Description
This Gluten Free Gingerbread Men recipe offers a delightful holiday treat that is perfect for Christmas baking projects. It is thoughtfully crafted to be gluten free with an option to be dairy free and low FODMAP, making it accessible to various dietary needs without compromising on flavor or festive fun. These spiced gingerbread cookies are beautifully decorated with royal icing, making them ideal for family gatherings or holiday gift-giving.
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
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, bicarbonate of soda, ground ginger, and cinnamon. Add the chopped cold butter and rub it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the light brown sugar, then add the golden syrup and egg, mixing thoroughly until the dough comes together into a smooth ball.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up, which makes it easier to roll out and shape.
- Roll and Cut: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Lightly flour a clean surface with gluten free flour and roll out the chilled dough to about 5 mm (1/4 inch) thickness. Use gingerbread men cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them evenly on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the gingerbread men in the preheated oven for about 10–12 minutes or until they are firm to the touch and slightly browned at the edges. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
- Make the Royal Icing: In a bowl, gradually mix the royal icing sugar with cold water until it forms a smooth, pipeable consistency. Divide the icing into separate bowls and add desired food colour gels to create different colours for decorating.
- Decorate: Once the gingerbread men have fully cooled, use piping bags or small brushes to decorate with the coloured royal icing as desired. Allow the icing to set before serving or packaging.
Notes
- This recipe is gluten free and can be made dairy free by using a suitable butter alternative.
- It’s also low FODMAP friendly, making it suitable for those with sensitive digestion.
- Perfect for Christmas baking with kids—creative icing decoration is encouraged!
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approx. 35 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
