GRAIN FREE & GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES made with almond flour… yes, please! These cookies are an older AK recipe, but one that is perfect for Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day or just baking with the kiddos.
These chocolate sugar cookies are a take on my almond flour sugar cookies, which are most definitely in my top 5 favorite cookies of all time. Seriously, UNREAL. If you haven’t made them yet, prepare for a life changer.
This time I’m showing you how to make a chocolate version because what’s Valentine’s Day without a little chocolate? Options to cut these into cute heart shapes or just enjoy as regular, round cookies for the perfect treat.
What you’ll need to make gluten free chocolate sugar cookies
Good news! These gluten free chocolate sugar cookies can either be rolled into balls and baked or made into adorable sugar cookie cutouts, frosted and decorated. Perfect for making with kids, bringing to parties or birthdays, or just enjoying them at home. Or of course, Valentine’s Day. Here’s what you’ll need to make them:
- Flours: we’re using both almond flour and coconut flour to keep these cookies gluten free, grain free, lower in carbohydrates and higher in fiber compared to using regular flour. Plus these two flours also have a nice sweetness to them, meaning we don’t have to use as much sweetener.
- Cocoa powder: you’ll also need some good quality unsweetened cocoa powder. I personally love Ghirardelli 100% unsweetened cocoa powder. You can also feel free to use cacao powder, which is a bit richer in flavor and contains more vitamins and minerals.
- Coconut oil: add a bit of coconut oil to give the cookies the perfect amount of moisture & yummy flavor. You are more than welcome to use melted butter or melted vegan butter.
- Egg: make sure your egg is at room temperature when you make this recipe. I like to do this by running it under warm water for 1 minute.
- Sweetener: we’re adding both sugar + honey to sweeten the cookies. Because these are sugar cookies, I wanted to use real deal sugar. The entire recipe only calls for a small amount of organic cane sugar, but you can also feel free to sub coconut sugar, although the cookies may come out softer. I use honey in the recipe to keep a nice soft texture to the cookies plus add additional sweetness. Maple syrup would also work well.
- Baking staples: you’ll of course need some vanilla extract for extra flavor, baking soda and a bit of salt. Learn how to make your own vanilla extract here!
- For the chocolate buttercream: this is optional, but highly recommended. You’ll need butter, more cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla and a bit of milk to make it.
Can I use regular flour?
Unfortunately, no, I would not recommend using a different flour in these grain free chocolate sugar cookies as the texture will greatly change.
Can I make these cookies vegan?
I haven’t tested this recipe with a flax egg, but I think it should work well! Let me know in the comments if you try it. Be sure to also use vegan butter if you’re making the chocolate buttercream. Learn how to make a flax egg here!
How to make cut out chocolate sugar cookies
- Make & refrigerate dough. After mixing up the dough for these gluten free chocolate sugar cookies, shape it into a disc, wrap it well, and place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour (preferably 2).
- Roll it out. Once the dough is done chilling, place it on a large sheet of parchment paper that’s been dusted with a good amount of coconut flour. Add another large sheet of parchment paper on top of the dough ball and roll it out into a large rectangle until the dough is about 1/4th inch thick.
- Cut & bake. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out the cookies, transfer them to a prepared baking sheet & bake!
- Frost (if you’d like). Beat together the butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder & vanilla until smooth and fluffy, then frost each cooled cookie and decorate however you’d like.
Want to make regular cookies?
This recipe can easily be made into regular, round cookies! Simply roll cookies into dough sized balls, then place them on a baking sheet, flatten the cookies with a glass, or your hand, and bake as directed. No need to refrigerate the dough for this version.
Tips for making gluten free chocolate sugar cookies
- Do not use substitutes. Almond flour should not be replaced with any other flour, nor should you attempt to replace the coconut flour. The cookies really are perfect as is, promise.
- Pack your almond flour. I like to pack my almond flour just like I would with brown sugar. It makes all the difference! No need to pack the coconut flour though.
- Want them dairy free? To make completely dairy free, just use vegan butter instead of regular butter in the frosting.
- Chill the dough for at least 1 hour. It makes the dough MUCH easier to work with, plus it helps the cookies to hold their shape.
- Roll the dough between sheets of parchment paper or wax paper. This prevents the dough from sticking to your surface since parchment paper is nonstick.
