Gluten-Free M&M's Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe

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Elizabeth Barbone

These soft sugar cookies are lightly flavored with lemon. If you don't like lemon with chocolate, omit the lemon extract.

At the time of this writing, some bags of M&M's carry a "may contain wheat" warning, especially flavored varieties. If you aren't comfortable using M&M's, other chocolate candies work well.

Recipe Details

Gluten-Free M&M's Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe

Prep 15 mins
Cook 12 mins
Active 40 mins
Cooling Time 30 mins
Total 57 mins
Serves 36 servings
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups (8 ounces) white rice flour

  • 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) granulated sugar

  • 1/2 cup (2 ounces) sweet rice flour

  • 1/3 cup (1.3 ounces) cornstarch

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 2/3 cup solid shortening

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1/4 cup milk (or dairy-free milk replacement)

  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup

  • About 2 cups of plain chocolate M&M's

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 325 deg;F. Food Processor Directions: In bowl of an 11 cup or larger food processor, combine white rice flour, granulated sugar, sweet rice flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum. Run food processor for 30 seconds to combine.

    Stop food processor and add shortening. Run mixer until shortening is incorporated; dough will begin to hold together, about 30 seconds. Add eggs, milk, corn syrup, vanilla extract, and lemon extract. Run mixer until a thick dough forms, about 30 seconds.

  2. By Hand Directions: In large bowl, whisk together white rice flour, granulated sugar, sweet rice flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum. Add shortening. Cut into flour mixer with a pastry cutter or your hands (use a “snapping motion” with your fingers) until no large pieces of shortening remain. If you squeeze the mixture, it should hold together.

    Add eggs, milk, corn syrup, vanilla extract, and lemon extract. Stir with a wooden spoon until a stiff dough forms.

  3. Drop dough, about two tablespoons each, onto parchment lined baking sheet, two inches apart. Press about six M&M's to each cookie. Bake until set, edges should be lightly brown, about 12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on the pan for three minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
130 Calories
5g Fat
19g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 36
Amount per serving
Calories 130
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 7%
Saturated Fat 2g 9%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 65mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 51mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)