Delicate Yet Simple Gluten-Free Irish Oatmeal Lace Cookies Recipe (2024)

When I am stressed out or not feeling like myself, there are two things that typically spark joy back into my life: shopping and baking. The former isn’t great on my wallet and the latter doesn’t help my waistline. That being said, I find baking to be an activity that not only calms my mind but yields delicious results.

Exhibit A: the best gluten-free lace cookie recipe I’ve come across that not only tastes great, but satisfies my sweets cravings.

Origins of Lace Cookies

Lace cookies were first believed to be made in France, but the Irish, English and Swedish claim it too.

In Italy, there are also the Florentine cookie, associated with Florence, Italy, but those cookies are mainly made of finely chopped nuts, can have a hint of orange citrus and are dipped in dark chocolate. They also use all-purpose flour, not that we couldn’t substitute with 1-to-1 flour or oat flour to make them gluten-free.

Essentially, all of these lacey cookies are similar, with some variation in each that make it unique to that country.

Irish Lace Cookies

Irish lace cookies, which incorporate brown sugar, butter, cream, corn syrup and Irish oatmeal, are where our lace cookie recipe begins. Now, are they actually from Ireland? Who knows. There are a lot of conflicting reports when you try to find out.

Swedish lace cookies can also use oatmeal, and are very close to our recipe. So, saying these are Irish simply because they use oats is kind of ridiculous, but we will go with it. Plus, we love Ireland.

Start planning your Ireland Road Trip!

My friend Keryn told me that ever since her first trip to Ireland, her kids have been obsessed with going back. They now call oatmeal porridge, eat lamb (but don’t remind them that they once held baby lambs on their trip to Ireland), and talk about that time they almost got too close to the edge at the Cliffs of Moher.

Which naturally, makes me want to go to Ireland with the kids too.

Satisfy your Gluten-free dessert cravings

I used to believe that my gluten intolerance limited the baked goods that I could enjoy. Thankfully, I’ve found gluten-free cookie recipes that are so delicious you won’t even miss the gluten.

As someone who loves their sweets, trust me when I say that people on all sides of the gluten tolerance spectrum will enjoy these cookies.

By making a few substitutions, almond flour instead of all-purpose flour, and rice syrup instead of corn syrup, I was able to create a delectable, crunchy treat my whole family could enjoy together.

Buttery, Crunchy Lace Cookie Recipe

Truth be told, when I first made these Irish lace cookies I imagine them to be perfectly round. I wanted to sandwich a luxurious melted chocolate drizzle between them and dish them out at Christmas, similar to Florentine cookies.

My dreams were shattered when I took my baking sheet out of the oven and noticed that my perfectly spherical cookies had melted into one another.

Instead of tiny round cookies, I had an entire sheet. Not one to be deterred, I simply broke apart the cookie sheet into pieces of bark.

I handed out the “bark” without telling my guests what the cookie should have resembled. As it turns out, no one would have cared. All I could hear were the joyous hums as everyone savored each bite. The tray was empty before I knew it and I even caught a few people smuggling pieces in their coat pockets.

Behold, the perfect gluten-free lace cookie. These are light, crunchy and delicate enough that you can enjoy a few at a time without feeling too guilty.

Lacey Cookie Filling Ideas

If you do decide to go the spherical route, only use 1 teaspoon (maybe less) of batter per cookie. Be sure to place them at least three inches apart because they’ll spread out in the oven.

Depending on the occasion, you can assemble the sandwich cookies with an assortment of fillings. For birthdays, we suggest an easy vanilla cream filling mixed with colorful sprinkles.

For the holidays, try adding peppermint flavoring or crushed up candy canes to your tempered chocolate. If you want to go all out, you can even mix up an eggnog buttercream filling sprinkled with a little nutmeg.

Feel free to stretch your creative muscle when it comes to adorning our gluten-free lacey cookie recipe.

Irish Lace Cookie INgredients

• 1 3/4 cup gluten free rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons almond flour
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons organic brown rice syrup
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Lace Cookie Directions

• Prepare cookie sheets, lining them with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Using a food processor or blender, pulse together the oats, salt and almond flour together until coarsely ground.
• Set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine the cream, sugar, butter and organic brown rice syrup. Stir and bring mixture to a boil. Allow to boil for one minute, stirring occasionally and then remove from heat.
• Stir vanilla into cream mixture and then mix in your dry ingredients.
• Stir until well combined.
• Let your batter cool for about 15 minutes.
• While waiting for batter to cool, preheat oven to 350°F.
• For spherical lace cookies: On a lined baking sheet, scoop one packed teaspoon of cookie mix onto tray, spacing them no less than three inches apart. Batter will spread.
• For imperfect lace bark: drop a tablespoon of batter and set 2-3 inches apart in a random pattern. Batter will spread and create a sheet or “bark”. You can also pour your batter onto the cookie sheet and spread with a rubber spatula.
• Working in batches, bake until the edges of the lace cookies/bark are golden brown (about 10-12 minutes), rotating pan halfway through baking.
• Allow cookies to cool completely, for about 15 minutes. Once cool, break apart the sheet into large imperfect pieces.
• Store cookies and bark at room temperature in an airtight container for up to three days or in the freezer for up to two weeks.

Want more Irish inspiration? Check our our guide to your first trip to Ireland and driving the Ring of Kerry.