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December 1, 2014

Grain-Free Gingerbread Cookies (Paleo)

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Welcome to the holiday season! I’m kicking-off December with Grain-Free Gingerbread cookies. This dough is easy to work with: you don’t have to worry about it getting to warm and it shapes nicely.

Grain-Free Gingerbread Cookies (Paleo)You can use the dough to make cut-out gingerbread cookies or to build a gingerbread house with a template.

Grain-Free Gingerbread Cookies (Paleo)

Grain-Free Gingerbread Cookies (Paleo)

I don’t usually use powdered sugar in my baking, but I don’t know of any other way to achieve a true royal icing that will hold a gingerbread house together. Make sure to buy grain-free powdered sugar like this, since powdered sugar usually contains cornstarch.

If you’d like to let unleash your creativity and decorate the gingerbread men using a more wholesome frosting, check out my dairy-free icing recipe on page 271 of my new cookbook then grab some natural food coloring so your palette can match your holiday spirit.

Grain-Free Gingerbread Cookies (Paleo)

Other holiday recipes you may want to check out in my new cookbook (and remember, there’s a dairy-free adaptation for each and every recipe, so you can enjoy these recipes no matter your dietary restrictions!):

Holiday Recipes from "The Grain-Free Family Table" (Paleo)

Baked Pears and Cream
A subtly sweet, easy-to-assemble dessert. You can substitute with apples, add cinnamon, ginger or pumpkin pie spice or add a splash of amaretto or brandy just before serving.

Grain-Free Cinnamon Rolls
A soft but sturdy dough swirled with a sugary-cinnamon filling and topping with a white vanilla glaze. I’m making these on Christmas morning for the family!

Slice and Bake Cookies with Dairy-Free Icing
This is a recipe from the Kid’s chapter and is easy enough for the kids to make themselves. You can add chopped nuts or dried fruit to the dough for variations.

 

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Grain-Free Gingerbread Cookies (Paleo)

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Makes one Gingerbread house or about 28 gingerbread men (depending on the size of the cookie cutter). I used this template for the gingerbread house.

  • Author: Carrie Vitt
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Units

For the cookies:

  • 4 cups finely ground almond flour
  • 6 tablespoons coconut flour, plus additional for rolling out the dough
  • 1 cup coconut sugar (you can substitute with maple sugar, sucanat or organic whole cane sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon unflavored grass-fed gelatin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Celtic sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 10 tablespoons pastured lard or palm shortening, chilled
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 2 large eggs

For the Royal Icing:

  • I used this recipe or see page 271 in my new cookbook for a delicious dairy-free icing

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and adjust the rack to the middle position. Place the almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, gelatin, sea salt, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 2-3 times to incorporate. Add lard and pulse for eight 1-second pulses. Add molasses and eggs and process until the mixture comes together to form a dough.
  2. Sprinkle a clean flat surface with coconut flour and roll the dough out until it’s 1/4-inch thick. Cut the dough into cookies, using a gingerbread man cookie cutter or cut using a template to make a gingerbread house. Place cut-out cookies on a baking sheet lined with unbleached parchment paper. Bake cookies for 11 minutes. (If making a gingerbread house, bake the frame of the house for about 15 minutes, or until the edges are turning golden brown. You want the house to be a bit overdone, so that it holds its shape when propped up to make a house. If you under-bake the sides and roof of the house, you can put it back in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up the cookie. Just make sure to let it cool again to room temperature before assembling the house.)

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1

Keywords: gingerbread men and gingerbread house

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo on Instagram and use the tag #carrievitt — I can't wait to see what you've made!

 

 

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Filed Under: Baking, Dairy and Grain-Free Recipes, Dairy-Free Recipes, Desserts, Gluten Free Recipes, Grain Free Recipes, Holiday, Kids and School Lunches, Paleo Recipes, Uncategorized |

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38 Comments

  1. Erin

    December 2, 2014 at 11:07 am

    Loving your new cookbook so far! I know you haven't tested it this way.. but any thoughts to if this receipe may work without eggs? with a gelatin or chia "chia" egg instead?
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 2, 2014 at 12:09 pm

      It's worth trying! :)
    • Nicole S.

