Vegan and Gluten-Free Hazelnut Nougat Cookies

A sweet cookie aroma wafts through the apartment, Dean Martin croons "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow" in the background, and the kitchen… well, that needs a thorough cleaning now because there's been plenty of baking. We've told you often enough that we've loved cookie season since childhood. Back then, eggs and butter went into the dough, later it became margarine and applesauce, and this year we took on a new little challenge: gluten-free cookies.

It started with our mole cake muffins with strawberries that Julia baked in summer for her sister, who can't tolerate gluten. And admittedly, we also regularly get questions from you about whether and how to make our baking recipes gluten-free – so it's time to rethink Christmas baking too, so everyone with celiac disease can also enjoy cookies.

Tips for your gluten-free Christmas baking:
➝ Thoroughly clean kitchen surfaces and utensils beforehand
➝ Use stainless steel or glass utensils instead of wooden materials
➝ Use parchment paper (even if your baking sheet looks clean)
➝ Use a separate storage container for gluten-free flours
➝ For all ingredients, look for certified gluten-free versions so they don't contain traces of gluten
➝ Even though cookies are usually baked with fan, for the gluten-free version it's better to switch to top and bottom heat (when baking with fan, crumbs could fly around in the oven)

Now there are several gluten-free flour options, where you have to consider various properties. For us as people who don't suffer from celiac disease ourselves, it's therefore a blessing that Schär has an ideal gluten-free flour blend for sweets: the Mix – Kuchen & Kekse. So it's also great for Christmas cookies and is 100% free of gluten, lactose, and palm oil.

And what are we baking with it today?
Our vegan and gluten-free nougat cookies are the perfect recipe for everyone who loves hazelnuts, because you get them three times: as ground nuts in the dough, as a chopped nut coating all around, and in the form of nougat. In the end, you'll have delicate cookies with a creamy filling that keep for about a week when stored airtight. You can find vegan baking nougat in some supermarkets, including budget brands – alternatively, you could also use a vegan hazelnut chocolate spread directly here.

And if you want to bake our other cookies gluten-free?
Good news: It's often easier than you think! Our vegan cinnamon star recipe, for example, happens to already be gluten-free. With many other cookies, you can simply replace the flour with a gluten-free blend. Just note that the dough might need a bit more liquid, as gluten-free flours absorb moisture more strongly and therefore can't replace regular flour 1:1. A small splash of plant-based milk or a teaspoon of applesauce can help here. You can also find even more gluten-free festive recipes on Schär's website.