Gluten Free Lady Fingers

These gluten free lady fingers are an homage to the original recipe and a desperate attempt to slake my desire for coffee flavored desserts. They’re a fairly easy cookie to make, as you can see by the few ingredients and even fewer steps. These gluten free lady fingers can be used as a base for trifle of Tiramisu, or you can live out your inner fantasy of being a fancy French person and dip them in your coffee like biscotti while staring nostalgically out the window. Ladyfingers, also known as British sponge fingers – sometimes known by their Italian name savoiardi or their French one boudoirs – are those little things that make up your favorite Tiramisu! Now, these long-favorited cookies were created in the 15th century, the end of the middle ages, and were recognized as an “official” royal court biscuit. Ah, my history nerd is showing.

When both of us were young girls, we lived in a very small town that had one Italian restaurant named Antonio’s (which has sadly gone out of business). I remember clearly the red and white checkered curtains, vinyl booths, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa coloring sheet we would always be given. I had started stealing sips of my mother’s coffee drinks at a relatively young age of nine and absolutely adored when she would give me bites of the Tiramisu she would order. When my sister, and then the rest of the women in our family got diagnosed with Celiac, I went a long time without having Tiramisu. So sad, I know, a real travesty. So when I created this recipe for gluten free lady fingers, I had hoped to help my other dessert bereft Celiac brethren.

If you enjoyed this recipe, please be sure to check out our cinnamon roll pavlovas, our fruit financiers, or our pumpkin madeleines!

Print Recipe

Gluten Free Lady Fingers

An easy cookie to make, these gluten free lady finger cookies can be used in tirimisu and charlottes.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time35 minutes mins

Cooling Time15 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Keyword: cookies, easy, ladyfingers, simple

Servings: 2 dozen

Calories: 250kcal

Author: Kendra Farber

Cost: $10

Equipment

• Electric mixer
• Baking Sheet

Ingredients

• 2 egg yolks
• 3 egg whites
• 2/3 Cup white sugar
• 3/4 Cup gluten free 1-1 flour mix
• 1/4 Cup white rice flour
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 Tsp baking powder
• 1/4 Cup each of powdered sugar & white sugar used for dusting the cookies

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350º F (180º C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a stand mixer, or using an electric mixer, whip 2 egg yolks and 1/3 cup of white sugar until increased in volume, pale and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whip the 3 egg whites to a soft peak and then add the other 1/3 cup of white sugar until you get a stiff-peak meringue. Fold the egg yolks into the egg whites until just incorporated. (Make sure you don't knock out to much air during mixing!)
• Sift the gluten free flour, cornstarch, and baking powder into the egg mixture. Fold everything together until no flour clumps remain, but make sure not to lose too much air during mixing. Transfer the cookie batter into a piping bag with a medium round nozzle (the diameter of the nozzle will determine the thickness of your cookies, so choose appropriately depending on what size of cookies you want), and pipe about 4 inch (10 cm) long lines of batter onto the lines baking sheets. (Make sure to leave about 3/4 inch (2 cm) space between the cookies.)
• Mix together the powdered and granulated sugars and, using a sieve, generously dust the piped ladyfinger cookies. Bake in your preheated oven for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 300º F (150º C) and bake for another 12 – 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool fully before using.

Tag @sisterssansgluten on Instagram if you snap a photo of your lady fingers!

Food photography and styling by Kendra Farber