cooking Method: Baked

Cuisine: British

Courses: Afternoon Cuppa Tea, Desserts

Difficulty: Advanced

Description

Celebrate Christmas with these soft and chewy Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men. Easy to make, fun to decorate, and perfect for the whole family — even Santa!

Ingredients

660 grams gluten free plain flour
¾ tsp xanthan gum
36 grams cornflour
¾ tsp baking soda
1½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp salt
50 grams granulated sugar
73 grams packed light brown sugar
63 grams treacle
42 grams honey
½ tsp vanilla extract
70 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 egg (beaten)

FOR THE ROYAL ICING:

180 grams powdered sugar
30 ml warm water
10 grams Golden syrup or light corn syrup
⅛ tsp vanilla

Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 325°F/180°C Fan/ Gas 4.
2
Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
3
In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, corn flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt and granulated sugar, and whisk to combine well. Add the brown sugar, and whisk once more to combine, working out any lumps in the brown sugar.
4
Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the treacle, honey, vanilla, butter and egg, mixing to combine after each addition. The dough will be thick and smooth, and somewhat sticky to the touch.
5
Transfer the dough to a large sheet parchment paper, cover with another sheet of parchment and roll into a rectangle about ⅜-inch thick (more than ¼-inch, less than ½-inch). If you are concerned that the dough will be difficult to handle, place it in the refrigerator or freezer after you roll it out to allow it to firm up. Dip a gingerbread man cutter in gluten free flour or corn flour, and use it to cut out shapes from the cookie dough.
6
With each cut, jiggle the cutter back and forth to create a neat shape. Peel back the rest of the dough from around the cut-outs, and carefully peel off the men and place them, about 1½-inches apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Gather and re-roll scraps, and repeat the process until you have used all the dough.
7
Place in the center of the oven and bake until dry to the touch (about 12 - 15 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on the baking sheets
8
FOR THE ROYAL ICING:
9
Place powdered sugar in a medium bowl and set aside. In a small bowl, combine warm water, golden syrup or light corn syrup, and extract. Stir until syrup is dissolved.
10
Add syrup water to powdered sugar and stir until completely combined. Mixture will be thick. The consistency you're looking for is a slowly dripping icing that disappears into the bowl within about 12 seconds. Add water by drop if you think it's too thick. If it becomes too thin, add more powdered sugar by the teaspoon.
11
Add into a piping bag and decorate your gingerbread men.

Notes

This dough is very versatile, use it for cookies or even a gingerbread house.

Adjust baking time based on the size of your cookie cutters.

These cookies freeze well. Bake ahead and defrost as needed.

Decorating tip: royal icing gives the best finish and sets firm.

Add a little orange zest to the dough for a festive twist.

Read it online: https://laurasglutenfreekitchen.com/recipe/gluten-free-gingerbread-men/