Easy Valentine's day gluten free sugar cookies are soft and cakey gluten free heart shaped sugar cookies with fluffy frosting. Dairy free and vegan options.
How do you make gluten free cookies for valentine's day?
My gluten free sugar cookies were my first gluten free recipe to ever "make it big".
They went crazy on Pinterest when I first posted them more than 6 years ago, and continue to go crazy every Christmas and Valentine's Day.
I often make round gluten free sugar cookies, and even have a easy drop cookie gluten free sugar cookie recipe for when I'm feeling super lazy.
I wanted to show you that it can be easy to make gluten free heart shaped sugar cookies too!
I've got some tips and tricks to keep things as simple and easy as possible.
I know how busy holidays are, and Valentine's Day is so exception.
Make it easier on yourself and make gluten free heart cookies the easy way!
Easy gluten free Valentine's Day Heart Cookies
Making Valentine's Day heart cookies can be a bit of an ordeal. You need to save time and energy where ever you can!
- No chilling is required to make my easy Valentine's day gluten free cookies. You mix the dough, and go straight into rolling, cutting, and baking!
- Roll the dough between layers of plastic wrap. Not only does this prevent you having to add extra flour, which will make tough and crumbly cookies, it also is a big time-saver when it comes to clean up. Wipe down your rolling pin, and gather the plastic, and clean up is done!
- Pick simple cookie cutters. I used 3 different simple heart cookie cutters. One had a zig-zag edge but the other two were just smooth basic hearts. A simple design is easier to cut out and easier to decorate.
- Use store-bought frosting! Surprisingly, many store-bought frostings are dairy free and gluten free. Read the labels, and you may find one that works for you. Buying your frosting can be a big time saver if it works with your diet!
- Forget the fancy tips and intricate decorations. I divided my frosting into two bowls and tinted them red and pink. I simply spread the frosting on the cookies with a knife, and then topped them with Valentine's non pareil sprinkles. You can make it even easier by choosing only one color, or even keeping the frosting white and using sprinkles for your color.
Do you need gluten free cookies for another holiday? I've got you covered. My cookbook, Gluten-Free Cookies All Year Round has more than 60 gluten free cookie recipes for every holiday and occasion all year long!
You can also look through all of my gluten free sugar cookie recipes.
What gluten free flour makes the best gluten free sugar cookies?
I usually use my gluten free flour blend to make my gluten free sugar cookies. I recently started testing other flours in the recipe, and made a shocking discovery.
Many gluten free flour blends absorb more or less liquid and when using Bob's Red Mill One to One gluten free flour (the one with the blue label) I actually needed a lot LESS flour because it absorbed more liquid than my blend.
This recipe calls for 3 ¼ cups of gluten free flour. If you use a different gluten free flour, I would recommend adding 2 ¾ cup, and then adding the remainder ¼ cup at a time. You can see the proper texture my gluten free Halloween sugar cookie recipe video.
The other important note with flour is how essential it is that you measure it correctly. If you scoop your flour directly with your measuring cup, you'll pack too much in resulting in dry and crumbly cookies, and a dough that is difficult to work with.
Measure your flour with the fork, spoon, knife method:
- Whisk your gluten free flour with a fork (or give it a good shake if it is in an airtight container.)
- Spoon your gluten free flour into the measuring cup.
- Level your measuring cup with a knife (or the handle of the spoon if you are lazy like me.)
Can I make gluten free sugar cookies dairy free?
Absolutely, you can make dairy free gluten free sugar cookies. In the recipe notes I've included my favorite (tested) butter substitutes for gluten free heart shaped sugar cookies. My favorite dairy free butter subsitute in this recipe is to use half non-hydrogenated palm shorting and half vegan butter (like Melt or Earth Balance.)
Can I make gluten free sugar cookies vegan?
My gluten free sugar cookie recipe works great with an egg-substitute. I've listed my favorite egg replacers in the notes of the recipe. My favorite right now is Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer, but I often find I need to add a little extra water to it so that the cookie dough has the right consistency. Bob's egg replacer calls for 2 tablspoons of water, but I've had better results if I use 2 ½-3 tablespoons of water instead.
2019 Good Cookie Food Blogger's Valentine's Event
This is the third year for our Valentine’s event! We want to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer!
Did you know that cancer is the #1 cause of death of children by disease in the U.S.? There are 40,000 U.S. children actively battling cancer right now. I participated in the event last year, sharing my gluten free red velvet crinkle cookies, and talked about a coworker's son who had been diagnosed with leukemia. It has been heartbreaking to watch what their family has been going through, and particularly hit home because their son is the same age as my younger daughter.
Help me, and the rest of the participating bloggers, make a difference by donating to Cookies for Kids' Cancer! With less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget going to all childhood cancer combined, I knew it was important for me to get involved. Our goal is to raise at least $3000. Because these three companies: Dixie Crystals, Mediavine and OXO have each pledged to match our donations raised through this campaign up to $3000!
Thanks to many of you, we have reached our goal. You can still donate and help us make an even bigger difference!
Donate here.
