There are some things in life that are just non-negotiable. Try as I might, I cannot live without chocolate chip cookies. That's why, when I recently embarked on a soul-crushing elimination diet to try and determine whether I have some food intolerances, I started having withdrawal. I mean, I got a serious jonesin' for a pastry of any kind. (Y'all who read my recent anti-dieting post have my permission to ridicule me now.)
To make a long story short, I'm temporarily (hopefully) off wheat, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, coffee (ouch!), nuts, and probably some other things I can't think of at the moment. What else is there, you may ask? Well, let me tell you, there's not much. So, yeah, I'm eating pretty healthy these days and I'm hating life. When life gets hard, I usually turn to chocolate chip cookies.
I knew what I had to do. I had to find some chocolate chip cookies! But since I refuse to believe that I'm going to be off gluten permanently, I didn't want to run out and buy $30 worth of supplies like xantham gum that you usually find in gluten free recipes. So I used what I learned over years of adjusting recipes for my allergic kids, and came up with this yummy recipe. I've already had 4 of these cookies today, and I can tell you I feel much better already!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Gluten Free Baking Flour (I like Bob's Red Mill)
- 1 cup Gluten Free Quick Cook Oats (again, Bob's Red Mill)
- 1 cup Sugar
- ¼ cup Ground Flax Seed
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ⅔ cup Melted Coconut Oil
- 2 Mashed Bananas
- 2 tablespoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Dairy & Gluten Free Chocolate Chips (I like Costco's and Trader Joe's)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheets with foil or parchment paper.
- Mix together all dry ingredients (flour, oats, sugar, flax, soda, salt) in a large bowl.
- Add coconut oil, bananas, and vanilla. Mix well. The batter will be a bit goopy. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Drop by teaspoons on cookie sheets, with at least 2 inches between each cookie, as they will spread.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove and let cool thoroughly before stuffing your face with the chocolaty goodness!
These cookies are soft and do tend to fall apart a bit, but that doesn't bother me one bit. Next I may try making mini-muffins with this recipe. It's almost healthy enough to eat for breakfast!
And if you want even more chocolate in your cookies, check out this decadent double dark chocolate cookie recipe too!
Emily Mulder says
Thank you for sharing! I've found millet flour to be a great across-the-board substitute for flour, and Amazon is cheaper. Also adding a touch of extra flour helps make the cookies softer. I have also been substituting coconut sugar (made from the flower nectar, rather than the fruit) as a lower glycemic index sweetener. (I can't eat bananas or flax seed so I can't drop eggs, but then we have our own chickens, so I feel good about it. We are also trying to boost the protein and lower the sugar in everything, so eggs work that way for us.)
Meredith says
Thanks Emily! That's good to know about millet and the coconut sugar. I'll have to check those out. I'm hoping to add eggs back to my diet soon to get some protein back too. Lily's allergic to eggs, so I'm used to substituting for those.
Anita says
Hope you saved me a cookie!
Meredith says
Not for long!
jacquiegum says
These look delicious Meredith! And really, gluten free is all the rage these days so you are right in step with the trends. But I DO hope they find whatever it is that is affecting you! But I am happy you found some delicious solace...and then being kind enough to share it with us:)
Meredith Wouters says
Thank you Jacquie, for your kind words and encouragement!
lenie5860 says
I think you may become famous with this cookie recipe since there are so many people who can't tolerate gluten anymore and chocolate chip cookies do comfort. I hope you do find out what's causing the problem and you feel butter - in the meantime, have another cookie.
Meredith says
Thank you Lenie! I would love to be famous for a cause as noble as chocolate chip cookies!
aprilbailey04 says
This looks delicious! We are just transitioning to grain free as well. My son was diagnosed with a wheat allergy, in addition to a handful of others. Read the book Wheat Belly (William Davis) or Against all Grain (by Danielle Walker)- it will make the tradition easier and you will never want to go back. It also explains the cravings for pastries (wheat is an addiction!). Okay, now I sound crunchy, but really- it makes a huge difference after you get through the initial withdrawal. Let me know if you have any questions!
Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday!
April Waltrip
http://stampinfool.com/merrymonday/
Meredith says
Thank you April, I will definitely check those books out. I need all the help I can get! I really believe the addiction thing. 🙂
Susan Cooper/findingourwaynow.com says
That would be painful trying to give up all those things at once especially coffee and cookies!! 🙂 I do the same thing you did and look for some way around it. The cookies look great. It's amazing what you can do out of sheer desperation.
Meredith says
Necessity is the mother of all invention right? Even chocolate chip cookies!
sundancesocialmedia says
Yummy and healthy!
Meredith says
Thanks Lisa!
Michele Harvey says
Although gluten free is all the rage, most people are not gluten intolerant. This is not to say that you aren't gluten intolerant. I hope you find whatever is causing you discomfort. I love your photos and I love chocolate chip cookies. They are my favorite.
Meredith says
Thanks Michele! I do hope gluten isn't the issue because I love bread. And cookies!
Tim says
These look delicious and like you I am a fiend when it comes to chocolate chip cookies. I can't have them in the house or they're gone. Made muffins a while back and used buckwheat flour; came out gorgeous.; with choco chips of course. Hope you are back to your usual self soon.
Meredith says
I was just hearing about buckwheat flour from someone else! I will definitely give it a try. Thanks for the encouragement!
andleeb says
You will not believe that I chocolate chip cookie is in my hand when I opened your post. I love them a lot. Now I know that they mix oats so it is like that.
I will surely try this recipe, my holidays for Eid are starting on 2nd Oct and first thing I will do it to try this recipe.
Thank you for a great share. I hope they will turn out good. I am not sure about Ground Flax Seed.... Can I make without this?
Meredith says
That's hilarious! Yes, try these without flaxseed, but they probably won't hold together very well. If you can sub in an egg or two that would fix that problem, but I'm not sure if that fits your needs. Let me know how they turn out...
Donna Janke says
These sound delicious. I often substitute applesauce for the oil in muffin recipes. I wonder if that could done with at least some of the oil in this recipe.
Meredith says
Thanks Donna. I'm not sure if applesauce would work since you are already substituting so many other ingredients here. It's always worth a try though!
Welli says
When life gets hard, I usually turn to chocolate chip cookies. I love the line. I think its always good to have that safe haven to turn to when things seem like they are falling apart. And you have a very non hazardous way....well depends how you view it. lol
Meredith says
That's true, it depends how you view it! I must confess I've felt a little betrayed by my food safe haven lately. I guess that shows how much I depend on it!
Eve Koivula says
I can totally imagine how much better they make you feel 🙂
The lazy person I am, I have a shortcut though: I just eat the chocolate as is LOL
Meredith says
That's a very good shortcut Eve! 🙂
William Rusho says
The cookies look great, and you making them gluten free is awesome. As always, I have no baking skills, so I may never try this recipe.
Meredith says
You'd be amazed what you're willing to do when your chocolate supply is threatened!
Deidre M. Simpson says
You're speaking my language, Meredith! All you had to do was mention half of those ingredients. I hope you can eat healthier longer if you want!
Meredith says
Thank you Deidre!
Ken Dowell says
Imagine how much better you'd feel after 4 fully loaded chocolate chip cookies.
Meredith says
Yum! With a big glass of milk!
jbutler1914 says
Those cookies look delicious but I will probably stay with my Chips Ahoy.
Meredith says
Haha! I love chips ahoy. I cheated the other day and that was what I had!
Arleen says
Now those look good enough to take off my computer screen. I use farro flour and it gives everything a nice flavor with being processed
Meredith says
I like that idea Arleen. I'll have to look for farro flour next time I'm at the store...
Home Jobs by MOM (@HomeJobsbyMOM) says
They sound yummy! I'll have to tell my friend at preschool. Her family doesn't eat gluten.
Meredith says
Thanks! I'd love to be able to help someone else enjoy chocolate chip cookies!