Gluten free sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles are a classic! My gluten free sugar cookie recipe is easy to make, and the dough doesn't need to chill! These gluten free frosted sugar cookies are soft and cakey, just like a Lofthouse Cookie.
Gluten Free Sugar Cookies -Lofthouse Copy Cat Recipe
These are the perfect gluten free soft frosted sugar cookies cutout recipe!
These gluten free sugar cookies are a dead ringer for Lofthouse soft frosted sugar cookies!
You are going to love this gluten free Lofthouse Copy Cat recipe.
For years I have tried to re-create those soft, cakey, sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles that come in a clear plastic clamshell at the grocery store.
I tried to create those soft frosted sugar cookies using normal wheat flour and still wasn't able to get it right.
A few years back I finally created the perfect gluten free soft frosted sugar cookie recipe, and I'm so excited t0 share it with you!
I've baked these gluten free soft frosted sugar cookies hundreds of times, it is one of my most popular recipes and I'm always asked to bake them.
It has been included in 3 of my 4 gluten free cookbooks, and I've even baked them on TV (when I was 8 months pregnant too.)
I'm known for my gluten free soft frosted sugar cookies, and am semi-famous for showing up with a bag full of mini soft frosted sugar cookies at blogging conferences.
I used to have an older version of this recipe on my blog (if you printed it, you might have that gluten free sugar cookie recipe), and another version in my cookbook, The Essential Gluten-Free Cookie Guide.
I’m always making adjustments and improvements so this version of the recipe is the best yet!
I’ve been very excited to share my new and improved recipe with you!
The dough is easier to work with, there is no chill time, and I’ve mastered the techniques for making these sugar cookies much easier to frost and cut out.
If you are looking for more gluten free cookie recipes, check out my newest cookbook, Gluten-Free Holiday Cookies.
How to make gluten free sugar cookies?
What ingredients do you need to make sugar cookies gluten free?
- Softened Butter (you can use vegan butter, or half vegan butter half palm shortening, see my notes below).
- Granulated Sugar (you can substitute brown sugar for another taste and texture, see my notes on sugar substitutes below).
- Room Temperature Eggs (or egg substitute to make vegan sugar cookies, see my notes below).
- Vanilla Extract.
- Gluten Free Baking Powder (most baking powders are gluten free, but not all are so double check).
- Xanthan Gum (if you are using a gluten free flour that already has xanthan gum added to it, please omit. More information on different gluten free flour blends and xanthan gum is below, keep reading).
- Gluten Free Flour (not all gluten free flours are the same, I have tons of info, keep reading below).
- Salt. Because salt = flavor!
What gluten free flour is best for sugar cookies?
For best results use my gluten-free cookie/cake flour blend.
Another gluten-free flour may work as well, but I haven't tested them all.
My recommendation when using any flour other than my blend (which I've tested extensively) is to:
- First, add about 2 ¾ cup flour.
- Add the remaining flour until it makes a soft dough (watch the video to see the texture), first adding ¼ cup of gluten free flour.
- Finally, add the remaining gluten free flour 1 tablespoon at a time until your sugar cookie dough resembles the texture in the video for this post.
It is very important you have a soft dough or our cookies won't be soft and cakey, instead they will be more dry.
If you use Bob's Red Mill's 1 to 1 gluten free flour, please only use 3 cups instead of 3 ¼ cups.
It absorbs more liquid than my blend and if you use more than 3 cups you'll have a very dry and crumbly sugar cookie dough.
On some days, I've had a dry dough even when using 3 cups, so you may need to add even less.
Other blends that should work well (based on my other experiences with them in other recipes) are
- Ryze's Yellow Bag (omit xanthan gum in recipe)
- King Arthur's Flour blend (I haven't used their Measure by Measure flour, only their original blend)
- Gluten Free Mama's Almond Blend
- Cup for Cup (Thomas Keller- Omit the xanthan gum called for in the recipe)
If you try a different flour, please comment and let me know.
I have heard from those who have tried to use regular wheat flour that is doesn’t work.
How to measure flour
No matter which gluten free flour you choose, be very careful measuring your flour. Don’t scoop using the measuring cup, or pack it in!
To correctly measure your gluten free flour carefully spoon the flour into the measuring cup and then level it with a knife.
The most accurate way to measure flour is by weight, and that used to be what I recommended.
Over the years I've discovered that I get the same results if I accurately measure my gluten free flour, without keeping a scale in my kitchen.
I know most of you don't have a scale, and I wanted you to be able to make these gluten free cookies without buying another kitchen gadget.
I have provided ingredient weights, if you prefer to measure with a scale.
Here are my best-kept secrets for making the perfect gluten free soft sugar cookies with frosting.
- This recipe is easiest to make with a stand or heavy-duty electric hand mixer. You can make the dough by hand, but it will require a lot of elbow grease.
- The secret to soft and cakey gluten free soft frosted sugar cookies is roll it out pretty thick. Try to avoid handling it too much, and do NOT over bake. It is much better to under bake your gluten free soft frosted sugar cookies. It will not look done when you take it out of the oven, but that is what carryover cooking is for.
You can make these sugar cookies dairy free or vegan!
