Paleo Zucchini Cookies are a healthy and nutritious recipe loaded with sneaky veggies that tastes like dessert but can be served for breakfast! They’re gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, paleo AND are ready in 20 minutes!
This post was originally published on March 17, 2016. It has been updated with new photos and a video, however the recipe remains the same.
I’ve mentioned before that my kids are into sweet breakfasts. I remember the first time I made them “cookies” in the morning…they flipped and thought I was the coolest mom in the world.
Since they loved it, I made it my mission to create healthy breakfast cookies that have a serving of veggies in them. I always start the day with a healthy dose of greens, so I try to do what I can to be sure my kids do too!
You can serve these paleo breakfast cookies first thing in the AM…but they also hold their own as a delicious after dinner dessert! They are dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo and refined-sugar free!
How to make Paleo Zucchini Cookies
1. Blend
This step is actually optional if you do not mind having flecks of zucchini visible in your zucchini cookies! However, in my house, my kids would not approve of anything green in their cookies, so I always blend the zucchini with the other wet ingredients! I also really enjoy the texture of these paleo breakfast cookies when the zucchini is fully blended.
2. Line the baking sheet
Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper ensures these healthy zucchini cookies are easily removed from the baking sheet. They are very soft, so this is an important step!
3. Let them cool
After baking let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes. This gives them time to hold their shape more when removed from the pan!
4. Freezer-friendly!
This recipe makes soft, cakey cookies that are also hearty! They held up very well in the freezer! They’re great to have on hand for the mornings when you don’t have the brain power to think about breakfast. You can just pull some out of the freezer, heat in the microwave for about 1 minute, and have a healthy delicious breakfast you and your kids will love!
Tools used to make Paleo Zucchini Cookies:
- Vitamix. These Paleo Zucchini Cookies are so easy and taste amazing. They are made in the Vitamix, which is super important because it blends the zucchini so fine that even the most scrupulous observer won’t be able to find a trace of green! š
- Cookie Scoop The dough on these healthy zucchini cookies is pretty soft (as you can see in the video). Using a cookie scoop to put the dough on the baking sheet makes the process much easier, and far less messy!
- Baking sheet. A good baking sheet really matters! I love these made by Nordic Ware!
- Parchment Paper. I buy my parchment paper in pre-cut sheets in bulk once every few years! I am never without it in the kitchen!
Paleo Zucchini Cookies: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Almond flour. I do not recommend making any substitutions for the almond flour. Especially do not substitute coconut flour, as they are not interchangeable. You could try a 1:1 gluten-free or paleo baking flour if you would like to try it.
- Coconut flour. there is no substitute for coconut flour in this recipe!
- Coconut oil. Butter or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil.
- Coconut sugar. Any granulated sugar works well in place of coconut sugar! Just be sure to choose a variety that complies with your dietary needs.
- Chocolate Chips. I used chocolate chunks, but you can use chips of your choosing! To keep these paleo make sure your chocolate is paleo-friendly! I have also used white chocolate chips and Hershey’s cinnamon chips (a pantry staple…so yum) both with rave reviews from my family!
If you’re looking for more healthy cookie recipes, try these:
- These Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies are a perfect easy sweet treat!
- Healthy Peanut Butter Blondies have a sneaky ingredient!
- Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies are so delicious!
- Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are healthy enough for breakfast!
- These healthy banana oatmeal cookies are nutritious and delicious!
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Paleo Zucchini Breakfast Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- Ā¼ cup coconut flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- Ā½ tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup zucchini shredded
- 2 TBS coconut oil measured in it's solid state
- 2 TBS almond butter
- Ā½ cup coconut sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Ā¼ to Ā½ cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together dry ingredients (almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon). Set aside.
- Put zucchini, coconut oil, almond butter and coconut sugar in your blender (Vitamix) or food processor). Blend ingredients together until smooth.
- Add egg and vanilla and blend for 15 seconds or until just combined.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix very well.
- Add chocolate chips.
- Scoop 2 TBS portions of cookie dough onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 10-13 minutes until cookies are slightly browned.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool!
Video
Nutrition
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Katy
Oh they look scrumptious!!
Iāve not been able to find Paleo chocolate chips – which brand do you use?
Thanks!
Anna Powell
Awesome recipe. Just printed it out.
Stephanie
I was curious, how tightly do you pack your zucchini when measuring?
Emily
These look so good! However, I loathe coconut sugar. Do you think theyād hold up with pure maple syrup or honey?
