If you love soft cookies with slightly crispy edges, these gluten free white chocolate cranberry cookies with white chocolate and macadamia nuts will become your new favorite fall cookie recipe!
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We are finally in my favorite time of year. The leaves are turning colors, the air is cooler, and cranberries are back! I love using these tart little berries in my baking.
I promise you these gluten free white chocolate and cranberry cookies are worth it! If you want to try different cookie recipes, I highly recommend these gluten free oatmeal raisin cookies!
Tried these today. Had to add the 1 teaspoon xantham gum to the flour recommended because that’s what I had on hand and used the almond meal flour because it was cheaper. Couldn’t wait!!! Had to try them while they were still warm. Del-lish!!! Thank you Sandi!!
Gail S., FB comment
Why these cookies are great:
- You can buy Craisin cranberries to enjoy these cookies all year long!
- There is a slight crunch to these cranberry and white chocolate cookies, and the macadamia nuts add a hint of nuttiness.
- You can substitute all sorts of things like raisins and different nuts and even make them dairy-free. I love when cookie recipes are super versatile.
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.)
What you need to make these:
- Gluten free flour blend - I have tested this recipe with two different gluten free flour blends. King Arthur Measure for Measure and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF Blend. This doesn't mean other brands won't work, I just haven't tested them.
- If your gluten free blend doesn't contain Xanthan Gum, you will need this too.
- Almond flour - I prefer almond flour to almond meal because it is more finely ground. If you can only find almond meal, it is fine to use.
- Sugar - if you want to keep these lower glycemic, you can use coconut sugar. Note it will change the color of the cookies.
- Butter - or vegan butter if you are dairy-free.
- Pure vanilla extract - you can also use vanilla bean paste. I don't recommend imitation vanilla.
- Salt and baking powder - I always recommend aluminum-free baking powder because regular baking powder can make your cookies have a slightly bitter taste.
- Mix-ins: dried cranberries (aka Craisins), macadamia nuts, and white chocolate chips.
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions
Step 1: Add your dry ingredients to a bowl. Whisk to blend.
Tips for measuring gluten free flour:
To measure your gluten free flour, I recommend using the spoon or leveling methods. In a perfect world, people weigh their flour, but most do not own a kitchen scale.
- Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.
- Use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.
Step 2: In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend. I melted the butter slightly to make it soft so that it mixes into the wet ingredients easily.
Step 3: Pour your wet ingredients over the dry ingredients.
Step 4: Add the mix-ins and mix your cookie dough. I recommend letting the dough sit for 5-10 minutes. This will help you get rid of any traces of graininess from the flour.
*Note that you can mix the cookie dough in a standing mixer if you prefer.
Step 5: Use a cookie scoop to drop the cookie dough onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. You can also make these cranberry white chocolate cookies drop cookie style.
Be sure there are at least two inches between each cookie, so they don't spread into each other.
Step 6: Bake at 350º F for 9-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and move to a cooling rack.
Variations:
Macadamia nuts add a tropical crunch to these cookies. I know macadamia nuts can get expensive, so here are some good substitutes:
- Pecans
- Almond Slivers
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
Storage:
These cookies will keep in an air-tight container for up to 4 days or in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Pro Tips and Recipe FAQ:
These cookies are easy to make dairy-free by substituting vegan butter for regular butter.
You can definitely make this nut-free with some tweaking. The first and most obvious way is to omit the macadamia nuts. For the cookie dough, omit the almond flour and add an additional ¾ cup gluten free flour blend. Note, if you are using a starchy gluten free flour blend, you may need to adjust this amount slightly, so your cookies don't turn out dry.
You could use fresh cranberries, but the cookies will turn out a lot softer. Fresh cranberries are a lot more sour so you would need to adjust your sugar accordingly. I haven't tested real cranberries in this recipe so I am unable to say how much additional sugar.
You can easily freeze the cooled cookies in a freezer-safe zipper bag.
Yes, you can easily refrigerate this gluten free cookie dough. To make these slice and bake, place the cookie dough onto a piece of wax paper. Shape the dough into a log and roll the wax paper around it. Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.
If you love baking with fresh cranberries, try these gluten free cranberry shortbread bars! While you are visiting, you may like one of these delicious gluten free cookie recipes too!
More gluten free cranberry recipes:
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Cranberry Macadamia White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour *see note
- ¾ cup gluten free flour blend *see note
- ¾ cup sugar *see note
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- dash salt
- ¼ cup white chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup macadamia nuts chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F degrees.
- In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients. Whisk to blend.
- In a small bowl, add all wet ingredients. Whisk to blend.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Add your mix-ins.
- Mix well.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop cookie dough onto parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Bake 8 minutes until done.
- Remove from the oven and put cookies onto a cooling rack.
Video
Notes
- You can use almond flour, which is more finely ground, or almond meal.
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend in this recipe. 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.
- To make this lower glycemic, you can substitute coconut sugar for the regular sugar.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
- 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
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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Julie
Why melt the butter or butter substitute?
Sandi Gaertner
You can melt or soften. I just find it absorbs and softens the dough so it isn't as gritty.
Cook
Recipe looks awesome, I’m in Australia
Can I ask how many grams
1 stick of butter is please ?
Thanks ?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Cook, one stick of butter is 1/2 cup.
Mireille crepeau
You said to make these vegan use vegan butter but what do I use to replace the eggs?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Mireille, I think you misunderstood. I said to substitute regular butter for vegan butter, which is dairy-free. I didn't say these cookies could be made vegan.
Vania
Hai.... is it possible if I change almond flour with coconut flour?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Vania, Unfortunately, this recipe is going to turn out very dry with coconut flour. Coconut flour needs a ton of liquid and I worry it will not work in this recipe. If you do try it, you will need to add a lot more liquid and some type of binder so they don't fall apart.
Barbara
Maybe I did something wrong, my cookies were flat not fluffy and spread out a lot. However, they do taste wonderful. Any recommendations for why my cookies were so flat?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Barbara, it could be the gluten free flour blend you used. The ratio of gluten free flours/starches in a blend can affect the moisture ratio and the thickness of the cookie. If you use the flour blend you have, you may consider adding more flour so that these cookies are puffed like in my photos. I hope this helps.