Make the Perfect Channukah Cookie Gift Box

Shana Bryn
2 days ago
4 min read

I love baking too much for my own good. It is even better when I find recipes that I can turn into gluten and dairy free recipes. There’s a lot of trial and error, but it’s so rewarding. Finding the time though has been really hard. There have been many many many late nights since those are the best time for me to get my anything done.

While looking for inspiration, I could not find much. Gluten free? I couldn't find that anywhere. But with some creativity, I could adjust some other gluten free recipes to have Channukah magic.

The thing was, there were limited ideas in general. When I did something, I found an article that, while I want to believe was done with good intention with the effort to have a space for a Jewish holiday, it not only downplayed the holiday but it explicitly dismissed it as being important. We can do better than that!!!

Channukah is an empowering Jewish celebration filled with so many miracles involved. While the story of the oil lasting the 8 days that was needed until new oil could be purified, is what everyone knows, that’s not the main soul of the story. Having the oil last until more oil was made is significant because that metrical allowed for the temple menorahs to be lit with oil that abides by Jewish laws. The celebration of channukah is about the Jewish people’s determination to continue being Jews. Their reclaiming of their homeland, nation, temple, and kingdom. We celebrate being proud of our beliefs and practice.

There was no compromising in who they were. And the Maccabees, with almost no chance of succeeding, won! The Jewish people survived and we still are strong today. We need to celebrate that today!

I want to create a home that excludes that pride. I want to make that for my kids. One way I do that is through my baking. I added in some decorations and you can my my inspirations here.

Now to focus on the cookies. I have primarily made royal icing sugar cookies, but I decided to start to venture out and create variety cookie boxes. If you're looking for some inspiration, I thought I would share mine.

I am hoping that next year I can learn to make gluten free doughnuts to add into the mix, but for now, here are the cookie recipes I used and some notes on what I changed.

Here is a list of the recipes that were gluten free that I adjusted to be dairy free and Channukah themed. You can use the same adjustments to non gluten free recipes as well, I just can’t list any in good faith since I haven’t tested them myself.

Happy baking!

Black and White Cookies: I think we should start off the list with a traditional Jewish cookie. My husband is obsessed with black and white cookies. I loved them growing up but I would only ever want to eat the sugar half and leave the chocolate over for my dad.

Blue crinkle cookies: I used the loopy whisk lemon crinkle cookie recipe and added in plant based blue dye and spirulina powder into the melted butter to turn it blue. To make dairy free, use an alternative for the butter.

Butter Cookies: I am obsessed with butter cookies. I did make them dairy free, which I find makes the batter a bit thicker. It seems different when using oat milk instead of dairy milk in the batter. I am still trying to figure out that measurement. But they are delicious and worth the work. I used a blue chocolate with sprinkles.

Chocolate Chip Cookies: These are a hit every single time that I make them. For Channukah, I swapped the chocolate chips for m&ms and hannukah gelt. If you’re celiac, please check the ingredients for the m&m’s and gelt as not all are certified gluten free. I generally make these dairy free and use Miyoko’s unsalted butter. I did the same here and made one recipe with dairy free chocolate chips and a second batch with the channukah chocolate which do contain dairy.

Linzer Tarts: I have missed these for over a decade. So I decided to try making them gluten free. And gosh, they are incredible. I used this cookie cutter for the circle, and a mini driedle like this to cut the top layer. I used the Bonne Maman Strawberry Jam because I love their story. I also used hazelnut spread.

Sugar cookies: I have been using this recipe for a while. I make it dairy free by using the Miyoko unsalted butter. And add it a little almond extract. I don’t use the frosting recipe because I prefer decorating with royal icing instead.

White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut: I kept these also dairy free and used dairy free white chocolate chips.

I then package them up as gifts for friends and family.