Laura
Hey Emily! I am not sure if a liquid sweetener would work well because I have never tried it! You could use another granulated sugar, but then it wouldn’t be paleo. If you try the liquid sweetener you might need to increase the amount of almond flour by a TBS or two. Let me know how it goes if you do try it!
lindsay
Hi Emily,
I just used honey and they are AMAZING!!! I tad moist, but aren’t falling apart. Perhaps would add an additional TSP of coconut flour. I added 1 TBSP of flax seed meal and chia seeds so that might have made them stick together more too..HAPPY BAKING! Delicious recipe for sure!!
Perry
These are amazing!!! Do you know the calories per cookie?
Nichole Fant
Do you think this would work with coconut flour and a sunflower butter? My kids can’t have almonds…. Thanks! Excited to try them.
Laura
Hey Nichole! I do not recommend using coconut flour as a substitute for almond flour. Coconut flour absorbs significantly more liquid than almond flour and your cookies would almost definitely turn out dry. If you cannot use Almond flour I’d recommend trying tapioca flour or an all-purpose gluten-free flour although I haven’t tested either option so I cannot guarantee results. Bob’s Red Mill makes an all-purpose paleo baking flour but I am not sure if it has nuts or not. You should be able to substitute sunflower butter but if they can eat cashews I’d more highly recommend cashew butter as a substitution!
Kimbo
I made these today with the Enjoy Life mini choc chips and they are delicious!! Thanks fir thr amazing recipe!!
Laura
Yay!! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!!
Laura
I’m SO glad you enjoyed them!!! Cookies for breakfast is always a good idea!
Katie
I just pinned this recipe these look so tasty! I’m always looking for ways to hide vegetables and baking for my boys š congrats on your feature at #HappinessIsHomemade this week, sharing on FB and Twitter!
Laura
Thank you Katie! I agree! It’s always great sneaking veggies into treats…for both our kids and us moms too! š Thanks for sharing!! š <3
Amanda@craftycookingmama
These cookies look wonderful! Definitely trying them when I’m zucchini rich in a few months š
Laura
Ahhh! I can’t wait for the bountiful Zucchini harvest that’s to come in the spring!!! š First is has to stop snowing where I live! LOL! š
Audrey
Congratulations on your Happiness is Homemade feature.
GiGi Eats
THESE SOUND STUPENDOUS!!!! My mouth wants to try them!! š
Courtney
These look so yummy and sound so wholesome– I love it! š
Charlotte @Charlottes_cafe
This recipe looks delicious! It’s always great to find new paleo recipes. Thanks for sharing. I found your post on Totally Terrufic Tursdays š
Laura
Thanks Charlotte! I love making paleo goodies! š <3
Miz Helen
What a great Breakfast Cookie! Hope you have a very special week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
Lela
I love to impress my grandmother with new recipes involving garden veggies and this one is going to be perfect. I can’t wait to break this recipe out next time I visit. Thanks so much for sharing at Inspiration Thursday!
Angela
We just went through the “plague” here too, alternating sick kids for the past 2 weeks! Ugh!! Glad everyone is starting feel better there š These cookies look amazing & my kids will love them! Thank you so much for sharing at the Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up š Pinned & Yummed!!
Laura
Oh geeze! Having sick babies are the worst! I’m glad your’e all feeling better too! š
Pam@over50feeling40
These sound wonderful! Pinned it! Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
Kellen
I LOVE this idea! I usually make zucchini bread but have yet to make zucchini cookies. Can’t wait to make these breakfast treats š
Laura
Zucchini bread is amazing too! But for some reason everything tastes better in cookie form! š <3
Emily
I’ve never made breakfast cookies, but I would love to make these! PINNING! God bless!
Laura
š Thanks Emily! I hope you love them as much as we do over here! š
rachel @ athleticavocado
Awwww yes breakfast cookies are my JAM! Pinned these babies š
Laura
Amen Rachel! š Cookies all day. Cookies every day!! š
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner
Gotta love chocolate for breakfast right?! Yum hope you will link up to my meatless Monday next week
Jenn - a traveling Wife
YUM – breakfast cookies are my favorite. I’ll join your kids at the breakfast table any morning š One reason why I love cookies, muffins, or bars for breakfast is because they usually do well in the freezer. Then you have a grab-and-go breakfast for your rushed mornings. š
Laura
Come on over! There’s always room for more at our breakfast table! š I couldn’t agree more with having things on hand for busy mornings! Which with three kids 5 and under ends up being every morning in my house! LOL š
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
These look so yummy! I love cookies for breakfast š
Laura
Thanks Liz! š Agreed!!!! <3
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table
I love an excuse to eat cookies for breakfast! Especially when they are so healthy and wholesome like these š Pinning and can’t wait to try them!
Laura
Cookies in the morning! cookies in the evening! cookies at suppertime! š
Carole from Carole's Chatter
Hi Laura,, this is great. I hope you bring it over to Food on Friday: Breakfast. Cheers from Carole’s Chatter