Description
This Gluten Free Gingerbread Men recipe is a festive, allergy-friendly treat perfect for Christmas baking. Made with gluten free flour, warm spices, and a dairy free butter alternative if needed, these gingerbread men are soft, flavorful, and decorated with colorful royal icing. Ideal for those following a low FODMAP diet, these cookies make a fun holiday project with delicious results.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 350 g gluten free plain flour
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
- 3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 3 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 125 g butter (chopped and cold; use dairy free alternative if necessary)
- 175 g light brown sugar
- 4 tbsp golden syrup
- 1 egg
Royal Icing
- 500 g royal icing sugar
- 80 ml cold water
- Colour gels (for decorating)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the gluten free plain flour, xanthan gum, bicarbonate of soda, ground ginger, and ground cinnamon. Mix until evenly blended.
- Incorporate butter and sugar: Add the chopped cold butter (or dairy free alternative) and light brown sugar to the dry ingredients. Use your fingertips or a pastry cutter to rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Add wet ingredients: Stir in the golden syrup and egg. Mix thoroughly until a smooth dough forms. If the dough feels too sticky, refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to firm up.
- Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about 5 mm thickness. Use gingerbread men cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on baking trays lined with baking paper.
- Bake the cookies: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the gingerbread men for approximately 12 minutes or until edges are firm but centers remain slightly soft. Remove from oven and let cool completely on wire racks.
- Prepare the royal icing: In a bowl, whisk together the royal icing sugar and cold water until smooth and thick enough to pipe. Divide the icing into small bowls and add colour gels as desired for decorating.
- Decorate the gingerbread men: Once the cookies are fully cooled, use piping bags or small spoons to decorate with the royal icing. Allow the icing to dry completely before storing or serving.
Notes
- This recipe is suitable for gluten free and can be made dairy free by substituting the butter with a dairy free alternative.
- Low FODMAP friendly ingredients ensure it is gentle on digestion.
- Rolling the dough to an even thickness helps cookies bake uniformly.
- Royal icing can be customized with food-safe colour gels for creative decorations.
- Store gingerbread men in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approximately 44 g)
- Calories: 424 kcal
- Sugar: 58 g
- Sodium: 83 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 83 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 38 mg
