Have you tried French Madeleines? They are a delicious cake-like cookie treat! I created a fun Christmas version to help celebrate the holidays! My Gluten free Chocolate Madeleines have just the right amount of chocolate and peppermint flavors!

A row of chocolate madeleines with crushed candy cane on top.

If you love those adorable little French Madeleine cookies you see in bakeries, this gluten free peppermint chocolate cookie recipe is going to be a treat for you.

These chocolate Madeleine cookies are chocolaty, minty, and completely irresistible. You can dress them up with icing, dip them in chocolate, or just enjoy them plain.

Gluten Free Peppermint Madeleines on a cooling rack.

Why this recipe is so great:

Madeleines are so soft, yet they have a touch of crispiness to their outer edges. I topped these with broken pieces of peppermint candy to give them extra holiday pizzells.

Even better, these gluten-free chocolate madeleines are easy to make ahead and freeze. When you are ready to eat them, thaw them out and top with icing and peppermint candy.

If you love holiday cookies as much as we do, you will want to try all of my delicious gluten free Christmas cookie recipes.

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King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour 3 lbs

This is one of my favorite gluten-free flour blends for cookies, cakes, pie crust, biscuits, and muffins! (Do not use this flour blend for yeast recipes.)

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Ingredient Notes:

Chocolate madeleine cookies ingredients.
  • Gluten free flour blend – I tested this recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work; I just have not tested other flours.
  • Almond flour – I recommend almond flour and NOT almond meal. Almond meal is a thicker grind, making your cookies grainy.
  • Cocoa powder – there are several good cocoa powders that are gluten free, including Ghirardelli, Hershey’s, and Rodelle.
  • Icing – you can make your own with powdered sugar and milk or buy this pre-made icing by Wilton.
  • Peppermint candy or candy canes should be gluten-free but always check the ingredient labels.
  • Butter – use vegan butter if you would like your Madeleines to be dairy-free.

Recipe step-by-step directions:

Pictures of step 1 and step 2.

Step 1: In a large bowl, add your dry ingredients and whisk to blend.

Step 2: In a smaller bowl, add your wet ingredients and whisk to blend.

Step 3: Pour your wet ingredients into your dry ingredients and mix until just “barely” mixed. This will help to keep your Madeleines light and fluffy in the middle.

Chocolate madeleines steps 4 and 5 photos.

Step 4: This is an image of your batter’s consistency. Add this batter to a non-stick madeleine pan.

Note: If you don’t have this pan, you can make them drop-style on a cookie sheet

Step 5: Bake at 350º F for 8-9 minutes. When adding the batter, remember not to overfill each little section of the pan.

Expert tips and recipe FAQ:

How do you get the crisp edges?

I lightly spray my Madeleine pan with coconut oil spray. This helps crisp the edges of the Madeleines.

Can you make these dairy-free?

You can easily make these dairy-free by using vegan butter.

How long will these keep?

These Madeleines will keep fresh for up to 4 days in an air-tight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.

What gluten free cocoa powders are gluten free?

There are quite a few gluten-free cocoa brands, including Anthony’s, Hershey’s, Ghirardelli, and Nativas.

Fun ideas to decorate madeleines:

These cookies are fun to decorate. I used an icing glaze and topped them with crushed peppermint candy or candy canes. (If you let your kids crush the candy canes, put the candy in a ziplock bag and then have them crush away!)

  • You can use Peppermint circle candy or candy canes! Have fun smashing! Many ask if candy canes are gluten free, and I am happy to say MOST candy canes are gluten free!
  • Dip half of the chocolate Madeleines in white chocolate
  • Top with mini M&Ms instead of candy cane if you don’t want the extra crunch.
Madeleines on a cooling rack being decorated.

If you love this gluten free chocolate Madeleines recipe, wait until you make some of my other gluten free holiday cookies!

More holiday cookies!

You can make this gluten free Madeleines recipe for holiday cookie exchanges, teacher gifts, or just eating with a glass of milk like my kids.

Gluten Free Chocolate Peppermint Madeleines

Sandi Gaertner
A fun twist on a French classic cookie. These delicious gluten free chocolate peppermint madeleine cookies are perfect for the holidays.
5 from 7 votes
gluten free allergy icon
soy free allergy icon
vegetarian icon
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Gluten Free Cookies and Bar Recipes, Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 16 cookies
Calories 177 kcal

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Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup Gluten free flour blend * see note
  • ¼ cup almond flour * see note
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder * see note
  • â…” cup non-dairy milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • â…› teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup butter * see note
  • Icing I used Wilton’s
  • Crushed peppermint candy or candy canes

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350º F.
  • In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just barely mixed.
  • Spray coconut oil in a Madeleine pan to prevent sticking. This will also help make the edges slightly crisp like Madeleines typically have.
  • Put a little of the batter in each section. Don't overfill!
  • Bake for 9-10 minutes until done and allow to cool.
  • Drizzle icing and top with crushed peppermint candy or candy canes

Notes

  1. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
  2. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
  3. I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.
  4. To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
  5. Other dairy-free kinds of milk will work but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
  6. To make this recipe nut-free, omit the almond flour and substitute additional gluten free flour blend.
  7. If you do not have a Madeleine pan, you can bake these drop style on a cookie sheet.
  8. These cookies will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 177kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 116mgPotassium: 41mgFiber: 3gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 223IUCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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26 Comments

  1. I have such fond memories of baking when my son was growing up – but even now he’s an adult he still gets stuff all over the kitchen. I think it’s because he takes after his mum 😉 Love these madeleines – they look so pretty with the crushed candies and I love chocolate peppermint anything!

  2. I love the sound of your madeleines, they are perfect for the festive season! I love making these too, you can adapt them to different flavours so well can’t you. My kids would love them over Christmas.

  3. Sandi, These are perfect for the upcoming Christmas holiday parties. Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 🙂

  4. What a cute lil treat. I’d like one please. 🙂 And oh I just love costco. I love everything organic that I can find there. Such a great price.

  5. OOh these look so delicious! We are gluten free around here so definitely pinning this one. Thanks for sharing your cleaning tips as well. #client