The BEST Easy Vegan, Gluten-free and Oil-free Gingerbread Men Cut-Out Cookies! Made with wholesome ingredients like almond butter, oat flour, molasses, maple syrup and all the holiday spices. Made with just 8 ingredients and 1 bowl!
VEGAN GLUTEN FREE GINGERBREAD COOKIES
You really didn’t think I would only give you 1 recipe using my Homemade Gingerbread Spice Mix, did you? My Vegan Gingerbread Cake has become my most popular holiday cake. Record amount of remakes in just 5 days with all 5 star ratings, so put it on your holiday Christmas baking day, ok??
I had a large amount of requests for 2 cut-out cookie recipes this holiday season…sugar cookies and vegan gluten-free gingerbread cookies.
These vegan gingerbread men cut out cookies are so easy to make, the dough is really simple to work with. They are rich in spices and have the best crispy texture and flavor. I’m crushing pretty hard on how cute they turned out. Talk about bringing your inner child out to decorate. I used melted chocolate and vegan sprinkles and candies I found on Etsy. I’d say Christmas time is the time to break out the extra dazzle in decorations, like sprinkles and stuff.
For this recipe, I used my oat flour and starch combo I came up with years ago. It never fails me. These are DELICIOUS. They are vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, made in 1 bowl and just 8 ingredients (+ salt). The dough, just like my Gingerbread Cake, is rather dangerous. I’ve heard from several of you how you keep eating the batter of that cake before baking. Well, sorry, but you will be eating half of this dough before making cut-outs too, haha.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED
(Only 8 main ingredients needed. Full details and measurements on the recipe card below.)
- Superfine oat flour: I use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free oat flour. The texture is fine and works best in baking. You can find this at Kroger and other grocery stores or online.
- Tapioca starch: This replaces and eggs and helps to bind these cookies, while giving them wonderful crispy edges.
- Gingerbread spices: I, of course, use my homemade gingerbread spice mix because it’s so much better than store-bought.
- Baking soda
- Coconut sugar
- Roasted almond butter: This replaces any oil or butter and gives a beautiful color and depth of flavor to these cookies. I use my homemade almond butter, but store-bought is fine, too, just make sure you are using a runny, smooth kind and not a dry/stiff almond butter, or the dough will be difficult to worth with and your cookies turn out dry.
- Maple syrup: Using this keeps these cookies refined sugar-free. Not to mention, flavor! Maple syrup tastes so much better than regular sugar.
- Molasses: You will want to use regular molasses here and not the blackstrap, as it is much too bitter and strong. Regular is lighter in color, flavor and is more sweet. You can find regular molasses at most grocery stores like Kroger, Walmart and even Target. Or even Amazon, very easy to find.
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN GLUTEN FREE GINGERBREAD COOKIES
Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk well.
Step 2: Add the wet ingredients to the same bowl and stir until a thick, cohesive dough forms into a ball.
Step 3: Place the dough in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up some.
Step 4: Roll the dough out in between parchment paper to 1/4 inch thick and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Try not to eat all the dough now because it’s absolutely delicious.
Step 5: Place each cookie on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes. Cool before decorating.
STORAGE
These cookies keep wonderfully for a couple of days, especially with icing. They should be stored sealed tightly at room temperature. These vegan gingerbread cookies are shockingly gluten-free. The texture is amazing, crispy, moist buttery center and the structure is perfection. They hold together and don’t fall apart. They even work to make a vegan gingerbread house!
MORE VEGAN HOLIDAY COOKIE RECIPES
- Vegan Gluten-free Sugar Cut-out Cookies
- Gluten-free Vegan Sugar Cookies (Oil-free)
- Vegan Snickerdoodles
- Vegan Almond Butter Blossoms
- Vegan Cardamom Pecan Cookies
- Vegan Coconut Butter Gingersnaps
- Vegan Chai Coconut Oatmeal Cookies
- Dark Chocolate Molasses Cookies
Vegan Gluten-free Gingerbread Cookies (The Best!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons (144g) superfine oat flour (I use Bob's Red Mill. Superfine is very important here so the dough comes together)
- 6 tablespoons (48g) tapioca starch* (this is what acts as eggs and gluten and gives them structure so they don't fall apart)
- 2 tablespoons (24g) coconut sugar, ground into a fine powder (this will make for a smoother appearance but is certainly optional)
- 2 teaspoons Gingerbread spice + an extra 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (Use store-bought or my blend OR SEE NOTES below for sub)
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup (160g) pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup (80g) unsulphured regular molasses (not blackstrap, see NOTES)
- 1 cup (256g) roasted really creamy/runny almond butter
- Optional: Cookie cutters, chocolate chips, sprinkles for decorating
NOTE
- I recommend highly to use a scale to prevent room for error. You don't need cups or to compare the weights to cups, just simply follow the weights listed, as this is exactly how the recipes are tested and made. Make sure to zero out before adding each ingredient.
- I use this scale.
