10th Day of Gluten-Free Cheer: Decked-Out Gluten Free Cookies in Minutes

Crate Gourmet
4 days ago
2 min read

Transform Your Store-Bought Cookies into Holiday Showstoppers

The holidays are a time for sparkle, joy, and indulgence, but sometimes life is busy, and baking from scratch isn’t always an option. That’s where store-bought cookies come to the rescue! With a little creativity, a few simple ingredients, and a touch of festive flair, you can turn everyday cookies into dazzling holiday treats that are still gluten-free.

1. Dip, Drizzle, and Decorate

Quickest transformation trick!

Chocolate Dip: Melt white, dark, or milk chocolate and dip half of each cookie in. While still wet, sprinkle with crushed candy canes, festive sprinkles, or edible glitter.
Drizzle Magic: Use a spoon or piping bag to drizzle two contrasting chocolates (like white and dark) over the cookies for a “bakery look.”
Flavoured Finish: Add a pinch of crushed peppermint, cinnamon sugar, or sea salt on top of the chocolate before it sets for extra flair.

2. Festive Sandwich Cookies

Take two store-bought cookies (like shortbread, sugar cookies, or gluten-free chocolate wafers) and sandwich them with:

Flavoured buttercream: Peppermint, orange zest, or cinnamon.
Ganache or Nutella: For a rich holiday treat.
Marshmallow crème: Roll the edges in crushed candy canes or red/green sprinkles for a snowy rim.

3. Holiday Toppers & Embellishments

Mini Marshmallows + Chocolate Chips: Turn round cookies into snowman faces using melted chocolate as “glue.”
Royal Icing Accents: Add dots, zig-zags, or snowflake patterns with white icing.
Candied Fruit or Dried Cranberries: Press into icing or chocolate before it hardens for a rustic, elegant vibe.
Edible Gold Leaf or Luster Dust: Instantly elevates plain cookies for a high-end look.

4. Presentation = Instant Festivity

Even simple cookies look special when presented well:

Holiday Tins or Mason Jars: Layer different cookies and tie with a festive ribbon.
Cookie Charcuterie Board: Mix store-bought cookies with chocolate bark, candy canes, fudge, and dried fruit for a dessert grazing board.
Gift Bags or Boxes: Line with tissue paper, wrap cookies individually in parchment, and add a personalized tag.

5. Turn Them Into Festive “Dessert Projects”

Perfect for parties or kids:

Snowman Cookie Pops: Insert a lollipop stick into sandwich cookies, dip in white chocolate, and decorate with tiny candy faces.
Reindeer Cookies: Add gluten-free pretzel “antlers,” candy eyes, and a red candy nose.
Ornament Cookies: Pipe a small loop of melted chocolate on top, then add coloured icing and sprinkles to look like Christmas ornaments.

6. Flavour Enhancers (No Decorating Needed)

If you want to make store-bought cookies taste a little more special:

Brush warm cookies lightly with melted butter and dust with cinnamon sugar.
Sprinkle a bit of flaky sea salt on top of chocolate cookies.
Add a light coating of powdered sugar for a “snowy” effect.
Pair with flavoured dips, like peppermint whipped cream, eggnog glaze, or chocolate ganache.