A super easy and amazingly delicious recipe for rich, Soft and Chewy Paleo Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies! These addicting cookies are gluten and grain free, dairy free, paleo, and sure to become your favorite go-to healthy cookie recipe.
I used to have mixed feelings about paleo “treat” recipes, because cookies are cookies no matter what type of grain or nut flour they’re made of, don’t you think?
If it looks like a cookie and tastes like one too, it’s probably a cookie. I thought people would kid themselves into believing that “paleo” treats are somehow more virtuous than the good old fashioned Betty Crocker style chocolate chip variety. Cookies don’t come with or without virtue though, right?
But what about those chewy butter toffee ones that came in a pack of two in the school cafeteria. God I loved those! Anyone else remember them? Where the heck are they now? Can I make them Paleo? Hmmm…
Anyway, I think once you start getting into “good” “bad” “healthy” “not healthy” with food you run into trouble.
Trouble I want nothing to do with – for myself or my kids.
It’s more about having delicious options that won’t leave you sick or in pain. Luckily, it turns out that cookies made without grains, dairy, or soy can be JUST as delicious as the “real” deal! (Not kidding)
And, while I wouldn’t eat these in place of eggs, veggies, meats and other whole foods, not so surprisingly, they work really well if you’re trying to replace a traditional cookie with something a bit more system-friendly.
I also love making these for my kids, since they have a good deal of fat from coconut oil and nut flour, and fat in general is one thing my kids don’t embrace quite as passionately as I do. It’s a total win-win! They happen to be super easy to throw together too. Now let’s start baking!
Soft and Chewy Paleo Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies {Paleo}
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil melted, or unsalted butter (if dairy is okay), melted
- 1/3 cup organic coconut sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/8 tsp of fine grain sea salt
- 1/2 cup Enjoy Life dark chocolate chips - or your favorite dark chocolate chips *
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries *Optional
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, whisk the egg with the coconut oil, vanilla, and coconut sugar until smooth.
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In a separate medium bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda and salt and mix to incorporate all ingredients.
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Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the egg/sugar mixture until fully combined and the mixture is the consistency of a dough (it will be sticky)
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Stir the chocolate chips and cranberries into the dough.
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If the dough is too sticky to roll into balls, chill first in the freezer for 10 minutes.
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Form dough into 16 balls and flatten into cookie shape (they'll expand but won't flatten in the oven) and arrange on the parchment lined cookie sheet
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Bake in the preheated oven 10 minutes or until set and just beginning to brown - be careful not to overbake.
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Remove from oven, allow cookies to sit 2-5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
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Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*If omitting the cranberries, use 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Nutrition
What I Used to Make My Soft and Chewy Paleo Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies:
What’s your hands down favorite cookie? Yeah that’s a tough one. Might have to go with those old butter toffee ones but not sure they count since I haven’t had one in over 20 years. A really good and chewy, homemade chocolate chunk cookie might just have to take the win on this!
Want more Paleo cookie recipes? Try one of these!
Ultimate Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
Big Soft Paleo Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Paleo Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chewy Chocolate Almond Butter Sandwich Cookies
Awesome Paleo cookies around the web:
Thick and Chewy Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
Best Paleo & Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Paleo Running Momma!
The Cookie ChRUNicles says
November 21, 2014 at 7:11 amI bought the Enjoy Life chocolate chips yesterday and thought of you because I think we talked about them. I need them for Thanksgiving simply because my fam is kosher so the parve part of the nondairy chips is essential! I remember those cookies- the yellow wrapper? The chocolate chip cookies, in the pack of two, were in the brown wrapper? I believe they still exist in school. My school used to sell the warm Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. Three for one dollar. No wonder I was chubby!
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:36 pmYes the yellow wrapper! I loved those but didn’t like the chocolate chip. My kid’s elementary school gets food from local restaurants so maybe that’s why I haven’t seen them. I think the enjoy life taste like normal chocolate chips, just pricey ones 🙂
Nicole@TheGirlWhoRanEverywhere says
November 21, 2014 at 7:18 amYum! Chocolate cookies win for me too! Happy marathon weekend!
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:37 pmThanks Nicole!
Tina Muir says
November 21, 2014 at 8:12 amHow can you make me choose a cookie!? Thats just mean!! It can be an everything cookie, basically a bowl of candy stuck together with some cookie dough 😛 These sound wonderful!