      December 3, 2014 at 6:36 am

      We are allergic to eggs, so I will try this recipe with chia or gelatin egg. I'm sure it will work great.
  2. Ellen

    December 2, 2014 at 11:17 am

    Is there an ingredient that can be used in place of gelatin? I'm a vegetarian and see gelatin used in a number of your delicious looking recipes, which I'd love to try. Many thanks!
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 2, 2014 at 12:08 pm

      I haven't tested it, but I hear agar agar is a good substitute.
      • Ellen

        December 2, 2014 at 12:34 pm

        Thank you, Carrie. I'll give it a try.
  3. Jess

    December 2, 2014 at 11:31 am

    Would love to try these! Where can I find the grass-fed gelatin and pastured lard?
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 2, 2014 at 12:07 pm

      You can use the links in the ingredient list to see where I purchase these products.
  4. Kim

    December 2, 2014 at 11:37 am

    The gelatin you use in the recipe...I couldn't find on the label where it states it comes from grass fed beef??? Is Amazon showing a different product from what you used?
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 2, 2014 at 12:09 pm

      You can read all about their products on their website: www.greatlakesgelatin.com
  5. Meg Frawley

    December 2, 2014 at 12:24 pm

    Literally yesterday I was googling away hoping to find a grain free gingerbread recipe, and thought 'I wish Carrie had one' Thank-you for hearing my subconscious thought, I am so thankful and cant wait to try these!
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 3, 2014 at 7:35 am

      Yay! Just in time! :)
  6. Laurel

    December 2, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    OMG I haven't made a Gingerbread House in ages! I love them! My first thought was "Goody, only two eggs to replace, I can totally do that." My next was actually an answer to your question. You can bind a gingerbread house in the traditional method, with molten sugar. You stick the edges in while it's extremely hot (hard crack stage, if I recall) and immediately glue them together. Make sure you have a bowl of ice water on hand in case some spills on you and keep the kids away but it works.
    • Nicole S.

      December 3, 2014 at 6:35 am

      We used the molten sugar method at work to do our gingerbread house. I used to be a pastry chef in a large fancy hotel. We would also use it for the windows!
      • Deliciously Organic

        December 3, 2014 at 7:26 am

        I've done that before for windows and it's so fun!
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 3, 2014 at 7:35 am

      I've done this before and it works really well! Making windows with the molten sugar is so fun because you can light the house up from the inside!
  7. VickieT

    December 2, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    This looks like an amazing recipe. I can't wait to make them with my daughters. Love love love your blog!
  8. VickieT

    December 2, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    Can I use coconut oil or butter in place of the lard/shortening?
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 3, 2014 at 7:34 am

      I haven't tested it, but it's worth a try. You will need to chill the dough and work quickly with it, as it will start to get very soft as you are rolling and cutting. If it gets too soft while you're cutting, then put it back in the fridge until it's firm again.
  9. Janna

    December 2, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    These sound great! My son has been begging to make gingerbread men but we can't use coconut flour-do you have a suggestion for adapting this recipe? Thanks!
  10. Bridget Couch

    December 2, 2014 at 6:04 pm

    Carrie, is there a good subsitute for almond flour? We are nut allergic. Thanks!
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 3, 2014 at 7:32 am

      I haven't tested it yet, but I would try 1/3 cup coconut flour, 1/3 cup tapioca flour and 1/3 cup arrowroot flour for each cup of almond flour in the recipe.
      • Bridget Couch

        December 4, 2014 at 6:28 am

        Thank you Carrie...when I try this I will post my results!
  11. Nicole S.

