Today’s recipe for gluten-free Chocolate Almond Cherry Power Cookies comes from my friend Danielle Walker of Against All Grain. I’ve been “across the pond” as they say (I’ll be sharing details soon) and I am trying to get back to normal life—which by the way includes posting more often—so I’m thankful to Danielle for helping me out today. Plus, chocolate, almond, and cherries are a truly heavenly trifecta, so I bet you’re as excited about this recipe as I am!
![These gluten-free Chocolate Almond Cherry Power Cookies from Danielle Walker of Against All Grain are terrific treats! Gluten free, grain free, paleo, and vegan; they work for many special diets. [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Chocolate-Almond-Cherry-Power-Cookie-Paleo-Vegan-600.jpg "These gluten-free Chocolate Almond Cherry Power Cookies from Danielle Walker of Against All Grain are terrific treats! Gluten free, grain free, paleo, and vegan; they work for many special diets. [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]")
Danielle’s recipes are always gluten free, grain free, and dairy free. These cookies are actually flourless and if you read gfe regularly, you know that flourless recipes are my absolute favorite!
Why? Well, you can usually make them with ingredients you have on hand, there are often less steps required, and flourless baked goods are so full of flavor because the flour doesn’t get in the way of the other ingredients.
Danielle uses chia seeds to provide the “power” component of this recipe and also to make this recipe egg free. That also makes this recipe naturally vegan, so it’s a great treat option for so many of you reading!
Chia gel eggs, similar to flax gel eggs, are a great egg replacement. Because I happen to be intolerant of chia seeds (I know … my body is strange), I’ll actually make this recipe using a chicken egg in place of the chia gel egg.
Danielle is also the author of several New York Times bestsellers: Against All Grain: Delectable Paleo Recipes to Eat Well & Feel Great, Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Paleo Recipes to Make Anytime, and Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain Celebrations: A Year of Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Paleo Recipes for Every Occasion.
All of Danielle’s cookbooks garner 5 stars on Amazon and—good news—she’ll have another cookbook coming out soon! You can always see all of Danielle’s cookbooks on Amazon here.
You can watch Danielle make these cookies with her son in the video below if you’d like. It’s a totally charming demonstration and just might inspire the children in your life to happily join you in your baking!
Now let’s get to this delightful cookie recipe so you can enjoy the chocolate almond cherry power!
Gluten-Free Chocolate Almond Cherry Power Cookies (Grain-Free) Recipe
Gluten-Free Chocolate Almond Cherry Power Cookies (Grain-Free)
![Grain-Free Chocolate Almond Cherry Power Cookies (Paleo Vegan) from Against All Grain [featured on GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Chocolate-Almond-Cherry-Power-Cookie-Paleo-Vegan-735x1102.jpg)
These gluten-free Chocolate Almond Cherry Power Cookies from Danielle Walker of Against All Grain are terrific treats! Gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, paleo, and vegan; they work for many special diets.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 2 tablespoons ground chia seeds
- 1/2 cup unsalted natural almond butter
- 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/2 cup arrowroot powder
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup unsweetened dried cherries, chopped
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate pieces (80% cacao)
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk together 1/2 cup hot water and ground chia seeds and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to thicken.
- Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the almond butter, flaxseed, arrowroot, applesauce, maple syrup, cinnamon, lemon juice, nutmeg, ginger and sea salt. Mix on medium speed to combine fully.
- Add the thickened chia mixture to the bowl with the baking soda and beat again until fully combined. Stir in the cherries and chocolate pieces.
- Using a cookie scoop or a large spoon, drop dough onto the lined baking sheets. Wet fingers slightly with warm water and gently press the mounds down to flatten slightly. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with sliced almonds.
- Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown around the edges and the almonds are lightly toasted. Cool on a wire rack completely before serving.
Notes
Recipe reprinted with permission from Danielle Walker of Against All Grain.
Originally published July 23, 2015; updated June 9, 2018.
Ina Gawne says
Yummm! Great combination with the almonds and cherries! I too have trouble with chia seeds Shirley…but using an egg would definitely make these cookies soft and moist. Sounds like a delicious recipe…thanks for sharing!
Shirley says
Ina–Isn’t that interesting? I’ve never heard of anyone else having issues with chia seeds. Bummer for us both, but I admit that it’s kind of nice to know that I am not alone in that regard! They’re such great little powerhouses though so it’s unfortunate that we can’t have them. 🙁 As soon as I get some dried cherries (and it cools off some!), I’ll be giving these a go. Thanks for taking the time to comment, dear! I so love all your non-dessert recipes. We’d make a good team! 😉
Shirley
Ricki says
Wow–these look amazing, Shirley. And naturally vegan–woot! I bet I could sub something else for the small amount of maple syrup, too. On another note, can’t wait to read more about your trip!! And welcome back. 🙂 xoxo
Shirley says
I know, right, Ricki? I love it when recipes work for everyone. 😉 I’m hesitant about labeling for everything because then some people click away and don’t even take a look. 🙁 Thanks so much regarding my trip and the welcome back. I’m still processing the trip, in a good way. 🙂
xoxo,
Shirley
Cristina @ I Say Nomato says
YUM! Almonds, chocolate and cherries? These cookies have everything delicious in them! They look delicious.
Shirley says
Hi Cristina–It’s good to see you here at gfe again! I have to agree on these cookies. They’re definitely winners!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. 🙂
Shirley
April J Harris says
I love the sound of these delicious Power Cookies, Shirley. I really like chocolate and cherry togethr plus I’m a huge fan of chia seeds and am always looking for new recipes to use them in! Thank you for sharing this healthy recipe with us at the Hearth and Soul hop.
Audrey @ Unconventional Baker says
I remember years ago looking at Danielle’s recipes online and being super inspired by them {and hungry 😉 }. She makes wonderful things and these cookies look delish!