Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies

For this year’s gift packs, I’m using my recipe for Jenni’s Oatmeal Cookies. This recipe was created for my friend Jenni, who cannot eat gluten. Whenever Jenni and I are home for the holidays at the same time, I like to take baked goods to her and her family. However, for the past few years, Jenni hasn’t been able to do much more than smell them. So I created these cookies just for her. Even after testing the recipe close to a dozen times, I still like them!

The instructions for these cookies are like most cookies. Mix the dry ingredients together. Mix the butter with the sugar, then add the vanilla, eggs, and milk. I have included step by step instructions, with important notes in the attached recipe card below.

When making these cookies gluten free, make sure that you are using gluten free flours and gluten free oats. Yes, oats are naturally gluten free, but unless they are labeled that way they can be cross contaminated in the factory.

In testing this recipe I found that you will get very different results from using all purpose flour instead of baking flour, and by using melted butter instead of softened butter. Here is the breakdown:

For a chewier cookie: use an all purpose, gluten free flour, xantham gum, and melt the butter to a liquid.

For a cake-like cookie: use a gluten free baking mix (check the label to make sure the xantham gum is included) and use butter that has been softened to room temperature.

If gluten isn’t a problem for you, this recipe works with regular all purpose flour too, no xantham gum needed. Use melted butter for a chewier cookie and room temperature butter for a cakelike cookie.

DIY Cookie Gift Pack Instructions:

My favorite part about these holiday gift packs is that they can be customized to the receiver’s needs.

Prior to assembling your cookie gift packs, decide if you want a complete gift pack, a partial gift pack, or if you just want to follow the recipe below and give the gift of homemade cookies!

Partial Gift Pack:

This gift pack is shelf stable, with no refrigeration necessary. It’s perfect for handing out at the office, or keeping on hand for any unexpected guests that may stop by. If you have friends that keep butter, eggs, and milk on hand, this is the gift pack for them.

1. In a medium sized mixing bowl add the dry ingredients: 2 cups all purpose, gluten free flour; 1 cup gluten free oats; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp xantham gum.
2. Stir to combine, then pour into the bottom of your Rubbermaid® 6.2 cup snow print TakeAlongs container.
3. In a small mixing bowl combine together the brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla. Whisk to incorporate the vanilla into the sugars, then place the mixture into a small zip top bag, placing the bag on top of the flour mixture.
4. OPTIONAL: Include a couple of freshly baked cookies, wrapped in plastic, on top as samples to eat right away!
5. Print off the gift pack instructions (print in landscape to create the size pictured) and attach it to the top of the container, or place it inside. Sample is printed on card stock.
6. Finish off with a festive bow or ribbon!

Full Gift Pack (not pictured):

This gift pack is not shelf stable, refrigeration is required. Great for the friends that like to bake, but never have the ingredients on hand to actually do it. It won’t last as long as the partial pack, but it gives them everything they need outside of the mixing bowl and baking sheets!

1. Follow the steps for a partial gift pack up through step 3.
2. Add 2 sticks of butter and two eggs into the top of the container. (I like to put the eggs into a small zip top bag just in case they break.)
3. Add a pint sized or larger container of milk on the side; 2 tbsp for the recipe, the rest to drink with the cookies!
4. Follow steps 5 and 6 above.

No matter who is on your gift giving list this year, everyone loves holiday cookies! Pick up your own limited edition holiday Rubbermaid® TakeAlongs at Target or Target.com to create a personal gift for everyone on your list.

If you like this recipe, don’t forget to pin it for later! For more great recipes like this one, sign up for the Sunday Spotlight. It’s a bi-weekly newsletter with recipe updates, behind the scenes info, and exclusive bonus information. It goes great with your Sunday morning coffee and one of these cookies!!