Keep reading, I share my tips for making gluten free vegan sugar cookies in great detail later in this post.
How to make sugar cookies without a rolling pin?
Here is my lazy no-roll method for making sugar cookies with this recipe:
- Drop the dough onto prepared baking sheet using a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop.
- Dip the bottom of a drinking glass in white sugar and gently press the gluten free sugar cookie out so it is about 3 inches across.
- Bake as directed.
The extra sugar adds a pleasant crunch! If you were to use colored sugar no added decorations would be needed.
If you want the ultimate lazy gluten free chewy sugar cookie, they are even easier.
How to make perfect gluten free sugar cookie cut outs?
I've found the best way to make perfect gluten free sugar cookie cut outs is to roll the gluten free sugar cookie dough out directly on top of the silicone baking mat or parchment paper you will bake them on. '
I created a video tutorial in my gluten free cutout sugar cookies for Christmas post.
- Lay your silicone baking mat or a sheet of parchment paper on the counter top.
- Place the dough on top, and then place a sheet of plastic wrap on top.
- Roll the gluten free sugar cookie dough out approx ½ inch thick. Peel off plastic wrap and cut the gluten free cookies out using your favorite shaped cookie cutters, leaving at least 2 inches between the sugar cookies. DO NOT take the sugar cookies off of the baking mat or bottom piece of parchment.
Not taking them off prevents the dough from stretching out of shape.
Peel the excess dough off and re-roll the same way, onto a new baking mat or sheet of parchment.
If you are only cutting out rounds, you roll can roll the dough out between 2 sheets of plastic wrap (½ inch thick) and then move the cut outs to the silicone baking mat or parchment lined baking sheet.
They may stretch slightly, but I’ve found that the extra effort isn’t worth it when making plain round gluten free sugar cookies.
How to make mini sugar cookies?
I love to make mini gluten free sugar cookies using a 1 ½ - 2 inch round cutter.
I’ll also use mini holiday cookie cutters like hearts and stars, but I’ve found that any protruding edges (like the points on the stars) tend to over-bake a bit and become more crunchy.
Still delicious, just not as soft all the way through.
If you cut out shapes just be more careful to not let the sugar cookies over-bake.
They soften more as you let them sit, frosted, in an air-tight container and then the crunchy star points soften.
How to make gluten free orange sugar cookies?
To make orange sugar cookies, add 1 tablespoon of orange zest in with the sugar.
Make the rest of the sugar cookie dough as directed.
when making the frosting, omit the milk, instead using orange juice and add an additional 1 tablespoon of orange zest.
How to make eggnog sugar cookies?
To make gluten free eggnog cookies, add ½ teaspoon of nutmeg to the sugar cookie dough.
when you make the frosting, swap eggnog for the milk or cream.
Add additional nutmeg to the frosting, to taste.
How to frost gluten free sugar cookies?
First, pick your frosting!
- American Buttercream (fluffy and all butter)
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Vegan Buttercream Frosting
- Vegan Chocolate Frosting
- Canned Frosting (Many are gluten-free, and even vegan. Read the labels carefully.)
- Royal Icing
The easiest way to frost your gluten free sugar cookies is by using a piping bag.
I've found it is less messy than just using a butter knife.
I still use a knife, but I wanted to share my tips for using a piping bag or ziploc bag because it will change the way you decorate your sugar cookies for the rest of your life!
(And I guarantee that will be happening more often now that you have my gluten free sugar cookie recipe!)
- Using a rubber scraper/spatula load the fluffy buttercream frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. The easiest way to load the frosting into the bag is to put the piping bag into a cup, that way it doesn’t move around while you scoop the frosting into it. (You can also use a ziploc bag and just snip the corner.)
- Hold the piping tip perpendicular to the gluten free sugar cookie and pipe a layer of frosting, starting at the edge and going around in a circular pattern without overlapping until you are in the center. If desired smooth out the frosting with a small offset spatula and top with some sprinkles. Because SPRINKLES!
You can also frost your sugar cookies with an egg-free royal icing and follow any sugar cookie decorating tutorial you find on Facebook or Youtube.
For a fun twist, try using my vegan chocolate frosting.
The chocolate frosting made these sugar cookies really special. The flavor is on point, because the frosting has melted chocolate and cocoa poder in it.
A tip I was reminded of by CottonStem (when she made my gluten free sugar cookies during the Christmas holidays) is to melt store-bought canned frosting that works with your allergens.
You can quickly pour the frosting over your cookies, or dip them into the melted frosting before adding sprinkles.
How to store gluten free sugar cookies?
These gluten free sugar cookies are even softer the next day!
After frosting them, seal in an airtight container or ziploc bag.
The extra moisture from the frosting softens any crunchy edges and you have the perfect gluten free soft frosted sugar cookies.
I still love eating my gluten free soft sugar cookies freshly frosted, but I think they are even better on day 2 or 3.
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week.
If you want to freeze them, or prep them ahead of time, I recommend frosting them and then freezing them.
Frosted gluten free sugar cookies will stay fresh in the freezer for up to a month! (though mine never last that long.)
How to make Gluten Free Vegan Sugar Cookies?
