Sugar Cookies Recipe (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

This soft & chewy gluten free and dairy free sugar cookies recipe uses allergy friendly ingredients without compromising on flavor or texture.

The recipe is also low oxalate and I provide substitutions to make it paleo and vegan.

I don’t include a royal icing or vanilla frosting with these cookies so feel free to use your favorite recipe if you want to decorate them. I think they’re fantastic as traditional sugar cookies on their own.

Recipe ingredient substitutions 

Coconut oil substitutions: For this recipe I generally use flavorless coconut oil or butter flavored coconut oil. You can also substitute either of these for regular full flavored coconut oil, vegan butter or even cow’s milk butter if you tolerate dairy. Whatever you decide, make sure to melt the oil or butter otherwise your cookie dough and cookies will end up being a bit dry and crumbly. I usually stay away from olive oil because the strong flavor won’t work with these mild cookies.

Gluten-free flour substitutions: Generally I use Robin Hood gluten-free flour blend for this recipe, however you can also substitute this for any other gluten-free flour mix. I have also tried this recipe with white rice flour and although the texture of the cookies turns out a little bit different, it is still delicious.

Sugar substitutions: Instead of using granulated white sugar, you can also use brown sugar or coconut sugar. The texture will be different using liquid sweeteners so I’d stay away from maple syrup or honey as they may not turn out the same.

Baking powder substitutions: Instead of 1 teaspoon of baking powder, use 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.

Egg substitutions: Instead of using regular eggs, use any egg alternative such as flax, chia or gelatin eggs.

Vanilla extract substitutions: Instead of liquid vanilla extract, you can also use vanilla bean paste or vanilla bean powder.

Dietary modifications

Make this recipe paleo: To make this recipe paleo, swap out the 1 ¼ cup gluten-free flour for 3/4 – 1 cup of cassava flour. Swap out the sugar for all coconut palm sugar.

Make this recipe vegan: Use one egg substitute/replacement (flax egg) instead of one chicken egg. You can eat the sugar cookie dough raw if you make them vegan cookies!

Make this recipe lower oxalate: Swap out the gluten-free flour blend for white rice flour, or a combination of white rice flour and potato starch.

Make this recipe lower calorie: Swap out most of the oil for almond milk and use less sugar or sweeten with stevia. The texture won’t be the same and the cookies wont be as soft and chewy though without oil.

Recipe FAQs

Does it matter if the coconut oil is melted? 

It is very important to melt the coconut oil or butter for this recipe. If not, the cookie dough will end up dry and crumbly and so will the cookies.

Why can’t I add all the wet ingredients at the same time?

This is most important if you are using coconut oil. One time when I made this recipe I put in the coconut oil at the same time as the egg. Because the egg was cold from the fridge, it made some of the coconut oil solidify and then affected how the recipe turned out in the end because the batter had chunks of coconut oil in it. For this reason, I suggest adding them separately or you can take out your egg a few hours ahead of time so that it is at room temperature. If you are using vegan butter or any other cooking oil, feel free to add all the wet ingredients at the same time.

Sugar cookies are sometimes different colors, how do I do that?

Use natural food dyes if you want your cookies to be red, blue, or green. They will look like the classic sugar cookies that kids used to bring to school, especially if you use cookie cutters to cut them into fun shapes and add sprinkles on top.

Want more gluten free and dairy free recipes? 

All the recipes on my blog are both gluten & dairy free, ALWAYS. If you are looking for more, you can also check out my 1 month gluten & dairy free meal plan or recipe book (which comes with 140 additional recipes for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks & desserts). 

Tried the recipe?

Please leave me a rating and review below, and post a picture of the dish to Instagram and tag me at @foodsnfeels 🙌

You might also like:

If you liked this recipe, check out my other gluten-free dessert recipes:

• Earl Grey Cupcakes
• Oat Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Maple Glazed Donuts
• Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
• Apple Crisp
• Carrot Cake
• Zucchini Bread

If you are looking for more, download my free 7 day gluten free & dairy free meal plan!

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