Christmas biscuits are more than just something sweet to nibble on. They’re part of the season’s rhythm — baked in warm kitchens, shared with family, wrapped as gifts, and enjoyed slowly with tea or coffee while the lights glow softly in the background.
If you bake gluten-free, though, Christmas biscuits can feel intimidating. Too crumbly. Too dry. Too fragile. Or worse — they spread into flat puddles instead of holding their shape. The truth is, gluten-free Christmas biscuits are not harder — they just need the right balance.
In this guide, I’ll show you easy, reliable gluten-free Christmas biscuits you can make at home, using simple ingredients and clear techniques that actually work. These biscuits are:
- Tender but sturdy
- Easy to shape
- Perfect for gifting
- Full of classic Christmas flavor
You’ll find full mini-recipes, decorating tips, storage advice, and smart gluten-free baking techniques you can rely on year after year.
Let’s bake biscuits that feel festive, familiar, and completely stress-free.
Why Gluten-Free Christmas Biscuits Need a Slightly Different Approach
Traditional biscuits rely on gluten for structure and snap. Without it, gluten-free dough benefits from:
- Proper flour blends
- Cold butter
- Short mixing times
- Chilling before baking
- Gentle handling
If you want a deeper explanation of gluten-free flour behavior, this guide is essential.
1. Classic Gluten-Free Christmas Butter Biscuits
These are simple, elegant, and perfect for decorating or gifting.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (with xanthan gum)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl.
- Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
- Add vanilla and gently bring dough together.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes.
- Roll to ¼-inch thickness between parchment sheets.
- Cut shapes and place on lined baking tray.
- Bake at 325°F (165°C) for 12–15 minutes until lightly golden.
Chef’s Tip: Cold butter is what keeps these biscuits crisp instead of crumbly.
2. Gluten-Free Ginger Christmas Biscuits
Spiced, warming, and unmistakably festive.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups gluten-free flour
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp molasses
Instructions
- Whisk dry ingredients together.
- Cream butter and sugar until smooth.
- Beat in egg and molasses.
- Add dry ingredients and mix gently.
- Chill dough for 1 hour.
- Roll, cut, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes.
3. Almond Flour Snowflake Biscuits (Naturally Gluten-Free)
Tender, rich, and beautifully simple.
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until smooth.
- Roll dough into balls or flatten gently.
- Bake at 325°F for 12–14 minutes.
- Cool completely, then dust with powdered sugar.
4. Chocolate-Dipped Gluten-Free Christmas Biscuits
Elegant and ideal for gifting.
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free butter biscuit dough (from recipe #1)
- 1 cup gluten-free dark chocolate, melted
Wondering if chocolate is gluten free? check out this guide.
Instructions
- Bake biscuits as directed and cool completely.
- Dip half of each biscuit into melted chocolate.
- Place on parchment and chill until set.
For related reading, check out our article: Best Gluten Free Chocolates for Baking.
5. Gluten-Free Shortbread Christmas Biscuits
Crisp, buttery, and perfect with tea.
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free flour
- 1 cup cold butter
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Rub butter into flour until crumbly.
- Add sugar, vanilla, and salt.
- Press dough together gently.
- Chill 30 minutes.
- Cut and bake at 325°F for 14–16 minutes.
6. Soft Gluten-Free Spiced Christmas Biscuits
These are tender, slightly chewy, and perfect for families.
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp mixed spice
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Add egg and honey.
- Stir in dry ingredients.
- Chill 20 minutes.
- Roll into balls and bake at 350°F for 9–11 minutes.
How to Decorate Gluten-Free Christmas Biscuits (Without Breakage)
Decorating gluten-free biscuits is a joy when the biscuits are properly baked and cooled. The key difference from traditional biscuits is patience — gluten-free dough needs time to set and firm up.
Essential Decorating Rules
- Always decorate fully cooled biscuits
- Use light pressure when icing
- Avoid overly wet royal icing
- Chill decorated biscuits briefly to set
Best Decorating Options for Gluten-Free Biscuits
- Simple powdered sugar glaze
- Dark chocolate drizzle or dip
- White chocolate drizzle
- Light royal icing outlines
- Sprinkles added immediately after icing
How to Store Gluten-Free Christmas Biscuits
Gluten-free biscuits store very well when handled correctly.
Room Temperature Storage
- Store in an airtight container
- Layer with parchment paper
- Keep away from heat and moisture
- Best within 4–5 days
Refrigeration
Not recommended for most biscuits — refrigeration dries them out.
Freezing Gluten-Free Biscuits
Excellent option for holiday prep.
Freeze baked biscuits:
- Cool completely
- Place in freezer-safe container
- Separate layers with parchment
- Freeze up to 3 months
Freeze unbaked dough:
- Shape into discs or logs
- Wrap tightly
- Thaw overnight in refrigerator before baking
Troubleshooting Gluten-Free Christmas Biscuit Problems
Even experienced bakers run into issues. Here’s how to fix the most common ones:
Biscuits Spread Too Much
Cause: Butter too warm or dough not chilled
Fix: Chill dough longer and bake on parchment, not greased trays
Biscuits Are Too Crumbly
Cause: Too much flour or under-mixing
Fix: Add 1–2 tablespoons of milk or egg to bind
Biscuits Are Dry
Cause: Overbaking
Fix: Remove biscuits when edges are just golden
Biscuits Taste Flat
Cause: Missing salt or vanilla
Fix: Always include salt — it balances sweetness
Gluten-Free Christmas Biscuit Gift Ideas
These biscuits make beautiful, thoughtful homemade gifts.
Simple Gift Ideas
- Cellophane bags tied with twine
- Biscuit tins layered with parchment
- Holiday boxes with mixed varieties
- Biscuit jars with handwritten labels
Best Biscuits for Gifting
- Butter biscuits
- Ginger biscuits
- Shortbread
- Chocolate-dipped biscuits
Avoid very soft biscuits for shipping unless freezing first.
The bottom line
Christmas baking should feel joyful, not stressful. With the right flour blends, chilled dough, gentle handling, and reliable recipes, gluten-free Christmas biscuits become just as magical as the originals — sometimes even better.
Whether you’re baking butter biscuits for decorating, spiced ginger biscuits for gifting, almond flour snowflakes for elegance, or chocolate-dipped biscuits for indulgence, each recipe in this guide is designed to work consistently and beautifully.Bake slowly. Enjoy the process. Share generously.
Because the best Christmas biscuits aren’t about perfection — they’re about warmth, tradition, and the people you share them with.