Cranberry Orange Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies {Paleo & Vegan}

These cranberry orange chewy chocolate chip cookies might just become your favorite cookies, ever!  They’re grain free yet have a thick and chewy “oatmeal” texture, and are also egg free, dairy free, paleo and vegan.  Super kid friendly and perfect for the holidays or anytime!

It’s time for cookies!   I mean, it can technically always be time for cookies – I’m not arguing with you there – but today?!  Today is special.

It’s December 2 (the 1st as I’m writing this!) and Thanksgiving is gone along with all those pies and pumpkin desserts.   I’ve shared my perfect Paleo cut-out sugar cookies and a gingerbread chocolate chip skillet cookie over the past week.  I’m not exactly going to be shy with the cookie recipes throughout December, that’s for sure!

So, for the next three days, I’m sharing three new cookie recipes, all perfect for the holiday season.  Plus, they’re all vegan too!  Paleo, dairy free, egg free – and some of the best cookies I’ve made, um, ever, I have to say.

We’re starting out BIG, with these chewy cranberry orange chocolate chip cookies!  These cookies are based on my “oatmeal” (no oats) raisin cookies, which are also paleo and vegan.

I honestly love that original fake-out oatmeal recipe so much that I almost see no need to ever put eggs in cookies again 🙂 Don’t let the flaxseed egg intimidate you at all – you literally just combine 1 Tbsp of ground flaxseed with 2 1/2 Tbsp water and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.   BOOM!  Flax magic.

Anyway, going off of that recipe, I decided to throw in a good amount of orange zest, some coconut sugar, fruit-sweetened cranberries and dark chocolate chips.  And seriously – I could not keep myself away from these cookies!

I’m a huge fan of orange flavor in baking (my cranberry orange pecan muffins and coffee cake are a couple of examples) and it definitely did not disappoint me here.

The cookies have a strong orange flavor but not at all overwhelming, and it goes absolutely perfectly with the chocolate and cranberries.

The texture is paleo–vegan perfection.  The dough is super easy to work with (a true “drop” cookie – no rolling or flattening necessary!) and they reliably come out the same each time.  Those of you who bake a lot know how much appreciation that deserves!

The other thing I love about these cookies?  They stay pretty much the same, texture and flavor wise, simply being loosely covered on the countertop.

Which means, you can easily bring them over to people’s houses not worrying they’ll melt or somehow get weird over the course of the gathering.  Low maintenance cookies are my cookie-best-friends 🙂 Since they can hold their own at room temperature, they make great gifts too!

See that photo above?  I decided to get fancy and give my cookies a little coconut icing drizzle – but this is completely optional, and frankly, if you’re not a big coconut fan you’ll like them better as is.

I enjoyed them both with the icing and without – the icing adds a little flare, creamy texture and coconut flavor which goes well with every other flavor in the cookie.  If you’re comfortable melting/working with coconut butter, it’s also insanely easy – just mix melted coconut butter with a bit of maple syrup and drizzle away!

Are you guys ready to bake these ridiculously tasty, cranberry orange chewy chocolate chip cookies?!  I can’t wait for you to try them – let’s go!

Cranberry Orange Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies {Paleo & Vegan}

Cranberry Orange Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies {Paleo & Vegan}

These cranberry orange chewy chocolate chip cookies might just become your favorite cookies, ever!  They're grain free yet have a thick and chewy "oatmeal" texture, and are also egg free, dairy free, paleo and vegan.  Super kid friendly and perfect for the holidays or anytime!

Author: Michele

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Course: Baking/Dessert

Cuisine: Paleo and Vegan

Servings: 14

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Ingredients

• 1/4 cup coconut oil solid but softened
• 1/4 cup smooth almond butter the creamier, the better
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp coconut sugar
• 2 tsp orange zest grated (about 1 large orange)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 flax egg = 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed + 2 1/2 Tbsp water allowed to sit 15 minutes
• 1 1/4 cup blanched almond flour
• 1/4 cup tapioca flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Optional coconut icing:

• 3 Tbsp coconut butter melted*
• 1 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup

Instructions

1. Prepare your flax egg as described above and set aside. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Whisk together the almond and tapioca flours, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl with an electric mixer, cream together the almond butter and coconut oil until smooth, then add the maple syrup, coconut sugar, vanilla, and orange zest; continue to mix until very smooth. Add in the flax egg and beat on low until fully combined.
4. Slowly mix in the flour mixture (with a spoon) until a sticky cookie dough forms. Fold in the cranberries and chocolate chips, then chill the mixture in the fridge for 5-10 minutes.
5. Using a medium cookie scoop, drop the mixture onto a cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart since they will spread a bit.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes or until cookies are set in the center and beginning to brown around the edges. They will be very soft but don’t over-bake to maintain a chewy texture.
7. Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Makes 14 cookies. Enjoy!

For the Optional Coconut Icing:

1. Slowly melt coconut butter if needed, in a glass bowl in 8 second increments in the microwave until just drippy.  Stir in the maple syrup, then drizzle onto cookies.

Recipe Notes

*Nutrition was calculated without optional coconut icing. 

Nutrition

Calories: 199kcal

Fat: 13g

Saturated fat: 5g

Sodium: 98mg

Potassium: 92mg

Carbohydrates: 17g

Fiber: 2g

Sugar: 10g

Protein: 3g

Vitamin C: 0.5%

Calcium: 6.6%

Iron: 4%

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What I Used To Make My Cranberry Orange Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Want More Paleo and Vegan Baking Recipes?  Try One of These!

Banana Blueberry Breakfast Cookies

Paleo and Vegan “Oatmeal” Raisin Cookies

Soft and Chewy Paleo and Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Almond Butter and Jelly Cookie Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Vanilla Cheesecake 

Pumpkin Chocolate Cashew Cheesecake

Triple Chocolate Paleo & Vegan Brownies

Fudgy Chocolate Chip Blondies 

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