The Best Gluten-Free Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe | Foodal.com (2024)

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More and more people are removing grains, processed sugar, and dairy from their diets for a variety of reasons.

Some are avoiding gluten. For others, its allergies, digestive issues, and weight loss. Some want to live a healthier lifestyle, or increase focus and energy throughout the day.

Personally, I’m not giving up grains completely. But I do try to limit the amount I eat.

That being said, when I embarked on a low-grain diet, I was surprised how much of it was made up of whole grains!

Sometimes I would have oatmeal for breakfast, rice with my salad at lunch, and tacos or spaghetti for dinner.

And the baked goods I ate for dessert, like a delicious slice of vanilla cake, almost always contained grains, dairy, and sugar! Which got me thinking… it’s about time to start experimenting with healthier desserts.

And that’s how these grain-free chocolate chip cookies were created!

These sweets come together incredibly fast (just a minute or two in the mixer!) and only contain a handful of simple ingredients.

Oh, and not only are they grain-free, they’re also dairy-free, egg-free, and low in sugar!

But trust me… no one will be able to tell!

Before heading to the recipe, I’ll catch you up on the important role each star ingredient plays.

Almond Flour

This is made from skinless, blanched whole almonds that have been ground to a fine powder. It looks and feels a bit coarser than traditional wheat flours.

It’s full of fiber and protein, and can be used in place of regular flour for a low-carb baking alternative.

Find it in the specialty flour section of most grocery stores.

Coconut Oil

This is created by pressing the “meat” of the coconut to remove the fiber.

Coconut oil is one of the few oils that can be heated at a high temperature without converting to a trans fat. It’s also rich in medium-chain-triglycerides, which makes it a fat that is easily turned into and used as energy, unlike most fats coming from oil.

If you want to use other types of oil, feel free to use whatever you like! I recommend using neutral-flavored vegetable oils.

And if you run out of oil mid-recipe and need some creative oil substitutions for baking, we’ve got you covered.

Chocolate Chips

There are endless varieties of chocolate chips out there, from milk to dairy-free.

However, when making these particular sweet treats, I always look for a brand with a high cacao content of at least 50% for a rich, chocolaty flavor.

Sea Salt

Sea salt, especially when freshly ground, will have a much better flavor than table salt. It’s more pure, clean, and unrefined.

It is very important in this recipe, as the salt helps bring out the chocolate flavor, and balances the sweetness from the chocolate and maple syrup.

Read more about the various type of salt available.

Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is used in cooking as a leavening agent, which is needed to make your scrumptious goodies rise.

Baking soda is used in most recipes for baked goods because it creates a fluffy texture, and helps to prevent those dreaded flat chocolate chip cookies.

It eliminates the density that recipes would have without it, and makes them more appetizing overall.

Maple Syrup

This is one of the purest sweeteners available, created by repeatedly boiling down the sap of the sugar maple tree.

Southeastern Canada and New England are the only maple producing regions, even though you can get pure maple syrup all over the world now.

It’s a great sweetener for this recipe and for use in other baked goods because it’s very sweet, rich, and pairs well with chocolate. Check out our guide to maple syrup for more details!

Vanilla Extract

Though you can use any type of vanilla extract, I personally prefer pure extract from the Madagascar variety, a type of vanilla bean that is more flavorful and aromatic.

Its sweet, buttery flavor is perfect for baking.

Now that you’re familiar with the ingredients, let’s get to the recipe!

Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line one baking tray with parchment paper.

If using a stand mixer, fit it with the paddle attachment.

Measure all of your ingredients.

Step 2 – Mix the Dough

Combine all ingredients except the chocolate chips in the bowl of the stand mixer. Mix on medium speed until a smooth dough forms, about 30 seconds.

Step 3 – Add the Chocolate Chips

Pour the chips into the bowl while it’s still attached to the stand mixer. Mix on low speed until all of the chips are evenly distributed.

Step 4 – Form the Cookies

Using your hands or a cookie scoop for evenly portioned dollops of dough that will cook at an even rate, use about 3 tablespoons of dough each and form into small mounds. You will get 8-10 mounds.

Place them on the prepared baking sheet, being sure to space them evenly.

Because they won’t spread like traditional cookies, you may want to flatten the tops slightly with your hands to create a more traditional shape.

Step 5 – Bake

Bake for 10-12 minutes. They will still be light on the top, but slightly golden brown around the sides and bottoms.

Step 6 – Cool and Serve

Remove from the oven, and transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Allow to cool before serving.

But everyone knows how irresistible a warm cookie is fresh from the oven…

Clean Eating with a Classic Cookie

With this treat, you can enjoy one of your favorite handheld desserts while eating a clean diet!

You’ll still get the same soft center, chewy and crunchy crust, and melt-in-your-mouth chocolate bites… but with no dairy, no gluten, no eggs, and minimal sugar!

If you’re hungry for more gluten-free sweets after this, get baking with these soft, chewy ginger cookies, cashew chocolate brownies, or mandarin orange spongecake – all sans the gluten!

Following the paleo diet in particular? Make our other sweet recipes like these honey blueberry cookies, or thiscarrot cake cupcakes with coconut cream frosting. No gluten, no dairy, and minimal sugar!

Also, you may want to check out Foodal’s Paleo Baking Basics for other gluten-free ideas.

Want to go big? Be inspired by our giant pan cookie recipe, and use this paleo version instead to make a huge dessert that will satisfy all cookie monsters!