- Use a non-dairy butter substitute instead of the butter. My secret is to use half palm shortening, and half Earth Balance, or another vegan butter. I have also used butter flavored shortening (like crisco) but my secret combo of palm shortening/Earth Balance makes dairy free sugar cookies with the best texture and flavor.
- Use a “flax egg” for every egg in the recipe. You can also use another egg substitute, if you prefer. To make 1 flax egg mix 1 tablespoon ground flax seed with 3 tablespoons hot water and let it sit for at least 5 minutes before using. The recipe calls for 2 eggs so I mixed 2 tablespoons of ground flax seed with 6 tablespoons of hot water.
- Use my vegan buttercream frosting instead of my american buttercream frosting.
The rest of the instructions and ingredients are the same.
I've tested these substitutions DOZENS of times, and make my gluten free sugar cookies vegan more than half the time I bake them.
No one ever knows the difference!
With these 3 substitutions your gluten free soft frosted sugar cookies are now vegan and free of the top 8 allergens.
Can I use a sugar substitute or stevia for sugar cookies?
I haven't tried any sugar substitutes in this recipe.
I think you'd have best results trying a cup-for-cup sugar substitute because the sugar is creamed with the butter and plays an important role in the texture of the final cookies.
If you try a sugar substitute, please comment or email me and let me know your results.
Gluten Free Sugar Cookies for holidays
Gluten free sugar cookies are perfect for so many holidays! Here are some of my favorite ways to decorate sugar cookies for the holidays.
- Valentine's Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Sugar Cookie Cut Outs
- Halloween Sugar Cookies
- Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
Need more gluten free cookie recipes?
Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
Gluten free sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles are a classic! My gluten free sugar cookie recipe is easy to make, and the dough doesn't need to chill! These gluten free frosted sugar cookies are soft and cakey, just like a Lofthouse Cookie.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened (4 ounces by weight)
- 1 cup white sugar (8 ounces by weight)
- 2 eggs
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons xanthan gum
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 ¼ cups my gluten free cookie/cake flour blend (18 ounces by weight)
- American Buttercream
Instructions
Make the gluten-free sugar cookie dough:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cream the butter and sugar together on low-medium speed. Add the eggs and beat until smooth.
- Add the salt, baking powder, xanthan gum, and vanilla extract. Then add my gluten-free cookie/cake flour blend and mix until combined.
- Roll the cookie dough between two sheets of plastic wrap and cut out with your favorite cookie cutters, or use 3 inch round cookie cutters to get the iconic soft frosted sugar cookie (see tips in post above)
- Place cookies on a parchment paper or silicone baking sheet on a baking sheet
- Bake in your pre-heated oven for 8-10 minutes. They will still be soft but the edges will just start to look dry, and the bottom of the cookie will just be starting to brown. They won’t look done. If they look done, they are over-baked and may be burnt on the bottom. Let cool for 5-10 minutes on the baking sheet, and then remove to a cooling rack.
- Frost as desired with my American Buttercream or Vegan Buttercream
Notes
I've tested this recipe with my gluten free flour blend, and with Bob's Red Mill's 1 to 1 gluten free flour. If you are using Bob's 1 to 1 gluten free flour, please use only 3 cups. It absorbs more liquid than my gluten free flour so if you use the full amount your cookie dough will be dry and crumbly.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 36 Serving Size 1 gluten free sugar cookie, unfrostedAmount Per Serving Calories 62Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 17mgSodium 89mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 0gSugar 6gProtein 1g
Tammy Northrup
I cannot wait to try these! I love Lofthouse cookies and these look just like them. Nummy!
Brianna
They look and TASTE just like them, I swear. Let me know how they turn out when you make them. I love feedback!
Cassie
Hi,
My daughter is gluten and dairy free and she so wants sugar cookies to decorate. Can you tell me about the rice flour blend. I know it says 3 cups but how much of each of the blend do I use? Thank you so much. I am new at all of this.
Thank you.
Please email me. noah00ark@aol.com
flippindelicious
Hi Cassie,
I responded to your email. For everyone's reference my flour blend is found here.
Have a great day!
Bethany
Your cookies were delicious! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂 It was so nice to meet you at BYB!
Brianna
Thanks! It was great to meet you too. BYB2013 was awesome!
Susan Holdman
Just had many teeth removed and need a sweet soft treat, thank you for this recipe I can't wait to make them tomorrow.
Brianna
I hope you enjoy them and that you feel 100% soon. 🙂
lina chapman
We just took the dough out of the fridge and it is ROCK HARD, so there's no way we can roll it to 1/4". The dough tastes delicious, but it's crumbly and I'm kinda of afraid it's not going to work...
lina chapman
OK - these cookies taste absolutely AMAZING! After letting the dough relax a bit out of the fridge and reworking it with my hands, it rolled extremely well. I didn't even need the plastic wrap. I got 26 cookies out of the batch of dough with a mix of large butterfly, cat, and bunny shapes and slightly smaller circle, heart, and flower shapes. I was skeptical in the middle of the process, but so happy with the results. Thank you!!
Brianna Hobbs
I'm so glad you saw it through and it worked out! Especially if you use all butter the dough will be very, VERY firm when it first comes out, I will go back and note that in the recipe. How many cookies you get entirely depends on the size of the cookie cutters you use. I normally use rounds (or occasionally hearts). The number of cookies I get each time varies depending on which shape I use.
