grain-free chocolate chip cookies

I am so excited to share this recipe with you today! When i saw a healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe on detoxinista, i was eager to try it out myself, but skeptical it would yield truly tasty cookies.

I made a few tweaks and i have to say, this is the best healthy recipe i've made to date, including grain-free rosemary crackers and homemade granola bars, which i'll be sharing in the coming days. The cookies are moist and flavorful and retain a just-out-of-the-oven texture. If you prefer a firmer cookie, you can refrigerate to firm up.

I tried the recipe both with butter and with coconut oil and while the texture was virtually identical, I have to admit, I preferred the taste of the batch made with butter. I've never been a huge fan of coconut and the oil definitely has a distinct flavor.

I would love to develop a taste for coconut oil since it seems to be a central ingredient to many healthy recipes, so I think next time, I'll split the difference and use half-and-half.

Store in an airtight container and these will last a week, if you have that much self-control.

Or enjoy right away because these really are a treat served warm!

photography by  james roy

Healthy chocolate chip cookies

INGREDIENTS

·       1 ½ cup almond meal

·       ¼ tsp. baking soda

·       ¼ tsp. sea salt

·       ½ tsp. cinnamon

·       2 tbsp. butter or coconut oil (softened)

·       1 egg

·       2 tbsp. maple syrup

·       2 tbsp. agave nectar

·       1 tsp. vanilla extract

·       ½ cup chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium-sized bowl, combine all dry ingredients, except chocolate chips. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well.

2. Add wet mixture to dry and mix into dough-like consistency. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Drop onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet with a tablespoon or cookie scoop. Bake for 10 minutes, turning pan 180° halfway through bake time.

Makes 15-20 cookies.

TIPS

-  Store in air-tight container

-  Refrigerate to harden

Click here for printable recipe!