Easy Gluten-Free Holiday Cookies and Baking with Pillsbury Gluten-Free Cookie Dough!

This article is sponsored by Pillsbury.

One of the hardest things about being a parent to kids with food intolerances is constantly saying no. And not only "No, sorry, you can't have what that kid's eating," but also "No, sorry. Mama just isn't up to baking safe ones from scratch. Ever." Which is why packaged treats, mixes, and pre-made anythings are my best friends! So when I heard about Pillsbury's new gluten-free refrigerated dough products, I couldn't wait to try them! I managed to create two very easy holiday cookie recipes using the Pillsbury Gluten-Free Cookie Dough and a few items I keep stocked in my cupboards year-round. And trust me - if *I* can do it, anyone can!

Be sure to check out the Pillsbury gluten-free site for more product info and recipe ideas!

Gluten-Free "Oreo" Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 tub Pillsbury Gluten-Free Cookie Dough
8-9 gluten-free creme-filled sandwich cookies*

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Divide dough into 16-18 parts. Flatten one piece of dough and place a sandwich cookie on top. Then flatten another piece and place on top of sandwich cookie. Seal and smooth around the edge, until sandwich cookie is completely enclosed. Place on paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with all cookies.
Bake at 350 F for 11-13 minutes. Allow to cool completely. Enjoy.

*Kinnikinnick, Glutino, Mi-Del, and Trader Joe's all make gluten-free Oreo-type cookies. [This post contains affiliate links.]

Don't they look tasty? They are. Well, the one I got to try was tasty. The cookie dough on the outside helped to soften and reduce the chalky flavor that seems to be standard for store-bought gluten-free sandwich cookies. Yummm.
I only got the one though, because apparently "I left a cookie on the stool in the kitchen for you. You can each have half" really means "there's a stool in the kitchen. Get on it and steal every other cookie in sight. Your teachers don't need any."

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Peppermint Bark

Ingredients:

1 tub Pillsbury Gluten-Free Cookie Dough
5-6 dye-free candy canes or 12 peppermint candies, smashed into bits*
11-14 ounces dark chocolate (3-4 large bars)
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
Coconut or vegetable oil (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Scoop and spread dough evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 10"x15" baking pan. Bake for 11-15 minutes, checking every 2 minutes after the first 10-11 minutes. When edges begin browning, remove and let cool completely.

Place peppermint candies or candy canes in a zip-seal baggies and smash with a hammer (or the back of a sturdy ice cream scoop! Haha!) Smash as small as desired. You can also use a food processor or coffee grinder. Hubby makes peppermint cookies every year, so we actually have a "dedicated" candy cane grinder! Hahaha!

Break apart chocolate bars and place in a microwave-safe container. Microwave in 45-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully liquid. You may need to add a little coconut or vegetable oil to thin, if you are using a brand without a lot of emulsifiers already added in.

Pour melted chocolate over the top of the cookie and spread evenly. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candy over the top.

Heat white chocolate the same way as dark chocolate, and then drizzle over the top of the chocolate and crushed mints. Place tray in fridge for at least 15-minutes to harden before breaking entire cookie into smaller pieces.

*TruJoy and Sweet Nature make dye-free candy canes (available on Amazon and NaturalCandyStore, and can also be found at Safeway, Whole Foods, and other natural markets.) You can find striped peppermints at NaturalCandyStore and Trader Joe's, or white YummyEarth peppermint candies on Amazon and select natural grocery stores.

While the cooked dough was cooling, the girls were busy stealing the other batch of cookies. So this did not escape their attention. Corners were broken off, fingerprints were pressed into still-cooling dough, etc. More for me!


Pillsbury's new gluten-free line also includes a pie crust dough, which I found just in time for the holidays! I was dreading attempting to make my own, even though I found a mix! They also make pizza dough, but it contains artificial flavors, so we won't be trying it.

I must admit, when I was first contacted about trying out Pillsbury's new gluten-free dough options, I was reticent. Of all their regular doughs, only two are free from artificial colors. Not very promising. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that their gluten-free cookie dough and pie crust dough are both not only all-natural, but also dairy-free! Yay! Mama can eat them too!

Pillsbury gluten free dough is now widely available. Check a major grocery retailer near you in the refrigerated aisle, near the other cookie and biscuit dough!

Pillsbury has also created a Pillsbury gluten-free Pinterest board full of ideas for using their gluten-free dough!