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!
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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.
Why we love these gluten free peppermint madeleines:
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 pizzelles.
Even better, these gluten-free chocolate madeleines are easy to make ahead and freeze. When 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.
Allergen Information:
This homemade peppermint madeleine recipe is gluten-free, soy-free, and oat-free. Make it dairy-free using plant-based butter.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- 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, not almond meal. Almond meal is a thicker grind, making your cookies grainy.
- Cocoa powder – several good cocoa powders are gluten free, including Ghirardelli, Anthony’s, and Hershey’s.
- 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.
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
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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.
Step 4: This is an image of your batter’s consistency. Add this batter to a non-stick madeleine pan.
📢 Sandi says: Every gluten-free flour blend has a different starch-to-grain ratio. The brand of gluten-free flour you use will affect the moisture of the batter. If your cake batter is too runny, add more flour, and if it is too thick, add more liquids.
Read Why Gluten-Free Flour Blends Vary to learn more about this.
Note: If you don’t have this pan, you can make them drop-style on a
Step 5: Bake at 350º F for 8-9 minutes. When adding the batter, remember not to overfill each little section of the pan.
Frequently Asked Questions:
I lightly spray my Madeleine pan with coconut oil spray. This helps crisp the edges of the Madeleines.
You can easily make these dairy-free by using vegan butter.
These Madeleines will keep fresh for up to 4 days in an air-tight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.
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.
If you love this gluten free chocolate Madeleines recipe, wait until you make some of my other gluten free holiday cookies!
More Gluten Free 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 Vanillekipferl
- Gluten Free Ginger Cookies
- Gluten Free Pfeffernusse Cookies
- Gluten Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Gluten Free Chocolate Peppermint Madeleines
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
- ⅔ cup non-dairy milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter * see note
- Icing I used Wilton’s
- Crushed peppermint candy or candy canes
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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
- 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.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
- Other dairy-free kinds of milk will work but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
- To make this recipe nut-free, omit the almond flour and substitute additional gluten free flour blend.
- If you do not have a Madeleine pan, you can bake these drop style on a cookie sheet.
- 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, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
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.
Yum! and gluten-free! I will have to try these for our cookie exchange…can they be made without the madeline pan?
Hi Amanda,
You don’t need the Madeleine pan…they can just be cookie shaped.