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:41 pmThat’s too funny! Sounds like the Sundae’s I made at my job in high school – every candy/cookie/brownie topping they had surrounding a scoop of ice cream. Sounds delicious 🙂
Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine says
November 21, 2014 at 8:21 amI love a good fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookie, but I have actually really liked baking paleo cookies too! These look perfect and I will definitely be making them soon!
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:42 pmI do like the way paleo cookies have a high fat content and so don’t give me an energy crash, even aside from all the digestive stuff. Fresh out of the oven anything is the best!
Christa @ Living Unbalanced says
November 21, 2014 at 8:46 amI love the cranberry + chocolate combo so I’ll have to try these out! My favorite cookie is probably the classic peanut butter cookies with the hershey kiss on top — never gets old 😉 I agree with you – a cookie is a cookie, paleo or not, but it’s good to have a grain free/dairy free version if it helps your insides not feel so out of whack.
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:43 pmI used to do those with a pb cup instead of hershey kiss. No paleo version of that one yet! My kids still ask for them.
SuzLyfe says
November 21, 2014 at 9:26 amI love cranberry and chocolate together. And cherry and chocolate. White chocolate is a nice switch up too, haha, so just put me a little nugget of chocolate lovin in there and I’m good!
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:44 pmWhen I was a kid I loved white chocolate because it was so rare! Haven’t had it in forever. Might go well with cranberries.
Lesq says
November 21, 2014 at 9:34 amLoved those cafeteria “crap” cookies in the wrapper. Use to sneak and buy them bec my parents back then were health nuts! Guess I was destined to be a food screw up! Funny, my mom did huge bakery shops each week and boy did I indulge. She was of the belief if it was made in a bakery, it used wholesome ingeredients. Yeah right! I ate muffins and danish galore. I am not a sweet eater anymore at all. Crave good fats, but I make these paleo treats with fruit and my adult children and their significant others love them. Nice for the holiday to have a cranberry cookie and who doesn’t like something with the addition of chocolate. Your muffins were a big hit also.
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:44 pmIt really does change! I’ll always have good memories of those butter crunch cookies though!
Nicole @ Runs & WODs says
November 21, 2014 at 10:09 amThese look delicious! My all time favorite cookie are the black and white cookies. I can’t tell you the last time I had one though. When I was little I would always share them with my mom. She eats the chocolate side and I eat the vanilla.
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:45 pmYou must be from around me then! Black and white cookies would definitely be on my list. And I only ate the white side 🙂
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says
November 21, 2014 at 10:21 amMine favorite is Chocolate Chip cookies! These look great. Will have to give them a try. Is there anything I could substitute for Arrowroot Powder do you think? Happy Friday!
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:46 pmMaybe tapioca starch, or, you could omit it completely and they would probably be fine, possibly a bit more dense.
misszippy1 says
November 21, 2014 at 10:44 amThose sound amazing–may have to try them for our annual cookie exchange run!
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:46 pmHope you do 🙂
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
November 21, 2014 at 11:53 amAgree with you on the whole cookie is a cookie thing. I think having treats in the diet is important otherwise I would go off the deep end and overeat them. I’m better off having them regularly. I’ve also learned that using coconut oil and nut flours, my body likes the fat of those much better and my stomach doesn’t get crazy bloated by not using regular flour.
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:47 pmI have the same experience – my energy doesn’t crash and no digestive issues so I much prefer making them grain free and high fat 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
November 21, 2014 at 12:00 pmI’m just not a sweets or dessert person. The last time I had a cookie was the ultra healthy ones I made for Christmas last year (if they can even really be called cookies!) Haha!
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:48 pmI feel like when I eat them, then I want more! But when I’m not eating sweets I don’t crave them. Such is life 🙂
Daisy @ Fit Wanderlust Runner says
November 21, 2014 at 12:04 pmThe cookies looks great. Where do you get coconut sugar? I like the concept of healthy treats. My favorite cookies are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies so this recipe has caught my eye.
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:49 pmI purchased it in my local shoprite so I would think it’s in most grocery stores, if the store has a “natural” baking section which most do. I find it to be like dark brown sugar, not too coconut-y.
runwiki says
November 21, 2014 at 12:08 pmThese look awesome! I love the clean ingredients– I’ve never had luck making Almond Meal Cookies chewy, so looking forward to trying these.
