Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies = Freedom

So, how 'bout that Rapture, huh? I guess Heaven is harder to get into than we all realized since we're ALL STILL HERE. It's cool; I'm glad judgement day has been put off a bit longer, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to make these amazing Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies.

{Cookies and a nice cold glass of Coconut Milk}

I've seen all kinds of Paleo-friendly recipes online, but aside from actual meals, I haven't done much experimenting with Paleo versions of non-paleo foods, partly because I feel like they're not REALLY paleo (honey and agave nectar may be natural, but they're still versions of sugar) and partly because I'm lazy. More the latter than anything else. But ya know what?? Sometimes, a girl gets a sugar craving dammit!!! And also, like the honey badger, I do what I want!!

Regardless, I've found myself with a Charlie Sheen-esque addiction to a new blog, The Paleo Project. Blogger Jenna is an avid Crossfitter and Paleo practitioner  Among many delicious paleo recipes, including Cinnamon Toasted Roast Chicken and Bacon Wrapped Scallops, she has a variety of sweet treats that are all wheat, dairy, and refined sugar-free. (And also, she's a pretty funny writer. Snaps!) 

I saw her recipe for chocolate chip cookies and decided they'd be the perfect place to start. It's quite likely you won't have coconut flour, almond butter, and coconut milk on hand, but it's worth a trip to the grocery store to give these puppies a try. They're also INCREDIBLY easy to make. Forget the whole creaming process (which basically goes against everything I believe in baking...but it's just not necessary with these ingredients); you can dump everything in one bowl and be done!

{The batter is seriously nom-able}

{Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Refined sugar-free. Amazingly, NOT taste-free}

{Unlike regular cookies, these don't spread when they bake, so give them a press with the back of a spoon before popping them in the oven}

So, how do they taste Melissa??? Okay, I'm not gonna lie to you like I normally do. These don't taste exactly like cookies made with flour and brown sugar. BUT. They are very good. They have a soft, chewy texture, which I like in a cookie, and they more than satiate my sugar craving. Plus, since they're made with coconut flour, dates, and almond butter (i.e., not low-cal), they're very filling, so one is plenty. 

P.S. I generally don't believe in using vegan versions of things because of the soy content (the recipe calls for vegan chocolate chips), but after comparing the ingredient list to non-vegan chocolate chips, Kyle and I realized the only difference was the type of sweetener used. The vegan chips used cane sugar juice as opposed to the refined sugar in the other brands. So vegan chip away, my friends!

P.P.S. You could totally omit the chocolate chips altogether and substitute dried fruit or nuts if you wanted to keep things really Paleo. The coconut flour gives these cookies a kind of oatmeal texture, so raisins, walnuts, or anything else you can imagine would be very tasty as well.

Re-posted from The Paleo Project

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup gluten free coconut flour
• 1/2 cup almond butter in natural oils
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (beverage)
• 1 egg
• 1 cup vegan chocolate chips, or enjoy life chocolate chips
• 1/2 tsp gluten free baking soda
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tbs cinnamon
• 1/2 tbs honey
• 5 medjool dates, pitted

Directions:

1. Preheat to 350 degrees F.
2. In food processor, combine flour, almond butter, coconut milk, egg, baking soda, cinnamon, honey, vanilla and dates.
3. Process until a semi-thick, semi-cream batter forms.
4. Add more flour, if desired, but the batter is not meant to be as thick as regular cookie dough.
5. Remove blades and stir in chocolate chips.
6. With a spoon, scoop cookie dough onto a baking sheet. I made 12.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown. (I only baked them for 15)