Here are all of the other bloggers participating. You'll even find a few gluten free Valentine's day treat recipes!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake from Julie of The Little Kitchen
Læsø Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies from Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Meyer Lemon Cookies from Linda of Simply Healthyish Recipes
Soft & Chewy Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Allie of Miss Allie's Kitchen
Small Batch Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe from Faith of An Edible Mosaic
Chocolate Madeleines from Caroline of Caroline's Cooking
Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats from Bree of Baked Bree
Tiger Butter Candy from Melissa of MamaGourmand
Valentine's Day Gluten Free Sugar Cookies from Flippin' Delicious
Chocolate Spritz Sandwich Cookies from Carlee of Cooking With Carlee
Pink Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies from Jenn of Ever After in the Woods
French Butter Cookies from Rebekah of Kitchen Gidget
Brown Sugar M&M Cookies from Sara of Imperfectly Balanced Sara
mini rose cookies from Meaghan of the decorated cookie
Raspberry Linzer Cookies from Stephie of Stephie Cooks
Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting from Coleen of The Redhead Baker
Lemon Poppyseed Cookies from Becca of Two Places at Once
Warn Dark Chocolate Melting Cups from Lisa of Snack Girl
Salted Dark Chocolate Cookies from Jessica of A Kitchen Addiction
Cherry Cordial Bundt Cake from Carolann of Apron Warrior
Nutella Stuffed Cookies from Allison of Celebrating Sweets
Strawberry Pudding Cookies from Holly of A Baker's House
Slice and Bake Whirligig Cookies from Laura of Untwisted Vintage
Raspberry Strawberry Cookies from Heather of Delicious Not Gorgeous
Chocolate Strawberry Hand Pie from Trang of Wild Wild Whisk
White Chocolate Cashew Cranberry Cookies from Brittany of Diary of a Southern Mrs.
The Best Potato Chip Cookies Recipe from Marybeth of Babysavers
Darth Vader Valentine's Day Hug Cookies to Support Cookies for Kid’s Cancer from Jenn of justJENN recipes
Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies with Jam from Lisa of Garlic & Zest
Sprinkled Chocolate Shortbread Heart Cookies from Lisa of Blogghetti
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies from Dee of Meatloaf and Melodrama
Homemade Salted Nut Rolls from Shaina of Food for My Family
Valentine Sugar Cookie Cups from Melissa of Persnickety Plates
Chocolate Dipped Cashew Butter Cookies from Ashley of Fit Mitten Kitchen
Chocolate Vanilla Striped Shortbread Cookies from Denise of Chez Us
Pineapple Coconut Bar Cookies from Barbara of Barbara Bakes
Chocolate Raspberry Roll-Ups from Sue of It's Okay to Eat the Cupcake
Raspberry and Rose Meringue Parfaits from Michelle of Cup of Zest
Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies from Jade of Jonesin' For Taste
Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies from Emilie of Finding Zest
Chocolate Mousse Cups from Miranda of Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
Grain-Free Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tart from Gretchen of kumquat
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies from Sara of My Imperfect Kitchen
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie from Angela of About A Mom
Honey Pistachio Shortbread from Megan of Stetted
Red Velvet Oreo Cheesecake Cookies from Nicole of For the Love of Food
Chewy Coconut Macaroon Hearts (Gluten Free) from Taryn of Hot Pan Kitchen
Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine's Cookies from Becca of The Salted Cookie
Chocolate Caramel Pie from Stefanie of Mommy Musings
Gluten-Free Red Velvet Brownies {Dairy-Free} from Audrey of Mama Knows Gluten Free
Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes from Erica of The Crumby Kitchen
Dark Chocolate Bourbon Coconut Cream Mousse from Lisa of Taste Cook Sip
Maple Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Jamie of Southern Revivals
Red Velvet Mini Layer Cakes from Gwynn of Swirls of Flavor
The Best Potato Chip Cookies Recipe from Marybeth of babysavers
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Kara of Kara in the Kitchen
Brown Sugar Snickerdoodles from Kristin of On the Home Front
Valentine’s Gummy Hearts from April of April Golightly
Cocoa Sweet Dough Hearts from TammyJo of The Chocolate Cult
Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookie Cutouts from Susannah of Feast + West
Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies from Denise of addicted 2 recipes
Shortbread Cookie Recipe from Raquel of Organized Island
Brown Butter Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookies from Samantha of Haute Pepper Bites
📖 Recipe
Valentine's Day Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
Easy Valentine's day gluten free sugar cookies are soft and cakey gluten free heart shaped sugar cookies with fluffy frosting. Dairy free and vegan options.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened (4 oz by weight)
- 1 cup sugar (8 oz 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 oz by weight)
- American Buttercream OR
- Vegan Buttercream
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- 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 heart shaped or Valentine's Day cookie cutters, or use 3 inch round cookie cutters or a drinking glass.
- 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
- To make your cookies dairy free or vegan use vegan butter or palm shortening (or my personal fave, half vegan butter + half palm shortening) instead of the butter and use a flax egg or your favorite egg replacer instead of the eggs.
- To make a flax egg, for each egg mix 1 tablespoon ground flax meal with 3 tablespoons hot water and let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken. Since this recipe calls for 2 eggs, you will need 2 tablespoons of ground flax meal and 6 tablespoons of hot water.
- My favorite store-bought egg replacer is Bob's Red Mill's Egg Replacer.
Nutrition Information
Yield 36 Serving Size 1 gluten free sugar cookieAmount Per Serving Calories 71Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 18mgSodium 89mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 0gSugar 7gProtein 1g