Make Holiday Cookies - Gluten Free

Holiday treats can be difficult if you have food allergies or need to eat gluten-free. You can help your students attain valuable cooking skills and open up their creativity by having a cookie bake-off for the holidays while honoring December’s Gluten-Free Baking Week.

Start with the Basics

Whether your classroom is blessed with an oven or you just pull in your trusty toaster-oven, this recipe is so easy and fool-proof that nearly any student can feel successful engineering their own personal creation.

By using the fewest basic ingredients, hopefully, you can avoid crashing into food allergies. Then, use the add-in ingredient list to stir student’s imaginations and create cookie classics that appeal to their taste buds and honor their food sensitivities.

The Recipe

1 very ripe bananas

1 cup gluten-free oatmeal

That’s it!

In a small bowl, smash the banana with a fork until it is nearly completely smooth and “liquidy.”
Stir in the oatmeal until it is well-coated and sticks together.

Add Your Own Creativity

Any of these add-ins will jazz up the basic recipe. Don’t go over-board or the cookie won’t stick together. But, a few tablespoons of add-ins will create dozens of different taste sensations and allow you to use this recipe over and over again for “new” cookies every time.

Possible Add-in Options:

1 tablespoon cocoa

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ cup raisins or apples

¼ cup chocolate, white chocolate or peanut butter chips

¼ cup shredded coconut

¼ cup chopped dried fruit

¼ cup chopped nuts or seeds

¼ cup mini M&M’s or other small candy

Bake and Brag!

After mixing in the add-ins, form cookies into tablespoon-sized balls on a greased cookie sheet or aluminum foil if you’re using a toaster oven.

Flatten with a fork if you want a “cookie shape,” or leave round. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or so, or until they begin to brown. (They may turn darker the next day because of the banana.) Let cool, and enjoy!

Or, Try Peanut Butter!

If allergies aren’t an issue, you may want to show your students the video “Making Peanut Butter Cookies.” This video demonstrates 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies that students can easily make. Find the video here!