Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies: A Guilt-Free Friendship Day Treat

Friendship Day is all about celebrating the bonds that uplift, support, and bring joy into our lives. What can be a better treat for Friendship Day than a homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe that is prepared with love and care? This recipe for classic chocolate chip cookies will help you create the perfect cookies for your friends and loved ones with just a few simple steps. With just a few easy-to-get ingredients and detailed steps, you will be able to make delightful cookies even if you are a beginner at baking. Head to the recipe and prepare your own chocolate chip cookies at home.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups almond flour
• ¼ cup coconut flour (or oat flour for a nuttier flavor)
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ⅓ cup coconut oil or unsalted butter (melted and cooled slightly)
• ½ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
• 1 large egg OR for vegan alternative: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup gluten-free dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
• Sea salt flakes or cinnamon

Method:

Step 1: Preheat the Oven & Prepare Your Tools

Set the oven to 175°C or 350°F for preheating dispensing on your oven’s settings. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper so that the cookies don’t stick to the sheet. You can also use a silicone baking mat with stencil liners to make perfectly shaped cookies.

Step 2: Prepare Flaxseed Egg (Optional for Vegan Recipe)

If you want to make vegan cookies, prepare flaxseed egg at this stage to replace with eggs. For this, mix the flaxseed with water in a small bowl and let it sit to develop a gel-like consistency.

Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients

Combine all the dry ingredients like almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Mixing dry ingredients first ensures that ingredients are distributed evenly and do not form lumps when combined with the liquids. To make sure that no lump escapes your eyes, you can sift the dry ingredients to ensure a finer batter. The final dough will then turn out to be evenly smooth and clump free.

Step 4: Mix the Wet Ingredients

Now, combine all the wet ingredients like melted coconut oil, coconut sugar or brown sugar, eggs or the prepared flaxseed egg, and vanilla extract. Mix the ingredients together until turned smooth and slightly thick. This will take about 30 to 45 seconds of vigorous whisking. Whisking will introduce air bubbles to make the wet batter creamy and fluffy.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixes

Now once your wet and dry mixes are ready, it is time to combine them. Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredient mixture and stir using a silicone spatula or a wooden spoon until it becomes a soft, sticky dough. If the dough feels too runny, rest it for about 5 to 10 minutes until the coconut flour absorbs all the extra moisture.

Step 6: Fold in the Chocolate Chips

Now gently fold in the chocolate chips into the prepared cookie dough. Make sure to not go too overboard with chocolate chips as they will melt when the cookies are baking which can turn the cookies soft and even break them apart. Therefore, add chocolate chips just enough to make them well distributed throughout the dough. If you still want extra chocolate chips, you can top them after scooping the cookie dough on the sheet and press it firmly into the dough.

Step 7: Scoop the Dough

Scoop out the dough into balls with the help of a spoon or an ice cream scoop and roll them gently with your hands. Place it on a baking sheet and flatten slightly with your fingers. Keep distance between each cookie.

Step 8: Bake

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 10 to 12 minutes until the top turns golden and cookies spread into discs. Look for golden edges and slightly soft centers. Do not wait until the center turns firm as it will firm up as it cools down. Sprinkle the cookies with a pinch of sea salt to get the sweet and salty contrast.

Step 8: Cool and Serve

Allow the cookies to cool down at room temperature for 5 minutes. Cooling down will also help set the center and make it firm. Transfer the cookies into a wire rack to cool it off completely and pack it in cute boxes for gifting.