• Newsletters
  • Subscribe
/
1x
Recipe Collections

21 Gluten-Free Cookie And Holiday Candy Recipes

From flourless chocolate cookies to decadent fudge, there's a gluten-free recipe for every holiday occasion.
By Amy Grief
Add as preferred on Google(opens in a new tab)
Popular holiday cookies: Gluten-free roasted chestnut meltaways

(Photo: Liam Morgan)

Gluten-free cookie recipes let everyone enjoy one of the most delicious parts of the holiday season: dessert! From Viennese-inspired chestnut meltaways to seriously impressive homemade candy, these gluten-free cookie recipes are showstoppers you'll want to make year after year. Best of all, for some of these recipes, you don't even need to turn on your oven!

Christmas Meringue Swirls

These elegant Christmas meringue swirls will make you the toast of the holiday party season. Best of all, this meringue recipe needs only five ingredients. Get our Christmas meringue swirls recipe.

Cashew Meringues With Amaretto Buttercream

These easy yet elegant cashew meringues with rich amaretto buttercream icing will look stunning on a holiday cookie plate. Get our cashew meringues with amaretto buttercream recipe.

An overhead view of an open pink gift box containing colorful meringue sandwich cookies nestled in white fluted paper liners. The box holds a mix of pale green, soft pink, and white-and-red swirled meringues. Three of the twelve liners are empty, showing only the white paper cups. The box rests on a textured pink fabric surface, decorated with a curling dark pink satin ribbon and scattered silver sugar beads.(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Gluten-Free Amaretti Cookies

These sweet almond cookies can be shaped into stars or small rounds (just roll the dough into 3/4-in. balls, coat in extra sugar and arrange on a baking sheet) depending on what equipment you have. Get our gluten-free amaretti cookie recipe.

Advertisement
Gluten-free amaretti cookies in white cookie jarPhoto, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Eshun Mott. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.

The Royal Hotel's Signature Chocolate Cookies

Chatelaine deputy editor Gillian Grace first tried these chocolatey cookies while staying at the Royal Hotel in Prince Edward County, Ont. Presented to every guest upon check-in, they're a real crowd pleaser: crackly, chewy and totally gluten-free. Pastry chef Sarah Villamere was happy to share the recipe with us—and we can't wait to make them at home ourselves. Get the Royal Hotel's signature chocolate signature chocolate cookies recipe.

A close-up of several finished Royal's Signature Chocolate Cookies. The dark brown, gluten-free cookies have a chewy, crackly surface and are visibly studded with ingredients like white pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and red dried cranberries.Recipe: The Royal Hotel Executive Pastry Chef Sarah Villamere. Photo, Aimee Nishitoba.

Gluten-Free Roasted Chestnut Meltaway Cookies

Inspired by Vienna’s charming markets and enchanting Alpine traditions, these beautiful and festive cookies with a rich chestnut centre will make an impression at the cookie exchange. Get this gluten-free roasted chestnut meltaway cookies recipe.

Popular holiday cookies: Gluten-free roasted chestnut meltawaysPhoto, Erik Putz.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Use gluten-free peanut butter to make these bite-sized treats that'll be scooped off the dessert table in a flash. Get our chocolate peanut butter balls recipe.

No-bake desserts: Chocolate peanut butter ballsSkip the truffles this year.

Flourless Chocolate Snow Mountains

These ultra-chocolaty, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are a great make-ahead treat. They last for a month in the freezer, or a week in an airtight container on the countertop (but they'll disappear long before that). Get our flourless chocolate snow mountain cookies recipe.

Advertisement
A stack of flourless chocolate cookies piled high on a white background and dusted with powdered sugar(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Gluten-free Crispy and Chewy Chocolate-Chip Cookies

Why mess with tradition? Our gluten-free version of this classic cookie is chewy, crispy and pairs perfectly with a cool glass of milk (or your favourite milk alternative). Get our gluten-free crispy and chewy chocolate-chip cookies recipes.

Gluten-free crispy and chewy chocolate-chip cookies on platePhoto, Michael Alberstat.

Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies

Our gluten-free take on this classic holiday cookie uses ground almonds and brown rice flour. Get our gluten-free shortbread cookies recipe.

Gluten-free shortbread cookieGluten-free shortbread cookie. (Photo, Sian Richards.)

