These deliciously delicate chocolate lace cookies will be the hit of your next party – and they just so happen to be accidentally gluten-free!
Have you ever thought about trying a gluten-free diet?
Like Atkins in the 90s, the idea of “going gluten-free” has swept America (and beyond). If you haven’t tried a gluten-free diet, chances are you know at least one person who has.
There are people who adopt this diet out of necessity (Celiacs). And then there are those who try it simply because they’re curious. I have a friend who falls into the latter group: She’s been avoiding gluten for the past two months, and she swears it’s made her feel better.
I don’t know if my friend is really gluten-intolerant, or if it’s the placebo effect working the magic on her. But my job isn’t to judge; my job is just to be a supportive friend. And so I support her the best way I know: with lots of love… and food! (My Italian grandmother would be so proud.)
For more recipes: Over 100 Healthy Gluten Free Recipes
The following recipe is the definition of “experiment.”
I had absolutely no idea, when I threw a bunch of random ingredients together, what would come out of my oven!
Luckily, these gluten free cookies were a huge hit when I shared them this past Saturday night, and my gluten-free friend was so appreciative she wasn’t left out of dessert for once.
To be honest, the cookies aren’t my personal favorites. They turned out too crispy/chewy for my liking, and I much prefer softer cookies like my Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Cookies.
But some of my friends loved the flourless chocolate cookies so much that I’m posting the recipe anyway. If you like your cookies to be chewy (as opposed to soft), this is a recipe for you!
Chocolate Lace Cookies
Very loosely based on my Fudge Babies Recipe.
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- scant 1/4 tsp salt
- level 1/2 tsp baking soda
- packed 1/4 cup pitted dates (45g)
- 1 cup chocolate chips (170g)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp unrefined coconut oil
Blend first five ingredients until almonds and dates are finely pulverized. In a separate bowl, combine vanilla, oil, and 3/4 c of the chocolate chips. Melt (I microwaved 1 minute, then stirred). Pour the dry ingredients, as well as the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips, into the wet. Stir until evenly mixed, making sure to break up any big clumps. It’ll seem dry at first, but keep stirring until it all looks dark and shiny.
Bake at 355 F for 7-8 minutes. (Take out when still a bit undercooked, as these continue to cook as they cool.)
Link Of The Day:
Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies
What do you think of the gluten-free trend?
I know this is a polarizing subject: some people believe everyone can benefit from adopting a gluten-free diet, while others think the idea of eating gluten-free by choice is ridiculous.
Personally, I don’t think I’m qualified to judge. I don’t have Celiac Disease and I’ve never tried a gluten-free diet (nor will I, unless it becomes medically necessary to do so). But I do think that if someone wants to give up gluten and thinks it helps him/her feel better, all the more power to that person. It’s really not my place—or anyone else’s—to tell others what diet works best for their bodies.
you always have such beautiful presentation!
Great looking gluten-free cookies! I love it when experiments work out.
Recently I noticed how eating “gluten-free” has become trendy. I have not eaten gluten for over 3 years because I am intolerant to it, but I would not recommend it as a way to lose weight for those who are tolerant.
Eating a diet that is free of gluten requires a lot of education about what is in certain things. Social situations can become difficult if you do not educate yourself. I pretty much know what is off limits when I go to restaurants, so I don’t have to have the waiter ask the chef about every item on the menu.
For me it is not difficult to eat a gluten free diet because I am adventurous with food. Also it has been very beneficial to me health-wise, but many people feel healthy eating gluten and that is great.
Just made the flourless chocolate chip cookies. they are delish. i think i will try them again omitting the white sugar, chocolate chips and adding coconut. OMG they are so yum. i have my 5 year old frantically cleaning his room so he can hurry up and get one 🙂 thanks!
WHat a good friend! I love your supportive attitude. I’ve never tried a gluten-free diet so I can’t judge for myself whether the benefits are of the placebo effect type, but it surely allows a lot of variety of ingredients so it can’t be all that bad, right?
I agree with you that it isn’t our place to judge. Each person needs to decide what makes them feel their best. I have been grain free for about 6 months, and I feel really good. I was falling asleep on my way home from work (while driving- never a good thing), and I just had no energy. In reading different blogs, I came across one that talks about no grains. Being a carb-addict, I wanted to see if it would make a difference (I have no medical reason to do this). My stomach bloat is gone, I sleep better, I have more energy, and recovering from long runs is much quicker. I’m not 100% committed- I bake too much for that to ever happen. However, I plan my week, and cheat, so that I don’t feel deprived.
Bottom line though, I would never push this on anyone, or think this is the best way to eat…again, each person must make that decision for themselves.
The cookies look good! I have friends with celiacs and will pass the recipes on. thanks!
So much of the time there is just enough info out there to be dangerous — many folks are just looking for the next big thing that promises to change their life. Some really do need it, some can benefit. The important thing is for people to educate themselves and do what is best for them, for their body, for their health…not because it’s the next big thing.
I don’t have Celiac, but there’s also another group of people like me who have to be gluten-free. I am gluten-intolerant. While it may not be doing horrific damage to the villi in my intestines, it still wrecks havoc on my system. “Intestinal distress” is how I’ll nicely put it, lol. The problem is that so many people are gluten-intolerant and don’t even know it. They think feeling bloated occasionally, having random bouts of constipation or diarrhea is normal. I even have a friend who gets headaches from gluten. It affects people in different ways, so it continues to be a hot topic. Among those who feel the effects and those who think we’re making it up.
Those cookies look awesome! While chewy/crispy isn’t my favorite, neither is soft/non-chewy. Soft/chewy all the way! 🙂
Exactly. We tried GF for a while to see if it would help with my daughter’s seizures. It didn’t, but all of my stomach & intestinal problems that I thought were normal went away! I’ve never felt better. I can eat small amounts occasionally without an issue, but if I start eating it regularly, I go back to feeling icky and my energy levels go way down (and for the record, it wasn’t a matter of replacing processed foods, as we’ve been eating whole foods for several years).
I think even if you are not allergic to gluten it is wise to reduce the amount of gluten in our diets. Gluten is like glue and we don’t need it clogging our system.
That being said, a warm, crusty french roll? I’m all in…
I only heard about gluten free foods when my cousin realized that she was extremely gluten intolerant. I like sending her gluten free recipes from the internet now. The gluten intolerance thing confuses the heck out of my mom, but she’s weird and doesn’t believe that people can have anything wrong with them without it being all in their head.