ko.pairings
Why should cinnamon get all the love? Cardamom adds a beautiful freshness and flavor profile to these sugar cookies; oh and gluten-free? EVEN BETT-AH!!
These Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies Dusted with Cardamom Sugar recipe was adapted from a Snickerdooldle recipe on Allrecipes. And I did create a gluten-free adaptation, in my Homemade Gluten Free Snickerdoodles Cookies recipe. But, I made these for the holidays one year and I LOVED them, so I figured i should remake them and share the recipe. Yes cinnamon gets all the attention, but cardamom is just as good!
I love the flavor of cardamom because it has a beautiful floral undertone and a menthol character that reminds me of mint. Yes, it can get overpowering, but it brings some beautiful character. When done with a subtle touch it is a perfect accompaniment to dishes, especially sweet. Oh and the best part? It pairs BEAUTIFULLY with many different flavors! Cardamom is used in sweet and savory dishes alike. It pairs so well with fruit or more bitter items (like chocolate and coffee). It is almost a delicate flavor, but robust enough to make itself known even in a curry.
I was considering pairing with a Blood Orange cocktail, but really wanted tea when I made these. I also feel like there are many ways I can see these Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies Dusted with Cardamom Sugar being served, but I think afternoon tea is the perfect time for these! So I paired them with this simple Natural 2-Ingredient Raspberry Oolong Tea. I may even make another pairing with these, but likely I just make another cardamom dessert recipe because I can see so many options for that lovely spice. So give the cinnamon a break and try something new with these Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies Dusted with Cardamom Sugar.
Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies Dusted with Cardamom Sugar Notes & Substitutions
Creaming together butter and sugar- Be sure to cream together your butter, cream cheese and sugar for 5 minutes. It seems like a while, but it is worth it. It helps aerate the cookies and make them light and fluffy. The other amazing part of this, adding air adds cookies. You actually get 1-2 more cookies from the same amount of ingredients. Hell yeah I want more cookies, so I always do this.
Cream Cheese- This helps make these cookies moist and delicious. It does not add anything to the flavor it just helps with the texture. Do not leave it out and expect the same results. I have not tried these vegan so I can not say if vegan cream cheese would work as well.
Almond Extract- Completely optional, but I love it!
Almond Flour- Almond flour is used in the recipe to help darken the cookie. Using almond flour does help brown the cookies. If you can’t eat nuts, sub in gluten free flour.
Xanthan Gum- Used to help bind the dough. If your gluten free dough already has it, omit this. Mine had it so I didn’t need to add any extra.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda- I use both in the recipe. For a great post about why I use both in my recipe check out this blog post by Tessa Arias at Handle the Heat.
Drink Pairings- Natural 2-Ingredient Raspberry Oolong Tea, Mixed Berry Champagne Spritz, Champagne, Oolong Tea, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangria, Riesling, sweet cocktails with Blood Orange, Sweet Cocktails with Raspberry (Hey there French 75!).
Gluten Free Sugar Cookies Dusted With Cardamom Coated
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1-1/2 cups White Sugar
- 3/4 cup Butter, Softened
- 1/4 cup Cream Cheese
- 2 Large Eggs
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 tsp Almond Extract, Optional
- 2-1/4 cups Gluten Free Flour
- 1/4 cup Almond Flour
- 1 tsp Xanthan Gum (omit if flour blend already has some)
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/4 tsp Salt
Coating
- 3 tbsp White Sugar
- 1.5 tsp Ground Cardamom- Green
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350oF.
- Beat the sugar, butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, takes about 5 minutes. Make sure to get it fluffy, but if the butter is too warm it won't work, so soft not melted. Scrape down the bowl.
- Add in the eggs, vanilla extract and almond extract and mix until smooth. Scrape down the bowl.
- While creaming the sugar, butter and cream cheese:Mix Flours- in a separate bowl whisk together the gluten-free flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum (if using) and salt. Making the Cardamom Sugar- In a separate bowl mix the cardamom powder, and the sugar together and set aside.
- Gradually add in the flour mixture to the eggs and butter mixture and mix until combined.
- Once dough is formed use a cookie scoop to scoop walnut sized balls of dough.* Then roll in the cardamom and sugar mixture and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Make sure to leave room between the cookies to spread.
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 8-12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Serve with the Raspberry Oolong Tea.
