Following a keto lifestyle but can't give up cookies? No worries! You can make these easy coconut flour chocolate chip cookies and stay on plan.
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Of all the low carb recipes I've made over the years, one of my favorite treats to make is chocolate chip cookies with coconut flour. Although they are gone in a few days, being able to eat my favorite cookie without jeopardizing my health is awesome.
But in order for the cookies to turn out great, I needed to perfect the art of baking with coconut flour. Making these cookies takes a different skill-set than baking with typical white flour. I've made dozens of recipes with coconut flour and I'm excited to share with you some tips I've learned over the years.
Before I share the recipe for my coconut flour chocolate chip cookies, perhaps you have some questions about using this low carb flour. It can be tricky if you've never used it before. If so, go ahead and ask in the comment section below the recipe.
What's the difference between coconut flour and regular flour?
For starters, I strongly believe coconut flour is far better for your health than regular baking flour. Regular white flour is mostly just quick-burning starch (sugar). Whereas coconut flour is high in fiber and protein.
Take a look at the nutritional difference between the two. White flour is listed first.
- Net Carbohydrates (carbs minus fiber): 92 grams (1 cup) white flour vs 24 grams
- Fat: 1 gram vs 16 grams
- Protein: 13 grams vs 16 grams
Can you see why eating baked goods with white flour over many years can easily lead to weight gain? And not only can white flour lead to weight gain, it can lead to inflammatory diseases. Although the protein is almost the same, in white flour, it's mostly all gluten.
Another great thing about baking with coconut flour instead of regular flour or even almond flour is that you use much less of it. That's because coconut flour is similar to a sponge and expands as it soaks up liquid.
Can You Safely Eat More Cookies Made With Coconut Flour?
Yes! Because of the fiber and protein in coconut, my keto chocolate chip cookies will make you feel full faster. In comparison, white flour doesn't contain enough fat or fiber to satiate you. That's why you need to keep eating more and more because you don't get full with white flour. It's like pouring high-octane fuel in a 4-cylinder car; the fuel burns up too quickly.
Coconut is perfect if you're not eating grains like me. It's Paleo-friendly and doesn't contain gluten. But you could make Paleo flourless chocolate chip cookies or flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies instead. However, nut and peanut butters are more inflammatory than coconut flour.
Do you make cookies the same way with coconut flour?
No. Coconut flour acts like a sponge. It soaks up lots of moisture. Therefore, it has the potential to make your cookies have a mouthfeel similar to a spoonful of Sahara desert sand if there isn't adequate liquid.
In order to make chocolate chip cookies with coconut flour turn out great, you have to use other moistening ingredients. That's precisely why I use two eggs and lots of butter or butter flavored coconut oil.
Although the ingredient ratios may differ, the process is basically the same. Sweetener, butter, vanilla, and eggs are mixed in a large bowl (photos 1 & 2). Then, coconut flour, baking soda, and salt are mixed in to form the dough (photos 3 & 4). Finally, chocolate chips are folded in (photos 5 & 6).
The dough is then dropped by tablespoon sized scoops and flattened out (photos 7 & 8). Next, they are baked at 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes until they turn golden brown (photo 9). Finally, they are allowed to cool in on a wire rack.
What if I'm Allergic to Eggs?
No problem. You can substitute eggs with ground flax seeds, chia seeds, or psyllium and a bit of water. In addition, you can also try tapioca starch. The downside to using tapioca starch is that it's relatively high in sugar. In fact, one cup of it has about 15 grams of sugar. If you're keto or low carb, that might be too much for you. Although, you can safely eat one cookie without the guilt from time to time.
Another egg alternative and one that's lower in carbs is arrowroot powder, which is similar to yucca. Arrowroot is paleo-friendly and is a healthy alternative to cornstarch. However, it has more carbs than flax, chia, and psyllium which are the options I prefer.
Do I use the same amount of coconut flour as almond flour?
No! Never use a 1:1 ratio. If you do, the cookies will be too dry. That's why you will use less of the coconut than you would almond flour. And more eggs are typically added for moisture. To make this same recipe with almond flour, you'd need to use 3-4 times as much.
Why use baking soda in coconut flour chocolate chip cookies?
I use only a half-teaspoon of baking soda. But that little amount helps give the cookies a little rise. Keep in mind that baking soda is not the same exact thing as baking powder.
Cookies are flatter than other baked goods so you don't need the added rise that double acting baking powder provides. That's why baking soda is better for cookies. It allows the dough to spread out more evenly. As a result, the cookies will have a thinner, crispier edge. But the center will be more tender.
Why do I use Parchment Paper?
Parchment paper or a silicone-line mat cookie sheet ensures that the cookies remove easily from the baking pan. This in turn will help your cookies turn out perfectly browned without worry of sticking.
Another reason is that the parchment paper acts as a buffer. Without the paper, the cookie dough that you form will get soaked by melted butter. This will cause the cookies to spread too much. That's why I never put hot cookie dough directly on pans.
