Today I’m sharing these totally delicious Paleo Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies. They’re fairly paleo friendly if you use some ingredients and completely paleo if you use other ingredients. These are easily made egg free and vegan, too. So win-win for all of us who are eating gluten free and “more free”!
The Back Story on These Paleo Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies
Recently I saw a recipe for Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies in an old issue of Cosmopolitan. Cosmo is not a magazine I subscribe to, but when a stack of them was offered up on Freecycle the same day that my girlfriends and I planned to do art journaling at our recent gfe retreat, I quickly snatched them up!
As recipes in magazines go, this one was a very small blurb (we all know Cosmo is not really about recipes). It was only about as big as a short stack of chocolate chip cookies in real life, but, not surprisingly, it caught my eye. I quickly clipped it out and set it aside to peruse later after the retreat.
I came across the clipping again in cleaning up the other day. The title was “A Sweet Date He Craves.”
The Spot Dessert Bar in New York City was asked to share the treat ordered “most frequently by dudes,” and the answer was their Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies. The recipe featured lots of butter, flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, chocolate chips, and shredded coconut.
In typical Cosmo fashion, the advice was “Make a batch, and invite him over.” My dude, aka Mr. GFE, had just returned home from 10 days away, so I decided to use The Spot Dessert Bar’s recipe as inspiration and the starting point for my own grain-free, dairy-free version with minimal refined sugar.
The “date” in the title made me think of the sweet Medjool dates sitting on the counter. I quickly decided to use dates as my sweetener. Other than the chocolate chips I planned to add, I didn’t want to add any other sweetener.
I reasoned that the chocolate chips and the dates would add plenty sweetness, and the latter would add chewiness as well. Using coconut oil, almond flour, and coconut flour in the recipe were my next decisions.
Using my food processor, I quickly chopped the dates into small pieces and then blended them with most of the other recipe ingredients, before adding eggs and unsweetened coconut flakes.
With the tiny print of the clipping, I missed the “toasted” after the coconut flakes in the original recipe, so I didn’t toast my coconut flakes. But I’m sure that would add an extra delicious vibe as well as a slight bit of crunch to this recipe.
I made these cookies two ways. Most of them I made as small drop cookies. (I have a fondness for both small–say two-bite chocolate chip cookies—and large chocolate chip cookies.)
Some of the cookies I made from rolling the dough into balls and then flattening slightly with the bottom of a glass. The latter I baked a little less and left sitting on the baking sheet after removing from the oven for a few minutes.
They came out like soft-baked cookies and were a little larger in diameter (about 3 inches) and while I certainly wouldn’t refuse one, I definitely preferred the outer crunchiness and inner chewiness of the drop version!
Despite their small size—only about 2 inches in width—these cookies are very filling. That’s a good thing in many ways, including the fact that these cookies are unlikely to all get eaten the first day.You will be so happy about that when you try them the next day because the “leftovers” are even better after the flavors have melded overnight, right? As in incredibly good better in this case!
I created this recipe and another one, Banana Ice Cream, in the last few days and polled my Facebook readers as to which recipe I should share first. Clearly, the Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies won the poll, although the Banana Ice Cream was not too far behind in votes.
And there were quite a few clever (hungry?) readers who thought the solution would be to share both recipes in one post, with the ultimate solution being to make Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookie Banana Ice Cream Sandwiches!
Those do sound great, don’t they? However, I think these cookies are too small to turn into proper ice cream sandwiches and the Banana Ice Cream is of the delightfully soft serve variety, which is not the best for making ice cream sandwiches.
But, no matter, make these paleo/primal friendly cookies that the dudes—and I assure you, the “dudettes” as well—will go crazy for!
Paleo Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies Recipe
You'll definitely want to add these Paleo Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies recipe to your chocolate chip cookie arsenal. That's true whether you're paleo or not. But if you're more than gluten free, you'll especially love this recipe as it works for so many, including those who are egg free and vegan. It will seem like there’s too much coconut oil in this recipe, but in the “final analysis” (the tasting!) it is the perfect amount. Some who rarely use sweetener will be able to enjoy these cookies made with fewer dates. If you do that, you’ll want to reduce the amount of coconut oil a bit for sure, but I’m not sure what other changes you will need to make to get the right consistency in your cookie. I made these cookies two ways. Most of them I made as small drop cookies. Some of the cookies I made from rolling the dough into balls and then flattening slightly with the bottom of a glass. The latter I baked a little less and left sitting on the baking sheet after removing from the oven for a few minutes. They came out like soft-baked cookies and while I certainly wouldn’t refuse one, I definitely preferred the outer crunchiness of the drop version. If you want to ensure that the bottoms of the cookies don’t darken too much, you can use parchment paper, but an ungreased baking sheet worked fine for me. Flax gel eggs work beautifully in this recipe; I have not yet tried any other egg substitutions. Please report back if you make any other egg-free versions.Paleo Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
SherriS. says
These look so good Shirley! I’ve just eliminated sugar cane so I’m going to add the dates to my grocery list and give these a try.
