What’s Christmas without delicious cookies?? (Santa ain’t the only one who can use a couple on Christmas Eve.)

I can’t eat gluten, so I’ve had to toss out all the old family cookie recipes and search the internet for replacements. This recipe, from the amazing site Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, is so scrumptious, even the gluten-eaters in my household gobble them up. (Bonus: they’re lactose-free as well! And the dough freezes fabulously!)

If you’re gluten-free, or are expecting holiday guests who are, Gluten Free on a Shoestring has got a fabulous post on LOTS of different kinds of gluten-free Christmas cookies.  Plus they have great everyday cookbooks those of us who are GF can’t live without!

The recipe follows below, but first I’ve got a couple other treats to offer!!

One lucky commenter here on my blog will win THEIR CHOICE of either a copy of Gluten-Free on a Shoestring’s latest book, Gluten-Free Small Bites OR a super cute and tasty Wreath Keepsake Tin full of See’s Chocolates!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

(FYI: All See’s products are gluten-free, and I’m happy to substitute something nut-free if you prefer.)

 

 

And I’ve got one more offer to make: I’m giving away as many as FIVE print copies of my most recent book, THE DEVIL MAY CARE to the first commenters who say they’re willing to read it and leave an honest review on Amazon by January 25, 2016. Just let me know in the comments if you’re willing!

 

*****And now for the recipe for THE BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!!****

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Cook time: 12 minutes   Yield: 24 cookies

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/4 cups (315 g) all purpose gluten free flour (Nicole of Gluten-Free on a Shoestring uses Better Batter, but her DIY Better Than Cup4Cup blend works well, too)

1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your flour blend already contains it) NOTE: xanthan gum is essential for giving these cookies the right texture!!

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar

3/4 cup (164 g) packed light brown sugar

12 to 16 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

8 tablespoons (112 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 eggs (100 g, weighed out of shell) at room temperature, beaten

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line rimmed baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper and set aside.
• In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, salt, baking soda and granulated sugar, and whisk to combine well. Add the brown sugar, and whisk again to combine, working out any lumps in the brown sugar. Place about 12 ounces of the chocolate chips in a small bowl, add about 1 teaspoon of the dry ingredients, toss to coat the chips and set aside. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the butter, eggs and vanilla, mixing to combine after each addition. Add the chips and reserved dry ingredients, and mix until evenly distributed throughout. The cookie dough will be thick but not stiff.
• Divide the cookie dough into about 24 portions and roll each tightly into a ball about 1 1/2 inches in diameter (and about 50 grams each). Press each of the balls of dough into a disk about 1/2-inch thick and place about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. As you’re rolling the dough, add a few more chocolate chips to each ball, if desired, and roll them into the dough. Scatter a few chocolate chips on top of each disk of dough, and place the baking sheet in the freezer for 5 minutes, or until the dough is cold.
• Remove the chilled dough from the freezer and place the baking sheets, one at a time, in the center of the preheated oven. Bake until the cookies are golden brown around the edges, light golden brown all over and set in the center (about 12 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes or until firm before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

ENJOY!!!!

 

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The next stop on the Cookie Exchange Hop is Jennifer Bray-Weber – http://www.jbrayweber.com/

Or if you want to hop freely:

Autumn Jordon – https://www.facebook.com/authorAutumnJordon/

Lizzie Shane  – www.lizzieshane.com

Rita Henuber – http://www.ritahenuber.com/

Elizabeth Langston – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElizabethLangston

Heather McCollum – http://www.heathermccollum.com/

Shelley Coriell – http://www.shelleycoriell.com/blog/

Laurie Kellogg – http://www.LaurieKellogg.com 

Liz Talley – https://www.facebook.com/liztalleybooks/

AnneMarie Becker – http://www.annemariebecker.com/Anne_Marie_Becker,_Author/Home.html

Jeannie Lin – http://www.jeannielin.com/

Diana Layne –  http://dianalayne.com/2016/11/29/welcome-to-the-r…-cookie-exchange/ 

Lara Archer – https://laraarcher.com/

Jennifer Bray-Weber – http://www.jbrayweber.com/

Kate Parker – https://www.facebook.com/Author.Kate.Parker/

Katie Graykowski – http://www.facebook.com/katie.graykowski

Jacie Floyd – http://www.jaciefloyd.com/