There’s just something about a simple sugar cookie with grapefruit.
I think it’s the memories it brings to mind.
Those winter nights tucked into my home baking cookies and preparing for holiday gatherings…
The smell of sugar cookies coming from my oven and a pretty candle in my kitchen.
If you lived in the apartment next door, you’d think I was baking sugar cookies every night but most of the time it was just the candle.
On a special holiday occasion I’d roll out the gluten-free goods and get to work. I’d light my candle for a bit of inspiration and it helped.
At least I think it did.
So every year around this time I think back to the holiday memories baking with my mother, sister and grandmother when I was a young girl.
And now although alone in my Manhattan apartment, the little flicker of my Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie makes me smile.
It still inspires me.
Even if I’ve been working all day, I’ll take a look at the candle’s pretty glass jar…light ‘er up and take in the sugar cookie goodness. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. It’s just like smelling the memories, isn’t it?
And when I’m really in the holiday spirit, the candle does more than just relax me.
It makes me wanna bake.
A lot.
Like 2 dozen.
Yes. 2 dozen is a lotta gluten-free yummy grapefruit sugar cookies.
And guess what?
They’re nice and hot n’ fluffy right now.
Just came out of the oven and I’m waiting for you to come over.
Come on…
It hasn’t started snowing yet, but I’m hoping for a white Christmas.
So, come over.
Have a bite.
These ain’t no ordinary sugar cookies.
As always, leave it to me to create a fun spin…
This time with grapefruit.
A touch of natural sweetness in each cookie.
They’re pretty hard to resist.
Seriously, they’re impossible to resist.
You’ll love them.
Period.
(bite, bite, bite……….Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm).
Ya wanna come over?
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup Earth Balance Vegan Butter Sticks at room temperature
- 1/4 cup sugar
- Egg substitute for 2 large eggs
- 3 Tbsp. chunky applesauce
- 2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 2 Tbsp. grapefruit zest
- 1 1/2 tsp. gluten-free almond extract
- 1 1/4 cups potato starch
- 1 1/4 cups garbanzo bean flour
- 1 cup tapioca flour
- 2 Tbsp. ground flax seeds
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 3/4 tsp. xanthan gum
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
-
In a large mixing bowl, combine Earth Balance Vegan Butter Sticks and sugar until fluffy. Add in egg substitute, applesauce, grapefruit juice, zest and almond extract.
-
In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients; mix to combine. Add to wet mixture; mix until smooth, approximately 2 minutes.
-
Using your hands, form batter into golf ball-sized shapes. Place on a baking sheet and then into the oven.
-
Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven; set aside to cool before serving. Enjoy.
Be sure to check out my Gluten-Free Ratio Rally blogging buddies and their tasty cookie recipes
Brooke | B & the boy! | Candy Cane Shortbread
Caneel | Mama Me Gluten Free | Cardamom Date Cookies
Claire | Gluten Freedom | Chai Latte Cashew Cookies
Erin | The Sensitive Epicure | Spritz Cookies with Jam
gretchen | kumquat | Classic Sugar Cookies
Irvin | Eat the Love | Apple Brown Butter Bay Leaf Spice Cookies
Jenn | Jenn Cuisine | Basler Brunsli
Jonathan| The Canary Files | Vegan Salted Oatmeal Cherry Cookies
Lisa from Gluten Free Canteen | Molasses Rum Raisin Cookies
Meredith | Gluten Free Betty | Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Morri | Meals With Morri| Stevia Sweetened & Grain-Free Thumbprint Cookies with Apricot Preserves
Pete & Kelli | No Gluten, No Problem| Belgian Speculaas Cookies
Rachel | The Crispy Cook | Melomakarona
T.R. | No One Likes Crumbley Cookies | Cinnamon Lemon Cookies
Tara | A Baking Life | Walnut Shortbread
I am baking these right now! Mine aren’t coming out as golden brown as yours. 🙁 and they’ve been baking for over 15 minutes. So I have the next batch all ready on the pan and I flattened them a little. But they smell great and I can’t wait to try one! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks Sarah; I hope you enjoy them! They’re delish! Try to keep them in for a few more minutes to get them golden brown!
