Indulge Safely: The Ultimate Allergy-Friendly Homemade Oreos (Gluten-Free, Vegan & Top 8 Allergen-Free)

There’s something truly magical about a classic sandwich cookie, especially one that brings smiles to every face, regardless of dietary restrictions. These thick, soft chocolate cookies, generously filled with a luscious vegan cream cheese frosting, are more than just a treat; they’re a celebration of inclusivity and deliciousness. Perfect for year-round enjoyment, they truly shine during the festive holiday season, making them an ideal addition to neighbor treat boxes or family goodie plates. Each bite offers a delightful balance of rich chocolate and creamy sweetness, ensuring they are always a crowd-pleaser.

What makes these cookies truly exceptional is their commitment to being allergy-friendly. They are meticulously crafted to be free of common allergens: gluten, dairy, egg, peanut, and tree nuts. This means they are also naturally vegan, with a thoughtful soy-free option available for the frosting, ensuring that almost everyone can enjoy these delightful creations without worry. Forget dry, crumbly alternatives; these homemade Oreos are thick, perfectly soft, and brimming with the ideal amount of chocolate flavor, delivering a truly satisfying experience.

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Growing up, my mom was a phenomenal baker, but her holiday tradition usually involved perfecting one standout treat to share with neighbors. While always delicious, our goodie plates were modest. It wasn’t until high school, when I visited my friend Kayla’s house, that I truly understood the art of the holiday goodie plate. I remember being utterly captivated by the vast assortment of homemade delights they meticulously arranged. For a sugar junkie and baking enthusiast like myself, it felt like pure heaven. That experience inspired me to come home and declare that we absolutely had to adopt Kayla’s approach to holiday baking, creating an abundant and varied spread.

Ever since that memorable day, I’ve found immense joy in assembling a diverse array of treats for my neighbors, friends, and family. There’s something so satisfying about offering a selection of different sweets for everyone to enjoy. Among our most cherished holiday rotation cookies are these irresistible homemade Oreos. Let’s be honest, almost everyone loves the classic store-bought Oreos. But imagine taking that beloved concept and elevating it to a whole new level: soft, wonderfully thick, and bursting with homemade goodness that makes them at least ten times better. And the best part? They are completely allergy-friendly, ensuring that more people can partake in the joy!

Why Homemade Oreos Are Unbeatable

I genuinely prefer these homemade versions a million times over the often stale, factory-produced kind. The difference is night and day. Firstly, these cookies are at least double the height of their commercial counterparts – which means there’s simply more to love in every bite! You won’t find yourself struggling with a cookie that’s too hard or brittle; these are wonderfully soft and won’t break your teeth. Beyond the delightful texture, homemade allows for customization. I can control the amount of decadent filling, and believe-you-me… I absolutely slather on that rich, creamy vegan cream cheese frosting, making each sandwich cookie a truly indulgent experience.

Baking Fun for the Whole Family

Baking during the holidays is a cherished tradition, and it becomes even more special when the whole family gets involved. My boys absolutely love helping me in the kitchen. They eagerly assist with scooping and releasing the cookie batter using our favorite cookie scooper, which not only makes the process easier but also ensures uniform cookie sizes – essential for perfect sandwiching! Once I’ve frosted the cooled cookies, they take great pride in carefully sticking them together to create the finished Oreos. Nothing makes holiday baking feel more festive than creating memories with your loved ones, especially with a really good Christmas Pandora music station blaring in the background as you bake. It’s truly an experience that blends delicious treats with heartwarming family time.

And here’s another fantastic reason why these cookies are utterly amazing: you get to enjoy two cookies, yet playfully tell yourself you’ve “only” had one Oreo! It’s a little baking magic that doubles the fun.

Joyful & Inclusive Treats for Everyone

These cookies have also proven to be excellent motivators for my kids. My oldest enthusiastically devours them whole, while my youngest, ever the connoisseur, prefers to meticulously lick the frosting from the edges first – a delightful ritual she also practices with my popular Oreo cupcake recipe. No matter how you choose to enjoy them, one thing is for sure: you’ll be absolutely smitten with these homemade delights! The joy of seeing them enjoyed by all, particularly those with allergies, is truly rewarding.