Instructions
- PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. If you have time, chill the dough in the FREEZER for 30 minutes. This will make working with the dough a bit easier, but it is not necessary if you are pressed for time. The dough is very easy to work with.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
- To a large bowl, add the oat flour, tapioca starch, coconut sugar, spices, baking soda and salt and whisk very well making sure it's thoroughly mixed.
- Make a well at the bottom of the bowl and add the syrup, molasses and almond butter. Give the liquids a quick stir and then mix it in with the flour, stirring and pressing the mixture together until it is very thick, sticky and no more visible flour remains (see video). You will want to mix and press it for a couple of minutes so it gets really thick.
- Place a large piece of parchment paper on the counter and drop about half the dough onto it and form and pat it into a smooth ball shape (see video). If you have time to chill it, fold the paper over the dough to secure it and place in the freezer for just 30 minutes. You don't want to over-freeze it or the dough will be hard to work with. If not freezing the dough, use immediately. It is still fairly easy to work with. It is best to do half the dough at a time so you can roll it out to a consistent thickness and so the dough doesn't get too warm. Place the other half of dough in the fridge while doing the first batch.
- Place another piece of parchment paper over the dough and use a rolling pin on top of the paper to roll it out to 1/4 inch thick, NO LESS or the cookies will be too thin and get too dry.
- If using cookie cutters, place the cutter all the way down into the dough and slightly jiggle it side to side. Repeat this with as much of the dough you can use and gently peel away the edges around and in between the shapes. (see video) Gently pick up the cookies by slightly rolling it towards you starting with the head. If wanting to just make round cookies, simply take about 2 tablespoons worth of dough, roll into balls and flatten on the lined pan no less than 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle decorative sugar on top before baking if desired. With the scraps, form back into a ball and repeat the process. Fill as many as you can on the sheet with them spaced about 2 inches apart, as they will spread.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes. They should be slightly puffed up and starting to look golden brown on the edges. Please note that the size of your cookies will vary a minute or so in cooking time. Small gingerbread men can cook faster 8-9 minutes and burn quicker, so keep an eye on them. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes and transfer to cool completely on a rack before decorating. They will crisp up considerably as they cool.
- If wanting to decorate like I have in the photos, just simply melt some chocolate chips, add it to a baggie and cut off a tiny corner. Drizzle onto the cookies for eyes and decorations. Use the chocolate as "glue" for buttons. Allow to cool completely before serving.
- These are best the day of, texture-wise, but are still yummy the next day. They are very fast and easy to make, so I recommend making them the day of a party or event, if possible.
Notes
- GINGERBREAD SPICE: If you can't find the Gingerbread Spice at the store or don't want to make my whole blend, then you can sub with 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.
- MOLASSES: You can find regular molasses at Kroger, Walmart, Target and online on Amazon. In some countries, people have trouble finding regular molasses, so if you cannot find it, then sub the molasses with 2 tablespoons of blackstrap and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. This will change the flavor and texture somewhat and I have not tested this personally, but think it should work. I believe the cookies will be more delicate with less molasses though.
- STARCH: If you cannot find tapioca starch, cornstarch will work as well, they will just be slightly less crispy.
Nutrition
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Can I use other starch as I don’t have tapioca?
Yes, you can try cornstarch. I haven’t tested it personally but pretty sure it should work just fine.
Can we please go back in time and do like a Freaky Friday swap between me and Olivia? Because I am MAJORLY jealous of her job as taste tester and those billion cookies you mentioned–lucky lucky girl. The oat/tapioca combo strikes again! The texture and those lightly browned edges look just perfect. I’m really loving this triple combo of sweeteners too. I have been enjoying the molasses + coconut sugar combo, but I imagine the maple syrup in the mix too makes them extra good. And I am so happy you didn’t skimp on the AB, I bet these babies are as MOIST and buttery as can be inside haha. But perfect cookie itself aside, your decorations are everything omg! I want to make more now and just completely ditch the cute/classic look and have fun with it, plus chocolate + gingerbread is deeeeeeelish. I will happily risk the dough devouring danger for these cuties. Oh can the holidays just never end please, I am loving this dessert streak you are on too much 🙂
Hahaha, I know right?! She has the best job ever. We’ve eaten so dang many gingerbread men and cookies around here, it is quite scary. Yes, I knew I wanted maple syrup in them because of my coconut butter gingersnaps I use syrup in it and it is heavenly with the spices, but I wanted to get that brown sugar taste in the cookie like the classic ones, so using the maple, molasses and coconut sugar really gave so much depth of flavor and surprisingly, not too sweet, even though it probably sounds like it, lol. You know how bland and dry oat flour is, well they simply need more sweetness and fat so they weren’t dry as a bone. I tested them with much less almond butter at first and less sweetener and I was NOT happy and didn’t even enjoy one cookie, so I had to definitely change the recipe up, haha. My original gingersnaps were a jumping off point but I didn’t want to use coconut butter again for these and that stuff makes things WAY more buttery than almond butter so that is definitely why I needed more. I have to say I love, love the fudgy buttery interior of these from the almond butter and molasses. I seriously could not get enough. Haha, I know…I am really sad Christmas is about to end, booooo!!