Thank you so much for your feedback! It really helps me so that I can make my content most useful to you. I'm very happy that you enjoyed them. Thanks for visiting my blog!
Lizzy
Have you tried substituting stevia or other low-calorie sweeteners for the sugar? Any recommendations?
flippindelicious
Hi Lizzy,
I haven't tried any sugar substitutes in this recipe. I think you'd have best results trying a cup-for-cup sugar substitute because the sugar is creamed with the butter and plays an important roll in the texture of the final cookies.
Happy Baking! -Brianna
Dina M.
I can't wait to make these! Sugar cookies is a favorite in our house, and these look amazing!
Brianna Hobbs
Thanks Dina! I hope your family enjoys them!
cherryvalentiine
Best recipe, hands down. 🙂 I would cry if I ever were to lose this recipe again!
- SUPER excited to get your E-book -
Brianna Hobbs
I so glad you love them! I'm also super excited for my cookbook. I'm working with a publisher now, so it will also be available in print!
Emily
These cookies remind me of the "pink cookies" aka sugar cookies with pink frosting that I grew up loving. Thank you so much for sharing. They are going to be a hit for Valentine's in our house.
Emily
Oops, hit enter before saying that I already made them. That's how I know they'll be a hit. That is, if I don't eat then all myself 🙂
Brianna Hobbs
I'm so glad that you are enjoying them. I love making them for Valentine's day!
Kimberly
I don't usually write to people that I don't know, but something drew me to these cookies, and they are fantastic. The perfect way to celebrate this weekend that is a combination of Valentine's Day, wedding anniversary and birthday. The dough is easy to make and easy to work with... no mess, no fuss. Perfect results! I'll be coming back to this recipe as well as to this blog... thanks so much, Brianna!
Brianna Hobbs
I'm so very happy that you enjoyed them! Happy Anniversary, and Birthday! I know that this is one of my favorite recipes to celebrate with. Thanks so much for commenting and for reading my little blog!
Diana
Made these cookies twice so far, and they are great! Making them again for a birthday party this weekend. They don't taste GF at all!
Brianna
They don't! I'm so glad that you are enjoying them. Just wait for my cookbook to come out, that recipe is even better. Way easier to work with. 🙂
Victoria
This rice flour blend who makes it?
Thank you!
Brianna
Hi Victoria,
It is my own flour blend that I've developed that I use in all of my recipes. You can click the link in the recipe, or just go here: https://flippindelicious.com/gf-supplies-and-flours for the proportions.
Victoria
thank you so much!!
Nicole Bell
New GF family here. Just made my first dessert tonight. Just found these and this is in my top 5 favorite cookies. Question though, instead of buying the rice flour and the extras that go with it could I just use the GF Bisquick?
Brianna
I have not tested it with GF Bisquick (and have actually never used it.) If I remember correctly the GF Bisquick is made of a rice flour base. I would assume you can use it, you'd just probably have to omit the baking powder if the Bisquick already has it, and maybe the salt too. If you try it let me know how it turns out. Good luck, and welcome to Flippin' Delicious and gluten-free baking!
Nicole Bell
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown
We made these today for Easter fun and they turned out dry. I followed the recipe exactly, did I do something wrong? They did hold their shape and looked good. The only thing is we are semi high elevation here in Utah. Would that make a difference? I have had mostly successes in this elevation. The kids didn't seem to mind, they really liked them!
Brianna Hobbs
I am actually at high elevation (I think about 5k) so that probably wouldn't be it. It is probably how you measured the flour, it is so hard to measure flour accurately and just a little extra flour can make the dough dry and harder to work with. An updated version of this recipe is in my cookbook (coming out soon!) where I measured the flour by weight, which eliminates the issues that differences in measuring creates. You probably just scooped your flours differently than I did, so next time just use less than you did this time.
Chelsea
I know this post is 2 yrs ago but I had the same issue with the dryness! I leveled perfectly as directed by the ounces. So I added another 4oz stick of butter and they were perfect! I cooked them closer to 10 min instead of 8.
flippindelicious
Hi Chelsea,
Did you use the recipe that was sent by email? The original version of the recipe that was dryer, but I have since made some changes and I haven't had that problem. I'd love some more info.
Thank you! -Brianna
Joy
I would love to make these but the link to your rice flour blend is not working. I clicked on the link in the recipe as well as the one in the comments. Can you direct me to your recipe for the flour blend? Thank you
flippindelicious
Hi Joy,
I apologize that the link was broken. I just moved my blog to wordpress and there have been just a few links like this that have been broken, so thank you for alerting me to it. My rice flour blend is HERE. I've also updated the link in the recipe. Happy Baking!