    December 3, 2014 at 6:34 am

    I can think of a couple of little girls at my house who would LOVE to make this recipe! My oldest daughter's kindergarten class is making the classic graham cracker gingerbread houses in class later this month; I'm sure she would love to make one out of a cookie she can actually eat. I'm sure you had fun making yours, too!
  12. April

    December 3, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    Unsoaked almond flour does not agree with me. Is there another flour you can substitute?
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 4, 2014 at 6:02 am

      I haven't tested this recipe with other flours. You can always soak, dehydrate and then grind up the almonds to make your own flour.
  13. Kelly @ The Nourishing Home

    December 3, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Absolutely ADORABLE! You are so creative! I love your pretty gingerbread house and gingerbread boys! What a fun and festive way to start the holiday season! xo
  14. Claudine

    December 3, 2014 at 10:33 pm

    Hi, I just got your book and I can't wait to start cooking. For this recipe,Can I use a different flour? I am allergic to almonds. Thanks Claudine
  15. stepanl

    December 5, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Thank you!!!! My son came from school asking to make ginger bread men, and I was so happy that I saw the recipe on your website. We made them yesterday, and now even I can enjoy a cookie with my coffee. Speaking of you recipes: one of the few websites that provides recipes that really work and turn out as promised. After I made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, I went ahead and ordered your cook-book. And I don't even generally like muffins or anything pumpkin (I needed to utilize left over baked pumpkin)! Great job!
    • Deliciously Organic

      December 5, 2014 at 12:26 pm

      Thank you for the kind words! I really appreciate the feedback. I'm so glad you could make gingerbread men and enjoy them with your son! :)
  16. Jennifer

    December 13, 2014 at 6:04 pm

    My son begged me to make gingerbread cookies this evening so we used your recipe. I'm not normally a fan of the gingerbread flavor but these were great! Slightly crisp around the edges and soft in the middle...just the way I like a cookie to be. Couldn't tell a difference whatsoever that they were grain free. Great job!
  17. Jennifer

    December 14, 2014 at 4:54 pm

    How should the cookies be stored and how long are they good for?
  18. Kristin

    December 21, 2014 at 2:27 am

    Thanks for this recipe, Carrie. Really delicious -- we live on an organic farm in the mountains in Spain, and gingerbread cookies aren't known here. Rather, turrón and marzipan treats. Fun to be able to enjoy your recipe here. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
  19. Magda

    December 21, 2014 at 7:39 am

    These turned out beautifully!! I used the Williams Sonoma icing recipe and it turned out great, even without the cream of tartar I did not have on hand. One note: I found the molasses flavor quite strong so next year I might sub some of it out for maple syrup or honey.

Trackbacks

  1. Christmas Gingerbread Men – healthy, allergy (except nuts) friendly and soooo Delicious! Part 1 – the Cookies | A Mummy, A Mammy and much much more! says:
    December 14, 2014 at 7:26 am
    […] adapted the recipe from Deliciously Organic. My version […]
  2. 5 Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments - Holistic Squid says:
    March 18, 2019 at 8:31 pm
    […] Gingerbread and other cut-out cookies (like sugar cookies) can also be used as ornaments. Use your favorite recipe (here's a grain free gingerbread). […]
  3. Christmas Month Festivities 2019 - Flourishing Festivities baking, paleo says:
    February 20, 2020 at 12:18 pm
    […] month. Chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, sugar cutout cookies (from Paleo Sweets), and gingerbread men and house. All of them are paleo – sugar, dairy, grain, gluten and all things fake free. 🙂 They are […]
  4. Gingerbread Man Cake - Flourishing Festivities says:
    April 23, 2020 at 9:00 am
    […] started out by making a huge batch of this recipe of Paleo Gingerbread Man cookies which is also the one we use for gingerbread cookies at Christmas time.  I would recommend […]

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Through unprocessed, organic food and detox I’ve reversed Hashimoto’s disease, chronic migraines, IBS and eczema.

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