If you’re looking for a delicious holiday cookie recipe, these lemon currant butter cookies are light, delicious, and full of citrus flavor. These are so festive for the holidays!

What are your favorite kinds of Christmas cookies? Are you a fan of crispy cookies, like oatmeal lace cookies, fudgy cookies, like chocolate crinkles? Or maybe you prefer buttery cookies like these lemon currant cookies.
I like all kinds of cookies – and I think it’s nice to have a variety if you’re having a cookie party or a Christmas dessert table. I love using citrus zest in my baking – it adds such a nice, bright flavor!
These lemon currant butter cookies are light and delicious, and would make a great addition to your holiday baking!
If you’re looking for more allergy friendly recipes to try this season, take a look at this collection of gluten free dairy free Christmas recipes.
Top Tip
Be careful when zesting the lemons – you want to make sure you get the yellow only – no white or it will taste a little bit bitter.
Ingredient Notes
- Gluten Free Flour Blend – Namaste Perfect Flour Blend is a good choice for this recipe. I find that cutout cookies bake up really well and keep their shape with this flour blend.
- Vegan Buttery Spread – Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread works well for cookie baking. You could also use the baking sticks.
- Lemon – Lemon zest adds a delicious flavor to these cookies. You will need a zester to remove the zest from the lemons.
- Currants – Currants are kind of like tiny cranberries. Be cautious when choosing dried fruit – many brands are processed in facilities with nuts or other allergens. You can find allergen free currants from Gerbs Allergy Friendly Foods.
Storage
Store these cookies in an airtight container. They should stay fresh for about 4 days. If you add a piece of gluten free bread to the container, that will help keep the cookies from drying out.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Recipe
Gluten Free Lemon Currant Butter Cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups vegan buttery spread
- 1 cup organic cane sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 3 cups gluten free flour blend
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- ½ cup currants
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour blend, salt, and lemon zest. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, cream the vegan buttery spread and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the unsweetened applesauce and mix until combined.
- Add the dry ingredients a little at a time while mixing on low speed. Once everything is mixed well, turn off the mixer and add the currants and stir by hand.
- Pat the dough into two discs and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for two hours.
- Once the dough is chilled, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Sprinkle some gluten free flour on a parchment paper lined surface, and on a rolling pin. Take one of the discs out of the refrigerator and roll it out to about a ¼ inch thickness.
- Cut out round shapes with a two inch fluted cookie cutter. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10-12 minutes, or until cookies are lightly golden brown on the edges. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet before moving them.
- Repeat steps 7-9 with remaining dough.
Notes
Nutrition
Katie
Delicious recipe!
Emerald
So beautiful! I swapped the lemon zest for orange zest and used these cookies for a coffee pairing. So excited for the outcome, currently refrigerating the dough.
Kelly Roenicke
Yay! I’m glad you liked these! Thanks for letting me know!
Margaret Clegg
Thanks for the follow! Fingers crossed that I win. I’ve been wanting a KitchenAid stand mixer for years.
Kelly
Good luck!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
These cookies look delicious! I love how cute they are tied up with twine.
alisamarie
These are such lovely cookies Kelly! I’m amazed by how perfect the texture looks and how few ingredients!
Kelly
Thank you, Alisa!
whiskandshout
I never use currants enough- delicious :)
Kelly
I don’t use them that often, either, I need to change that.
Christine
I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas already! I love backing Christmas cookies – one of our favorite holiday traditions. These look amazing!
Kelly
Thank you!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
Wow! What a gorgeous delicate little cookie!!! Sign me up for this swap!
Kelly
Thank you!
Julie
These look great! Can’t wait to try!
Kelly
Thank you!
Chandice Probst
These look so delicious, can’t wait to try them!
Strength and Sunshine
Such a lovely cookie!!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven
What pretty cookies, Kelly! I could easily devour several of these like NOBODY’s business. ;) Awesome giveaway too, girl!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
How cute are these cookies?! I love how you presented them, Kelly! Sounds delicious!