Allergy-Friendly Holiday Cookie Recipes

My favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies to gift to my neighbors! I actually started this tradition in high school and I’ve done it almost every year since. It feels so special, and my neighbors are always so appreciative. It’s a great way to make the season feel extra warm and thoughtful.

I can’t wait to share four of my allergy-friendly cookie recipes with you! But before we get into the recipes, I want to share three cookie-baking tips that are going to make all the difference…

Cookie-Baking Tips

1. Take your dairy-free butter out of the fridge for 30 minutes

You want to cream the butter and sugar together, and you can’t do that if the butter is too cold. Softened butter is essential for getting the perfect cookie texture. So take the butter out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking.

2. Don’t skip chilling the cookie dough

I get it… it’s so annoying! You just want to pop the dough in the oven so you can eat them. But chilling the dough is really important, especially when the cookies are allergy-friendly. We’re asking a lot from these cookies, so the least we can do is chill the dough for an hour.

3. Learn how to measure flour correctly

This one matters more than people realize. It’s especially important to measure gluten-free flour the right way because adding too much flour will make your cookies super dry. The correct method is: fluff the flour with a fork, then spoon it into your measuring cup. Make sure you don’t pack it in.

& with that, let’s get to the step-by-step recipes! If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out via the comments section or email.

Allergy-Friendly Holiday Cookie Recipes

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies

The first recipe is my peppermint chocolate chip cookies. This is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. You can add any mix-ins you love, but peppermint feels like such a classic holiday flavor.

I use applesauce instead of an egg. It’s one of my favorite egg replacers because it adds moisture, helps bind the dough together, and keeps the cookies soft without changing the flavor too much.

The rest of the ingredients are allergy-friendly alternatives to pretty standard cookie ingredients like dairy-free butter, gluten-free flour, and a few simple swaps that keep the recipe safe without compromising taste.

Yield: 12

Author: Sarah Danna

Print

With ImageWithout Image

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft, chewy peppermint chocolate chip cookies with perfectly crisp edges, made with gluten-free ingredients and dairy-free chocolate chips. Cozy, chocolatey, and just the right hint of mint in every bite!

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 16 MinInactive time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 36 M

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup dairy-free butter
• 1⁄3 cup apple sauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ¾ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄3 cup crushed candy canes
• ⅓ dairy-free chocolate chips

Instructions

1. With an electric mixer, cream the dairy-free butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.
2. Next, add the gluten-free all-purpose flour and baking soda. Make sure to aerate the flour before measuring. Basically, fluff the flour with a fork, and spoon the flour into the measuring cup.
3. Fold in the crushed candy canes and chocolate chips.
4. Chill the dough for 1 hour. This is an essential part of the recipe as it allows the butter to firm and the flour to hydrate. It also helps the dough bind, as there are no eggs in the recipe.
5. Then, preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet.
6. Roll the dough into balls and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 16 - 18 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Enjoy!

Refined Sugar-Free Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

The next recipe is a refined sugar-free chocolate thumbprint cookie. They’re a great option for anyone who doesn’t eat refined sugar, and the texture is incredible. They’re more like a rich, fudgy brownie-style cookie and not overly sweet, which makes them feel a little extra cozy and elevated for the holidays.

Yield: 12

Author: Sarah Danna

Print

With ImageWithout Image

Refined Sugar-Free Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Soft, brownie-like chocolate thumbprint cookies with crisp edges and a smooth dairy-free chocolate center. They’re rich, chewy, and so satisfying. A simple cookie that still feels special every time you make it!

Prep time: 37 H & 20 MCook time: 16 MinInactive time: 1 HourTotal time: 38 H & 36 M

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup dairy free butter
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup apple sauce
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 1 cup gluten free flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ⅓ dairy-free cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. In a bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add the vanilla and applesauce, then mix together.
2. Add the gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well combined. Chill the dough in the fridge for 1 hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
4. Roll the dough into balls and place them on a lined baking sheet. Press your thumb into the center of each to create a divot.
5. Bake for 16–18 minutes. Let the cookies cool completely.
6. Melt the dairy-free chocolate chips, then spoon the melted chocolate into each thumbprint. Enjoy!

Sugar Cookie Cups

Third are these cute sugar cookie cups. They start with a simple sugar cookie base that’s filled with chocolate, topped with sprinkles, and finished with a little candy cane handle. They’re such a fun twist on classic sugar cookies for the holiday season, and they’re baked in a mini cupcake pan which somehow makes them even cuter.

Yield: 12

Author: Sarah Danna

Print

With ImageWithout Image

Sugar Cookie Cups

Sugar cookie cups made with dairy-free butter and gluten-free flour, baked until soft, chewy, and golden, then filled with rich melted dairy-free chocolate. They’re sweet, cozy, and festive… and you can even add a tiny candy cane handle for an extra touch!

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 18 MinInactive time: 1 MinTotal time: 39 Min

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup dairy-free butter
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 1 cup gluten free flour
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 1Tbs dairy free milk
• ⅓ dairy-free chocolate chips
• 2 Tbs sprinkles

Instructions

1. In a bowl, cream the dairy-free butter and sugar, then add the vanilla.
2. Add the gluten-free flour, baking powder, salt, and dairy-free milk. Mix until well combined, then chill the dough in the fridge for 1 hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a mini cupcake pan.
4. Roll the chilled dough into small balls and press each one into the mini cupcake pan to form a cup shape.
5. Bake for 18–20 minutes. If the cookies puff up, gently press them down with a spoon while warm to maintain the divot.
6. Melt the dairy-free chocolate and spoon it into each cookie cup. Top with sprinkles. If you'd like, you can also attach a small candy cane as a handle using a little melted chocolate. They’re cute either way!

Sunflower Butter Chocolate Fudge

The last recipe is my sunflower butter chocolate fudge. You can use any nut, seed, or even chickpea butter depending on your food allergies, but sunflower butter is usually a pretty safe bet for my friends and family.

This is a super simple two-ingredient recipe (three if you count the sprinkles). It’s so good, so fudgy, and absolutely perfect to snack on all holiday season long.

Yield: 24

Author: Sarah Danna

Print

With ImageWithout Image

Sunflower Butter Chocolate Fudge

No-bake chocolate sunflower butter fudge that’s super rich, creamy, and chocolatey with a nutty aftertaste. It’s incredibly easy to make and feels extra festive with sprinkles on top!

Prep time: 15 MinInactive time: 30 MinTotal time: 45 Min

Ingredients

• 1½ cup dairy-free chocolate chips
• ¾ cup sunflower seed butter
• 2 Tbs sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

1. Add both ingredients to a bowl in the microwave for 90 seconds, mixing every 30 seconds.
2. For the mixture into a lined loaf pan and top with sprinkles. Place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill, or until fully solid.
3. Cut the fudge into squares and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy these cookie recipes and that they bring a little extra joy and sweetness to your holiday season.

If you liked this post, check out my other sweet treat recipes like my Gluten and Dairy-Free Banana Pudding.

If you try any of these recipes, tag me on Instagram @sarahandspices and hashtag #sarahandspices so I can see your delicious creations! And as always, I love when you share your reviews in the comments below.

Sarah xx