The Best Ever Maple Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe is Gluten Free and Dairy Free! These cookies are full of flavor, lower in sugar than most cookies, and with a soft but slightly crispy texture. Kid, athlete, husband tested and approved. Simple real food ingredients! And it only took me 5 times to figure out the best recipe, haha. But I did it, well.. you can best the test of that.
These cookies… ooye. They humbled me. Probably because I became OBSESSED with perfecting them. And probably because, truth be told, I’m not the best cookie maker. Muffins and bars and bites are more my thang. Cookies are tough, tough cookies. Ha!
But let me back up a minute here and tell the story behind these cookies. Then you can thank me for slaving over the hot oven (in Texas summer) 4-5x this week. Okay I kid, I kid.
Now, about these cookies. Why the need to get them “just right?”
You see, a few weeks ago, one of my husband’s athletes (a runner) emailed me about replacing dairy in her family’s diet. It seems that her daughter was having trouble digesting it. But the daughter, also a runner, loved her cookies, ice cream, milk, etc. Hey, what teenager doesn’t love those foods?
Anyway, I could have easily sent her to the store to buy gluten free/dairy free cookies but instead I wanted to provide her with gluten free and dairy free resources and recipes. More recipes like this vegan Golden Milk Smoothie/shake.
Then the question remained… what about cookies? How do you make healthy maple chocolate chip cookies that are dairy free and gluten free without them tasting like cardboard and without a BAZILLLLION ingredients in them. Ya, that question.
Cooking/baking REAL food and allergy friendly food should not be an all out chore for others, that’s why I’m here. I like to TEST TEST TEST in order to find the SIMPLEST way. Which leads me to this recipe. It was my 4th or 5th attempt, I can’t remember.
First I made them with butter (to test the flavor consistency), then ghee (because it’s basically dairy free but tastes like butter). I made them with mini chocolate chips (enjoy life), then with dark chocolate (dairy free), and then I made them with coconut oil, then coconut butter, then almond butter… and so on and so on. Hey, they don’t call me crazy cotter for nothin, or sherpa wife for that matter. But I digress..
These Cookies…. like i said before, they humbled me. But I finally found one recipe the surpassed the rest.
This is the best maple chocolate chip cookies recipe that’s gluten free and dairy free!
PrintMaple Chocolate Chip Cookies {Gluten Free and Dairy Free}
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 25 1x
Description
Maple Chocolate Chip Cookies {Gluten Free and Dairy Free}
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- ¾ cup packed coconut sugar (or brown sugar if you don’t have coconut)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup coconut oil (softened)
- 2–3 tablespoon almond butter (melted)
- ½ teaspoons each vanilla bean and butter extract (or 1 tsp vanilla)
- 2 eggs
- 1 and ⅔ cups Rice Flour (you can also use All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour mix )
- 2 tbsp potato or arrowroot starch
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda or cream of tartar (for extra fluff)
- dash of sea salt
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- ½ cup dairy free dark chocolate chip (enjoy life brand is good)
- Optional add in -> ½ cup gluten free cocoa granola mix (I use love grown foods)
Instructions
- preheat oven to 375°F. In mixing bowl, beat sugars, coconut oil, and extracts, and nut butter with mixer until smooth, then whip in the eggs until fluffy.
- Set aside.
- In another bowl, combine your the rest of your dry ingredients, and mix well.
- Then add in your optional granola and chocolate chips and mix again.
- Add your dry mix to the sugar/butter and stir all together.
- I then chilled in fridge for 5 minutes.
- Scoop onto cookie sheet and bake for 7-8 minutes or so.
- Let them cool after since they will be soft in the middle.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
And I’m so thankful for that.
Maple Chocolate Chip Cookies – Ingredients and Nutrients
- Maple syrup – natural sugar.
- Sea Salt – potassium and minerals
- dairy free dark chocolate chips – Antioxidants, that counts!
- Rice flour – gluten free grain great for restoring glycogen and easy to digest
- potato starch – gluten free resistant starch great for baking
- baking soda/powder
- coconut butter or oil – healthy fats to support metabolism, energy.
- coconut sugar – coconut sugar contains nutrients (minerals) found in it’s coconut palm. It’s also lower on the GI index so won’t spike blood sugar.
- natural extracts
- cinnamon – anti-inflammatory
- eggs (complete protein)
- And my optional adds in that I love –> maple almond butter (almond butter is great source of Vitamin E and good fats).
See, my work is done. I’ve just explained why you need to bake cookies and eat them right now! Haha. Just kidding.
But in all honestly, these maple chocolate chip cookies are a way better post run, workout, or snack than most bars out there. Just ask my co-workers at the gym. They were my guinea pigs and so were my nieces, my parents, and my husband.! Told ya I made A LOT OF BATCHES! 😉
So today, let’s raise our glass of coconut milk or almond milk and toast to real food with real ingredients, simple enough!
Let’s eat some maple chocolate chip cookies!
Do you have a favorite dairy free chocolate chip cookie recipe?
Have you mastered it? Do you need a cookie today?
I think yes!