Sarah
I know this thread is old but I am new to making gluten free baking and I am wanting to make this recipe and use a 1to 1 gluten free flour but I am very allergic to xanthan gum so I am wondering if I should add something to the mix as a replacement? Or something else you may suggest? My flour mix is brown rice, tapioca starch,white rice, potato starch, sourghum, aarowroot, guar gum, sweet rice, and rice bran. I appreciate your help I love sugar cookies so much and now that I have no choice but to be gluten free I will be so happy to have them! Thank you for your help
flippindelicious
Hi Sarah, If you can't use xanthan gum (many people can't) I recommend Pamela's Not Xanthan Guar Gum. It uses Psyllium and baking powder along with tapioca starch, if my memory is correct. It works perfectly as a 1 to 1 sub for xanthan gum in every recipe I've tried it in! -Brianna
Gwen
Hi Brianna! I just wanted to let you know that I'm featuring this amazing recipe in my post 102 Gluten Free Cookie Recipies. I'm also pinning it to my Gluten Free Cookie Madness Board. 🙂
You are more than welcome to share this amazing resource with your readers or link to this post if you'd like! Thanks so much for the inspiration! Here's the url: 102 Gluten Free Cookie Recipies
flippindelicious
Thanks Gwen! I'm glad that you like my recipe. Checking out your collection right now! 🙂
Laura K
This is the easiest cookie recipe. I don't have much luck with sugar cookie recipes with plain ol' wheat flour but these turned out great. Best of all my kids don't know the difference and they loved them! Thank you! I'm hooked!
flippindelicious
I'm so happy that you and your family loved them!
Lyn
Your recipes look delicious! Please add me to your email list!
flippindelicious
It looks like you have signed up Lyn. Just be sure to confirm your subscription so that you receive the emails. You should have received an email from me that has a link in it. Just click the link and it should confirm your subscription.
Krista
I made these with King Arthur GF flour and they were delicious! So soft and fluffy! Sadly, I tried to make them using regular flour for my family, and the cookies were hard and flat.
Note: the GF dough was a little too sticky to roll out without wasting a lot of flour, so I just rolled them into little balls and flattened them out with my fingers.
flippindelicious
I'm so happy you tried them Krista. It is interesting to know that the recipe didn't turn out when using normal flour.
I actually never roll the dough out with flour. I roll the dough out between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and I also make sure it is thoroughly chilled so that it isn't sticky. Adding the extra flour when rolling can sometimes make the cookies tough. I also use the drop cookie method, flattening the cookies with a glass dipped in sugar. There are a lot of tricks and tips in my cookbook for these cookies. They are my all time favorite!
Jodi Slagel
I am making these for my son's Valentine Party at school. Can these be made a few days ahead without drying out, or should I bake them, freeze them, and then frost them the night before?
flippindelicious
I actually think they are better after a day or 2 in an airtight container. As they sit the frosting softens the cookie and then they taste exactly like the Lofthouse Sugar Cookies. I'd refrigerate the frosted cookies because of the butter in the frosting if you are going to make them more than a day ahead of time. They also freeze great frosted! Just thaw before eating. Just like fresh baked!
Vicky
Instead of rice flour and xantham gum can i just use the Pillsburry Rice Flour which includes Xantham and its gluten free? Thank you
flippindelicious
If you try it let us know. I'm not familiar with that blend, and have not tested it. It very well might work, but I can't tell you for sure.
My flour blend is different from most other gluten-free flour blends as it has a higher starch content. Especially for my sugar cookies I recommend using it because it helps to give them their soft cakey texture.
Josie
I was skeptical of making these because I've had such bad luck with gluten free recipes that people rave about...BUT these are delicious! They are a bit dense and heavy, but still taste like sugar cookies. Thank you for making the Valentine dreams of my recently diagnosed celiac son's dreams come true! I will be taking these to his class today and I think he will love them.
Ashleigh
Hello! We have a Sugar and Spice premade "all purpose" gluten free flour that already has Xantham gum, so would I be able to leave out the xantham gum? Thanks!
flippindelicious
If you are trying a different flour blend that already has xanthan gum in it definitely don't add more! I'm not sure if your flour blend will work, I haven't had as much success when I've tried making them with different flours. I hope it works!
Colleen
Hi! I love love love this recipe! Although I did read every single comment to see how other people's cookies turned out I decided to give it a go for myself! I used Bob's Red Mill flour (although people said not to) and mine turned out great! When I went to do the flour I did one cup at a time (put one cup in and mix it together, and so on). I did notice though after I added the second cup it was far too thick to mix with my hand mixer, so I had to knead 1/2 cup of flour by hand. I only ended up using 2 1/5 cups of flour and they turned out great! Thank you so much! 🙂
Tima
Hi Brianna,
Really liked the recipe and posted a slightly modified recipe on my gluten free blog! Please feel free to check it out.
https://glutenfreemethod.com/dessert/sugar-cookies/
Tima
Toni
I noticed that the special flour mixture you use for these cookies involves rice flour. Is there a different way to make that special blend? I'm allergic to gluten AND rice unfortunately so finding recipes is proving to be interesting
flippindelicious
Hi Toni!
I'm sorry that you have allergies to both rice and gluten, that makes things so much harder! Especially since most manufactured GF products use rice.
I haven't tested it, but what I would recommend trying is a combo of millet and sorghum flour instead of the rice flour. It will taste different, since those are flours with flavors, but with a little trial and error I think you'll be able to at least get similar textural results. I wouldn't recommend a bean based flour with this recipe. Good luck!
kelsey
i have been trying to make these again but for some reason i can't open the link that i had gotten in my email is there anyway you can send it to me again?
flippindelicious
There has been some sort of issue just with the redirect from the email this morning. It is getting fixed. I'll email you the direct link with the email address you used to comment.
