These Healthy Almond Flour Cookies are soft, chewy gluten-free cookies made with 5 wholesome natural ingredients, no refined sugar, no eggs, no dairy.
I love baking cookies, many cookies, but I’m the first to admit that having so many of them in your cookie jar is not necessary the best for your waistline! So what I do is keep a jar for the kids full of my “normal” cookies and I make for me and anyone who want healthier versions a collection of my Healthy Christmas Cookies, Healthy Sugar Cookies, or Healthy Apple Cookies.
What I was missing in this jar is classic chocolate chip cookies. So I went and created this recipe that combines the sweet and delicate flavors of almond flour cookies with a crunchy and chocolatey addition.
Why These Cookies Are Healthier
Most classic cookie recipes contain sugar, fat, and refined flour that is low in fiber, protein, and healthy omega fatty acids. In contrast, these cookies are:
- High-protein, gluten-free, and high in healthy fats thanks to the almond flour.
- Refined sugar-free and low in sugar with 3 times less added sugar than regular cookie recipes, using natural maple syrup as a sweetener. The recipe also uses 70% dark chocolate chips which contain less sugar and more cocoa.
- Less fat – The recipe brings half the fat, no eggs, no butter, and focuses on healthier fat options with a choice of unrefined coconut oil or light olive oil.
- Naturally grain-free
Ingredients and Substitutions
You only need 5 base ingredients to make these cookies.
- Almond Flour – Forms the base of these cookies, providing a naturally gluten-free and nutty flavor with a soft texture. You can substitute almond meal, but expect a grainier, darker result.
- Maple Syrup – Acts as a natural sweetener and adds moisture. Alternatives include agave syrup, coconut nectar, or date syrup, though they will alter the flavor and color.
- Coconut Oil (Melted, Cooled) – Provides moisture and helps bind the dough. Replace with melted plant-based butter, real butter (if not dairy-free), or a light, flavorless oil like light olive oil.
- Baking Powder – Adds a slight lift to prevent the cookies from being overly dense. This is a must-have ingredient for texture.
- Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Chips – Bring sweetness and texture with bursts of chocolate. You can also use chopped dark chocolate or swap them with nuts, dried fruits, or seeds for variation.
How to Make Healthy Almond Flour Cookies
This recipe is really easy to make. Here’s how in pictures.
Pour all the dough ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Work the dough with a silicone spatula until it sticks.
Incorporate the chocolate chips and roll it into a ball.
Roll small cookie dough balls between your hands.
Place them on a greased baking sheet and flatten the cookies.
Bake the cookies in the oven for 14-16 minutes at 350 °F (180 °C).
Carine’s Baking Tips
- Sift Almond Flour – To avoid lumps and ensure an even texture, sift the almond flour before mixing.
- Measure Flour Carefully – Almond flour can compact easily. Use the spoon-and-level method for accurate measurement.
- Cool Coconut Oil Properly – Let the melted coconut oil cool to room temperature to prevent it from partially cooking other ingredients.
- Mix Gently – Overmixing almond flour can make the dough greasy. Stir just until the dough comes together.
- Chill for Easy Handling – If the dough feels too sticky to roll, chill it for 10-15 minutes to firm up.
- Shape with Lightly Oiled Hands – Grease your hands lightly with coconut oil for smooth handling of the sticky dough.
- Flatten Cookies Evenly – Press the dough balls lightly to ensure consistent baking. Almond flour cookies don’t spread much.
- Monitor Baking Time – Keep an eye on the edges; they should turn golden brown, but avoid overbaking as almond flour cookies can dry out.
- Allow to Cool Fully – These cookies are fragile when warm. Let them cool on the sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to prevent breaking.
- Storage Hack – Store the cookies with a slice of bread or a ramekin with uncooked rice in the container to maintain their softness.
More Healthy Cookie Recipes
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Healthy Almond Flour Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups Almond Flour - (note 1)
- ¼ cup Maple Syrup - (note 2)
- ¼ cup Coconut Oil - melted, cooled (note 3)
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ⅓ cup Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Chips - (note 4)
Optional
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lightly oil the paper with coconut oil. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients except the chocolate chips: almond flour, baking powder, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Stir with a wooden spoon or the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, until the cookie dough forms.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and stir to incorporate.
- Divide the dough into 12 small balls, lightly oil your hands to handle the dough as it's a bit sticky.
- Place each dough ball onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a thumb of space between each cookie. Lightly press the top of each one with the palm of your hand. They will not spread a lot, the shape you create now is what you get at the end.
- Bake the cookies on the center rack of the oven for 14-16 minutes at 350 °F (180 °C) until golden brown on the edges.
- Let them cool them down for 10 minutes on the cookie sheet, then slide a spatula under each cookie and cool down on a wire rack for 1 hour.
I have not tried yet. I was surprised by the number of calories per cookie.
Almond flour is more caloric than other flours, because it contains a tad more fat (and each gram of fat brings 9 calories vs 4 calorie per gram of carb). Healthiness is not just the amount of calories, but also their quality.
Hi,
How long can these be stored in room temperature?
f it’s not too hot where you live you can keep them 3 days at room temperature, in a sealed container or they soften too much when they are in contact with air. I live in New Zealand so it’s summer in Christmas, and I prefer to refrigerate all the time.
This recipe was delicious! The whole family enjoyed. Super easy to make!
Delicious I will make them again.
Can I use 1-1 gluten-free baking flour in this instead? I can’t have almond (most nuts) products unfortunately 🙁
Unfortunately, I don’t think it will work. I don’t have a gluten-free cookie recipe yet. But, you can swap almond flour by same amount of sesame flour or sunflower seed flour if this helps.