Shirley says
Thanks, Sherri! I hope you enjoy them 🙂 And, if you’re doing alternative sweeteners like coconut palm sugar, honey, and maple syrup, you’ll find many recipes here that will work for you. 😉
Shirley
Alisa says
No my dear, you can NEVER have too many chocolate chip cookie recipes!! These are exactly what I’d been looking for, too, date-sweetened!
Shirley says
Haha! Thanks, Alisa. I think that most people will agree with us. 😉 I’m so happy to fill a current recipe need for you. 🙂
Shirley
Julia says
I’d love to try these once I get a food processor. They sound so very delicious!
Shirley says
Hi Julia–Welcome to gfe! 🙂 You *might* be able to make these by using a good blender, and adding your very fresh (i.e., soft) dates and coconut oil and the dates and blending the mixture until the dates are small enough pieces, and then mixing that mixture with the rest of the ingredients in a mixing bowl, but a food processor definitely makes quick and easy work of dates. 😉
Thanks!
Shirley
Vickie says
These along with everything else you post look and sound great as I read through the recipe. Please let me know what I might do to make Paleo foods when I am allergic to coconut. Thanks
Shirley says
Hi Vickie–First, thanks for the kind words! Those of us who have food issues tend to consistently use what we CAN use. I can do coconut, so I often use it.
Shirley
Ina gawne says
Shirley – I love everything going on in this recipe – yum…super yum! One day when I have time…sigh…I must give these a try! 🙂
Shirley says
Ina–You definitely a very busy gal of late. Hope you get a break soon so you can enjoy more time in the kitchen. I know you love that time, and you always create so many great recipes when you’re there, too. 🙂
Shirley
Megan @ Allergy Free Alaska says
I agree – one can never have too many chocolate chip cookie recipes! 😉 I love that these are grain free and sweetened with dates, Shirley! AJ’s birthday is coming up, and I’m thinking I might try making these for me (and make a cake for AJ and the girls). These just look absolutely perfect!
Hugs,
Megan
Shirley says
Thanks for that “third” on how many chocolate chip cookie recipes one can have! 😉 I always think it’s a great idea to have a treat for ourselves when we make something for others to enjoy, but that we can’t indulge in. Hope you enjoy them! Btw, I just ate one. Still so, so good after a few days. 🙂
xo,
Shirley
Kate {Eat, Recycle, Repeat} says
these look amazing! I love coconut and chocolate, and I’m interested in the texture the dates would bring! Thanks for another great recipe 🙂
Shirley says
Thanks, Kate! They’re pretty heavenly. I honestly think they taste and have the texture of pretty much any other cookie, a sort of macaroon chocolate chip cookie, if you will. 😉 Hope you enjoy them if you get to make them later! 🙂
Shirley
Linda says
This is my kind of cookie. Love it, Shirley! Now I have to go buy more coconut flour because I am completely out.
Shirley says
Thanks, Linda! What I love about these cookies is that they have lasted for days. That’s a rare thing around here and quite a statement on how satisfying they are. Without all that refined sugar, one doesn’t want one after another. Gotta love that! 🙂 Yes, get some coconut flour this weekend!
Shirley
Vicky says
I love the fact that there are so many variations of my favourite cookie and how wonderful that these are sweetened with dates!
Such a lovely recipe Shirley, I love it!
xo
Shirley says
Thanks so much, Vicky! I admit that I’m really quite pleased with this creation. 🙂
Shirley
Johnna says
I made these tonight with a flax slurry instead of eggs and they turned out GREAT! I’m delivering them to a friend tomorrow for her birthday and know she will be thrilled. Now to keep my hands off of them until then… Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Shirley says
Woohoo! So glad to hear that the flax gel eggs work in this recipe, Johnna! I thought they would. 😉 I hope your friend does love these cookies. Tell her happy birthday from me. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing the news with us all. I bet she’ll make sure you enjoy some with her after she receives them, but yes, staying away until then might be hard!
Shirley
Cassidy @ Cassidy's Craveable Creations says
I love your coconut twist on the traditional chocolate chip cookie! I can’t wait to make these, your ingredient list is right up my alley 🙂
Shirley says
Thanks, Cassidy! I was inspired by that original recipe I saw, but I did end up loving my creation. And bonus … these cookies lasted 6 days in my house. They were so satisfying that we (mostly me) didn’t scarf them up like other cookies. And they tasted just as great at the end as they did on Day Two (after the flavors melded). 🙂
Shirley
Arleen says
Shirley, these cookies look fantastic! I can’t wait to try them! And I adore that flowered plate.
Shirley says
Hi Arleen–Good to see you again, and thanks so much on all! 🙂 That flowered plate was an impulse buy. I normally rely on my own regular dishes or thrift store finds, but I saw that plate on sale at Kohl’s and couldn’t resist it. Using it as a prop was my justification. 😉 And it just made me so happy! So glad you love it, too!
Shirley
Dawn @ Peeling Back the Onion Layers says
These look amazing! I would love if you would share them at our Healing With Foods Friday http://peelingbacktheonionlayers.com/healing-with-food-friday/ – hope to see you there!
