You read that right...chocolate coconut chocolate chip cookies that are paleo friendly. Remember the Paleo Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies I made a few weeks ago? Well these are just a more chocolatey version of those cookies and what a difference a little bit of chocolate makes as they don't even taste like the same cookies!
During my Sugar Crush Challenge last month, I was craving something sweet but I couldn't have any granulated white sugar or brown sugar. So I had to find healthier versions of my all-time favorites. And after making the paleo chocolate chip cookies, I still had a strong hankering for chocolate.
As I was thinking of what could possibly be better than coconut chocolate chip cookies, it became obvious to me that more chocolate was the answer. And that is how I came up with these chocolate coconut chocolate chip cookies that are even more healthier for you than their inspiration, Paleo Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies.
I say “healthier” because I’ve swapped out the dark chocolate chips for organic cacao nibs which have more nutrients without any added sugars, yet you still get that delicious chocolate flavor. And we all know the benefits of having dark chocolate over milk chocolate, right? Well, if you don’t already know, dark chocolate (unsweetened, not the sugary stuff) is found to:
- • Contain powerful antioxidants
- • Improve blood flow which helps lower your blood pressure
- • Raises HDL and helps protect LDL against oxidation
- • Lowers your risks of heart disease
- • Improves brain function
Who’d have thought adding more chocolate to your diet would be better for you? And you thought eating healthy meant cardboard and tasteless foods.
Times are a’changing baby!
By the way for all who are wondering, I've completed my Sugar Crush Challenge. I have to say it opened my eyes to how much sugar is in the everyday foods we eat on a daily basis. And I'm not talking just desserts here. Sugar is in almost everything we eat like ketchup, yogurt, orange juice, milk - dairy milk, almond, cashew, and coconut milk included. Add that together with the other foods you eat and the sugar grams quickly increase for the day.
I lost ten pounds by cutting out sugar from my diet and I feel better too. So after completing the challenge, I'm going to continue watching the sugar content in my diet although I will still be making sweets too, just in moderation now. If you haven't already, I highly advise you to try the Sugar Crush Challenge and let me know if it helps you clean up your diet.
Paleo Chocolate Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
Prep time: 8 minutes
Cook time: 10-15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Yield: 1 dozen cookies
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup organic coconut flour
- 1/3 cup organic cacao nibs
- 1/3 cup pecans, chopped
- Pinch sea salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup organic cold-pressed, virgin coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon dark cocoa powder
- 2 Tablespoons organic unsweetened coconut flakes
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Line cookie sheet (2 if you have available, otherwise, just use one cookie sheet will do) with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium to large mixing bowl, add coconut flour, sea salt, eggs, melted coconut oil, honey, vanilla, and cocoa powder. Mix together until all ingredients are blended. Making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a spatula to get all the coconut flour blended in. Texture will be reminiscent of normal cookie dough. It might take a little longer for the coconut flour to soak in the wet ingredients. If using a stand mixer, about 5 minutes longer. If texture is still runny, add in coconut flour a little at a time until you achieve correct texture.
- By hand, fold in coconut flakes, pecans, and cacao nibs.
- Using a Tablespoon or pre-set cookie spoon, drop onto prepared cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.
- Gently press down cookie with your fingers or palms, as cookies will not spread out during baking.
- Bake for 10 - 15 minutes. You will not be able to see these cookies turn a golden brown in color that is usually a sign to take them out of the oven, so keep a watchful eye on them as you do not want to burn.
- Remove from oven and let cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack where they can cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. But trust me, they won't last that long!
- Cookies will retain a soft texture during storage.
Benefits of Dark Chocolate found here.
