Gluten-Free Angel Cookies are a classic holiday cookie made gluten-free.
One of things I miss about gluten free baking is the ability to just make something. I used to see a recipe for a cake, bread, or cookie and I would say, I am going to make that today.
With gluten free baking I don’t usually say that because so much more work is usually involved.
It takes figuring out what flour or blend will work in a recipe. It takes more planning to be sure I have everything that I need. And it takes me being willing to face a cooking disaster that day. We all know that gluten free baking involves disasters especially when you try to convert recipes.
Earlier this week I saw a recipe link in my Facebook stream for Angel Face Cookies from Money Saving Mom, I instantly wanted to make them. It was not a I will print this out and try to figure it out later type of plan, I wanted to try to make them gluten free right then.
I am not sure why these cookies were calling my name right then, but they were. It may have been because they are a cross between a sugar cookie and a snickerdoodle, both of which are favorites in our house, but I went right to work on figuring them out gluten free.
The amazing thing about this recipe is that it worked the first time I tried it gluten free. And it did not just work, these were really good. That doesn’t usually happen the first time I convert something to gluten free.
These are a simple cookie. They are more of an old fashioned type cookie, but they are really good. I have no idea how the original gluten filled version tastes, but the gluten free version will be a do again in our house.
And I think the description of a cross between a snickerdoodle and a sugar cookie is perfect for them.
If you need an easy, yet simple gluten free holiday cookie, these are really good.
I think if you made these crispy, by baking them a little longer, they would make a great cookie type crust on a gluten free dessert.
Gluten Free Angel Cookies
A classic holiday cookie made gluten free.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1/2 cup + 1/3 cup sugar (plus more for rolling cookies in)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/4 cup white rice flour
- 1/2 cup sweet rice flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In mixing bowl beat together butter, shortening, 1/2 cup + 1/3 cup sugar, and brown sugar.
- Add egg and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl combine rice flours, cornstarch, xanthan gum, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter-sugar mixture and mix well.
- Shape about 1 tablespoon of batter into a ball and roll in sugar. I used my cookie scoop and then dropped them into sugar and it worked great.
- Place on cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes. 9 minutes for a softer cookie and a little longer for a crisper cookie.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
36Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 94Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 78mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g
Nutritional values are approximate and aren't always accurate.
Note: My version makes half what the original recipe did, but it was plenty for us.
Thank you so much! I subscribe to Money Saving Mom too. I read the ingredients and knew they would be so good. So very happy for a GF version I know I can count on (i.e. you are the best). Merry Christmas Lynn!
I hope you enjoy them! They were really good. And Merry Christmas!
I have a snickerdoodle recipe that I converted successfully on the first try! Isn’t that an awesome feeling?!?
Wondering about your use of xanthan gum in cookies…..have you tried going without? I don’t use it in mine at all…usually freeze part of the batch though so long-life issues aren’t a problem here. I do have one recipe that seems to last for way over a week with no adverse taste…they just dry out a bit!
I find that the xanthan gum helps the texture and helps things hold together, so I usually add a little to most cookie recipes. For things like muffins and pancakes, I don’t always use it. Because this recipe is a sugar cookie type recipe that is a bit drier anyway, it may work fine without it, but I have not tried it.
I LOVE that you adapted the recipe, and so excited that these worked out for you! We are not gf, but I have lots of friends who are. Now they can eat these cookies too! 🙂
They turned out so good! My family loved them, so thanks for sharing them. I had fun adapting them to gluten free.
Where do you get sweet rice flour? Thanks for the GF conversion!
Here is a post I did on sweet rice flour and where I get it. I hope that helps.
Question: Why is shortening needed? I don’t like it. Blech. Why not all butter?
In some recipes shortening helps makes thing more flaky and a different texture. It might work with all butter, but I have not tried it.
I saw your cookies mentioned on Gluten Freely Frugal. This recipe is now at the very top of my must-try list. Thanks!
Thanks, I hope you enjoy them!
I have made this recipe several times and love it! I posted it on my gluten free food blog today:)
How many did your recipe make?
It makes 2 – 2 1/2 dozen depending on how large you make them.