Stephanie
I've been trying to subscribe to your newsletter for two days and haven't received a link for your recipe or newsletter. Is it possible to add me on your end? Thank you.
flippindelicious
Hi Stephanie,
My records show that you subscribed today. You should have gotten the recipe, it sends automatically less than a minute after you subscribe. Check your spam, sometimes it gets booted there. If you still can't find it, let me know and I will try re sending it to you.
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
I just stumbled not this recipe and wow - my mind is blown - these look amazing!
flippindelicious
Thank you Shashi! This recipe is my pride and joy. I make them all the time. 🙂
Andrea
Just made these cookies last weekend after 8+ years of not having these types of cookies from the store. These were amazing! Great texture and your American Buttercream Frosting recipe really topped them off! I should admit I subbed your gluten free flour recommendations for a gluten free flour blend with xantham gum included (Namaste Foods brand), but I was still very pleased with the result. I will definitely be making these again! Thank you for the recipe!!
flippindelicious
I am so happy that you enjoyed them Andrea! I have recognized that there are a lot of good gluten free flour blends now (that I think are better than my own.) So I am happy to hear that Namaste Foods Brand GF flour worked well for you. My favorite blends right now are GF Mama and GF Jules, but I haven't tried them in these cookies yet. On my to-do list!
MommyofAngels
Hello! I submitted my email and have not received your gf lofthouse sugar cookie and frosting recipe. Will you please email me? My son was diagnosed with Chron's disease and these will be perfect for him!! 🙂
flippindelicious
Hi! Often times the first email will get kicked to your spam or promotion tab. Did you check there? Also, which email did you use to register? Email me at flippindelicious(at)gmail(dot)com and I'll help you get it sorted out.
Ashley
Hi, I just signed up to receive this recipe, but did not get an email in my inbox or my spam. Please send me the recipe!!!
flippindelicious
Hi Ashley! Double check your spam. Often times it gets kicked there first. Once you confirm your subscription to my email newsletter the recipe will be automatically sent to you.
Best,
Brianna
April
I'm allergic to rice:( what would you suggest as the rice flour sub??
flippindelicious
I would substitute another flour with a similar protein content. These substitutions from GFandMore Magazine are helpful. I would substitute a flour from the neutral/light column if you can, or I would use a flour from the high protein column like sorghum or millet. I would avoid anything flours with a strong flavor because there is nothing to mask their taste.
Tina Basu
OMG they look so beautiful, absolutely gorgeous, I doubt if i'll be able to eat them at all! May be i'll simply keep looking at them!
flippindelicious
Well, it is certainly less calories to just look at them. 😉 It is hard to not eat them all though once you take a bite.
Cindee
My son chose these as the Christmas cookies this year, it's his first full year Gluten Free and he was so excited I found these. However, for the flour blend, excuse my ignorance, I wasn't planning on buying all those bags of flour as I don't bake as often anymore as I'm so sad that things don't always taste as great gluten free lol....so I was going to go to my local bulk health food store to buy what I needed to make the blend. And unfortunately I speak cups not part lol...so when you say 1 part brown rice flour and 1 part white is that like 1 cup of each and then the other tapioca flour and the other one is 1 cup as well? Or is it half a cup each of the other flours? Just a bit confused on the measurements if I wanted to make just a small batch of the flour enough to make the cookies, by just going to the health bulk store?
Thanks
flippindelicious
Hi Cindee!
1 part can be any measurement, as long as all of the parts are the same. 1 part can = 1 cup, or 1 part can = 6 cups, depending on how much flour you need.
The reason I used parts instead of giving a specific cup measurement was so that readers could make as much or as little flour as they need. Just divide the total amount of flour you need by 4. That measurement is your "part."
Happy Baking!
-Brianna
Kalan
I can't wait to try these cookies! I stumbled upon this recipie while looking for some GF holiday recipes for my son. In addition to gluten, he is also allergic to white potato. Do you have any suggestions for an alternative to the potato starch in your flour blend? I am having a hard time finding any premade GF flour blend without potato starch. Thanks!
flippindelicious
Hi Kalan! I would suggest substituting the potato starch in my flour blend with cornstarch or arrowroot. You should get similar results. Happy Baking!
Alexa
I made these last year for a cookie swap party. I could NOT believe how similar they tasted to my favorite store bought iced cookies! Amazing job with these.
flippindelicious
Thank you Alexa! I am so happy that you enjoyed these cookies so much. They are one of my favorites!
Kindra
Hi,
I am new to the gluten free thing and I am craving cookies!! I have Namaste flour and I didn't want to waste all that flour if it won't work. Could you let me know! Please and Thank you!
flippindelicious
Hi Kindra,
I have not used Namaste flour, so I don't know how it would work in this recipe. Cheers!
Michelle
The recipe did not come through to my email after signing up twice.
