Naturally, I needed to try making a grain-free version this year. If you ask me, the main requirement for Chocolate Crinkles is that they are chewy and chocolate-y, almost like a brownie. They also tend to be drenched in powdered sugar! Sadly, I have yet to find a suitable substitute for refined powdered sugar. Coconut sugar can be ground in the Vitamix to create a “powdered sugar,” but the flavor is rather strong and it doesn’t seem to work in the same way that traditional powdered sugar does. Trust me, I’ve tried! Luckily, these double-chocolate cookies don’t need a coating of powdered sugar to be delicious. They are rich in chocolate flavor, and have the brownie-like texture my family loves. I hope you and your family enjoy them, too! — Double Chocolate Cookies (Grain-Free) makes 2 dozen Adapted from Elana’s Brownies Ingredients: 1 cup creamy almond butter 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup honey 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 2 teaspoons vanilla 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips Directions: Preheat your oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or a Silpat. Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl, and mix until a smooth and sticky batter is formed. Drop the batter by tablespoons onto the lined baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. (If you’d like, you can add the chocolate chips on the top of each cookie, rather than mixing them into the batter. They look a little more decorative that way!)
Bake for 8-9 minutes at 350F, or until firm. Allow to cool for 10 minutes on the pan, before removing to cool completely.
Serve warm, or at room temperature, with an ice-cold glass of homemade almond milk! Notes:
When shopping for dark chocolate chips, look for chips with 60-70% cocoa content, to avoid too many additives. I like the 70% dark chocolate chunks from Whole Foods, but when those aren’t available, I’ll use the Ghiradelli 60% chocolate chips. Sunspire also offers fair-trade and organic 65% chocolate chips that are fantastic.
Use raw almond butter, rather than roasted, for best flavor.
For vegans, a flax egg will probably work as a substitute for the egg, and try using maple syrup as a replacement for the honey.
— Reader Feedback: Are you a fan of Chocolate Crinkles? Any ideas on a good substitute for powdered sugar?