Peppermint Meringue Kisses

These gorgeously festive peppermint meringue kisses rely on a simple meringue recipe and a few tricks with a piping bag. They’re as fun to make as they are to eat! Get this peppermint meringue kisses recipe.

Peppermint Meringue Kisses, made of meringues striped with red and green gel food colouring in a glass serving platter with a glass dome for a post on an easy peppermint meringue kisses recipePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Macarons

A box filled with handmade French-style macarons would make for a beautiful, edible gift! Mix-and-match flavours for a patisserie-inspired present. Get out pistachio-cream macarons and our raspberry-chocolate-ganache macarons recipes.

Advertisement
Raspberry chocolate ganache macarons in a macaron box with pink paper and a pink ribbonPhoto, Roberto Caruso

Turtle Fudge

This no-bake Christmas dessert is simply irresistible. (And using packaged caramels makes it incredibly easy.) Get our turtle fudge recipe.

Nanaimo bars and Turtle fudge bars on cooling rackPhoto, Erik Putz.

Chestnut Marzipan Rum Balls

Chestnut marzipan rum balls are the no-bake Christmas dessert you didn't know you needed. The flavours of chestnut and almond marry beautifully, while a little flaky sea salt adds crunch and contrast. Get our chestnut marzipan rum balls recipe.

Victorian sugarplums and chocolate covered rum balls arranged in concentric circles on a marble surface(Photo: Erik Putz)

Dark chocolate cherry cordials recipe

These cocoa-coated truffles add an eye-catching flourish to the dessert table, and with their sweet cherry centre, they’ll disappear in no time. Get our dark chocolate cherry cordials recipe.

21 Gluten-Free Cookie And Holiday Candy RecipesPhoto, Erik Putz.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Salami

Make this heavenly chocolate-hazelnut indulgence the centrepiece of a dessert “charcuterie” board topped with sweet gluten-free biscuits, fruits and other treats. Get our chocolate hazelnut salami recipe.

Advertisement
21 Gluten-Free Cookie And Holiday Candy Recipes(Photo: Sian Richards)

Chewy Chocolate Coconut Bars Recipe

Once you add these homemade bars to your holiday repertoire, there’s no going back. Delicious and oh-so-easy to make, we think they may just be the start of a new holiday tradition. Get our chewy chocolate coconut bars recipe.

Chewy chocolate coconut barsPhoto, Erik Putz.

Chocolate Sea Salt Almond Clusters

This recipe contains just three ingredients, making it a perfect last-minute treat to whip together. Get this chocolate sea salt almond clusters recipe.

Chocolate sea salt almond clustersPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Meltaway Candy Cane Mints

Yes, you can make your candy! Freshen up your holiday menu by making these mints that keep well in an airtight container for up to one month. Get our meltaway candy cane mints recipe.

Meltaway candy cane mintsPhoto, Erik Putz.

Peppermint Sparkle Marshmallow Recipe

Add a little extra sparkle to your holidays with minty homemade marshmallows. Try them on their own—or use them to add a holiday finish to a steaming cup of hot cocoa. Get our peppermint sparkle marshmallow recipe.

Advertisement
Christmas candy: Peppermint marshmallow recipePhoto, Erik Putz.

Naughty Marshmallow Coals

Black as coal and sugary-sweet, these marshmallow confections are a surprising—and fun—family dessert. Get our naughty marshmallow coals recipe.

Christmas candy: Marshmallow coalsPhoto, Erik Putz.

Almond Meringue Pavlova Wreath

This beautiful (and delicious!) almond meringue pavlova is the perfect centrepiece for any holiday dinner table. Get our almond meringue pavlova wreath recipe.

Almond meringue pavlova wreath topped with raspberries and mint on pink backgroundPhoto, Eric Putz.

Watch: How to make gluten-free meringue swirls

The very best of Chatelaine straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Copy link

More Like This

9 Last-Minute Desserts To Make For Mother’s Day
Food

9 Last-Minute Desserts To Make For Mother’s Day

These desserts are short on time but big on impact.
Chatelaine Summer 2026 cover, featuring a woman biting into a burger.

Subscribe to Chatelaine!

Sandwiches! Sundaes! Jello shots! Plus the lowdown on the female desire pill, women who hit major life milestones at 50 and guest editor Meredith Shaw's all-Canadian summer lookbook.