Paleo Chai Spiced Cookies (grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free)
These paleo chai spiced cookies are perfectly soft, chewy and also grain-free, gluten-free and dairy-free!
11/2019 update! I just posted another recipe for chai cookies that I think are even better. Check out these chai-spiced cookies. They’re paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free and have a vegan option.
I came across these grain-free thick and chewy snickerdoodles from A Clean Bake last week and knew that I had to make them! But since it’s October, I wanted to give them a little fall flair, so I used maple syrup instead of honey and added quite a bit of chai spice to turn them into paleo chai cookies.
I looked up different recipes for chai spice mix, and all the recipes were different and used different spices, so I just threw in some ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. I thought it was a perfect mix but you can use whatever spices in whatever proportions you want.
The first time I made them, I used the chai spice mix in the dough and in the sugar I used for rolling the cookie dough balls. That was overkill. The cookie itself is spicy enough without rolling it in even more spice. But I still rolled them in sugar because… why not? ;)
At first, I rolled them in coconut sugar, which worked perfectly, but I preferred them with granulated sugar due to the texture and taste. Raw sugar would also work well! However, if you want to keep these chai-spiced cookies paleo, use coconut sugar instead.
I LOVE how chewy these chai cookies are. Have you ever tried these soft and chewy ginger cookies? They’re just like those in size, shape, and texture but with a totally different flavor.
Out of all the types of grain-free goodies (cakes, brownies, muffins, etc.), cookies are definitely my favorite. While the texture differs from that of cookies made with all-purpose flour or whole wheat, they’re still nice and chewy, and not at all funky. And from a recipe development standpoint, they’re the easiest and therefore the least likely to make me frustrated. :D
Wondering what to drink with your chai cookies? This hot spiced apple cider or pumpkin chai latte would be perfect!
And for another great Christmas cookie, try these gluten-free cut out sugar cookies!
Paleo Chai Spiced Cookies (grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free)
Ingredients
- 2 cups (200 grams) almond flour blanched
- 1/4 cup (34 grams) coconut flour sifted if lumpy
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (56 grams) coconut oil melted
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 large egg 50 grams out of shell, room temp
- 3-4 tablespoons sugar for rolling, you can use raw sugar or coconut sugar for the paleo verison
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients (almond flour through salt).2 cups (200 grams) almond flour, 1/4 cup (34 grams) coconut flour, 1/4 cup (50 grams) coconut sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar, 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla and egg.1/4 cup (56 grams) coconut oil, 1/4 cup (60 ml) maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 large egg
- Add the dry mixture to the wet and stir just until combined.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm enough to roll into balls.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
- Roll the dough into 1″ balls, roll in the sugar, and place 2″ apart on the prepared baking sheet.3-4 tablespoons sugar
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the tops are firm and no longer wet. They will not brown but may crack a little.
- Remove to a baking sheet to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
- The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator.
- Adapted from A Clean Bake’s Grain-free Thick and Chewy Snickerdoodles.
I’ve made these twice already and they are AWESOME!!!
We affectionately call them Chai donuts-they remind us of Tim Horton’s Timbits. Without all the yicky stuff. YUMMO! Thanks for an awesome recipe.
Haha. I love that you call them donuts. :D I’m so happy that you’ve been enjoying them! And awesome that you’ve already made them twice. Thanks a ton for the feedback! :)
I made these for a Halloween party and they were such a hit!! They were just as described: chewy, flavorful and just enough sweet. Even the people who had no dairy, gluten, grain allergies really enjoyed them. Thanks!!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that! And how awesome that even the people without gluten sensitivities enjoyed them. :) I also don’t have any food sensitivities but I really like grain-free goodies like these. Thanks a ton for your feedback!
I wonder if these would work w/ an egg replacer – wow Erin – they look amazing!
Thanks! I’ve never actually tried baking with an egg replacer. I hope it works out if you try it! :)
Chai spices are one of my favourite fall things, and I love how thick these are!
Right?! So fat and awesome. :D
These look so soft and beautiful…..I will be making these for sure!
I hope you’ll enjoy them! :)
These would make my hubby goes bonkers crazy. He’s a nut for cookies like this. So pretty too, love how inviting they look.
Thank you, Kim! And haha. It seems like all the husbands would go crazy for these cookies going by the comments! ;)
I’m going to HAVE to make these for my husband! He loves Chai Spiced lattes and these would go perfect with those!
I hope that you’ll both enjoy them if you try them! :)
Adding chai spices to snickerdoodles?! That just might be the best idea I’ve seen all week!
Thanks a bunch, Lauren!
Can’t believe I’ve never made anything Chai. I think this will be it!
That’s nice to hear! I hope you’ll enjoy the cookies. :)
Love the chai flavor in cookies! Wish I had a couple to go with the chai I’m drinking right now!
I have a whole big box I’d love to share with you. :D
Ooooh, I love the spice in these cookies and they look so chewy.
Yes! So soft and chewy and spicy. :)
These cookies look very tempting! Yummy!
Thank you, Medeja! :)
I love these!! They sound absolutely amazing with the chai spice flavor and look so precious (is that a strange way to describe a cookie? Oh well, I stand by it) with their bulbous little shapes. I’m sure they are a pleasure to eat. Putting these on my to-make list immediately!
Aww, I’m happy you think they’re precious! That made me happy to read. :) I hope you’ll enjoy them and thanks for the recipe!
I love that these are made with almond flour and I love chai spice…make me think of Christmas for some reason. These look great!
They’re definitely Christmas-y, aren’t they? I was so excited I wanted to post them immediately. :D
These sounds fantastic plus they are dairy free!!! I would love to have a couple of those right now with a nice Chai Latte on this rainy Portland day. Lovely.
You live in Portland?! I’d love to move to either Portland or Seattle. It’s so cliche but I don’t care. :)
Oh wow. These sound absolutely delightful!
Thanks, Stephanie! :)
Hi Erin – These look amazing. Any recommendations for subbing out the coconut flour, sugar and oil? I’m allergic to coconut! Do you think oat or gram flour would work?
Thanks, Emily! I think this may be a difficult recipe for you to make. You could use raw sugar, brown sugar or even granulated sugar for the coconut sugar, butter for the coconut oil, but coconut flour isn’t so easy. I’ve never found a good sub for it. :( It absorbs a lot more moisture than any other flour (including oat flour) but you could try it and add more oat flour than called for. I just don’t know how much. Sorry about that! Good luck if you try them. :)
Thank you for your speedy response! I’m gonna try with the oat flour just for giggles.
Haha. I hope it works out well. :) If you try it, let me know if you have to add extra oat flour! I’m curious, too. :)
These look so good.
Thanks, Charlotte! :)
love the chai spiced in here! This recipe looks pretty simple and those cookies remind me of being a kid and rolling the dough in the sugar mix! That’s the best part. Thanks for sharing the different methods you tried that you didn’t love. Takes some d the guessing out for me!!
It is indeed simple! And so happy you appreciate me writing about what didn’t work. :)
I’ve been baking a lot more with almond flour lately. And I absolutely adore chai spices, so I think these cookies are in my very near future. They look incredible!
Thanks, Amy! And isn’t almond flour great (in some stuff? :))