These Gluten-Free Caramel Cookies are so easy to prepare and produce a delicious melt-in-your-mouth cookie. Containing just six ingredients and a few simple steps, these cookies are perfect for an edible gift or to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee!
Jump to:
Why we love this recipe:
When you are feeling like something sweet, these Gluten-Free Caramel Cookies are the answer! Baking does not get much easier than these delicious cookies.
The aroma of freshly baked cookies is always warm and comforting. When you open the oven door to remove these cookies, you will find a delicious, caramel aroma filling the air.
Make these cookies for your next get-together and everyone will be asking for the recipe.
We love this recipe because:
- It is made with just 6 ingredients, and you may find you already have them in your pantry.
- The recipe can be customised to your liking – add a sprinkle of sea salt flakes before baking, or a drizzle of chocolate once they have cooled.
- Being both gluten-free and egg free, they are suitable for some dietary requirements.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Butter – I use unsalted butter, but lightly salted is fine to use also. Ensure your butter is at room temperature so that it will properly incorporate with the other ingredients.
Light brown sugar – adds a delicious caramel flavour to the cookies.
Maple syrup – for the best flavour, use pure maple syrup.
Vanilla – ensure your vanilla is naturally derived and not synthetically flavoured.
Gluten-free plain/all-purpose flour – our gluten-free flour blends contain either xanthan or guar gum to stabilise and provide structure to our recipes. If your flour blend already contains either of these gums, there is no need to add more. If you do not require the recipe to be gluten-free, you can use regular flour.
Baking powder – a little is added to liken the cookies.
Step by step instructions:
- Start by preheating your oven and preparing your baking tray.
- Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl if using electric hand-beaters.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 4 minutes. Add the maple syrup and vanilla and beat to combine.
- Add the baking powder to the flour and mix together. Gradually add the flour and baking powder and mix, scraping down the side of the bowl as necessary, until the mixture is just combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a small bowl, cover with cling wrap, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes until the mixture has firmed up and is able to be rolled into balls.
- Roll the mixture into small balls about 2 ½ cm/1 inch in diameter and place onto the prepared trays, leaving a little room between each cookie for the heat to circulate.
- Using a fork, or your fingertips, press down gently to slightly flatten the cookies. Bake for about 15-18 minutes until the edges are turning a light golden-brown.
- Remove the Gluten-Free Caramel Cookies from the oven and set aside for about 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Tips for success and FAQs:
Cookies or biscuits? In Australia, we more commonly use the British term “biscuit” for the sweet treat we enjoy with tea or coffee. However, in the USA a biscuit is closer to what we call a scone and their sweet treat which may accompany tea, coffee or a glass of milk is a “cookie”. So, whilst in Australia, we may say that a biscuit is a cookie, in the USA a cookie is not a biscuit. We aim to avoid confusion.
Ensure your butter is at room temperature, ideally being cool to the touch but able to be spread. It should not be so warm that it is beginning to melt or so cold that it cannot be spread.
If you are baking on a warm day, you may need to chill the mixture for a little longer.
I recommend that you weigh the ingredients if possible as it is more accurate and will give a more consistent result.
The cookies will last for up to five days in an airtight container.
Yes, these cookies freeze well. We like to wrap them in cling film, and then store them in an airtight container for up to three months.
More delicious recipes for you to try:
Here are some more of our favourite cookie recipes:
- Gluten-Free Almond Cookies
- Chewy Amaretti Cookies
- Pecan Snowball Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Almond Cookies
- Gingernut Cookies
You will love these Gluten-Free Caramel Cookies. Their ease of preparation and fantastic taste is sure to become your next favourite. Be sure to let me know in the comments below when you have given them a try.
Alex xx
This post was originally published in September 2019. It has been updated with new photos and more information. The recipe has been altered slightly and improved.
Gluten-Free Caramel Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup (125 g) butter – at room temperature
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar – firmly packed
- 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup See Note 1
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract See Note 2
- 1 ¼ cup (190 g) gluten-free plain/all-purpose flour See Note 3
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Recipe Measurements:
For accuracy, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 Degrees C (350 F).Prepare two baking trays with non-stick baking paper.
- Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using hand-held electric beaters, on medium speed, cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 4 minutes.
- Add the maple syrup and vanilla and beat to combine.
- Add the baking powder to the flour and mix together. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour and baking powder and mix, scraping down the side of the bowl as necessary, until the mixture is just combined.Use a rubber spatula to mix in any remaining flour.
- Transfer the mixture to a small bowl, cover with cling wrap, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until the mixture has firmed up and is able to be rolled into balls.
- Roll the mixture into small balls about 2 ½ cm (1 inch) in diameter and place onto the prepared trays, leaving a little room between each cookie for the heat to circulate. (About 1 ½ teaspoon of mixture.)Alternatively, you can use a small ice cream scoop.
- Using a fork, or your fingertips, press down gently to slightly flatten the cookies.
- Bake for about 15-18 minutes until the edges are turning a light golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and set aside for about 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Notes
- In Australia, the tablespoon is 20 ml or 4 teaspoons. In many other countries, the tablespoon is 15 ml or 3 teaspoons. Please adjust the measurement if necessary.
- Use vanilla naturally extracted from vanilla beans, not synthetically flavoured essence.
- Our gluten-free flour blends contain either xanthan or guar gum to stabilise and provide structure to our recipes. If your flour blend already contains either of these gums, there is no need to add more. If you do not require the recipe to be gluten-free, you can use regular flour.
- Please note, the nutritional information is based on one cookie. The nutritional information is an estimate only.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Kate
Have made a single quantity a couple of times before. Sweet and more’ish: However- if you double recipe don’t double the syrup.I probably should have just added another one tablespoon of maple syrup instead of doubling the liquid content. But no worries as we say- they spread out into ‘caramel brittles’ A bit more like Brandy Snaps. But still kept well and made fantastic desert toppers. 😬
Love them
Alexandra
Hi Kate, I’m so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the Caramel Cookies. Thank you for passing on that doubling the recipe was not successful, although delicious nonetheless. I appreciate that you took the time to let us know. 🙂
Kate
This recipe is awesome. So very Easy to make. I keep a batch in the fridge for the GF members of family but all who try these are hooked.
Alexandra
Hi Kate, thank you for your lovely comments on the GF Caramel Cookies; I am so happy that you and your family enjoyed them. 🙂
Cassie
These cookies are THE BEST!
We baked a batch yesterday and they’re all gone – hubby has requested another batch haha
Alexandra
Hi Cassie, thank you for your lovely comments on the GF Caramel Cookies. It’s a great sign that your husband has requested another batch. 🙂
Bonnie
OMG!!! Thirty minutes in the refrigerator (plus heat up time for the oven) and these cookies were perfect! Now the hard part….not eating all of them in one sitting. Husband was looking for a good sugar cookie like his Nonni made. These came real close. They are perfectly crispy yet don’t fall apart.
Alexandra
Hi Bonnie, thank you so much for your fantastic feedback on the GF Caramel Cookies. I am delighted that you enjoyed them and appreciate that you took the time to let me know. 🙂
Amanda
Made these last night and they turned out absolutely perfect, great flavor and the best texture!
Alexandra
Hi Amanda, I am delighted that you enjoyed the GF Caramel Cookies. Thank you for letting me know. 🙂
Kayla
These gluten-free caramel cookies are so yummy! Our family loved them so much!
Alexandra
Hi Kayla, I am so pleased that your family enjoyed the GF Caramel Cookies and appreciate that you took the time to let me know. 🙂