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Cranberry Cookies - Gluten-free!


For Flashback Friday I decided to bring back my Cranberry cookies.  I make them for Christmas but with the lovely red filling they are pretty at any time of the year and we have Valentine's Day coming up in less than a month.
I have adapted this recipe  to use my
  'Julie's Flour Blend' and I think it makes them even better !
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1/4 cup butter 
  • 3/4 cup sugar 
  • 1 egg 
  • 1 tsp almond flavouring 
  • 1/2 lemon - grated zest and juice
  • 2 rounded tbsp of sour cream
  • 1 1/4 cup Julie's Flour blend
  • 1/4 cup white rice flour
  • 1/2 cup potato starch 
  • 1/4 tsp salt 
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder 
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda 
  • 1 tsp xanthan gum 
  • sweet rice flour - for handling/rolling dough
  1. Cream together shortening and butter, add sugar and beat until fluffy and add one egg and beat well for 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add sour cream, lemon juice and finely grated rind.
  3. In zip-lock bag combine remaining dry ingredients and shake until well blended.
  4. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture.
  5. Mix well and turn out onto sweet rice floured surface.
  6. Knead in sweet rice flour until cookie dough is no longer sticky.
  7. Roll out to less than 1/4" but more than 1/8" thick. (I divided the dough into three pieces to make rolling easier)
  8. Using cookie cutter or tumbler cut into circles.
  9. On one circle place cranberry filling and then cover with second circle of dough, pinching edges and turning under.
  10. Place on parchment lined cookie sheets
  11. Bake at 375' for about 18 minutes or until edges turn golden . 
  12. When cookies are cool, frost with almond icing and dip tops into angel shredded coconut or as I did, into untoasted crushed almond flakes.
Cranberry Filling
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen cranberries
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/8" water
Boil water with sugar , add cranberries and stir over medium heat until cranberries pop and mixture thickens. Cool .

Almond Icing
  • 1 tablespoon butter,
  • 1/4 cup of water (or milk)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of almond flavoring
Add icing sugar until desired consistency is achieved


(original recipe first posted on 11/10/08) inspired by Betty's Christmas Cranberry Cookies.

  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp. almond flavoring
  • 1 1/4 cup rice flour
  • 1/2 cup tapioca starch or flour (the same thing)
  • 1/2 cup potato starch (NOT flour)
  • 1/4 cup sweet rice flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp xanthan gum
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 1/2 lemon, juice and grated rind

21 comments:

  1. Julie, you keep this up and you'll be writing a copycat gluten free guide for everyones favorites.. .way to go. They look fantastic too.

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  2. Way to go Julie..they look wonderful!! Now when my celiac friends will say they can't have something I'll say 'check in with Julie'.

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  3. Oh Julie...we ARE going to keep you busy this Christmas season, I can see! Good on you! I agree with Lovella....you are going to be invaluable for those who read this blog and wish and wish...and there you go....an expert 'on board'. Can't wait for your next posts!

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  4. I'm so excited to find your blog! One of my favorite cookbooks is "Mennonite Country-Style Cooking" by Esther Shank--and now your blog just confirms that Mennonite girls can REALLY cook!!:) Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful recipes.

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  5. this really impressess me. i am so excited for the celiacs in my world.
    julie, i am still wondering...
    is tapioca flour differant than starch...i can't find the flour, or can it be used interchangablyi would really like to make this for them.....thanks in advance.

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  6. Yum! That looks good. May I have one?
    Your picture is very nice too.
    Thanks for zipping by my blog and your kind words!

    ~Liz~

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  7. You are amazing Julie. Keep it up! Kathy

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  8. This may be obvious, but could you post a recipe for almond icing as well? I am guessing powdered sugar, milk, almond extract?
    I am really starting to get excited about Christmas baking now!

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  9. Awesome, awesome, awesome! I posted GF gingersnap cookies today, and just put a call out for GF Christmas cookie recipes. This one fits the bill! Thank you! :)

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  10. Looks lovely. But is there an omission on the sugar in the ingredients list for the cookies?

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  11. Anonymous.. you are right ! My mistake ! thank you for pointing that out! It is corrected !

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  12. made these bits of deliciousness for me! (and shared) love them! want to try them filled with other things...raspberry...yum!

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  13. I made these last Christmas and everyone loved them! They had no clue it was gluten free!!! Thanks so very much for tasty options in a tasteless gf world! So very grateful!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Debra ! I'm always happy to hear that someone enjoyed a recipe - that is my thank you, and of course you are welcome! smile...
      These are one of my favorite as well!
      A blessed Christmas to you and yours !

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  14. Looks wonderful...can these be frozen?

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  15. Hi Julie! I have been working with this recipe to do my best to disguise them as ammonia cookies. I am so happy to report that I'm getting closer with every try!! I have pictures of my first 3 trys if you would like to see them. The best effort so far changed the recipe to 3 Tb. of 14% sour cream, using 15 drops of peppermint oil instead of lemon, and 1/2 tsp. of ammonia with the dry ingredients. I am now playing with the refrigeration time and will let you know how I make out. Today's batch was light, white, and fluffy! Thank you for taking the time to suggest starting with this recipe! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
    Teri-Lynn

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    1. Hi Teri-Lynn, thank you for giving me the update on your 'trials' ... and I am very pleased that you are happy with the results ! Good for you !! Would love to see photos of your cookies ... send them to my e-mail - juliefrompearls@gmail.com I would love to post them on our blog next Christmas,(giving you credit, of course! - if you are willing to share your success ! smile..
      I wish you and you yours a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year !

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  16. this is not Friday thursday--

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  17. Julie these look wonderful - great flashback post!

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