Amie, I had a grapefruit yesterday, thought of these cookies and realized I never commented about how wonderful these look! Can’t wait to me them! 🙂
Thank you Caroline; greatly appreciated! So great to hear from you! Have a lovely holiday season.
oxox
they look delicious
Thank you; hope you enjoy them! Happy Holidays.
Oooh, I’d love to try grapefruit in sugar cookies. These look so soft and delicious!
Thank you so much, Caneel; so great to hear from you! Have a fabulous holiday season and I hope you enjoy these fun cookies.
sounds like we have similar happy, holiday memories, baking cookies with mom & sister. my dad owned a grapefruit orchard down in the valley of texas for many years. i’m wondering how those grapefruit never ended up in our cookies. sounds incredibly delicious! thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Gretchen; so great to hear from you! Wow; a grapefruit orchard…what a dream! That sounds heavenly. Enjoy this recipe and have a wonderful holiday season!
Gluten-free? Vegan? Grapefruit??? You would have had me at the first two, but with the third, I’m totally coming over for cookies!
Thank you, Jonathan; so great to hear from you. Come on over! I’ve got a bunch of cookies just for you. Have a lovely holiday season and thank you so much for your comment!
We made grapefruit bars once and loved it. Heck we are fans of anything with citrus zest. 🙂 Will have to try a cookie version next!
Ditto to that; I’m a huge fan of the fabulous grapefruit flavor in any dish. Hope you enjoy these cookies, Charissa. I would love to see your bar recipe! Sounds delish. Have a wonderful night!
These look amazing – I’ve never thought of using grapefruit in a cookie before, what an awesome flavor idea!
Thank you so much, Jen; so great to hear from you! I am such a huge fan of you and all of your amazing photography and work! Have a lovely holiday season and hope to truly meet you soon!
What a great combination of flavors. Grapefruit is so understated these days, and I’m glad you found such an intuitive way of making it the main attraction.
Awesome job!
Thank you, Morri and so great to hear from you. I hope you enjoy these cookies; they’re delish and quite tasty, too. Have a great holiday!
As we head into winter and fresh fruit becomes harder to find around here, I find myself adding citrus to everything. And grapefruit is one of my favorites – it’s often unexpected, but works so well in both sweet and savory preparations. Your sugar cookies sound wonderful!
Thank you so much, Tara; I hope you enjoy these cookies…the grapefruit flavor is amazing and I can’t wait to make these again for Christmas. Have a lovely holiday season and thank you again. Enjoy! xo
I never thought of grapefruit, but I love grapefruit. I like this!
Thanks Lisa; enjoy and have a wonderful holiday season! xo
Wow. What a great flavor combo! Love it!
Thanks so much, Erin; a pleasure to hear from you! Have a wonderful holiday season; loving your sensitive epicure recipes, as well!
Yes, I want to come over! Brilliant idea on the grapefruit juice and zest and I like the way these little cookies look, too. And they sound so much healthier than most holiday fare treats. I’ll definitely be saving this recipe. Happy holidays!
You are too funny! Come on over, girl. I’ve gotta bunch of cookies just for you. Have a wonderful holiday season and thank you so much for your comment. xo
I never thought of grapefruit for a cookie, but this sounds heavenly. Great job for the Cookie Rally!
Thank you, Rachel; great to hear from you. Hope you enjoy these fun little cookies. Happy Holidays!
Amie
I’m deathly allergic to garbanzo beans (and soy… and wheat… and…. well, you get the idea)
Is there another flour you would recommend as the substitution to keep the consistency?
Everything else on the list I’m ok with
Thanks – these look/sound DELICIOUS!
How about using peanut flour or almond flour? You could also try to use buckwheat…I hope that helps. Have a wonderful night and thank you so much for your comment; so happy to hear from you and always glad to help in anyway I can!
xo
Grapefruit zest – I would never have thought to do that. These look perfect for snacking on when it is cold outside and the candle just makes for an even more cozy occasion. I hope you are well.
Thank you, Sherilyn. So great to hear from you. Have a wonderful afternoon and hope to chit chat soon. I’m lovin’ candlelight baking! xo
I have that candle too! It is inspiring and the scent makes my place feel so homey! Those cookies look delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Thanks Alyse; I love candles when I’m cooking…especially when they’re the same scent as what I’m bakin’, hehe..
Have a great night!