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    Home » Paleo Chocolate Cookies

    Paleo Chocolate Cookies

    Published: Dec 22, 2016 · Modified: Oct 19, 2021 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    These Paleo Chocolate Cookies  are fudgy, chocolatey cookies that are paleo, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined-sugar free! 

    Front view of a stack of five Paleo Chocolate Cookies

    I adapted my favorite chocolate cookie recipe to create these paleo chocolate cookies.

    If you are the type of person who doesn't understand it when someone says a dessert is "too chocolatey" (seriously, what does that even mean?) then these paleo chocolate cookies are for you.

    These cookies are paleo (grain-free, gluten-free, with no dairy or refined sugar). They are made with 3 forms of chocolate and they taste like a fudgy brownie. The perfect dessert for health-conscious chocolate lovers.

    Overhead view of ten Paleo Chocolate Cookies

    Paleo Chocolate Cookies: Substitutions

    I know it might seem like a splurge to buy higher quality ingredients, but I have found, especially in baking, that it's always worth it. 

    • Unsweetened chocolate. Use any form of chocolate you'd like, semi-sweet or bitter-sweet chips can be used.
    • Coconut Oil/Cocoa butter. 3 TBS butter or grass-fed ghee or butter can be used in place of the 2 TBS coconut oil and 1 TBS cocoa butter.
    • Coconut sugar. Any granulated sugar works well! I have used organic cane sugar.
    • Maple Syrup. Honey can be used in place of maple syrup/
    • Almond flour. I don't recommend changing the type or amount of flour. But all-purpose flour or a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend does work in this recipe.
    Overhead view of one Paleo Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookies resting on a glass of milk with seven other cookies surrounding it

    Paleo chocolate chips/bars

    • Hu Kitchen Chocolate Gems. This is my favorite paleo chocolate. These gems are delicious and easy to toss into cookies (no bar chopping required).
    • Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Bars. You can also buy dark chocolate bars and chop them up to toss into these paleo chocolate cookies.
    • Lily's Dark Chocolate. They make chips and bars that are stevia sweetened, low carb, keto, etc.
    • Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Chips are a good option that are vegan, dairy-free but not fully paleo.
    front view of a stack of five Paleo Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookies

    How to make paleo chocolate cookies

    Most of the instructions are pretty straightforward - here are some tips.

    Chill the dough

    The dough must be chilled for at least 2 hours (or overnight) before baking. It will be hardened to the point where you need to use  a metal spoon or scoop to form it into balls. I highly recommend coating your hands in coconut oil before rolling, because it gets pretty messy.

    Do not let the dough get warm. 

    If the oven isn't preheated before you're finished rolling (or the first tray is still in the oven), place the tray of cookie dough balls in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake them. This will prevent the dough from becoming too sticky to handle, and the paleo chocolate cookies from spreading during baking.

    Rolling these cookies is messy

    If you don't have a cookie scoop, prepared to have messy hands while you are making these paleo chocolate cookies! That is normal and nothing to be alarmed about.

    Overhead view of twelve Paleo Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookies

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I freeze these cookies?

    You can store baked cookies in the freezer, but I prefer to freeze the dough. To do this:
    Form dough into balls. 
    Place cookie dough balls on a non-stick cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until firm. 
    Transfer to an airtight, freezer-friendly container (I recommend either a glass storage container or a freezer-friendly ziplock bag). 
    Freeze for up to 1 month. 
    To bake: remove dough from the freezer and let it come to slightly cooler than room temperature. Then bake according the the recipe instructions. 

    How do you store paleo chocolate cookies?

    Store baked cookies in an airtight contianer at room temperature for 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for 2 months. 

    One Paleo Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookie with a bite taken out of it on a glass of milk with other cookies around the glass

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    Paleo Chocolate Brownie Cookies

    Laura
    These Paleo Chocolate Cookies  are fudgy, chocolatey cookies that are paleo, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined-sugar free! 
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Chilling dough 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 25 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 18 cookies
    Calories 142.7 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ¾ cup unsweetened chocolate *chopped
    • 2 TBS coconut oil (or grass-fed butter)
    • 1 TBS cocoa butter grated (or grass-fed butter)
    • ¼ cup coconut sugar
    • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
    • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
    • 1 egg lightly beaten
    • ¼ cup almond flour
    • 2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
    • ½ tsp baking powder
    • ¼ tsp sea salt
    • 1 cup chocolate chips
    • Extra sea salt for sprinkling optional
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    Instructions
     

    Make the dough:

    • In a saucepan over medium heat, or in a microwave safe bowl, melt unsweetened chocolate, coconut oil and cocoa butter together until smooth.
    • Once smooth, set aside to cool.
    • In a small bowl, combine almond flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
    • Once the chocolate mixture is cooled (to just over room temperature), add coconut sugar, maple syrup and vanilla and stir to combine.
    • Add egg and mix until just incorporated.
    • Add the dry ingredients to your wet mixture and stir until combined {and there are no lumps}.
    • Fold in cup chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
    • Place dough in an airtight container and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.

    When you are ready to bake the cookies:

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.
    • Remove dough from the refrigerator and immediately roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls.**
    • Place on parchment lined cookie sheets about 2” apart.***
    • Bake for 9 to 10 minutes until the cookies look just set.
    • Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
    • Eat them warm or store them in an airtight container until you’re ready!