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:50 pmI think some recipes use too much almond flour which makes them cakey instead of chewy. These were a hit with my whole family, hope you try!
Shelly says
November 21, 2014 at 3:37 pmMmmm, cookies. Love them all, but I’d have to say that I favor oatmeal raisin and white chocolate macadamia.
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:53 pmYum those are both good too! This is totally the time of year I start thinking about cookies 🙂
Michael says
November 21, 2014 at 4:01 pmWhile I can’t say that I follow this diet… I find it quite interesting. I’m always looking to try new stuff. Especially with ingredients that I’ve never had before. I’ve never eaten coconut sugar. Does it taste like coconut?
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:54 pmCoconut sugar is sort of more like dark brown sugar, in my opinion. I don’t find the flavor to be incredibly coconut-y, although, it’s hard to tell because I eat a lot of coconut so I might just be used to it! Something to try!
Aja says
November 21, 2014 at 7:35 pmThose sound amazing! I love this time of year because it gives me so many excuses to bake millions of cookies!
Michele says
November 21, 2014 at 7:56 pmAgreed! There is something so fun and warm about baking cookies this time of year, especially with my kids 🙂
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
November 21, 2014 at 10:00 pmI’m definitely with you on not being willing to label food as good or bad. Food is food. We need to nourish our body, but we also need it to soothe our soul — and I don’t see any harm as long as it makes us feel good. As for what my favourite cookie is… that’s definitely a tough one, but I’m going to have to go with the classic chocolate chip oatmeal.
Michele says
November 22, 2014 at 6:54 amDefinitely no harm in dessert 🙂 And it seems like the classic cookies have people’s hearts the most.
Danielle says
November 21, 2014 at 11:19 pmThese look fabulous and so delicious! I’m trying these for sure. Honestly I was never a huge cookie or cake person, oatmeal raisin was one I liked but I always preferred baking more than eating my goodies. I was aware of my tummy issue with white flour from a young age but it never kept me from loving to create baked treats for others. Recipes like yours are so exciting! I can bake and eat too
Michele says
November 22, 2014 at 6:56 amI love baking too, and I DID like to eat the stuff I baked as well. It’s nice to be able to bake things that you can eat without feeling like garbage 🙂 Hope you enjoy them!
Giselle Schroer says
November 22, 2014 at 12:42 amChewy and Chocolate? I’m sold! I try not to make too many paleo treats often but every once in awhile they happen 🙂 A few might have actually happened today in preparation for our Friendsgiving tomorrow!
Michele says
November 22, 2014 at 6:57 amOnce you start having too much of something, it loses the “treat” quality anyway. I bake probably twice a month and that’s perfect for us.
Sue @ This Mama Runs For Cupcakes says
November 25, 2014 at 8:26 amThese look amazing! Can’t wait to try them!
Michele says
November 25, 2014 at 1:23 pmAwesome, hope you like them!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
December 28, 2014 at 11:25 pmDude, these trump my version- I’m totally making them this weekend!
Michele says
December 29, 2014 at 7:38 pmCan’t tell they’re grain free, so good!
Mickey says
November 18, 2016 at 7:14 pmThese look delicious! Who doesn’t love cookies?! Michelle, I would LOVE to share your recipe with my followers. Would you mind if I share this for a round up of delicious healthier Thanksgiving dessert options over on my fitness blog? I’d love to use a picture with your permission and of course link people over to your site 🙂 Thanks!
riseupandgofitness.com/thighs-and-tris-before-pies-day1
Michele says
November 18, 2016 at 8:54 pmYes absolutely!
Katie Baza says
February 26, 2019 at 12:05 amWOW! I enjoy following a paleo diet and cooking paleo, but usually leave the baking to someone else. I wanted to bake some cookies as a thank you and stumbled on this recipe. I’ve never been disappointed in one of your recipes so I decided to try it out. I doubled the batch and did some with just chocolate chips and some with chips and walnuts. These cookies were incredibly easy to make and are the best chocolate chips cookies I’ve ever had! The recipients of the cookies raved as well 🙂 Thank you for another excellent recipe!