These maple glazed sugar cookies are the perfect balance of sweet and chewy. made with almond flour, these maple sugar cookies are grain free, easy to make, and perfect for holidays or any occasion.
My Holiday gifts usually consists of food. Let’s face it, I’m frugal but also like to feed people. That’s allowed, right? Well, the Christmas is a perfect example. I have family and friends who like to receive Healthy Bites. Easy, I make a big batch for Holiday Parties, etc. But I also have friends who are more than gluten free. They are grain free or paleo or dairy free, etc. Hey, I’m all of those at times as well. Just depends on the week!
Needless to say, I wanted to make sure those friends could enjoy an allergy friendly treat this Holiday season. Hence these paleo friendly focused orange maple glazed sugar cookies.
To be honest, I winged the recipe. And to be honest, I loved them! But I wanted to make sure they were up to PALEO PAR so I had 2 other honest friends try them before I gifted them.
Results?
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Maple Glazed Sugar Cookies (Grain Free)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 16- 20 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Grain Free Maple glazed Holiday Cookies. Paleo friendly
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cup fine blanched almond flour
- 2 Tablespoon arrowroot or tapioca flour (oat flour may be substituted)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1/2 cup butter or refined coconut oil, softened (room temp).
- 1 cup coconut sugar (Erythritol or monk fruit sugar for low sugar / low carb option)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg.
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2–3 Tablespoon powdered sugar or sugar substitute
- 1 Tablespoon optional orange zest
Instructions
- In a small bowl, sift together the almond flour, starch, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Combine the butter in a mixing bowl with the sugar and vanilla extract.
- Beat the ingredients on low until they are mixed thoroughly, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the large egg, and beat again on low for 1 minute.
- Keep the mixer on low, and slowly add in the flour mixture. Beat the batter until it is smooth, and place batter in the fridge to chill for 1 to 2 hours.*
- Once the dough has chilled, preheat oven to 350 F and line a large baking sheet. Set aside.
- Once the dough has chilled, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the dough on a well floured surface or a large sheet of parchment paper. Place a plastic wrap on top. Roll out the dough between the parchment paper and plastic wrap to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Place cookie cutouts on the parchment lined baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough, chilling before rolling out again if needed.
- Then, use cookie cutters to cut the dough into about 18-24 different cookies pieces. If the dough is too soft to transfer cookie cut outs to baking sheet, then place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Place cut outs on lined baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough, chilling before rolling out, if needed.
- Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown. Check for doneness after 10 minutes.
- Remove the cookies from the oven, and let them cool on the pan for 15 minutes.
- While the cookies are cooling, make the glaze.
- Whisk the coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and powdered sugar until well-combined.
- Coat each cookie with the icing glaze, and sprinkle them with extra orange zest, if desired.
Notes
* If the batter has not set after refrigerating, move it to the freezer for an additional 30 minutes up to 1 hour.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- chill time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: dessert
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: american
Keywords: paleo cookies, cookies, sugar cookies, maple glazed, grain free
APPROVED. Not too sweet. And the ones with icing were a bonus!
Okay Okay, I so i might have healthified these glazed sugar cookies to the max, but trust me, you can make them extra sugary… if you so dare. 😉
Favorite Holiday Cookie? Do you healthify things for friends or yourself?
Cheers!
LC
The dough is so crumbly, I could not get it to roll, it just fell apart. I wish I could love coconut flour but it’s so hard to work with. Any tips on what I should do next time? I ended up just forming them into flat shapes, they are in the oven now, then going to ice them. Can’t wait to taste em!
Sorry to hear that CK! Hmmm, did you chill the dough for 2-4 hours before trying to roll them out? Please keep me posted on how they turned out. 🙂
These cookies look so delicious.. I love that you used sparkling orange juice! I never have tried a recipe like this before so it is definitely something that I am hankering out to try now!
i’ve used ginger ale too. Makes them fluffier in my opinion.
Loving this recipe, and these look delish! Must try!
These look amazing! Sometimes I will use healthy ingredients but I dare not tell or they wouldn’t eat them! 🙂
haha smart woman!
Yummy, orange in cookies sounds amazing.
I agree! i need a healthy bite that’s orange haha
These look sooooo yummy Lindsay!!! Orange and maple is such a great flavor….and that SweetSpreads 😉
Loving the ingredients here! The orange just adds that little extra for the holidays! Great recipe 🙂
totally, and refreshing!
These look great Lindsay. I love that there is a low sugar option too!
for sure! always needed, yes?
will you send me some of these? They look pretty good. I’m just not so adventurous but you have been challenging me to think outside my little food box
haha sure, for you!
Yum these look fantastic friend!! I love the idea of baking for gift giving! I like to make a healthier version and also splurge for the full on version for the right cookie of course 🙂
Delicious! I have plans to bake tomorrow… who knows if it will actually happen though. Ugh, stress… holidays… life… lol. xoxo
These look delicious. We usually do a big holiday cookie baking and decorating thing and my favorite are thumbprints! Looking for new recipes to add into the rotation and may have to play with this one
for sure! just use oat flour instead of almond meal!