    Notes

    **Rolling the dough is a very messy process! I coat my hands in coconut oil before I begin rolling. I use an ice cream scooper or metal spoon to scoop the dough into 1" portions.
    ***It is imperative that you do not let the dough get warm! If the oven isn’t preheated by the time you have filled a cookie sheet, place it in the refrigerator until the oven is ready.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    I know it might seem like a splurge to buy higher quality ingredients, but I have found, especially in baking, that it's always worth it. 
    • Unsweetened chocolate. Use any form of chocolate you'd like, semi-sweet or bitter-sweet chips can be used.
    • Coconut Oil/Cocoa butter. 3 TBS butter or grass-fed ghee or butter can be used in place of the 2 TBS coconut oil and 1 TBS cocoa butter.
    • Coconut sugar. Any granulated sugar works well! I have used organic cane sugar.
    • Maple Syrup. Honey can be used in place of maple syrup/
    • Almond flour. I don't recommend changing the type or amount of flour. But all-purpose flour or a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend does work in this recipe.
    Paleo chocolate chips/bars
    • Hu Kitchen Chocolate Gems. This is my favorite paleo chocolate. These gems are delicious and easy to toss into cookies (no bar chopping required).
    • Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Bars. You can also buy dark chocolate bars and chop them up to toss into these paleo chocolate cookies.
    • Lily's Dark Chocolate. They make chips and bars that are stevia sweetened, low carb, keto, etc.
    • Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Chips are a good option that are vegan, dairy-free but not fully paleo.

    Store/freeze

    Store baked cookies in an airtight contianer at room temperature for 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for 2 months. 
    Freeze the dough
    1. Form dough into balls.
    2. Place cookie dough balls on a non-stick cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until firm.
    3. Transfer to an airtight, freezer-friendly container (I recommend either a glass storage container or a freezer-friendly ziplock bag).
    4. Freeze for up to 1 month.
    5. To bake: remove dough from the freezer and let it come to slightly cooler than temperature. Then bake according the the recipe instructions. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 142.7kcalCarbohydrates: 14.5gProtein: 2.5gFat: 10.3gSaturated Fat: 6.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2.6gCholesterol: 20.7mgSodium: 57mgPotassium: 120.5mgFiber: 2.1gSugar: 10.6gVitamin A: 35IUCalcium: 27mgIron: 1.8mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Eric Oesch

      January 28, 2019 at 12:01 pm

      5 stars
      Hi, you said this was a version of your favorite chocolate cookie recipe, I was hoping you could share that recipe? I absolutely loved your chocolate chip recipe, and I am looking for a chocolate cookie recipe on par with that one, but I am not really interested in making this alternate version. (I don’t need a paleo cookie) if you have time please share the original!

      Reply
    2. Jo

      June 08, 2018 at 8:19 pm

      I made these and put the dough in the fridge for 6 hours. Dough was very hard so used defrost in microwave to soften a bit. Balls remained in ball shape after cooking and they still tasted like the dough and crumbled. Not brownie like at all. The only thing I did different was use a TBS of grass fed butter instead of coca butter. Any ideas why they came out like this?

      Reply
    3. Harleen Quinzel

      April 20, 2017 at 10:41 pm

      5 stars
      I love triple chocolate cookies recipe.Looks like it is delicious.I'm sure adding cocoa butter will enhance the taste of it.Will try this for sure.

      Reply
    4. Laurel

      January 07, 2017 at 8:35 pm

      These have always been some of my favorite cookies, thanks so much for sharing. Now to mix up a batch, scoop onto cookie sheets, refrigerate and bake. Lazy, ain't I?

      Reply
      • Laura

        January 12, 2017 at 3:30 pm

        5 stars
        You will LOVE these! Seriously I was floored with these cookies and had a very hard time sharing! 😉

        Reply
        • Laurel

          January 14, 2017 at 12:28 pm

          These are really lovely. I can't eat eggs which makes paleo an interesting enterprise to say the least so I replaced it with a gelatin egg. Whilst rooting around in the pantry for all the chocolate supplies I found a forlorn and mostly empty jar of espresso powder. Oh yeah, I added the almost 1/2 tsp that was in the jar and meant to add some almond extract but got distracted.
          These are so incredibly flavorful and would make the perfect base to add some mint or cherry extract, maybe some cranberries, almonds, macadamia nuts or coconut? OK first chopped macadamia nuts and cacao butter? My brain hurts.
          You absolutely hit this one out of the park.

        • LAUREL

          January 14, 2017 at 12:34 pm

          5 stars
          Great cookies! I used an egg replacer and added some espresso powder (because it was there and I could - I'm kinda like that).
          I'm thinking this recipe could be the start of all things wonderful; think macadamia nuts and chopped cacao butter, mint, cherry, almond or orange extract, coconut, cranberries, cherries - the mind boggles.
          You absolutely hit a home run with these they could not be better in any way, shape or form.
          Thank you.

    5. masala girl

      December 26, 2016 at 9:06 pm

      i'm not much of a chocolate person but i diee for brownies!! these look SO impressive!!

      Reply
    6. Emily

      December 24, 2016 at 8:39 am

      Wow yes you totally mastered this recipe. It looks amazing! Where would I get cocoa butter?

      Reply
      • Laura

        December 24, 2016 at 9:06 am

        I order it on Amazon (if you click on the blue link it'll take you to a good option)! You can usually find it at a store like Whole Foods too! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Sonali- The Foodie Physician

      December 23, 2016 at 8:28 am

      Haha, we've been total cookie monsters this month! Between my recent birthday and holiday parties, I've definitely been enjoying my share of sweet treats. When available, I always choose chocolate so these beauties are right up my alley!

      Reply
    8. lindsay Cotter

      December 23, 2016 at 7:36 am

      I love how we all can be a resource for each other, versus cookbooks. I trust my food blog friends more! Haha. And yes, cookie monster is my house. GASP! make him leave. After I eat these of course

      Reply
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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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