Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies {The Best!}

Published March 29, 2014. Updated May 22, 2021

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These Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies are THE BEST! These don’t taste like they’re gluten-free and are so easy to make. I honestly can’t believe how amazing these are! 

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies on baking sheet

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

What is the best way to judge the success of a gluten-free cookie recipe? If no one can even tell it’s gluten-free. This these chocolate chip cookies, no one knew. That is just how insanely delicious these are!

I’ve tried several gluten-free chocolate chip cookies recipes on the lookout for the best, and these are hands down THE BEST! Six picky eaters (my two kids, my nieces and nephew, and my husband) all requested two and finished them off in no time. No idea. Yes, I call that success.

The other gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipes I tried left me wanting more. Simply put, I wanted a gluten-free cookie that tasted just like a gluten-filled chocolate chip cookie.

One of the recipes I tried was Alton Brown’s Chewy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie. In my opinion, I thought they were flat, crisp, and greasy. I also didn’t like the flavor of the brown rice flour.

These cookies, however, are soft, chewy and moist (in a non-greasy way). They have a great structure (as in they don’t deflate into nothingness when you take them out of the oven), and their flavor is perfect. And of course, you can always fancify them a bit and add some Maldon Sea Salt or vanilla beans.

I’m nowhere near experienced in the field of gluten-free baking (it can be a tricky thing for sure), but these homemade chocolate chip cookies were a breeze to make and seem nearly fool-proof. Just as easy as the ordinary chocolate chip cookies, but with a little more measuring since there is more than one type of flour.

If you have been looking for an incredibly good gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe, be sure you try this recipe! I was thoroughly impressed.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies sprinkled with sea salt on baking sheet

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients

For these gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, you’ll need:

  • White rice flour
  • Potato starch
  • Tapioca gum
  • Xanthan gum
  • Baking soda
  • Gluten-free baking powder
  • Salt
  • Unsalted butter
  • Light brown sugar
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • Chocolate chips
  • Sea salt, optional

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies on red and white plate next to jar of milk

How to Make Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Stir together dry ingredients in one bowl, and wet in another.
  • Slowly add dry ingredients into the wet, then fold in chocolate chips.
  • Drop dough onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake until golden. Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired.

Can I Substitute Something Else for the Potato Starch?

Whether you’re out of potato starch or you have a sensitivity to it, you can likely use something in place of it (like arrowroot powder or cornstarch). However, without having tested alternate versions of this recipe myself I can’t say for sure what substitutions will work.

Quite a few readers have left their substitutions in the comments section below, so I recommend reading through the comment thread to see what worked for other people!

Can I Freeze These Cookies?

Yes, these cookies can be frozen and enjoyed later on. Simply let the cookies cool completely before storing them in the freezer inside a freezer bag. Let them thaw in your fridge or on the counter when you’re ready to enjoy.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies on baking sheet

Tips for the Best Gluten-Free Cookies

  • When measuring the dry ingredients, you need to scoop and level them (rather than pouring the dry ingredients from the pouch and then leveling the dry ingredients).
  • If desired, you can reduce the vanilla to 1 tsp and add the seeds of one small vanilla bean when blending the butter and sugars.
  • I used 2/3 cup each of bittersweet, semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips when I made these cookies. But you can use any chocolate chips you have on hand!

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5 from 6 votes

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

The best gluten free chocolate chip cookies! They have a perfect texture and incredible flavor.
Servings: 28 cookies
Prep15 minutes
Cook20 minutes
Ready in: 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups white rice flour*
  • 1/2 cup potato starch
  • 1/4 cup tapioca flour
  • 1 tsp xanthan gum
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp gluten-free baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter , softened
  • 3/4 cup (firmly packed) light-brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp gluten-free vanilla extract**
  • 12 oz (2 cups) gluten-free chocolate chips***
  • Maldon Sea Salt , for sprinkling tops (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, whisk together rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder, and salt for 30 seconds, set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, blend together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until mixture is well blended and creamy (if you aren't using a beater blade, the paddle attachment that scrapes the bowl while mixing, then occasionally scrap down sides and bottom of bowl throughout entire mixing process). 
  • Mix in eggs one at a time, blending until combined after each addition. Stir in vanilla. 
  • With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredient and mix until combined. Mix in chocolate chips. 
  • Drop dough (I shaped into balls for more even rounds) about 2 1/2 Tbsp (45g each) at a time onto Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheets, spacing cookies 2-inches apart. 
  • Bake in preheated oven 9 - 11 minutes until golden. Sprinkle tops with Maldon Sea Salt if desired, and cool on baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

  • *All the dry ingredients are to be scooped and leveled (rather than pour from the pouch and level).
  • **If desired, reduce the vanilla to 1 tsp and add seeds of 1 small vanilla bean when blending butter and sugars.
  • ***I used 2/3 cup of each bittersweet, semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips because the blend of the three is my favorite, but use whatever kind you prefer.
  • Recipe Source: adapted from Land O Lakes
Nutrition Facts
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 201 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 25mg8%
Sodium 117mg5%
Potassium 118mg3%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 14g16%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 175IU4%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 28mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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124 Comments

  • Debbie Rehart

    I cook gluten free for my family because my oldest son is celiac. We all think this is a great recipe! I got rave reviews and friends did not know they were gluten free. I think the small amount of potato starch is key. Thank you so much!

  • Alex Smith

    I have made these at least 5 times and every time they come out perfectly! You are a genius and this is the ONLY recipe anyone should use for chocolate chip cookies. Well done and thank you!

  • Pamela

    This recipe looks really good. Can you tell me where you get xanthan gum? And do you use potato flakes for potato starch?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      You can usually find xanthan gum in the gluten free section of grocery stores or sometimes in the baking isle. And for this recipe it is potato starch. Hope you love these!

  • Aurelia

    Hi Jaclyn! I love love love this recipe – I make them for my gluten intolerant husband, but I can’t keep my hands off them either. I’ve just never before tested how long they last? Would it be safe to eat them after a week? I need to know quite urgently, so your help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I imagine it would be safe they just might not taste as good. What I’d recommend next time around is storing half in the fridge for a longer shelf life.

      • Aurelia

        Thank you Jaclyn! I’ve done some other research as well and I’ve decided to rather make a lot of dough, freeze it and take it out throughout the week as I need it. This way the cookies are enjoyed freshly baked :)

  • Casey

    I try to avoid white sugar and normally use coconut sugar. Do you think I could combine the listed amounts for the white and brown sugar?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I’ve never baked with coconut sugar so I’m not sure how it works in cookies, I do know that brown sugar helps have a slightly thicker, chewier cookie though and offers some flavor so maybe I’d just sub the white.

    • Melissa

      Ive used cocount sugar in place of brown sugar and they were delicious! What great GF cookies. :)

    • Melissa

      Casey,

      I would still use the white sugar. I’ve noticed that us all coconut sugar makes the cookies dry. If you’re trying to get away from refined sugar then try using organic cane sugar (it’s a little bit better and less processed).

  • Tanja

    my problem with Gluten free Recipes is that they are often loaded with starches. Thats why using nut flours seems to be a safe way to me to keep it low in starches…

  • Deanna

    I was wondering if you’ve tried freezing the raw dough for later? I have a close friend that is GF and I was hoping to freeze a batch of the dough so I can pop a few GF cookies in the oven while I’m making regular cookies for the rest of us, so he doesn’t get left out.

  • Marci

    Best GF chocolate chip cookies I have made so far. Thank you! baked on silicon mat. freezing half into individual dough balls for next craving. Hope they bake up just as good.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I’m happy to hear they’re the best you’ve had so far! Thanks for leaving a comment Marci!