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    Home » Recipes » Gluten-Free Sweet Treats » Red Hot Cookies Recipe

    Red Hot Cookies Recipe

    November 17, 2022 By Chandice | 37 Comments | Updated January 12, 2023

    this post may contain affiliate links

    JUMP TO RECIPE
    Red hot cookies pin

    These red hot cookies are both so delicious! Everyone will love how buttery and soft they are and nobody will EVER know they are gluten-free.

    Our gluten-free red hot sugar cookie recipe is delicious and great any time of year, especially Valentine’s Day or Christmas. We love to make them in our house and I know you will love to as well!

    Red Hot Cookies Frosted with Candy

    You are going to love this delicious gluten-free red hot sugar cookie recipe. It is a sweet sugar cookie with red hots on top, giving the cookies their name.

    The amazing red colors of the candy really make the cookies pop. Making these cookies is a great way to celebrate the season of love and the winter holidays.

    Sugar cookies always make me think of the holiday season and I love their delicious aroma. It just smells like Christmas to me!

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    For all of the best gluten-free Christmas recipes, you have to check our round-up post. Every delicious Christmas recipe you should try is there in one place for you.

    We served them at our Jingle and Mingle holiday party and I was so honored when everyone said that they were the BEST sugar cookies they have ever had. Nobody could believe they were gluten-free! 

    red hot sugar cookies frosting

    If you want to throw your own holiday party, you should check out our Christmas Party Ideas post. It has everything you need to throw a super fun party.

    A tasty holiday mocktail would go great with these scrumptious cookies. We have a whole list of Christmas mocktails that are fantastic for the holiday season.

    One of my favorites is our gingerbread martini mocktail which also goes great with any of these easy Christmas cookie recipes with few ingredients.

    What you need to make them

    You will find this recipe simple and tasty. I love the spicy cinnamon flavor the Red Hot candies give these cookies.

    Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour

    Sometimes I like to use a gluten-free flour mixture, but for this recipe, gluten-free all-purpose flour works perfectly. We really like King Arthur’s gluten-free blend.

    Regular flour works as well for this recipe. We use gluten-free because I have celiac disease. To learn more about gluten-free baking, check out our gluten-free flour and starches post.

    Red Hot Candy

    Red Hots are the most important ingredient of this recipe. Without Red Hots, you won’t have Red Hot cookies! My kids have a lot of fun crushing up the Red Hots for these cookies.

    Red hot cookies with and without frosting

    How to make them

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
    • In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy then add egg, vanilla and almond extracts
    • In another large bowl, combine remaining ingredients then slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until well combined
    • Refrigerate cookie dough for 1 hour
    • Heavily flour your work surface with white rice flour (you don’t need too much flour, but you will want enough to be able to work the dough)
    • Place half the dough on to surface and top with more white rice flour then roll out dough with a rolling pin and cut out shapes with cookie cutters
    • Gently place cookies on a greased (I like using nonstick cooking spray) or silicone mat lined baking sheet (I use a spatula)
    • Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes or until slightly golden brown
    • Cool on cookie sheet 3-5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack
    • Continue with the remaining dough
    • While all the cookies are cooling, whip together butter, powdered sugar and red hot candies to make a delicious red hot frosting
    • Top tip: Make sure to scrape sides of the bowl to get all of the frosting. Trust me, you’ll want every last taste
    • Frost the cookies once they are completely cooled. Put them on a large plate to display and enjoy!
    How to store leftovers

    Allow the cookies to reach room temperature before storing the leftover cookies. Place them in an airtight container with parchment paper between each layer of cookies so they don’t stick together. They can sit on the counter for 3-4 days.

    Can you freeze them?

    Absolutely! Allow the cookies to cool to room temperature first. Then, put them in a freezer-safe bag. You can freeze them with the frosting on, but I usually like to have fresh frosting. It doesn’t take long at all to make the frosting for this recipe. They will last 3-6 months in the freezer.

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    Red Hot Cookies

    Red Hot Cookies with Candy Frosting on a marble board
    4.96 from 21 votes
    These red hot cookies are both so delicious! Everyone will love how buttery and soft they are and nobody will EVER know they are gluten-free.
    Our gluten-free red hot sugar cookie recipe is delicious and great any time of year, especially Valentine's Day. We love to make them in our house and I know you will love to as well!
    PRINT RECIPE SAVE RECIPESaved!
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Total Time: 15 mins
    Course: cookies, Sweet Treats
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: gluten free sugar cookies, soft cookie recipe, sugar cookies
    Servings: 36 cookies
    Calories: 231kcal
    Author: Chandice

    Ingredients

    • 1 1/3 cups butter softened
    • 1 1/2 cups sugar
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract
    • 1 egg
    • 4 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (King Arthur gluten-free blend is my favorite, regular flour works as well)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder

    Red Hot Frosting

    • 1/2 cup butter softened
    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • 1-2 tablespoon(s) milk as needed to get the consistency you want
    • 1/4 cup completely crushed red hot candies