[Tweet “Real food, real tasty! #GlutenFree and #DairyFree Maple Chocolate Chip Cookies! #fitfluential! “]
Joan
Hello: I was about to make these cookies this morning and was curious if almond flour would be a suitable substitute as I found a new unopened bag in my cupboard?
Lindsay Cotter
I would try these instead! https://www.cottercrunch.com/almond-flour-cookies-vegan-paleo/
B D.
Totally gonna use this for my future bakery!!
addie martanovic
these have coconut butter in them!? so naturally that means I must make them… YUM 🙂
Jess @hellotofit
Wow. These look amazing, my friend! Major props to you for re-making these five times to perfect it. Pinned this!
Debbie @ Coach Debbie Runs
I love chocolate chip cookies and with maple makes them sound even more delicious. Great way to get in good with all your friends and co-workers! You are the cookie woman!
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai
YUM’d! This looks delicious. A definite must try! Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We’d love to have you for a visit. The Door is OPEN. http://lifewithlorelai.com/2015/06/04/home-matters-linky-party-40/ 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero
Oh my gosh these look amazing!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I love that you went to all this trouble to make sure a friend’s daughter had an easy and tasty way to eat chocolate chip cookies again. You are remarkable.
Beth E.
These worked amazingly well with chickpea brine in place of the eggs (6 Tbsp) and all-purpose gluten-free flour! Delicious! Home run, Linds!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Cookies are a pain in the ass! Omg they are. So much so, that I ended up giving up on my last ones and turning them into bars 😆 But these look amazing. And you just reminded me that I have a bag of rice flour sitting in my pantry that needs to be used up
Cotter Crunch
what? you are the master baker! your cookies look amazing.. teach me YOUR WAYS! haha
GiGi Eats
BEST EVER huh? This claim must mean that you ate the worlds supply of cookies?? LOL!
Cotter Crunch
well… I’ve had my fair share of crappy ones. LOL! so this is not one of them. You smarty pants you. 😉
Katie @ operation Happier
Ohhh my gosh, when I first saw the title of this post, I thought it said free cookies! I got super excited 🙂 But, I’m pretty excited to try these cookies even if it means making them myself 😉 And my in-laws are gluten and dairy free, so I will have to pass along the recipe!
Cotter Crunch
free for a lot of my friends who got to try them. next time i will make sure to send you some! haha
Sneha
Heyya.. Gorgeous cookies. I just bought rice flour last week– I don’t normally use it, but have wanted to experiment with some other flours. I think your determination paid off, because these look like the perfect cookie :)these chocolate chip cookies are making me drool! They look incredible, and I’m so glad that you spent many rounds perfecting them. :)I haven’t subjected Vegas to my favorite vegan cookies yet, but I loved my chocolate avocado cookies. 🙂 🙂
Cotter Crunch
oh i want to try your avocado cookies! Sounds great
Melissa @ Treats With a Twist
Lookin wonderful! I want some!!
Kaylin @ Enticing Healthy Eating
Oh, Lindsay, these look phenomenal!! Applause!! Seriously, your pictures alone for these are on point, and the ingredients make me want to whip these up myself. For sure.
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
Gorgeous cookies. I just bought rice flour last week– I don’t normally use it, but have wanted to experiment with some other flours. I think your determination paid off, because these look like the perfect cookie!
She Rocks Fitness
Lots of cookies crumbled over a bowl of idea cream…yes and please because it is Friday! 🙂 Have a good weekend Crazy Cotter! XOXO
Natalie
Maple and chocolate chip together sounds amazing!!
YUM!
Lee
Did you actually eat one? Weird question I know but you’re just SO SO skinny I have a hard time picturing you eating anything other than salad!
Cotter Crunch
Hey Lee. Yes, they have been our “breakfast” cookies all week. Haha. Actually, they have better ingredients than a lot of bars so that’s a good thing. And great with coffee.
Jody - Fit at 57
I WANT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 I think a ball’in bite version might work! 🙂
Nicole @ Fitful FOcus
officially pinned. YUM!
Blair
I’m not gluten or dairy-free, but these chocolate chip cookies are making me drool! They look incredible, and I’m so glad that you spent many rounds perfecting them. 🙂
Katie
These looks so so good…they just need to appear in my kitchen asap 😉
Cotter Crunch
maybe they will induce labor they are so good! haha
Laura @ This Runner's Recipes
Maple syrup + chocolate chips = best sweet combination ever.
Cotter Crunch
you know it sista!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl
You can never ever go wrong with chocolate chip cookies.. ever!
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
These look delicious! How did you know chocolate chip cookies are my favorite?
Cotter Crunch
i had a hunch. 😉
Cassie @ Almost getting it together
UM I want to crawl through my computer screen and have one of these! I don’t think I’ve ever had a maple chocolate chip cookie but obviously that needs to change!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
I’ve eaten a lot of humble pie, but these cookies sound like must more fun. Haha!
I haven’t subjected Vegas to my favorite vegan cookies yet, but I loved my chocolate avocado cookies. They’ll have to make an appearance soon!
