Festive Cut-Out Cookies with Natural Decorations

Decorating holiday cookies is a cherished tradition for many families. When dietary needs change, it can feel like those traditions might need to change too. With creativity and flexibility, baking can remain joyful, even when ingredients require thoughtful adjustments.

Tips for Working with Almond Flour

Many traditional cut-out cookie recipes rely on wheat flour, which creates a dough that is easy to roll and transfer. For those who use almond flour, whether due to celiac disease, grain-free diets, or other dietary needs, the texture behaves a bit differently. Almond flour makes delicious cookies, but the dough is naturally softer and more delicate.

Here are a few simple techniques to make working with almond flour cut-outs easier and less frustrating.

Transferring Dough Cut Out to Baking Sheet

Almond flour dough can be a little more fragile to work with when transferring the dough cut out to the baking sheet. If your dough shapes tend to fall apart or stick to the surface, try the following technique:

1. Roll the dough on a sheet of parchment paper with a piece of plastic wrap on top. Roll to about ¼" thick.
2. Press the cookie cutter down against the cutting surface and then jiggle it a little side to side to completely free the cookie from the dough surrounding it.
3. Cut all shapes, but do not attempt to transfer them.
4. Slide a thin cutting board or piece of cardboard under the parchment paper with the rolled dough on top and put the whole thing back into the freezer.
5. Let the dough freeze again and when it is very firm, remove from the freezer. It will be much easier now to slide a spatula under the cookies and transfer them to the baking sheet.

This extra chilling step helps compensate for the softer texture of almond flour dough.

When Dough Gets Stuck in Cutter

If your cutters are not hollow (the type that produces design impressions in the dough), almond flour dough may get stuck inside the cutter.

To prevent sticking: 

1. Lightly spray or brush coconut oil on the insides of the cutter.
2. Dip the cutter in almond flour to lightly coat.
3. Gently tap the cookie cutter on a hard surface to remove excess flour.

The cutter is now ready to use and should release the dough more easily.

Cut-Out Cookie Recipes

Choose a recipe that fits your dietary needs and preferences. Some families may use a gluten-free flour recipe, while others may require grain-free or specialty options. Try one of these cut-out cookies recipes or use your favorite instead.

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Decorating Ideas (Without Artificial Dyes or Traditional Sprinkles)

If food dyes or commercial sprinkles are not part of your dietary approach, there are still plenty of festive and colorful decorating options. Many natural ingredients can add both color and flavor.

Icing/Frosting

Any favorite frosting or icing recipe can be used. Nut-based frostings, like this Nut Butter Cream Frosting from Comfy Belly, work well for some dietary approaches.

For natural color, small amounts of fruit juice (such as raspberry juice) can tint icing. However, adding too much liquid may cause separation, so many people prefer to add color using natural sprinkle alternatives instead.

Sprinkles

Many traditional sprinkles contain added sugars, artificial colors, or ingredients that may not align with certain dietary needs, so natural alternatives can be a festive and flexible option.

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Freeze-dried fruits

Blend into a fine powder to create vibrant natural colors.

• Apple = white
• Pineapple = very light yellow (or off white)
• Mango = yellow/gold
• Strawberry = pinkish red
• Raspberry = red
• Blueberry = deep purple/black

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Citrus Zest

• Lemon- bright yellow
• Orange- orange
• Lime- light green

Chopped Nuts or chocolate pieces

These work well as larger decorative accents (for example, buttons on a snowman).

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Cinnamon

A light dusting creates a warm brown color.

Cacao Powder

If included in your diet, cacao also provides a rich brown tone.

Shredded Coconut

A simple white sprinkle alternative

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Decorate!

• Prepare the freeze-dried fruit by blending into a fine powder.
• Wash and dry citrus well before zesting with a fine grater.
• Spread icing onto the cooled cookies and dust with desired toppings.

Involve the whole family! Decorating cookies can remain a creative and meaningful tradition, especially when ingredients are thoughtfully adapted to meet dietary needs.