As you embark on making these cookies, please pay close attention to the recipe details. I’ve included two different options for the fat component (butter/oil) that you can use, offering flexibility based on your preferences and specific needs. AND: If you need a soy-free option, which is often a component of vegan cream cheese, you can easily substitute the specified frosting with The Best Dairy-free Vanilla Frosting. This ensures that these incredible cookies remain accessible and safe for even more individuals. Baking should be about joy and inclusion, and these thoughtful substitutions help achieve just that.

I sincerely hope that as you gather your ingredients and begin to assemble your goodie plates, you find immense fun in the process, and even more joy in sharing these delightful treats with your loved ones. May your anticipation for Christmas continue to be filled with merriment and brightness, as well as safety and inclusivity for everyone celebrating.

Oh – and a quick PS – are you following me on Instagram? I’ve recently started doing Instagram stories, and I shared a super helpful tutorial on how to gently smash these cookies once they come out of the oven. This little trick ensures they’re perfectly flat, making them ideal for neat stacking and frosting. Be sure to follow me for more allergy-friendly baking tips and behind-the-scenes fun! 🙂

Allergy-Friendly Homemade Oreos (Gluten, dairy, egg, peanut & tree nut free; top 8 free; vegan)

Yield:
18 sandwich cookies

Prep Time:
30 minutes

Cook Time:
7 minutes

Total Time:
37 minutes

A favorite cookie all year round, but especially at Christmas, these thick, soft cookies filled with a vegan cream cheese make for the best neighbor treats or goodie plates. Thick, soft and the perfect amount of chocolate these are crowd pleasers. These are also free of: gluten, dairy, egg, peanut & tree nuts; as well as vegan too!

Ingredients

COOKIE:
2 and 1/2 cups gluten-free flour mix
1 and 1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup canola oil (or Earth Balance–see below*)
2/3 cup Vanilla Rice Milk (recipe calls for original, but I think you can never have enough vanilla)
VEGAN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
(If you cannot do soy, use this frosting)
1/2 cup vegan cream cheese, softened (such as Tofutti or Daiya)
1/3 cup vegan butter, softened (such as Earth Balance butter sticks)
2 and 1/2 – 3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

(*I understand not everyone will want to use canola oil in their cookies. It will make the edges a bit crispy, and makes the dough a little greasy to work with. The perk is that it’s cheaper, easier to find, and does not stick! The ones in these photos, used canola oil.
If you’d rather use Earth Balance, the dough will be quite sticky (you’ll need to grease your hands and cookie scooper, as well as the cookie sheet.) They do now have soy-free version, so you have lots of options that way. I’ve done it both ways and been happy with either results, I just wanted to give options!)
Preheat oven to 325. Grease a baking sheet, if you’re using the Earth Balance.
In a stand mixer, combine the flour mix, cocoa, xanthan, baking soda, cream of tartar, sugar and salt. Mix thoroughly, being sure to work out any lumps of cocoa powder.
Next, add the wet ingredients: canola oil (or Earth Balance) and rice milk. Mix until combined, scraping down the sides as necessary.
Scoop out the dough and place on cooking sheets. I like to use my cookie scooper, so that they’re all uniform since you’ll be making the sandwiches and want them to fit together.
Baker at the center of the oven for 7-9 minutes. Do NOT overcook, as they will dry easily. If you start to smell them, run for the oven! I know this seems like a small amount of time, but they really don’t need longer. They may be a tad bit soft when you pull them out, so you’ll need to be careful moving them to a cooling wrack, but as they cool, they will end up being the perfect temperature!
If they are a bit raised/rounded on the top, I simply take a large cup and lightly press them down, to make sure that they’re nice and flat, which makes for easier stacking and frosting before I move them off the pan.
While they cool, make the frosting.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the vegan butter and vegan cream cheese until well blended. Add the vanilla. Slowly add the powdered sugar until it reaches the thickness that you want.
Once the cookies have cooled, spread a generous amount of frosting on one cookie, and then top it with another.
Keep any cookies you don’t inhale in an air-tight container.

This incredible cookie recipe is adapted from my very own: Double Choco Chip Cookies, ensuring a consistent and delicious base. The creamy frosting recipe is slightly adapted from the brilliant Minimalist Baker, a trusted source for simple yet sensational vegan recipes. Together, they create a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that make these homemade Oreos truly outstanding.

Don’t forget to pin this recipe to save it for later! PLUS: Be sure to check out my other allergy-friendly PINTEREST BOARDS for more amazing ideas and recipes.