Becki @ Fighting for Wellness
I love everything about this recipe and can’t wait to try it! Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Um, the pancakes I posted on Monday 😉
Kayla @ Blondes Have More Run
Those cookies look sooo good! It’s hard to make gluten free cookies look like a regular cookie but you my friend seem to have mastered that!
Cotter Crunch
girl, tell me about it. 5th times a charm haha
Sarah
Ok I’m not one to complain about cookies, especially chocolate chip cookies but where are my Cotter Chronicles? I had my coffee ready and everything, now I just want to go whip up some cookies (if only I had time).
Cotter Crunch
haha it’s only 2x a month.
[email protected]
Amazing! What would you suggest instead of coconut butter Lindsay? I don’t seem to be able to get that in any local or main stores here. Thank you.
Cotter Crunch
if you can eat dairy,then i would use butter or ghee. I tried with both and they work great too! If you can’t eat dairy, then maybe try coconut oil. Do you have that neil?
[email protected]
Yeah, I can get coconut oil, thanks very much Lindsay! 🙂
misszippy
Love the maple twist on these! Yum!
Marcia
These look and sound amazing. I’ve got all ingredients except potato starch. Need to get some!
Cotter Crunch
you can use another starch. what do you have? corn starch?
EA-The Spicy RD
I probably shouldn’t have clicked the link to this recipe, because now you’re forcing me to bake cookie this weekend. Shame on you. Shame on me. 🙂 🙂 Love the addition of maple to these super yummy looking cookies!
Cotter Crunch
shame on us both! LOL!
Athletic avocado
These are absolutely beautiful! Im drooling just looking at the screen!
Cotter Crunch
i drooled all over them. LOL! jk.. maybe
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
You have the patience of a saint to make that many batches! Three or four tries is my max before I move on. They look delicious though! Wait I take back what I said before. It took me 6 tries to get my vegan protein bars just right. Oh what we do for food!
Cotter Crunch
haha see.. it’s what we do.
Purelytwins
YUM YUM!!! We love using maple syrup! so good.
Linz @ Itz Linz
i’m not gf but i want them anyway! sharing with my gf friend!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Golly YUM! Lindsay, these look phenomenal – thanks for all your hard work into perfecting these – these look way way better than any store bought ones!
Suzanne Digre (@WorkoutNirvana)
I don’t bake but I’ll definitely share with my clients. Thanks for sharing your recipes Lindsay!
Cotter Crunch
they make you buff! haha. well, kinda if you make so many batches and have to mix a lot
Lisa @ RunWikApricot i
I need a go to cookie recipe that’s not almond or coconut flour and this is it! I just restocked my rice flour and made some bread in the bread maker– I must make these– if I have time, I’m making them today.
Jackie
I’m always on the lookout for new, gluten free recipes. I can’t wait to try th almond butter addition.
Cotter Crunch
keep me posted jackie!
Sarah Grace
Oh yesss. You nailed it with wanting a GF, DF cookie that doesn’t taste like cardboard..I can tell just from these photos<333
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Annmarie Licatese
Droooooling. These look SO YUMMY!
Heather (Where's the Beach)
Pinned, tweeted and now you need to email me some. YUM. BTW loving your food photography lately!!!
Cotter Crunch
thank you friend, i’m really trying to focus on that
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Recipes like this can be so consuming. Where you know you need to re-test, but you really don’t want to, but you feel like you HAVE to! ha ha. I am so glad you put in the effort and they look amazing. I love that you used coconut butter. I never know what to do with it. I have a jar of it that I’ll have to bust out for these cookies!
Cotter Crunch
i love coconut oil/butter for baking or stir frys is it can handle high heat. Plus it’s just delicious! let me know what you think Kate!
Chris
You’re like the Lord of the Rings, except with these cookies. One recipe to rule them all! =P
Jennifer FIsher
swoon
lisa
I have not been able to have fresh chocolate chip cookies in so long. Thanks so much for this recipe!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
coconut butter IN these? these have to be the best cookies ever! photos = on point!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables
Ship me some?? Pretty please??
Cotter Crunch
anything for YOU
Stacey
Brown or white rice flour? (or does it matter?) These look amazing – thanks for all the trial and error – the rewards look spectacular!
Cotter Crunch
i think the brown rice might be a little more nutty in flavor, but it should work. Keep me posted!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
UHMMM Caleb is going to go MENTAL CRAZYNESS for these! I am so glad you did all the hard work of perfecting, because now we just get to eat 😉 Pinning!
SuzLyfe (@suzlyfe)
Best ever, huh? I’ll be the judge of that 😀
Cotter Crunch
I’ve got one left, come get it! test test
Livi @ Eat, pray, work it out
thanks for trying so many times– they look AMAZING so it sounds like it was worth it!
mollie k
these look great! gorgeous pictures!!
Erin @ The Almond Eater
It’s so frustrating when a recipe takes multiple tries, but it’s just that much more satisfying when you do get it right. This combo sounds amazing. Oh! And these photos…. so good!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
These look perfect for me, I’ve been sweetening most of my baked goods with maple syrup due to the low FODMAPS and it’s great!