- Add coconut flour to your rolling pin. This will ensure that the dough does not stick to the rolling pin.
- Roll dough so that’s it’s 1/4th inch thick. Yes, we want a thicker dough so that the cookies are easier to cut out. Plus, the thicker dough really allows the cookies to keep their soft middle texture, yet still have crispy edges.
Storing tips
Feel free to store these grain free chocolate sugar cookies in an airtight bag or container at room temp for up to 5 days.
Freezer-friendly gluten free chocolate sugar cookies
There are two great ways to freeze these chocolate sugar cookies, and they’ll stay good for about 2 months. Get all of our tips & tricks for freezing cookie dough and baked cookies here!
More gluten free treats to try
Get all of our gluten free treats here, and all of our Valentine’s Day recipes here!
I hope you love these almond flour chocolate sugar cookies as much as we do. We’d also love for you to leave a comment + rate the recipe below. We greatly appreciate your feedback! xo.
Gluten Free Almond Flour Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 18 minutes
Delicious almond flour chocolate sugar cookies that are grain free & made in one bowl. These easy, gluten free chocolate sugar cookies can be made into cut out shapes or rolled into dough balls! Top with a silky velvet chocolate frosting if you’d like.
-
1/3
cup
melted and cooled coconut oil -
1/3
cup
organic cane sugar (regular sugar or coconut sugar will also work) -
1
tablespoon
honey or maple syrup -
1
egg, at room temperature -
2
teaspoons
vanilla extract -
1 1/2
cups
packed fine almond flour (do not use almond meal) -
2-3
tablespoons
coconut flour (start with 2) -
1/4
cup
unsweetened cocoa powder -
1/4
teaspoon
baking soda -
1/4
teaspoon
salt - Chocolate Buttercream (optional):
-
4
tablespoons
butter, softened (or use vegan buttery stick) -
2
tablespoons
unsweetened cocoa powder -
3/4
cup
organic powdered sugar -
1
teaspoon
vanilla extract - 1-2 teaspoons almond milk (or milk of choice) to smooth/thin out frosting
-
In a large bowl add in the coconut oil, sugar, honey, egg and vanilla extract; whisk until well combined and smooth.
-
Next add in almond flour, 2 tablespoons coconut flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Mix with a wooden spoon (not a whisk) until dough comes together. Allow dough to sit for 5 minutes. If dough is WAY too soft to form into a disc after 5 minutes, add in another tablespoon of coconut flour and mix again.
-
Form dough into a disc and wrap in plastic; chill dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (preferably 2) or 30-45 minutes in the freezer. Also optional to chill overnight if you want to save time.
-
Once ready to bake: preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
Place dough on a large sheet of parchment paper that’s been dusted with a good amount of coconut flour. Add another large sheet of parchment paper on top of the dough ball and then begin to roll out into a large rectangle until the dough is about 1/4th inch thick. The dough is soft, so you need to work quickly so that it doesn’t warm up too much! This is also the best method to prevent the dough from sticking to the rolling pin. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes, then use a spatula to help you transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheet.
If you don’t want to make cutouts, there is no need to refrigerate the dough. Simply roll cookies into dough sized balls, then place on a baking sheet, flatten the cookies with a glass, or your hand, then bake at directed.
-
Place cutouts on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven, transfer to a wire rack and allow cookies to cool completely before frosting. Makes about 15 cookies.
-
For the frosting: Beat butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla on medium high until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add a tiny splash of almond milk and beat again to make frosting more smooth. Frost each cookie then decorate however your heart desires.
Tip: Keep the dough scraps and make small cookies if you’d like.
To make these dairy free: Use vegan butter instead of regular butter.
Melted and cooled butter will work in place of the coconut oil.
To freeze them for later: get all of our tips for freezing cookie dough and baked cookies here!
Nutrition
Servings: 15 cookies
Serving size: 1 cookie
Calories: 197kcal
Fat: 14.6g
Saturated fat: 5.3g
Carbohydrates: 16.1g
Fiber: 2.5g
Sugar: 11.9g
Protein: 3.4g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Photography by: Sarah Fennel
Recipe originally published on February 6, 2017, and republished on February 11th, 2022.