Nut-free Christmas cookies and festive baking

These cookies contain no nuts, almonds, marzipan, nougat, peanuts or pine nuts – think cut-out butter cookies, Spritzgebäck (piped butter cookies) and Heidesand (brown butter shortbread). If you have an allergy, watch out for traces: flour, chocolate and sprinkles can carry a ‘may contain nuts’ warning.

All nut-free Christmas cookies

Scottish-style shortbread with spelt and sea salt – 207 kcal
Lemon and quark cookies with spelt and honey – 165 kcal
Vegetarian poppy seed stollen with dates and spelt – 332 kcal
Black and white cookies with butter and cocoa – 155 kcal
Coconut butter cookies with lime and honey – 243 kcal
Spritzgebäck (piped butter cookies) with butter and vanilla seeds – 201 kcal
Coconut macaroons – 350 kcal
Spelt Stutenkerle (sweet bread men) with raisins – 337 kcal
Vegetarian ginger cookies with spelt and honey – 168 kcal
Earl Grey butter cookies with honey and vanilla – 175 kcal
Gluten-free tahini cookies with sesame and honey – 197 kcal
Snowflake cookies with cornflour and vanilla – 232 kcal
Butter cookies for cutting out with spelt flour and honey – 176 kcal
Heidesand (brown butter shortbread) with spelt and vanilla – 182 kcal
Vegetarian cinnamon swirl cookies with coconut sugar – 222 kcal
Swedish gingerbread cookies (pepparkakor) with ginger and cloves – 181 kcal
Poppy seed butter cookies with lemon and honey – 185 kcal
Magenbrot (glazed gingerbread bites) with gingerbread spice and cocoa glaze – 181 kcal
Oat cookies with honey and raisins – 220 kcal
Vegetarian terrace cookies with sour cherry filling – 253 kcal
Baumkuchen triangles (German layer cake) with spelt and honey – 228 kcal
Cardamom butter cookies with orange – 173 kcal
Lebkuchen cookies with spelt and cacao nibs – 226 kcal

Frequently asked questions

Which Christmas cookies can I make without nuts?

Cut-out butter cookies, Spritzgebäck, Heidesand, checkerboard cookies, stacked jam cookies, gingerbread cookies and coconut macaroons. They’re made with flour, butter, egg and spices.

Does coconut count as a nut?

No. Coconut isn’t on the EU and UK list of tree nuts that have to be labelled as allergens. That’s why it can appear here, in coconut macaroons for example. If you need to avoid coconut too, check the ingredients.

Can I take nut-free cookies into nursery or school?

Many nurseries and schools don’t allow nuts – these recipes contain none. Still ask about the rules first, and check shop-bought ingredients like chocolate, sprinkles or flour for a ‘may contain nuts’ warning.

What can I use instead of ground nuts?

Depending on the recipe, porridge oats, desiccated coconut or a little more flour. Desiccated coconut works in macaroons, oats in chewy and crunchy cookies.

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