I’ll forever and always be a chocolate girl… so deep, rich chocolate crinkle cookies are one of my holiday favs! Even on my paleo-based diet, thanks to this BOMB recipe.
A Healthier, Grain-Free Holiday Cookie Recipe
When I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis last year, it never even crossed my mind about how difficult finding fun treats to bring to family gatherings over the holiday season would be. I love bringing fun baked goods when I visit friends and family. Is it just me or do other people feel like they express their love through baking?! LOL.
Ever since I started following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to manage my IBD symptoms 10 months ago, I still eat grain-free/paleo to keep inflammation at bay. AKA: all of my old favorite recipes had to be revamped! I take dessert very seriously over here- I was NOT ready to give them up just because all-purpose flour and granulated sugar was out of the question.
Fast-forward to the weekend before Christmas: CHOCOLATE CRINKLE COOKIES were in full swing. I may or may not have spent my morning trying 3 different renditions of these cookies, oops! That’s what Christmas break is for, right?
Anyways, I’m convinced that this grain-free, paleo recipe is one of the closest cookie recipes I’ve made to my Grandma’s original. Trust me, beating her cookies is a tall order! Growing up, we would spend a whole day with her baking, decorating, and singing Christmas music. I’m convinced that memories of those days are why I love baking so much.
This paleo version of holiday crinkle cookies tastes like a fresh baked brownie and I’m absolutely here for it! Last night, I curled up on my couch with two of these, my family, and a hot cup of peppermint tea. Truly my ideal December night!
Tips for Making Gut-Healthy Christmas Cookies
It’s alllll about the ingredients, baby *cue sunglasses emoji*
I have whole pages dedicated to my favorite SCD-friendly ingredients, but I’ve “graduated”- if you will- to being able to incorporate some foods that are considered to be “illegal” on the SCD since I’ve come up with those lists.
One of these SCD “illegal” foods is unsweetened cocoa powder and 100% dark chocolate, THANK GOODNESS. Like I mentioned earlier, I’m a huge chocolate gal. When my ulcerative colitis symptoms were bad early last Spring, I was desperate enough to go 5 months without it… to this day, I still have no idea how! I am so thankful that I’ve been able to add in unsweetened chocolate again!
Cacao is actually a phenomenal superfood if you can get it minimally processed!
- High in fiber to support healthy digestion.
- High in polyphenols and antioxidants to reduce inflammation.
- High in flavonoids to increase insulin sensitivity.
- High in potassium, magnesium, & iron.
- PLUS you can pretty much throw it in everything (in my humble opinion lol), which makes it pretty super.
How to Make Paleo Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl: combine the almond flour, cocoa powder, monkfruit, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Step 2: With an electric mixer, beat in the honey, melted coconut oil, egg, and vanilla.
Step 3: Scoop out the cookie dough with a cookie scooper. Roll each ball of dough lightly between the palms of your hands and place on a lightly greased cookie tray.
Step 4: Bake for 10 minutes and lightly dust with tapioca flour before serving!
My Other Favorite Paleo Cookies:
- Healthier Buckeyes
- Paleo Russian Tea Cakes
- Paleo Gingerbread Cookies
- SCD Holiday Spiced Shortbread Cookies
Paleo Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 dozen cookies 1x
Description
Thick, soft, and rich chocolate crinkle cookies, made paleo! This recipe is one of my favorite healthier holiday cookie remakes: it’s a must-have on this year’s cookie tray. Paleo, Grain-Free, Gluten-free, Dairy-Free, Refined-Sugar-Free, Gut Healthy.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup monkfruit
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- (optional, for garnish) 1 tbsp. tapioca flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a baking tray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, cocoa powder, monkfruit, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir well until combined.
- With an electric hand mixer beat in the honey, eggs, melted coconut oil, and vanilla until a thick dough forms.
- Scoop out the cookie dough with a cookie scoop. Roll each ball of dough lightly between the palms of your hands lightly to smooth before placing on the greased baking tray.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Lightly dust each cookie with tapioca flour before serving.
- Category: something sweet
- Method: bake
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 6
- Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 9
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: paleo, healthy cookies, holiday baking, chocolate crinkle cookies, cookie trays, easy desserts, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar-free, paleo recipe
