Paleo chocolate chip cookies that are gluten, grain and dairy free but taste just like the real thing! Just a small amount of easy ingredients and you can be eating these in minutes!
It’s been a week.
Like one of those that despite your best intentions, all you can eat think of is chocolate, dessert, pasta, cheese… Basically, all the bad stuff.
I blame the stupid weather which, according to weather.com, was supposed to be sunny and 60s every day when I checked on Sunday and then somehow ended up a cloudy, drizzly mess for 3 of those days.
My cousin just graduated with a degree in meteorology and took his first job which is accompanied by a disgustingly low salary. I now understand why. I’m convinced they all just sit around throwing darts at a selection of weather patterns and pick whichever one they hit for the forecast. (Chris- I’m kidding)
This is why I hate winter. It makes me crave bad things.
And before someone gets all sassy in the comments, no, I’m not calling cheese and pasta inherently bad, but when you crave copious amounts of each every day because it looks like armageddon outside, it’s not the healthiest choice.
I can usually hold myself off for the first half of the day but that 2-3pm blah time gets me.
Every. Single. Time.
It’s about the time I want a nap, lose all motivation to work and want to eat every single piece of chocolate and/or carby goodness in my house. This doesn’t happen in the summer.
Reason #345987456 why we should’ve never moved back to NY from Florida.
So since we have approximately 6 more months of this craptastic weather coming our way, I decided I needed a go to 2-3pm fix.
Requirements:
- Chocolate
- Tastes legit
- I can eat like 5 of them without feeling bad.
Let’s expand upon #2 for a second – when I say “tastes legit” I mean I don’t want some “health-ified” or “high protein-ified” version of a classic that uses prunes or dates or protein powder. Although, I’m kinda making fun of myself when I say that because these raw brownie bites fit that description but are SO delicious at the same time.
Guys- there’s some crazy ass shit out there in the form of “recipes” for stuff like that.
I just so happened to have picked about 5 of them for recent breakfasts. Wednesday’s ended up in a batter explosion and a black waffle with great flavor but the texture of an air puff. Um, wtf? Do people not taste their creations before posting for the world?
I digress.
I’m giving myself an A on this assignment.
These paleo chocolate chip cookies have chocolate chunks, legit chocolate chip cookie flavor and most importantly for me when it comes to a chocolate chip cookie, they have the soft gooey chocolate center. Soft batch cookies are where it’s at. Life’s too short for crispy, hard cookies, at least when it comes to chocolate chip.
Somehow they’re also miraculously dairy-free, grain-free and paleo.
Holla.
Also, I somehow only ate 3 straight out of the oven. So make that an A+ on this cookie assignment.
If you want to take these paleo chocolate chip cookies to the next level, check out these paleo bacon chocolate chip cookies!
Same recipe just with the addition of some crispy crumbled bacon to the batter for that delicious salty sweet combination.
Love these paleo chocolate chip cookies?
Try these other paleo cookie recipes like this Paleo Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet <– so gooey and insanely delicious!, these Paleo Blueberry Thumbprints or these Paleo Blueberry Chocolate Macaroons.
And for something chocolaty but not in cookie form, paleo chocolate mousse never disappoints.
Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond meal
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil, *update: make sure to measure oil after melting so that you’re not inadvertently using too much. This can cause cookies to flatten
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon almond milk
- 1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate pieces Enjoy Life chocolate chips are a great option.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Whisk together wet ingredients in a small bowl.
- Add wet to dry and mix together.
- Fill a tablespoon measure with batter and press down to form a half-circle. Tap batter out onto baking sheet and lightly press down in the center. *Optional – freeze cookies on baking sheet for about 10 minutes before baking. This helps keep them from spreading.
- Bake for 10-11 minutes until bottoms just start to turn brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool 3-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. They will be soft when removed from oven but firm up in a couple of minutes.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Yum. Is almond flour the same as almond meal? I mean, I know it’s not the same, but can they be substituted for one another? I just have almond meal.
I think they’re pretty interchangeable. The only difference is the course-ness. In fact, I think I technically used almond meal this time around. Sometimes I use Trader Joe’s almond meal, sometimes I grind my own and other times I use actual flour. All result in pretty similar results for the stuff I bake. I think you’re good :)
bahaha get out of my head!!!! I’ve got a drawer full of ghiradelli and i’ve been making choc chunk and choc chip cookies like a madman [to make up for all the beets i’ve been blogging… ppl are ready to throw beets AT ME!] – these look amaze and I heart that they’re paleo!!!! brillz!
It is TOTALLY the weather’s fault! Same kind here in Quebec city and I have suddenly been wanting to sleep and bake (but mostly eat!) cookies, muffins and pies all week! I miraculously managed not to until I came across your article and recipe. I like things simple and those cookies sure are. I just ate three and they are very good but… they came out of the oven super flat. One large crepe of paleo cookies. :) Still yummy, but less pretty. Any idea what went wrong?
that’s super weird b/c mine didn’t spread at all. Did you use all the same ingredients, no substitutions? And did you spoon the batter into a tablespoon form and then just tap that out onto the baking sheet without flattening? If so, I really have no idea why they would’ve spread like that for you.
I used almond meal instead of almond flour, maple syrup in place of the honey and I used milk, not soy milk… They are substitutions I normally make without any consequences, but maybe it was just too many changes this time. Oh well, it’s still really good!
Mine flattened too, but I think this made them even better. These are AMAZING! I have tried making several paleo cookie recipes and have been disappointed with all of them til now. I Love this recipe. Thank you!
Did you use an American tablespoon measure (15ml)? I’ve been caught out in the past with my UK tbsp measure of 20ml.
BTW – made the cookies and they were delish. Very moist and soft on the inside. I added a tbsp of coconut flour which, in my experience, adds a touch of crispness.
I’ve made this recipie twice this last week. (Once with chocolate and once without). Yummy!!
The note about “making sure the coconut oil is melted” is legit. If you put a bit too much oil in, they will be super flat.
I should do this paleo thing. These look awesome!!
They look delicious! Totally pinning and definitely making!
I love how teensy they are…pop ’em like candy.
how in the micro-hell did you get those tiny cookies to balance! well done you!!
This looks like a good go-to chocolate chip recipe for me to have on hand. I did paleo cookies last week ate 4 and decided to call it a month with paleo cookies. Dont like to bake too much because I just eat everything in site!
I’ve also been craving carbs this week. I even bought some white potatoes (the horror!) and have eaten them almost every day. Your cookies sound great – love the short ingredient list!
I get you about the weather! It rained and thunder and lightening two days ago here in N. CA. Last week 100’s this week 60’s. Then I heard 89 by Wednesday!! I hate winter too!!! Hate it!!
Your cookies look delicious and I love guilt-free. I”m making these this weekend!! I need a healthy cookie in my life!