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
    • In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy then add egg, vanilla and almond extracts
    • In another bowl, combine remaining ingredients then slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until well combined
    • Refrigerate dough for 1 hour
    • Heavily flour your work surface with white rice flour and place half the dough on to surface and top with more white rice flour
    • Roll out dough and cut out shapes with cookie cutters
    • Gently place cookies on a greased or silicone mat lined baking sheet (I use a spatula)
    • Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes or until slightly golden brown
    • Cool on pan 3-5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack
    • Continue with the other half of the dough
    • While all the cookies are cooling, whip together butter, powdered sugar and red hot candies to make a delicious red hot frosting
    • Frost the cookies once they are completely cooled

    Notes

    Because of how buttery and delicious these cookies are, they are a bit more fragile. Just use lots of white rice flour on the surface you are working on as well as on top of the dough when rolling it out.
    Top tip: Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl to get all of the frosting. Trust me, you’ll want every last taste

    How to store leftovers

    Allow the cookies to reach room temperature before storing the leftover cookies. Place them in an airtight container with parchment paper between each layer of cookies so they don’t stick together. They can sit on the counter for 3-4 days.

    Can you freeze them?

    Absolutely! Allow the cookies to cool to room temperature first. Then, put them in a freezer-safe bag. You can freeze them with the frosting on, but I usually like to have fresh frosting. It doesn’t take long at all to make the frosting for this recipe. They will last 3-6 months in the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 143mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    This post was originally posted on December 7, 2018 but has been updated with new tips and information on November 17, 2022. Here is the original photo…

    Red Hot Sugar Cookies | diy sugar cookies || This Vivacious Life #cookies #sugarcookies #cookierecipes #thisvivaciouslife

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    Filed Under: Christmas, Gluten-Free Sweet Treats, Valentine's Day

    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi, I'm Chandice!

    Parties, gatherings, gorgeous food and ESPECIALLY holidays with my people are what make my heart pitter patter. Having a place to share our favorite traditions, recipes and celebrations is very important to me. I live each day with unapologetic, authentic happiness and hope to help others do the same. More About Chandice

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jennifer C says

      December 13, 2018 at 11:03 pm

      I love the Strawberry Steamers – so cute and delicious!

      Reply
    2. Shelly Taylor says

      December 13, 2018 at 1:05 pm

      What a fun party! The Red Hot frosting sounds amazing. Definitely going to try it soon.

      Reply
    3. Brooke Taylor says

      December 13, 2018 at 6:55 am

      This party looks so fun, relaxed, and the food looks delicious!! What more could you want! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Casey the College Celiac says

      December 11, 2018 at 4:24 am

      I love how colorful those cookies are!

      Reply
    5. Katie says

      December 10, 2018 at 7:09 pm

      I love those strawberry steamers! They look delicious! I like the idea of getting all your girlfriends together and having a fun time!

      Reply
    6. Emily says

      December 09, 2018 at 3:40 pm

      The lips are just so cute! Perfect for Valentine’s Day too!

      Reply
    7. J Angers says

      December 09, 2018 at 12:46 pm

      The pink cocoa looks yummy.

      Reply
    8. April says

      December 09, 2018 at 3:52 am

      I love how the table is set! It’s so pretty. I’m also a sucker for the bottle brush trees.

      Reply
    9. Amy b says

      December 09, 2018 at 2:57 am

      I love the color scheme you used! I love pink and gold-so classy

      Reply
    10. Aimee W says

      December 08, 2018 at 8:32 pm

      I am having a girlfriend’s party next week, can’t wait to incorporate some of these ideas.

      Reply
    11. Rachel Bertagnoli says

      December 08, 2018 at 7:26 pm

      I like the idea of catering in the main dishes. It would alleviate stress to do it all!

      Reply
    12. Juiie says

      December 08, 2018 at 4:51 pm

      I have been saying I should have a pajama party! Nice and casual friends

      Reply
    13. Georgiana says

      December 08, 2018 at 2:43 am

      I love the lip cookies as they’re very creative and lovely for the theme party!

      Reply
    14. Kim Ledford-Burley says

      December 07, 2018 at 8:59 pm

      Strawberry steamers sound like a great holiday sweet treat

      Reply
    15. Amanda S says

      December 07, 2018 at 7:51 pm

      I love the gold decor and the food looks amazing.

      Reply
    16. Patricia E says

      December 07, 2018 at 7:30 pm

      It would be fun to have a pajama party with the girls. Love this idea.

      Reply
    17. Paula Decaria says

      December 07, 2018 at 3:21 pm

      I love the concept of a jingle and mingle…and I have never thought to make strawberry steamers and need to go try it now!

      Reply
    18. Turq says

      December 07, 2018 at 2:41 pm

      I love how the white feathers on this Christmas tree look like they have just been snowed on!

      Reply
    19. Renata S says

      December 07, 2018 at 11:29 am

      I love makeup parties and even more fun to have cookies shaped as lips! I love the idea of red hot candies in the cookies too!

      Reply
    20. Karol says

      December 07, 2018 at 7:21 am

      Those lip shaped cookies are beyond adorable. But everything about this party looks awesome!

      Reply
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    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi there, I’m Chandice!

    I love sharing ways to live more vivaciously! Celebrate life with us through unforgettable gluten-free recipes, easy mocktails and everyday entertaining ideas…

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