Shirley says
Hi Dawn–Thanks so much! They really are. 😉 Thanks for the invitation; I linked up! 🙂
Welcome to gfe and happy Friday!
Shirley
Stephanie says
Shirley, these are a winner! I made them tonight using 2 flax eggs and they were perfect. They make an excellent raw treat too! Thank you!
Shirley says
Hey Stephanie–I am so thrilled to hear that flax eggs work (I was pretty sure they would!) and that you can enjoy these cookies raw, too! Yum! I so appreciate you sharing that info with us all. 🙂 Can’t wait to share with my gfe Facebook readers!
Shirley
Jennifer at Purposeful Nutrition says
Thanks for sharing at Healing with Food Friday. These sound great and I am going to pin them for later.
Please come back this week and share again.
Shirley says
Hi Jennifer–Welcome to gfe! 🙂 It was my pleasure to share. I’ll try to get in the routine of sharing on Healing with Food Friday. Thanks for the reminder and for sharing this recipe via Pinterest!
Shirley
Nicole says
Hi, I was wondering if you know if these could be made into a huge cookie cake. I figured I would have to reduce the oven temp, but any idea? I can’t wait to try it…the recipe looks amazing!
Shirley says
Hi Nicole–Welcome to gfe! 🙂 I really like the sound of that cake, but don’t have too much else to offer as far as ideas. You’ll have to press the mixture into the pan and I hope it holds together okay. I’m thinking that you’ll need some baking powder for a cake application. Maybe 2 tsp or slightly more? I’m not sure if you’ll need to reduce the oven temperature. 325 is already pretty low for that type of baking. I would check in on the cookie cake often just to figure out how long you should bake it. I’d check at 15 minutes and then 17 minutes and so on. Pay attention to the smells coming from your oven as those are often what tips you off that your baked goods are ready. 😉 Please let us know how it goes! 🙂
Shirley
Becky D says
Hi Shirley – might be a strange question, but do the dates end up like a paste? Just trying to figure out how much to process them!
Thanks!
Becky
Shirley says
Hi Becky–Welcome to gfe! 🙂 I’m guessing that the right answer is yes because the dates are fully incorporated with the other ingredients. BUT I just process until all mixes together. It doesn’t take long. I think you’ll easily figure it out once you give it a go.
Shirley
Cheryl Harris says
These look amazing. I wish my tummy liked coconut more! I bet they’re winners. And what’s not to love about things that are yummier as leftovers!
Shirley says
Thanks so much, Cheryl. I always feel really sorry for folks who can’t eat coconut. 🙁
Shirley
Karen says
Hi Shirley, These look sooo delicious !! What could I use in place of the almond flour since i’m sensitive to almonds, corn, gluten,& potato??
Thanks For Your Help In Advance, Karen
Shirley says
Hi Karen–Welcome and thanks! 🙂 Any other nut or seed flower should work just fine. Say hazelnut flour, sunflower seed flour, pumpkin see flour, etc. You can make those yourself using a spice grinder or your food processor. Starting with frozen nuts or seeds will ensure that you will end up with flour vs butter. Good luck!
Shirley
Kathleen says
Hi Shirley: I love coconut & choc., but at present not allowed almonds 🙁 . Can I sub another nut flour? No peanuts, hazelnuts or filberts, either.
Shirley says
Hi Kathleen–Why not try seed flour? You can make your own Sunflower seed flour or pumpkin seed flour. (You can also purchase the latter, but I know it’s pricey.) Grinding your own flour from seeds is pretty easy though. You just have to be careful not to process it too much or it will turn into sunbutter or pumpkin see butter. 😉 I’ve used both my food processor and mini chopper successfully. Good luck! Let us know how that works for you! 🙂
Shirley
Marianne says
I made these yesterday and thanks to the resident cookie monster, they ‘ve mysteriously disappeared. Great cookies! I love the texture 😀
Cookie Monster (aka my husband) says thank you 🙂
Shirley says
Hi Marianne–That’s terrific news! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback with us. I do love those cookies myself. I need a husband like yours! Mr. GFE rarely eats sweets and never overindulges so I’m the resident Cookie Monster here. 😉
xo,
Shirley
Aubree Cherie @ Living Free says
These are on my must try list now, Shirley! Yum 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing them with Naturally Sweet Tuesday! ~Aubree
p.s. the linkup for this week is live 🙂
Shirley says
No sure how I missed this comment earlier, Aubree. Thanks, dear. Congratulations on your new pregnancy! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers during the early difficult months for sure. 🙂
xo,
Shirley
Julia @ Swirls and Spice says
Looks good! I’d like to try these!
Shirley says
Julia–Belated reply, but I hope you do! Every time I make them, I’m newly surprised at how good they are. 😉
Shirley
swathi says
Lovely cookie, I love coconut a lot, thanks Shirley for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning. tweeting and sharing in the Google plus.
Shirley says
Thanks so much for the feedback and all the sharing, Swathi! Coconut is very popular in Indian cooking, right? I love that! 🙂
Shirley