These healthier chocolate chip cookies are a satisfying treat made with gluten-free flour, almond flour, walnuts, flaxseed, maple syrup, vegan butter, and bittersweet chocolate chips. They are plant-based, naturally sweetened, and full of rich chocolate flavor without relying on traditional cookie ingredients like wheat flour, eggs, or granulated sugar.
If you love a soft, nutty cookie with a lightly crisp edge and plenty of chocolate in every bite, this recipe is a wonderful choice. The dough comes together easily in two bowls, and the finished cookies are simple enough for everyday baking while still feeling special enough to share.
Bittersweet chocolate chips give these cookies a deeper cocoa flavor than semi-sweet chips and typically contain less added sugar. The almond flour and walnuts add richness, texture, protein, essential fatty acids, magnesium, and vitamin E. Ground flaxseed helps bind the dough while adding omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Maple syrup is used as the sweetener; it should still be enjoyed in moderation, but it also naturally contains minerals such as manganese and zinc.
The gluten-free flour blend in this recipe can also be replaced with cassava flour or oat flour. Each option will create a slightly different texture, but all work well in this plant-based chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Benefits of Cacao
Cacao is the ingredient that gives chocolate its bold, complex flavor. In general, the darker the chocolate, the higher the cacao percentage and the more intense and slightly bitter the taste. Dark chocolate is known for containing minerals such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. It also contains antioxidants that are associated with several potential wellness benefits when enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.
Using bittersweet chocolate chips in these healthier chocolate chip cookies gives the recipe a deep chocolate flavor while keeping the sweetness balanced. The result is a cookie that tastes indulgent but is made with thoughtful ingredients.
- Supports a richer chocolate flavor
- Provides minerals such as iron, magnesium, and zinc
- Contains naturally occurring antioxidants
- Pairs well with nuts, almond flour, and maple syrup
Cacao Percentages from Lowest to Highest (Lightest to Darkest)
- Milk chocolate
- Semi-sweet chocolate
- Bittersweet chocolate
- Unsweetened baking chocolate
Method Overview
- Stir the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.
- Prepare the flax egg, then combine it with softened vegan butter, maple syrup, and vanilla.
- Mix the chocolate chips and walnuts into the wet ingredients before adding the dry mixture.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a thick cookie dough forms.
- Spoon rounded tablespoons of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake until the cookies are golden brown, then let them cool before serving.
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Vegan butter mashed with a flax egg, maple syrup, and vanilla -
Chocolate chips and walnuts mixed into the wet ingredients -
Finished chocolate chip cookie batter -
Spooning the cookie dough onto the baking sheet
Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies
These healthier chocolate chip cookies are gluten-free, vegan, naturally sweetened with maple syrup, and made with almond flour, walnuts, flaxseed, and bittersweet chocolate chips. They are easy to prepare and bake into a delicious homemade dessert with a nutty texture and rich chocolate flavor.
Equipment
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Large bowl and medium bowl
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Cookie sheet
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Parchment paper
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 3 Tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, softened but not melted
- 5 Tablespoons maple syrup (1/4 cup plus 1 Tablespoon)
- 1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla or alcohol-free almond flavoring
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 heaping cup bittersweet chocolate chips
Dry Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups almond flour
- 1 cup gluten-free flour blend
- 1/4 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
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Add the ground flaxseed and water to a large bowl. Stir and set aside for a few minutes to form a flax egg.
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In a separate medium bowl, combine the almond flour, gluten-free flour blend, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until evenly mixed.
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Add the softened vegan butter, maple syrup, and vanilla to the bowl with the flax egg. Mash the butter into the wet ingredients with the back of a fork until combined.
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Stir the chopped walnuts and bittersweet chocolate chips into the wet mixture.
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Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a thick cookie dough forms. Do not overmix.
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Line a flat baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Spoon heaping tablespoons of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, spacing the cookies about 1 inch apart.
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Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.
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Slide the parchment with the cookies off the baking sheet and onto the counter. Let the cookies cool before serving so they can firm up properly.
Notes
- The gluten-free flour blend can be substituted with cassava flour or oat flour. The texture may vary slightly depending on which flour you choose.
- Mixing the walnuts and chocolate chips into the wet ingredients first helps prevent dry flour from getting trapped in the grooves of the nuts or around the chocolate chips.
- Make sure the vegan butter is softened, not melted. Melted butter can change the texture of the dough and may cause the cookies to spread differently.
- Allow the cookies to cool before serving. They are more delicate when hot and become easier to handle as they rest.
Nutrition
| Carbohydrates: 7g
| Protein: 1g
| Fat: 6g
| Saturated Fat: 3g
| Cholesterol: 1mg
| Sodium: 82mg
| Potassium: 22mg
| Fiber: 1g
| Sugar: 3g
| Calcium: 16mg
| Iron: 1mg
Enjoy these healthier chocolate chip cookies as a homemade plant-based dessert, an afternoon snack, or a simple gluten-free treat to share with family and friends.