These Gluten-Free Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles have a soft and chewy center and slightly crispy edges with hints of warm chai spices. Made with coconut sugar, these cookies have a lower glycemic index than those made with granulated sugar.
These Gluten-Free Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles are a totally satisfying gluten-free cookie!
One of my favourite cookie recipes to make when my kids were young was Snickerdoodles. I haven't made them for years, so I decided to try a gluten-free version. A well-made Snickerdoodle cookie should have a soft and chewy center and slightly crispy edges.
This recipe for gluten-free Snickerdoodles delivers!
Most of the cookie recipes I make are gluten-free and oat-based, like these Gluten Free Cherry Coconut Oatmeal Cookies and Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies.
I decided that life without the occasional Snickerdoodle was definitely missing something, so I searched online for a good gluten-free recipe. The Washington Post had one that appealed to me, and since I had just made a batch of my own Chai Spice Mix, I set out to adapt it and make it a little healthier.
While the basic recipe is the same, I substituted coconut sugar for the granulated sugar, as it has a much lower glycemic index and I like its caramel taste. I also included the option to exchange coconut oil for butter, but butter will give these cookies more flavour. My Chai Spice Mix is a little different from the spices used in the Washington Post recipe.
This easy Gluten-free Snickerdoodle recipe is fun to bake with kids.
Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl, the wet in another, then combine, roll into balls in a sugar-chai mixture, flatten slightly and bake!
Can I leave out the cream of tartar in this Snickerdoodle recipe?
Cream of tartar gives a Snickerdoodle a unique tangy flavour and helps to keep the inside of the cookie soft. Cream of tartar and baking soda work hand-in-hand to act as a leavening agent. While the cookies won't taste quite the same without it, a substitute for cream of tartar in cookie recipes is baking powder.
If you don't have cream of tartar, you can substitute the 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar AND the ½ teaspoon of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of baking powder. The result will not be identical, but the cookies will still be good!
Can I freeze these Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles?
Absolutely! Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the freezer. They will last for up to 3 months. If you want to make this dough long before you need the cookies, you can form it into a thick dish, wrap tightly and freeze in an airtight container. Then thaw in the refrigerator overnight and have warm baked gluten-free snickerdoodles at a moment's notice!
What can I do with the leftover Chai Spice Mix?
Make these Chai Spiced Roasted Pear Oat Muffins! They're gluten-free, dairy-free and free of refined sugar. Perfect or brunch or morning tea or coffee.
Crinkly tops, spiced with chai, soft and chewy--it's not only their name that makes these cookies fun to make--and eat!
Enjoy, everyone!
Gluten-Free Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles
Ingredients
Chai Spice Mix* NOTE: you will only use 2 tsp of this mix to make the Snickerdoodles and ½ tsp for rolling them.
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 3 tsp ground ginger
For the cookies
- 2 cups gluten-free flour blend (I use Bob's Red Mill)
- ¼ tsp xantham gum (if your g/f flour blend doesn't contain it)
- 1 tsp cream of tartar* (see note)
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp Chai Spice Mix*
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter or coconut oil
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
For rolling
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar
- ½ tsp Chai Spice Mix*
Instructions
- Combine the spices to make a small bottle of Chai Spice Mix to use in this recipe and save the remainder for another time.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together--flour, (xantham gum), cream of tartar, baking soda and 2 teaspoons of the Chai Spice Mix.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl, beat the butter or coconut oil with the sugar until well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl when necessary. On low speed, add eggs one at a time, then the vanilla extract and beat until smooth and creamy.
- On low speed, add the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour or up to 2 days. At this point, you can also freeze the dough to bake at a later date.
- Make the rolling mixture by combining 6 tbsp coconut sugar with 1 tsp Chai Spice Mix in a small bowl.
- Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop the dough and roll it into balls in the palm of your hands. Roll in the sugar/spice mix and space 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Using the base of a glass, gently flatten each cookie slightly.
- Bake one sheet at a time for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are set. The cookies may look slightly under-baked. Don't overbake or they will be dry. Leave on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer carefully to a rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Kitchen Items to make these Gluten-Free Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles
This recipe was adapted from Chai-Spiced Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles in the Washington Post.
You might also like these recipes:
- Chai-Spiced Roasted Pear Oatmeal Muffins
- Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
- My Favourite Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Joanne
Can another flour be subbed for the gluten free blend?
Flavour & Savour
Hi Joanne, I haven’t tested this recipe with anything else yet, so I really can’t advise you. Apologies!