Description
This Gluten Free Gingerbread Men recipe is perfect for festive baking, offering a deliciously spiced treat that’s also suitable for those following low FODMAP and dairy-free diets. These charming gingerbread men are crafted using gluten-free flour and can be decorated with colorful royal icing, making them both fun to bake and delightful to share during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 350 g gluten free plain flour
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
- 3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 3 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 125 g butter (chopped and cold, use dairy free alternative if necessary)
- 175 g light brown sugar
- 4 tbsp golden syrup
- 1 egg
Royal Icing
- 500 g royal icing sugar
- 80 ml cold water
- colour gels
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the gluten free plain flour, xanthan gum, bicarbonate of soda, ground ginger, and cinnamon. Mix these dry ingredients thoroughly to ensure even spice distribution.
- Incorporate Butter and Sugar: Add the chopped cold butter (or dairy free alternative) and light brown sugar to the dry mixture. Rub the butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in the golden syrup and the egg, mixing gently until the dough comes together into a smooth, firm consistency. Avoid overworking to keep the dough tender.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in cling film and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Chilling helps the dough to firm up, making it easier to roll and shape.
- Roll and Cut Shapes: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Lightly flour your work surface with gluten free flour. Roll out the chilled dough to about 5mm thickness and use gingerbread man cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- Bake the Gingerbread Men: Place the cut-outs onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 12 minutes until golden around the edges but still slightly soft in the center.
- Cool Completely: Remove the gingerbread men from the oven and allow them to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents breakage and ensures they are ready for decorating.
- Prepare Royal Icing: In a mixing bowl, combine royal icing sugar with cold water and whisk until smooth and thick but pipeable. Divide icing into bowls and mix in different colour gels as desired.
- Decorate: Use piping bags or small spoons to decorate the cooled gingerbread men with the colored royal icing. Let the icing set completely at room temperature before serving or storing.
Notes
- This gluten free gingerbread men recipe is perfect for Christmas baking enthusiasts looking for a festive, allergy-friendly treat.
- The recipe is low FODMAP and can be made dairy free by substituting butter with a suitable dairy-free alternative.
- Royal icing can be colored with food-safe gels to make your gingerbread men uniquely festive.
- Ensure the dough is well chilled before rolling to prevent sticking and to achieve cleaner cookie shapes.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to one week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approx. 30g)
- Calories: 424 kcal
- Sugar: 58 g
- Sodium: 83 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 83 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 38 mg
