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The Best Double Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan and Gluten Free)

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What’s better than chocolate chip cookies!? DOUBLE chocolate chip cookies! And even better than that? Vegan and gluten-free double chocolate chip cookies!!

vegan double chocolate chip cookies on baking sheet

I recently had a strong craving for brownies or chocolate chip cookies and decided to look at pictures online. Anyone else love to tease yourself with pictures of the foods you’re craving!? Amidst scrolling and drooling, I discovered “brownie cookies,” where boxed brownie mix is used to make cookies. As someone who loves brownies and cookies, I knew I had to make some. Instead of running to the store for an overpriced boxed mix made with crazy ingredients, I decided to create my own recipe! The goal was to make more wholesome cookies without sacrificing any rich, decadent deliciousness. After some experimentation, I’m so excited to share the best double chocolate chip cookies with you!

holding a double chocolate chip cookie

Traditional brownies and cookies typically call for butter or oil, milk, eggs, and a great deal of sugar. Rather than simply replacing these ingredients with vegan alternatives, I wanted to make these brownie cookies healthy. When playing around in the kitchen, I knew I wanted these cookies to be:

Gluten free

Oil-free

Low in sugar

Moist

Suuuuper chocolatey

Healthier than most cookies

stack of brownie cookies

What Makes These Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Healthier?

These cookies include a healthy main ingredient: dates! Dates are high in fiber, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, and several other vitamins and minerals. Another healthy swap, these cookies use coconut flour instead of the usual wheat flour. Coconut flour is also high in fiber and nutrients like iron. Both rich in fiber and low on the glycemic index, dates and coconut flour may benefit digestion and help keep blood sugar levels regulated. This recipe also uses applesauce instead of oil for that perfect moist texture that you’d want in a double chocolate chip cookie.

brownie cookies on tray

My favorite part about these cookies is how “real” they taste. I don’t know about you, but I never liked overly sugary treats that I couldn’t take more than a bite of without feeling sick. When I told my dad that similar cookie recipes contain one to two cups of sugar, and this recipe only contains a half a cup, his jaw dropped. “Do cookies really usually contain that much sugar!?” Most do, but not these brownie cookies! These double chocolate chip cookies are so good without all that extra added sugar. The dates provide a nice natural sweetness, and these semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips are the perfect touch. These cookies also go great with a glass of your favorite plant-based milk!

plate of cookies and soy milk

If you like healthier desserts that taste incredible, you’ll also love this vegan zucchini cake with cream cheese frosting!

Melissa Donovan

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fudgy double chocolate chip cookies, aka brownie cookies, that are vegan, gluten-free, and healthy.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups dates pitted
  • 1 cup water boiling
  • 1 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 cup raw sugar
  • 2/3 cup cacao powder
  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350° and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add 2 cups of dates to water and let soak for 5-10 minutes to soften.
  3. In a high speed blender, add hot water and soaked dates. Blend until date paste is formed.
  4. In a large bowl, mix sugar, coconut flour, cacao powder, and baking soda.
  5. Add date paste, applesauce, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and mix until well formed. Stir in vegan chocolate chips.
  6. Use a spoon to scoop cookie dough, roll into balls, and flatten into disks. Place flattened cookie dough onto trays. Bake for 15-18 minutes at 350°.
  7. Allow cookies to cool for at least 10 minutes, as they will still be soft after removing from the oven. Enjoy!

Notes

Cookies will be soft when removed from oven. Allow cookies to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Optional: stick 2-3 chocolate chips in the top of each cookie for aesthetics.
the best double chocolate chip cookies

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  1. Baked Oats Recipe: Chocolate Pumpkin Spice | My Plant-Based Friend says:
    October 27, 2022 at 12:24 am

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By Melissa Donovan

I love creating tasty, balanced, and healthy vegan recipes for people of all diets. Whether you’re looking for high protein, macro friendly vegan recipes or positive encouragement in adopting a more plant-based lifestyle, you’re in the right place!

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