These lightly sweet gluten free almond cookies are made just the right amount of plain Greek yogurt in place of some of the butter to make them so incredibly moist and tender that they stay fresh on the counter for days. Since they're almond-flavored cookies, I was tempted to make them with a mix of all purpose gluten free flour and blanched almond flour but I didn't want to complicate an otherwise incredibly simple cookie.
They taste a lot like rainbow cookies to me in taste and texture (moist and cake-like), but without all the fuss of multiple layers. Since rainbow cookies are some of my all-time favorites, a shortcut cookie like this is heaven-sent.
They're perfect for lunchboxes, especially since they're only lightly sweet but they'd also be the perfect cookie to take to a Labor Day cookout. They're very easy to customize, too. Just use vanilla extract in place of almond extract, and scatter a few chocolate chips or even some coarse sugar like Sugar in the Raw on top in place of the sliced almonds.
If you're wondering how to make them dairy-free, try replacing the Greek yogurt with strained nondairy yogurt, and the butter with a butter substitute like Earth Balance 1:1. Egg free? Since there's only 1 egg, a “chia egg” (just google it! it's my egg substitute of choice) should do the trick. Try it and let us know how it goes!
Soft Gluten Free Almond Cookies That Keep For Days
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups (175 g) all purpose gluten free flour (I used Better Batter)
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
1/4 cup (36 g) cornstarch (or try potato starch or arrowroot)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar*
1/3 cup (76 g) Greek-style plain yogurt (not nonfat), at room temperature
4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 egg (50 g, weighed out of shell) at room temperature, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
Sliced raw almonds, for scattering on top
*You can cut back the sugar to 1/2 cup (100 g) for less sweet cookies, but the cookie dough will be a bit more difficult to handle and the baked cookies will have a less smooth appearance and a less tender texture.
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper and set it aside.
In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar, and whisk to combine well. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the yogurt, butter, egg and almond extract, mixing to combine after each addition. The batter will be thick and soft. Scoop the dough by rounded tablespoonful onto the prepared baking sheet, placing the portions about 2 inches apart from one another. To make the dough easier to handle, place the baking sheet in the freezer for about 10 minutes or until the dough is less sticky to the touch.* Roll each piece of dough into a ball and press into a disk about 1/2-inch thick with wet fingers. Scatter a few sliced raw almonds on top of each piece of dough, and press down gently to help the almonds adhere.
Place the baking sheet in the center of the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the cookies are puffed and pale golden all over. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
*Make ahead option: At this point, the pieces of dough can be rolled into balls and piled into a zip-top bag and then frozen until ready to bake. The dough will not freeze solid, so it can be pressed into a disk and baked right out of the freezer. You may need to add another minute or two to the baking time.
Adapted from Chobani.
Tabby says
How many cookbooks have you produced? Because after trying several of your recipes I want to buy them all!
youngbaker2002 says
If you click on the BOOKS link at the top of the page beside the search bar it will show you all of the cookbooks that Nicole has written so far.
Jess says
Can i used stevia?
yvonne says
Thanks. Reminds me of the almond cookies I used to buy in the San Francisco Chinatown visits, PRIOR to celiac. Will try these soon.
Jennifer S. says
I love everything almond! but it’s so hot/humid here. so maybe next week when it cools down.
Gramawannabe says
Do you reuse your parchment paper?
youngbaker2002 says
I do! if there is any food left on it i just wipe it off with a damp rag, let the paper dry, and store it in my cupboard. i usually reuse it 2-3 times.
youngbaker2002 says
these look lovely Nicole! we’er making Devil Dogs today, so wish us luck!
youngbaker2002 says
Devil Dogs turned out stunningly amazing! all my brother could say as he ate one was ” wow… oh my gosh…these are.. SO GOOD.” then between licking his fingers and taking another bite you could hear him whispering ”oh wow…just…wow” Complete success! thank you so much Nicole! Joey and Cookie say thank you, too!