I cant wait to get some potato starch and try these!!
these look so good. I love anything maple! Going on my must try cookie recipe list!
I can’t choose a favourite holiday cookie, there are too many good ones!!
Can you send these over please? 🙂 Seriously, I love the healthified treats. And these look so good! Love the orange flavor. Genius! And Paleo, yes!
yes! and orange has vit C, which will make you feel better, right?
These look fun Linds! Love the unique recipe.
Love how pretty these are! esp. the star cut out ones. My mom would definitely love these. I’ll have to make them for her in January when it’s her bday!
i have an obsession with cookie cutters. LOL!
I love that this is grain free. It’s my thing these days. But dang it I don’t have any orange stevia to make these. I have every other ingredient though.
I love (giving and receiving) edible gifts! Well, ask ing as they’e peanut-free, anyways. I do think that one of the best ways to show people you care about them is to make them some healthy eats, though. Why am I not your neighbour?!
i wish! we’d be having a blast in the kitchen! Nut free kitchen
So pretty!! As much as I like orange scents, I’m not a huge fan of orange flavor in my food. So weird. I know!! 🙂
not weird at all. I get that!
NO MORE COOKIES FOR GIGI!!! I keep making my GiGi-Approved cookies or morphing other recipes into something I can eat and………. MY LOVE HANDLES ARE LOVING IT —- ah ha ha ha! Yeahhhhhh I need to STOP with da cookies!! I am eating more than the damn cookie monster!
haha you just stick to your cake balls.
I think it’s so nice to receive homemade gifts- they’re from the heart and work was put into them!
i agree! plus they are devoured so easy clean up. LOL!
I am trying to figure out good icing alternatives… great idea to mix coconut oil and maple syrup. I’ll have to try that! I’m all about giving food gifts, too!
Yum! The orange-maple combo sounds delicious!
Oh these sound fantastic. And I actually have all the ingredients!
These look wonderful. I love cookies that are not too sweet. I haven’t done much baking this year, just the green tea cookies and today I am making Irish Soda bread for an international feast in my twins classroom. I love making things healthy for friends and family– most of the time they are surprised at how delicious they taste without all of the garbage.
A guy just brought around ‘fruit cake cookies’ here at work. I smiled and took one, had a tiny little bite, and to quote Armen… it tasted like punishment. I would much rather have something yummy (and healthier) like these cookies here!
the poor fruit cake.. it’s just so wrong.
Can’t wait to try these! 🙂
These look AMAZING!!!
Well, these looks just lovely! Can’t wait to recreate them. This is my kind of cookie. I haven’t though to put maple and orange together. Yum!
i think you’ll like!
Ohhhhhh now this is my kinda cookie! Orange and maple are delish together! Pinning and sharing!
yay! let me know whatcha think
COOKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Corse I don’t have half the ingredients cause I am such a lazy cook & baker! 🙂 I would raid your kitchen if I was closer! 🙂 Course I love my molasses, snickerdoodle & cinn raisin cookies!!! 🙂
molasses healthy bites are next month’s flavor!
I love all things maple flavored…and coconut and almond flours together, too. Sounds like a winner!
Sparkling orange juice in a cookie?! Lady – that’s just a BRILLIANT twist alright!
I healthify treats for my daughter, sis and mom or anyone I know who is trying to be healthy – but most of my friends are steak-and-potato and full-on-flour-sugar-and-butter-in-sweets kinda folks! GAH!
I’ll have a dozen. I love how thick they look! But can I roll them into balls?
I gotta try these! I love the flavor combination and that they are grain-free!
let me know if you do!
Girl, you are the grain-free goddess! 🙂 If I were to just wing it on a cookie recipe I can almost guarantee they’d be a flop because baking is not my strong suit. (Granola however, seems to be something I can’t mess up if I try.) Sounds like you and I are on the same DIY gift wavelength today!
nah, i bet you are a whiz in the kitchen with grain free!
Food gifts are the best gifts (and a total money saver) 😉 This flavor combo sounds awesome lady! I’ll take 12.
yep, totally a budget gift. Plus it’s fun!
YUM! I love anything citrus-y in cookies and you better believe I’d be adding the extra sugar :p
Karen @karenlovestorun
thx karen! good to hear from you. <3
You better believe I would accept a food present from you!!!
When you’re the foodie in the family…everyone EXPECTS you to make all the goof stuff!
so true!
yum!! I love orange cookies! can i try tiger nut flour here?
yep! that would be even better!
Yay for more holiday grain free treats! Looks delicious 🙂
Look at us vining on the paleo festive cookies! The protein powder icing is genius! (As long as we use good protein powder!).
I need to start experimenting with potato starch- I have a sample bag but have been sceptical! Such purrrty photos.
i used the new quest protein powder. Vanilla Milk shake. Have you tried it? SOOO GOOD