These chocolate chip cookies are made with just 7 ingredients, and they’re gluten-free, oil-free, and vegan! If you’re looking for a tasty dessert that everyone can enjoy, these cookies are perfect!

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I know what you’re thinking. Vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies? Do they taste like cardboard? Do I need a dozen ingredients? Are they going to be complicated? No, no, and no. Plus, these cookies are super easy to make! All you need is a bowl and a spoon! These cookies are soft, chewy, and… dare I say it? A little bit healthier.

There’s nothing better than a chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven. And since these cookies are vegan and gluten-free, anyone can enjoy one! Looking for more cookie ideas? Try my almond flour oatmeal cookies, chickpea chocolate chip cookies, or these gluten free oatmeal cookies.

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Almond flour– Almond flour is made from ground almonds. You can use almond flour or almond meal for this recipe.
  • Salt– A pinch of salt helps balance the sweetness.
  • Baking soda– This helps the cookies lift and brown.
  • Applesauce– I used applesauce in place of oil to add moisture to the cookies while keeping these low in fat.
  • Maple syrup- I like to use maple syrup as a natural sweetener.
  • Vanilla extract– A splash of vanilla gives them that classic cookie taste!
  • Chocolate chips– I prefer mini chocolate chips so you get a little chocolate in every bite.

Substitution Ideas

  • I prefer to use applesauce in these cookies to keep them oil-free. But if you’d like to substitute oil instead, you can use a natural oil like avocado oil or grapeseed oil. I don’t recommend replacing with olive oil, or it will have more of a savory taste.
  • You can use agave or maple syrup to sweeten these cookies. You can also use honey, but keep in mind that they would no longer be vegan-friendly.
  • Be sure to use dairy-free chocolate chips to keep these cookies vegan. I like the Enjoy Life brand of dairy-free chips.

What is almond flour?

Almond flour is simply finely ground almonds. You can also use almond meal for this recipe, which is a more coarsely ground flour. I love Bob’s Red Mill and Blue Diamond brands, but you can also find Almond Meal at Aldi and Trader Joe’s! Since these cookies are made with almond flour rather than regular flour, they’re slightly lower in carbs and higher in healthy fat and protein. This means you’ll actually be full after you eat one, and you’ll be less tempted to eat the whole pan. (Although they are delicious, so I can’t promise you won’t eat them all in a day.)

How to Make These Cookies

Combine the almond meal, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl.
Stir in the applesauce, sweetener, and vanilla until mixed. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a baking pan. It should make about 12 small cookies. Flatten them out a bit with the back of the spoon.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until just beginning to brown on the edges.

Tips & Tricks

  • These cookies don’t spread much, so it helps to flatten them down a bit before baking.
  • Be sure to use dairy-free chocolate chips to keep these cookies 100% vegan. I like the Enjoy Life brand!
  • Bake them on the top or middle rack of the oven. They can brown quickly, so keep a close eye on them!

It took a few tries to get the recipe just right, but I loved how these turned out. If you like a soft, chewy cookie, you must try these. I promise, even if you’re not vegan or gluten-free, you’ll love them!

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cookies

Vegan and Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 5 reviews
  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 12 cookies 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Dessert
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

These chocolate chip cookies are made with just 7 ingredients and they’re completely oil free, gluten free and vegan! If you’re looking for a tasty dessert that everyone can enjoy, these cookies are perfect!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 2/3 cups almond flour (Spoon the flour into the measuring cup.)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons applesauce (see note)
  • 1/4 cup agave or maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/4 cup dairy free mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Adjust the oven rack to the top-middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine the almond meal, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl.
  3. Stir in the applesauce, sweetener, and vanilla until mixed.
  4. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  5. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a baking pan. It should make about 12 small cookies.
  6. Flatten them out a bit with the back of the spoon. (They won’t spread much.)
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges just begin to brown.
  8. Let sit for a few minutes to cool, then enjoy.

Notes

I prefer to use applesauce in these cookies to keep them oil free. But if you’d like to substitute oil instead, you can use a natural oil like avocado oil or grapeseed oil.

Be sure to use dairy-free chocolate chips to keep these cookies vegan. I like the Enjoy Life brand of dairy-free chips.

This post was originally published in August 2016. Updated April 2024.