Chill out! Allow Your Cookies To Cool!
Why do I remove the treat from the oven and allow it to cool on a wire rack before removing them from the pan? One obvious answer is that I don't want to burn my mouth. But another reason is that if you remove them from the pan too quickly, they may crumble and fall apart.
So let your coconut flour chocolate chip cookies chill before removing. Sometimes, I even set them in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling!
We hope you enjoy these classic cookies in a healthier version. And if you do give them a try, let us know what you think in the comment section below.
If you want more cookies make with coconut flour, be sure to check out our low carb peanut butter cookies and basic coconut flour cookies. There's even an egg-free cookie recipe!
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📖 Recipe
Low Carb Coconut Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup Lakanto Golden Monk Fruit Granular Sweetener
- ½ cup butter softened (or butter flavored coconut oil)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup coconut flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sugar free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mix the sweetener, butter, vanilla, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.
- Stir in the coconut flour, baking soda and salt. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Form dough into tablespoon size scoops and drop onto parchment or silicone mat lined cookie sheet.
- Flatten each dough ball out with your fingers.
- Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool on wire rack before removing from pan.
Notes
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Unauthorized use of this material without written permission from Lisa MarcAurele is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes.
Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
Melissa
The recipe is great but I just don’t care for a coconut flour. Every time I make these with coconut flour they taste really bland and dry . Almond flour works much better
Lisa MarcAurele
Coconut flour may need to have liquid adjusted in the recipe as the absorbency of the flour can vary. But if you can learn how to use it and adjust for that, I find it gives a better soft baked texture you just can't get with almond flour.
Lindsay Jones
HELP!! Can anyone give me tips. My cookies did not turn out AT ALL! They just melted and spread and are more like a crepe texture than a cookie!
Lisa MarcAurele
It could be the coconut flour. It can vary in absorbency so it sounds like yours wasn't as absorbent as the one I use so you needed to add more. You can usually get a feel for it by adding more to get the right cookie dough consistency.
Derek Goodwin
Instead of Monk can I use stevia?
Lisa MarcAurele
Yes. You may just need to convert if they are not one-for-one in sweetness.
Shanta
Hi, I have yet to try this recipe. I had a quick question before I start baking.
I can use Stevia as a sweetener?
thanks
Lisa MarcAurele
Yes. Any sweetener should work, but a stevia blend is usually better when baking than using the plain stevia extract.
Shanta
Thanks for your prompt response.
It says makes about 2 dozen cookies, is that correct? are we talking about the small (bite size, around 2 inch in dia) cookies or the medium size (around 3 inch dia) cookies
Lisa MarcAurele
I always make the small bite sized ones with are about 2-inch in diameter.
Lucy
Loved the cookies! I was a bit shocked by the direction to form a tablespoon size scoops and then flatten. I knew right away that was too big but I still ended up with cookies that were too big even after reducing the size. No worries though, next time we will adjust. Thanks!
Terri Cramer
Can I use Swerve brown sugar replacement instead of Lakanko Golden? Is so, would I use the same amount?
Lisa MarcAurele
Yes, you certainly can use Swerve brown instead. It's a one-for-one substitute for the Lakanto Golden.
MARIE SEEWALD
I have another Keto friendly choc chip cookie recipe similar to this recipe, though my recipe calls for 1 pk plain Gelatin. I understand that the gelatin make them rise/fluffy in height as my cookies are about inch tall and are so good. But always wanting to try some other recipes. Can I add gelatin to your recipe without it harming the recipe? If I don't hear form you, tomorrow I am going to try this recipe and add the plain gelatin but only make 1 batch before I try the double batch so I can freeze them and eat when I have a sugar urge. I just finished my last 4 cookies from the freezer that I baked around Thanksgiving.
Lisa MarcAurele
Adding gelatin is fine. I use gelatin sometimes instead of egg.
Ariana
Very good but a bit too sweet for me. Next time with use 1/4 cup sweetener
Rheza
I used coconut oil instead of butter and judging by the comments that was probably a mistake lol they smelled terrific, they taste as good as they smell, but the entire batch just melted together and I ended up with one oddly-shaped, bakingpan-sized squishy pancake with somewhat crispy edges. It will be chopped up and thrown back into the oven to crisp up more, and will use them for ice cream or cereal topping. But it was a good (and in my case, hopeful lol) way to use a bunch of stuff I always have in my kitchen. Will try again someday with butter. Thank you!
Brandi
This is my FAVORITE keto cookie ever. I make these every week, & I have 1 a day to curb my sweet cravings! I'm a huge dark chocolate fan, so I sub a chopped up 90% cacao Lindt dark chocolate bar instead of the chips. I also add a dash more salt for a savory, sweet combo. I am so grateful for your recipes! Yours is the first site I scope for any new ideas!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!