Thanks
Michelle
flippindelicious
Hi Michelle, the recipe should send automatically after you confirm your email by clicking the green "yes" button in the email. If you still haven't gotten the recipe and checked your spam please email me at flippindelicious (at) gmail (dot) com. I'll see your questions much sooner via email. Cheers!
nancy
panicking a little! did the flaxseed egg version and my dough isn't dough..its very crumbly! Can I do anything to fix it? Kids waiting to bake and decorate for Santa's cookies!!
nancy
panicking a little. did recipe with flaxseed egg and my dough is not dough - very crumbly..any suggestions? kids waiting to decorate xmas cookies for santa!
Samantha
I just made this cookies a few weeks ago and I LOVE them!! Thank you for sharing! I shared the cookies that I made on my blog and have linked the original recipe back to yours. How did you come up with this recipe?
flippindelicious
Hi Samantha,
This recipe is actually entirely my own creation. After going gluten free, I was adapting the chocolate chip cookie recipe that I developed when I was a kid (I wasn't your average kid. I had my own recipe). One of my test batches was a beautiful soft, cakey cookie, that was a dead ringer for the Lofthouse Sugar Cookies I'd been trying to recreate for years. I refined the recipe from there. This recipe is 100% my own, not adapted from anyone else, and is one of my biggest culinary victories. I'm happy that you enjoyed it.
Patty
Brianna,
Do you think the dough would work well as the base of a dessert pizza?
flippindelicious
Hi Patty, I don't see why not. Let me know if you try it.
Happy Baking! -Brianna
Terri
Can these cookies be made egg free as well?
flippindelicious
Yes they can! I've made them several times using an egg substitute with great results. My go-to is a flax egg.
Taylor
I have been gluten and dairy free for over 5 years now. And these cookies and one of the things that I miss the most. I am definitely going to try this recipe. Thanks for figuring it out for us.
flippindelicious
Hi Taylor,
I'm so happy to be able to help. Happy Baking!
Becky
My sister loves lofthouse cookies and hasn't been able to have them since the doctor ordered her gluten free. I can't wait to surprise her with them! I do have one question: for the flour measurement you say 18 ounces or 3.25 cups but 18 ounces is 2.25 cups. Which do you usually use? Thanks!!
flippindelicious
Hi Becky,
Both the weight and volume measurements are correct. When I tested this recipe, I weighed out 18 ounces of my gluten free flour blend and then I scooped it into a measuring cup using a spoon and then leveled off the cup with a knife. The "a pints a pound the world around" only applies to water. Different ingredients weights vary vastly.
Also, if you do measure by weight it is crucial to use my gluten free flour blend because a heaver flour would mean less flour and a lighter flour would mean more flour and the recipe won't turn out correctly.
The best approach is to pick either the weight measurement or the volume measurement and follow it all the way down. When you switch back and forth ratios tend to get out of whack.
I normally bake by volume now, only because many of my readers don't have an accurate kitchen scale on hand.
Hope this helps! I hope your sister loves the cookies, it is super sweet of you to make them for her.
Happy Baking,
Brianna
Quortney
Do you have a recipe for the regular sugar cookies that aren’t gluten free?
flippindelicious
Hi Quortney, I'm sorry, I do not. All of the recipes on my website are gluten-free. Happy Baking! -Brianna
Katie
Took 3 hours to make these, start to finish. The end result was like the picture, but a bit of a grainy texture, rather than smooth as Lofthouse cookies are. Also, they leave an unpleasant aftertaste. Don't get me wrong, they didn't last two days in a house of four, but i think it had more to do with the yummy frosting than the cookie itself. Still have a ton of frosting, so I need to figure out of in going to make these again, or frost a different cookie.
flippindelicious
Hi Katie,
May I ask what gluten free flour you used? I have lots of notes in the post above about which flours I've used successfully. Because sugar cookies are a pretty plain cookie, the flour you use can make a big difference. Using a little extra vanilla can also help to disguise any after tastes. If your cookies were grainy, my best guess is that the gluten free flour you used is the culprit. If you used too much flour, it can also make them grainy. The dough should look like it does in my gluten free Halloween sugar cookie video. . It is important to spoon the flour into your measuring cup, and then level it off. If you scoop with the measuring cup directly, you'll get too much flour and may have grainy cookies.
I hope this helps! Please comment back and let me know what gluten free flour you used.
Best, Brianna
Nevaeh
I used Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Baking Flour minus the xanthan gum. If comparing store bought, they were not as fluffy. They were slightly crumbly. However, they hit the spot and tasted delicious. Sorry this is not a review of the actual recipe, but I needed the cookies on quick notice and could not find the ingredients (rice flours) to make "as follows". Hopefully, this will be a good modified recipe for someone else using BRM, 1 to 1 flour.
flippindelicious
Hi Nevaeh,
I'm happy this recipe worked for you. I added a note to the post above the recipe a few months ago with a different measurement for Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 gluten free flour. Did you use that measurement or my original measurement?
Bob's 1 to 1 gluten free flour absorbs more moisture than the flour blend I normally use, and will make a more dry cookie from a crumbly dough. If you use 3 cups of Bob's 1 to 1 (the recipe calls for 3 1/4 cups of gluten free flour) your cookies shouldn't be crumbly and should be a lot softer and more cakey.
