Christmas Shortbread Cookies
Updated Dec 08, 2025, Published Oct 31, 2019
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A Festive Gluten-Free Favorite
Why These Christmas Shortbread Cookies Are a Must-Make
Holiday baking should feel joyful — not stressful. These Christmas Shortbread Cookies deliver buttery, tender, lightly spiced comfort that’s perfect for holiday cookie trays, family gatherings, or cozy tea time. Because they use gluten-free flours and simple ingredients, they’re easy to make even for those with dietary restrictions — yet still deliver the classic shortbread texture and festive flavor everyone loves.
The addition of warming spices and orange zest (or other flavorings) adds holiday cheer, making these cookies more than just “butter and flour.” They strike that nostalgic balance: familiar yet special, simple yet festive.
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick overview of the ingredients used in the base recipe:
- Brown rice flour
- Gluten-free oat flour
- Potato starch
- A small amount of sugar
- Ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground nutmeg (or your preferred spice blend)
- Orange zest (or another citrus or flavor twist)
- A fat component (e.g., melted coconut oil or butter substitute)
- A small amount of water or other binding liquid
For optional icing or decorations:
- Powdered (icing) sugar
- Water or a liquid of choice
- Optional food coloring or festive sprinkles / edible decorations
What Makes This Recipe Work
- The mix of rice flour, oat flour, and potato starch gives structure while staying gluten-free — and produces a tender, crumbly shortbread texture that melts in the mouth.
- The warm spices and citrus zest layer in holiday flavor beyond plain shortbread, making these cookies ideal for Christmas or winter celebrations.
- Because the dough is straightforward and doesn’t rely on eggs or complex steps, this recipe stays approachable — even for beginners or those baking under dietary constraints.
- The optional icing adds a festive creative element — perfect for decorating cookies for parties, cookie exchanges, or holiday gifts.
Serving & Holiday Baking Ideas
- Bake a double batch and wrap cookies in decorative tins or boxes — they make wonderful edible gifts.
- Present them on a holiday cookie platter along with other treats: nuts, chocolates, or fruit candies.
- Add them to a holiday dessert table alongside pies, fudge, or hot cocoa for variety.
- Serve them with a warm drink — tea, coffee, mulled cider, or dairy-free hot chocolate — for a cozy winter treat.
Make Them Your Own: Variations & Flavor Tweaks
You can easily adapt the basic recipe to suit different tastes, seasons, or dietary preferences:
- Citrus-Spiced Shortbread: Use lemon or lime zest instead of orange for a brighter flavor.
- Chocolate-Drizzled: Once cooled, drizzle dairy-free or dark chocolate over cookies for a rich finish.
- Spiced & Nutty: Add finely chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts) or chopped candied peel for extra texture and flavor.
- Herb-Infused: Mix in a pinch of ground cardamom or allspice for a deeper holiday-spice profile.
- Colorful Icing: Use natural food dyes or colored icing sugar to decorate cookies — great for themed parties, cookie exchanges, or fun with kids.
- Mini Cookie Bites: Roll dough into small balls for “bite-sized” cookies, great for snacking or platter variety.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature — they stay fresh and crisp for several days.
- If using icing or decorations, add those just before serving or gifting to avoid smudging or softening.
- Cookies freeze well: place in a freezer-safe container with parchment between layers, and thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy.
- For gift-ready packs — wrap in parchment or wax paper and tie with a ribbon for a simple, classic presentation.
These Christmas Shortbread Cookies bring together tradition, simplicity, and festive charm. They offer a gluten-free, straightforward alternative to classic cookies — while delivering the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture and warm seasonal flavors that make holiday baking feel special.
Whether you bake a single batch for yourself or a full platter to share, they make a wonderful addition to holiday celebrations. Use them as a canvas for creativity — from citrus zest to cozy spices, chocolate drizzles to colorful icing — and enjoy sharing a bit of warmth and sweetness this season.
Christmas Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup brown rice flour, plus more for rolling
- ½ cup gluten-free oat flour
- ⅓ cup potato starch
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅓ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅓ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ orange, , zested
- 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons water
For the icing:
- ½ cup powdered/icing sugar
- 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Sift all the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Add orange zest, melted coconut oil, and water. Knead just until the dough forms.
- Place the dough on a floured work surface. Roll out the dough to ½-inch thick, flouring as needed. Cut out the shapes you like (you can get creative and use any cookie cutters and stamps you have). You should get around 15 cookies, 2 inches each.
- Place cookies on the baking sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden-brown on the edges. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
For the icing, sift the powdered sugar into a bowl. Gradually stir in water until the mixture is the consistency of thick cream. If you want to make it more colorful, you can mix in 1-2 drops of any coloring of your choice. Use the icing immediately, as it might dry out. To pipe the icing onto the cookies, use an icing bag with the smallest tip.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
