I took a day off from work yesterday, for no particular reason. It was a long time coming. Call it a moment to myself, call it a mental health day, call it a much-needed break. Whatever you call it, it was fantastic.
The thing is that no mental health day (or whatever you decided you were going to call it; I went with mental health day) is complete without a soft, chewy, ooey gooey chocolate chip cookie (or 3). So, before I knew it, I was stirring and scooping and baking and chowing.
Once the seal was broken, I just kept cooking and baking all day (including an irresistible carrot layer cake and some baked chicken fingers, both of which are coming soon to a blog near you). By the end of the day, I was stuffed to the gills and my feet hurt like hell but I was felt more relaxed and accomplished than I have in awhile. Note to self: take mental health days more often, make cookies always.
Chocolate Chip Cherry Ginger Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 large egg, beaten, or vegan egg replacement
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, butter or vegan butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, or roughly chop the large ones
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup roughly chopped dried cherries
- 1/3 cup chopped dried ginger, it's up to you whether to use crystalized/sugared or uncrystalized
Instructions
- Preheat 350F and line 2 cookie sheets with a nonstick pad or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, granulated sweetener, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
- In a smaller bowl, stir together the egg, vanilla, maple syrup and melted coconut oil or butter
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir to combine. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl to make sure everything gets incorporated.
- Fold in the chocolate chips, pecans, dried cherries, and ginger.
- Scoop 3 Tablespoon portions of dough and roll into a ball. Use your palm to flatten into a thick disc and place on the cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing each cookie 2-3" apart on the sheets.
- Bake 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the cookie sheets until firm (see note), before moving to a rack to cool completely.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
This cookie is very add-in heavy. That's just the way I like it 🙂 However, if you prefer more dough in your cookie, feel free to decrease some or all of the the measurements as follows:
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup dried cherries (chopped)
- 1/4 cup dried ginger (chopped)
When you remove the cookies from the oven, they will seem so soft that you'll think something is wrong. The tops will look slightly golden, but if you try to pick one up, it will be so soft, it will probably crumble in your hand. That's ok, and that's why you need to let the cookies cool on the sheets before you try to move them.
Julia says
There’s so much to be said to take a full day to do what you want to do. I find cooking and photographing comes so much easier when all the pressure’s off, too! These cookies are such a dream! They look absolutely perfect and I’ll definitely be baking them for my next cookie adventure. I’ve never baked cookies using coconut flour, so I’m super psyched about these!
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Yes, that’s exactly it! I felt like a completely different person having nothing on the calendar 🙂
Coconut flour is a tricky one – there is nothing quite like it! I never (or rarely) use it on its own, but it balances other flours really well!
June Burns says
Yay for mental health days! I totally know that feel…usually spend the time napping though haha. The carrot cake on your instagram looks amazing, can’t wait to see the recipe 😀
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
I wish I could have napped! That’s what I should have done but I just couldn’t resist making cookies 🙂
Christina @ Bake with Christina says
I love how you took chocolate chip cookies to the next level by adding pecans and dried cherries! They look SO tasty!! Pinned 🙂
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Thanks, Christina!
suzi says
these look great and i think i will try them out in my kitchen. wondering though, is there supposed to be ginger in them? the recipe says “chocolate chip cherry ginger cookies”. i have lots of ginger and was hoping to include it!! bet it would be a great addition 🙂
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Suzi, you read my mind – or I read yours! I just noticed that too. D’oh! That’s the best part! See, this is why I don’t usually try to turn around posts in a day. The recipe has been corrected and thank you so much for mentioning it!
suzi says
you bet!! thanks for treating us to this delicious cookie!!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Nom! Your cookies rock, Nora! I love making paleo cookies and often eat a few for breakfast. LOL! I love that you added fresh ginger or crystallized ginger. I enjoy using it to really spice things up. Cannot wait to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Cookies sound like the best breakfast!
Monica says
Yay for mental health days! I think we all could use those days to ourselves to take a step back and chill. It sounds like you’ve been super productive during your day off! These cookies sound amazing; I bet the cherry and ginger go fantastic together (: Hope you’re enjoying the weekend and beautiful weather!
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
That is definitely the case, Monica. I have to remember to take these days more often. Hope you had a great weekend!
Selena @ The Nutritious Kitchen says
YESS!! Okay first of all I have been way out of the loop these past two weeks, clearly. Sometimes life just gets in the way but I have missed the blogosphere so much and these cookies are calling my name!! I am really into almond flour lately too so this recipe is a must this weekend.
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Oh yeah, so have I! Life does get in the way, but sometimes it’s worth it! Hope you love these cookies!
Liora Mann says
I was also grateful growing up that my mom also believed in mental health days 🙂 Your day sounds so wonderful! I also feel like sometimes I start baking and I don’t want to stop!
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
I agree!
Daniela says
Wow! They look fantastic. I am allergic to almonds, can I try with other nut flours?
Thanks ??
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
You could try cashew or hazelnut flour, if you have access to it! The cookies will spread a little bit more because those flours are a little oilier than almond.