Hope that helps. So happy you enjoyed my recipe, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Happy Baking! -Brianna
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! Where can I find the icing recipe?
flippindelicious
Hi Vanessa, These are the icing recipes I usually use with these sugar cookies.
Easy American Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Vegan Buttercream Frosting
Vegan Chocolate Frosting
Happy Baking! -Brianna
Denise
I made these with Pamela’s Bread Mix. My daughter was super excited about how soft they were. I used 15 1/2 ounces.
flippindelicious
Hi Denise, Thank you for taking the time to comment. I'm so happy you enjoyed them! Thank you for telling me how much you used. Happy that Pamela's Bread Mix worked for you. Happy Baking! -Brianna
Christina Blackburn
I have no idea what a loft cookie is, but I was searching for a sugar cookie recipe for Christmas. 1 practice batch in and so far so good. I used presidents choice flour, 2.5 cups. It's usually a very absorbent flour so I really cut it back. Taste test is up next.
flippindelicious
Hi Christina, I'm glad you've liked them so far! I haven't worked with presidents choice flour, thank you for letting me know how much you used. It is crazy how different flours really absorb moisture differently!
Happy Baking! -Brianna
Stephanie
Curious if you've ever made these as a chocolate sugar cookie. Seems like it could translate - especially using the chocolate frosting recipe as well. If so, did you use cocoa powder or melted chocolate? Thanks!
flippindelicious
Hi Stephanie, I haven't tried making them into chocolate sugar cookies yet, but it is on my list to test. Until I have a tested gluten free chocolate sugar cookie recipe for you, I'd recommend adding 2 tablespoons of dutch process cocoa powder instead of 2 of the tablespoons of flour. If you give it a try, let me know how it works out!
Happy Baking! -Brianna
Stephanie
Thank you, Brianna, for the guidance! Wanted to report back on how things went with the chocolate experiment. Very well, actually! I did put in a bit more cocoa powder because I was afraid the cookies wouldn't be chocolaty enough with the 2 TBLE of cocoa. 🙂 The cookies were soft and fluffy, just like the original. I have made your standard sugar cookie recipe many times, and one of the things I like about it (besides the tasty results) is that the dough is super easy to work with. It's not sticky, and it's easy to roll and re-roll. I had the same results with the chocolate version, so win-win all around! Thanks, again!
flippindelicious
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for commenting back with how the chocolate sugar cookies turned out! I'm so happy you've found my dough easy to work with. I remember being so frustrated with other sugar cookie recipes before I perfect this one. You are so welcome, and happy baking! -Brianna
Amy
I never would have known these cookies were gluten free! They were so soft and fluffy! So delicious! I made the flour from your other recipe and I love that the xanthum gum is put in separately. Love these cookies! ❤️
flippindelicious
Amy, I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed my cookie recipe. I loved seeing your photo on Instagram! Happy Baking! -Brianna
Amy
What kind of butter do you use? Salted, unsalted? Do you find a certain brand works better.
I have 2 girls with celiac and have tried to make sugar cookies that they can decorate and I’ve never had luck, I was going to try the cup 4 cup brand flour. Have you used that before?
Thank you!
flippindelicious
Hi Amy,
I always use unsalted butter when baking. The amount of salt in different brands of butter can vary, so unsalted is best when baking so you can control how salty the recipe is. I don't have a favorite brand, they really all work similarly for baking. For eating on toast, that is another matter entirely (Kerrygold all the way!) but I don't waste my money on expensive butter for baking cookies.
I have only worked with cup 4 cup flour a little bit, their flour blend has milk powder in it and until recently my daughter couldn't do milk. I plan to test it soon! That said, cup 4 cup is an amazing company, I got to tour their test kitchen in January of 2019 and man, they are awesome! Just read the notes on using different gluten free flour blends, you may need to use less flour to get the right texture. Watch the video too, it will give you an accurate idea of what the dough should look like.
Happy Baking! -Brianna
FUR
Honestly there is way way WAY to much dialogue to the point that it's nearly impossible to even find the recipes. Also all recipes seem strung out all over this one page! It wouldn't be near as frustrating if you'd have put the dialogue at the top (where most do) and then had all recipes in order one after the other. I'm super sad because I don't have enough time nor patience to read through EVERYTHING and try to figure out which recipe goes where. I mean yes I do appreciate the recipes but am unable to use a single one them !! =(
flippindelicious
Hi! Sadly long posts are a necessity for Google to send anyone to your recipe page. Google will show the posts with the most complete and full information to more people, which is why the entire post is in depth information about how to make the best sugar cookies ever. I miss the days of short posts more than you do, I can guarantee it. To help people, we have to play google's game.
Best, Brianna
FUR
Also it takes literally forEVER to load this page due to all the pictures you've put up and then there are the adverts as well. Super sad.
flippindelicious
Hi, This is a longer post, because it does include a lot of pictures because I want to set anyone who makes the recipe up for success. I wanted to include lots of instructions, tips, tricks, and troubleshooting. So that I can pay my bills, I do have ads on all of my free recipes. I do have this recipe included in my Gluten-Free Cookies All Year Round Cookbook. If you purchase it, then you won't have to wait for the ads to load. It also has 60+ other fabulous gluten free cookie recipes. Happy Baking! -Brianna