Chewy almond meal cookies are gluten free, vegan, and so tasty!
How was your weekend? It was such a gorgeous weekend here…we had a bit of rain, but then lots and lots of sun. It’s starting to look really pretty out there with the leaves changing colors. I wish that fall was longer…it would be nice to be able to enjoy it for about four months and then have just two months of winter. I wonder how we can make that happen? ;)
Today I’ll be sharing my first sweet recipe of this 31 day series. These almond meal cookies are a big hit with my two boys. They are chewy and flavorful and delicious.  I love the texture and nuttiness that you get when you bake with almond meal. I get ours from Trader Joe’s, but there are other brands available if you don’t happen to have a Trader Joe’s near you.
These chewy almond meal cookies are:
- nutty and flavorful
- perfect for an after school snack
- gluten free and vegan
Recipe
Chewy Almond Meal Cookies.
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond meal
- ½ cup vegan buttery spread melted
- 2 Tablespoons flax seed meal
- 6 Tablespoons water
- ½ cup granulated sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup gluten free flour blend
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
Instructions
- Make the flax seed egg replacers: in a small bowl, mix the flax meal and the water and set aside. In a few minutes it will become a gel.
- In a large bowl, mix the almond meal, gluten free flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
- Add the melted buttery spread, applesauce, flax seed egg replacers, and vanilla extract.
- Put the bowl of dough in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Drop the dough onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Do not overbake, you want them to be chewy.
Nutrition
We love these chewy almond meal cookies and I make them or some variation of them quite often. Luckily I keep a good supply of almond meal on hand at all times for emergency cookie making. ;)
What cookie recipes do you come back to again and again?
This post is part of my series: 31 Days of Gluten, Dairy, and Egg Free Soups, Salads, Sides & Sweets.
Follow along:
Vanessa
Thanks fo rsharing! Does it keep long?
Kelly Roenicke
Store in an airtight container, they should stay fresh for about 5 days.
Suzanne
This looks so good! Is it good with other mix ins?
Kelly Roenicke
You can add other seeds, chocolate, nuts, candies if you like!
Alexa
Is it possible replace it with coconut oil instead?
Kelly Roenicke
You can try that – they may have a slightly different texture, but should be okay.
Lesley kingdon
What can I use in place of Apple sauce?
Kelly Roenicke
Try pear sauce, mashed banana, or a flax egg.
Bizee b
My friend s grandson is allergic to dairy, eggs, soy and wheat. I feel bad for him and don’t want him to feel left out. I made regular chocolate chip cookies for his brother and sister and made these, with the addition of dairy and soy free chocolate chips. I just ground up whole almonds in my coffee grinder for the almond meal. Last time we had them over I made him your vegan and gluten free skillet brownie which he absolutely loved while we had regular brownies. He thinks it’s great that he gets the same thing we have but it’s special for him. Thank you for your great recipes. I passed along your website to his grandmother too
Kelly Roenicke
So glad you found some recipes that he loved! Thanks for letting me know! :)
Megha
Great recipe. Is there a substitute for applesauce?
Thanks,
Megha
Kelly
Banana would work!
janae
I’d love to make these using all the leftover almond meal I have after I make almond milk. I’m wondering if you’ve ever used their own. Would I need to dehydrate the almond meal first? I usually just freeze it moist after I squeeze the milk out. Or adjust the liquid somehow? Thanks!
Kelly
Maybe just see if you need less liquid? I have not tried it with fresh almond meal but I love that idea!
Shannon
Im making these right now! I added a quarter cup of chopped apricots & cranberries to mine, they are sitting in the fridge now. I cannot wait to put these in the oven! Thank you for the wonderful, healthy recipe!
Kelly
Awesome! How did they turn out for you? THose additions sound great!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
I love baking with almond meal, it always makes everything so flavoursome, moist and delicious. These cookies are definitely a recipe I have saved to recreate.. thanks for the recipe Kelly!
athleticavocado
yum! never tried almond meal, is it like almond flour?
Arman @ thebigmansworld
Kelly, this is pinned to be made- looks absolutely delicious and perfectly healthy for breakfast. Right? Right.
Kelly
Definitely an acceptable breakfast! :)
madparmors
Almond meal…I just ordered some blanched almond flour. Is that different? I can use eggs, butter, and milk if I want, right? Do you know what is in the gluten free flour blend? I’m not sure I can have that. If there is rice flour in it, I can’t have it. These sound so yummy…
Kelly
There is usually rice flour in gluten free flour blends. But you could just substitute more almond meal, and they would still turn out, but they might be a little bit flatter. Blanched almond flour is similar to almond meal, I think that blanched almond flour and almond meal are similar, but the flour is more finely ground. I got the almond meal from Trader Joe’s, and it does have a texture to it, it’s almonse a little coarse.
Megha
Hi Kelly,
¼ cup gluten free flour blend is 1/4 cup rice flour?
Thanks,
Megha
Kelly
Hi there! Gluten free flour is usually a blend of flours, like Bob’s Red Mill GF Flour, or King Arthur brand. You could try gf oat flour, that may work. I have not tried straight rice flour.
Amy
Omg! So, so, so beautiful pictures… and i can bet that thouse cookies are super duper tasty! I’ve saved the recipe. Definitely going to prepare them… and thx for the recipe!
Kelly
Thank you, Amy! :)
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
I’ve actually never baked with almond meal. You’ve inspired me to try it! I bet it gives the cookie a delicious nutty flavor. This look delicious!
Kelly
Thanks, Natalie! You should try it, I love it.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
These cookies look so chewy and delicious, Kelly! I’ve never baked with almond meal before, so now I’m intrigued. Sounds like it makes some amazing cookies!
Kelly
Try it, Gayle! I love it.
Julia
Glad you had a lovely weekend, dear!! My weekend was lots o’ fun! Went to a wine walk with friends, went mountain biking and watched football. All good things! These cookies?! oommyyyyyygerd…I’m so impressed by your healthy dessert skillz…I must try these ASAP! Apple SAUCE!
Kelly
Thanks, Julia! Wine walk? Biking? Sounds like fun!
Almost Getting It Together
Just pinned these… love how there is NO added sugar! Can’t wait to try :)
Kelly
Oh no, you found a typo! I have corrected it. There is sugar, but you can use coconut sugar, which is a bit healthier. Sorry for my error! :(
Strength and Sunshine
I still have not tried baking with almond flour!
Kelly
Try it, it’s great!
Sarah@wholeandheavenlyoven
My mom is going to LOVE these cookies—I can’t wait to make a batch for her. They look awesome! Pinned. :)
Kelly
They are pretty tasty, Sarah! Hope she loves them! Thanks for pinning!