Ok, question..can I just roll out the dough and not even bother baking??? Just eat it right then??? I personally love just eating the dough straight out of the bowl!! Yummy!!
LOL! Totally and trust me, the dough is SO GOOD you will likely eat half of it before baking, haha!
These are so cute! Especially the angry dude, lol.
I made these with my six year old. They are ridiculously good and the recipe is so easy to follow. We will absolutely be making them again…and again. I used cornstarch and made my own oat flour in a regular Vitamix – no issues with either. Yum! Thanks for yet another stellar reciipe.
Thank you so much Bromley for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review! The pic of your daughter helping was so adorable on IG. I’m so happy you both enjoyed the recipe so much, thank you again for the feedback!
How cute. Loving the sad, angry and shocked dudes. This looks like a lot of fun to make.
They were such fun to make, thank you Tamara!
OMG yes these look adorable and they look delicious. I am so conflicted haha how can I want to eat something so cute? I must be evil 😛 I absolutely love that you gave them different expressions. The shocked dude is just fabulous I think I would feel the most guilty for eating him. Haha Girl I swear I want to get to your baking recipes but I don’t know how people find time to bake. I wanted to make your oatmeal cookies for work and I ran out of time. So I was like ok I will do it on Christmas day, nope no time. Now my last hope is New Years day (crossing my fingers) but now I want to make these too so maybe I will do 2 batches of these and two batches of oatmeal, time willing.
They are soooo cute!!! I love that this recipe is oil-free and gluten-free. Such a great recipe and I love all your photos so much 🙂
I am still dying over how darn cute these are! The angry guy and the surprised one, LMAO!!! So funny. I bet you had so much fun making these. And they look amazing!!
We made these for Christmas. They are hands down the best gingerbread cookies we have ever eaten (vegan or not)! The dough is pretty darn irresistible, too. We topped these with a cashew/date frosting that paired perfectly.
Yay! That makes me so very happy to hear Jennifer! Thank you so much for this amazing review!
These cookies are absolutely adorable, Brandi! I love their cute little faces! Plus, the texture of these cookies looks fabulous. And the combo of tapioca and oat is so clever. Hope you had a wonderful new year’s eve!
Thank you so much Nisha, you are way too sweet! Happy New Year!
Brandi, I can’t get over the expressions on these little men, and the recipe is so easy! Thank you so much for sharing and hope your new year is going well, Dee xx
They look so good! Love the grumpy ones the most haha! So cute!
Very unique and it is very attractive especially for children. Thanks for sharing…
What etsy site did you get the sprinkles and candies from? I’m having a hard time finding vegan and dye free options. Also, making this soon for omni hubby. Praying he likes. He likes indulgent things and I like healthy things so I can eat more. We try to find balance.
Hi! These taste just like a traditional gingerbread cookie and have been loved by readers, so I’m sure he’ll love them! 😊 I actually buy my sprinkles from here. She sells vegan ones.
https://sweetapolita.myshopify.com/pages/search-results?limit=24&q=Vegan
Can I use arrowroot starch??
I don’t know, I don’t ever use arrowroot for my baking since I find that it leaves an overly starchy taste. You can always try it, I just can’t guarantee the results.
I have always made my own oat flour in my ninja blender. It does come out super fine and powdery, but because I have never bought it packaged before I don’t know how different it might be from what packaged regular oat flour versus superfine might be. Do you think a blender can grind it up fine enough for this purpose?
Yes, definitely will work!
I made these last night with my daughter for Santa and they came out amazing! You’re a genius in the kitchen!
Yay, so glad you loved these! Loved seeing them on IG and I love your name too, haha 😉
Hi! Is there a brand you would recommend for the molasses? I have never bought any, thought of buying through Amazon since I didn’t see it in the supermarket I normally go to.
Hi Irisel! Yes, this is the one I use! https://amzn.to/2U1Wk1v It is sold in grocery stores though, pretty common around here, even Walmart should have it and you can get a smaller, cheaper bottle there!
These look amazing…do you know if you can sub out the almond butter with a sunflower seed butter or another non nut butter? My daughter is allergic to nuts 🙁
Thanks!
Hi Linda! Yes, if you don’t mind tasting sunbutter a bit, then technically it should work the same. Just make sure to use a really smooth/runny sunbutter!
Your gingerbread cake is to die for! I now keep your spice mix on hand for a last minute cake. So, imagine my delight when I saw that these cookies used it too.
Can I use your homemade cashew butter in place of the almond butter?
So glad you love the gingerbread cake! For these cookies, I think it’s best to stick to the roasted almond butter, as it’s much more flowy and runny and oily naturally than cashew butter. The cashew butter may make them more dry. I do have a new sugar cookie cut-out recipe coming this week though that does use the cashew butter, so save it! 🙂
Is it possible to freeze the men after baking?
I’ve never tried freezing them, so I’m not sure if they’d freeze well or dry out.