Gluten-free gingerbread is a timeless holiday treat perfect for breakfast, snacking, or dessert.
For me, gingerbread is as evocative as the scent of morning coffee. Every Christmas morning I remember running to the kitchen to find a fresh pan cooling on the counter—my mother’s gingerbread was a holiday ritual. When my children were born, I wanted to keep that tradition alive but adapt it to their dietary needs.
Traditional gingerbread is usually full of gluten and dairy, so I adjusted my mother’s recipe. I swapped in an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend and used coconut oil instead of butter. The results were delicious and just as comforting as the original.
I enjoy involving my kids in the kitchen so they learn to love food without feeling excluded. One fun decoration idea we tried was cutting Christmas shapes from paper to create simple stencils. We placed the paper shapes on top of gingerbread squares, sifted powdered sugar over them for a light dusting, then lifted the stencil to reveal a festive silhouette—gingerbread men, trees, and stars. It’s an easy, kid-friendly way to make treats feel special.
Below is the adapted recipe—gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, and soy free.
Gluten Free Gingerbread Recipe
Dessert
American, Christmas
5 minutes
25 minutes
29 minutes
9
360 kcal
Jereann Zann – Celiac Mama
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup coconut oil heated
- 1/2 cup organic coconut palm sugar (or regular sugar)
- 1 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1 egg
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a stand mixer or large bowl, combine the baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, warmed coconut oil, sugar, molasses, and egg. Mix until smooth.
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Alternate adding the gluten-free flour and hot water, mixing until the batter is smooth and thick.
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Pour the batter into a greased 9×9-inch baking dish and spread evenly.
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Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
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To decorate, cut a small festive shape from paper and place it on a cooled piece of gingerbread.
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Sift powdered sugar over the paper stencil to create a light dusting.
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Gently lift the paper stencil to reveal the design, then serve and enjoy.