I’ll admit it.  My weakness is cookies, especially chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven.

But…wait… it can’t just be any chocolate chip cookie.  It has to have a crispy exterior, a soft, chewy middle and be filled with the perfect amount of chocolate chips (preferably the small ones), just like The Best Paleo, Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Since giving up gluten 3 years ago to gain control over my Rheumatoid arthritis, and following a pretty strict Paleo diet, I have spent many hours in the kitchen working on a chocolate chip cookie recipe that passes all the tests.

During this time, I kept seeing these delicious recipes for Paleo chocolate chip cookies that looked divine.  But whenever I looked at the ingredients, almond flour was always used.   Both my daughter and I cannot have almonds.  She has a severe nut allergy and I have an oral reaction to almonds, so those recipes were not a possibility.

Then one glorious day, my husband came home with a bag of tigernut flour.  I had no idea what it was, nor how to use it.  But after some time spent researching, I decided that it would be a good flour substitute in baking.

Tigernut is not a nut but a starchy tuber that has been used in Africa for centuries.  Discovered 4ooo years ago, this tuber is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamins and nutrients.  It is starting to gain popularity in North America due to it known health benefits such as being:

• high in dietary fiber
• a good source of magnesium
• high in amino acids, specifically arginine (which helps to control blood pressure)
• rich in vitamin E and contains high levels of oleic acid which when combined, has shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
• contains potassium
• a good source of non-animal protein
• a good “heart healthy” fat, such as the fat found in olive oil and avocados

Not only are you getting a delicious snack but these cookies are actually good for you!

I tried out a few recipes and like most things it took some trial and errors but I finally got the recipe right.

The Best Paleo, Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie is a family favourite in our house and has passed the test of friends, family and as a playdate snack.

Since we love it so much, I’d like to share it with you….especially, if you or someone you cook for has a nut allergy.

 These cookies can also be made vegan, that is how I started out but I find adding an egg makes them a little extra chewy.

Tigernut flour may not be available where you live.  I have found it in one store in Victoria so I usually order a few bags on Amazon.

So without further ado, here is the recipe for…

The Best Paleo, Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons of Spectrum shortening

1 cup of granulated coconut sugar

4 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract

2 organic egg

2 cups of tigernut flour

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2-3/4 cup of Enjoy life mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the Spectrum shortening, coconut sugar, vanilla and eggs.  Using an electric mixer, or a whisk, mix well until you have a smooth consistency.
3. In a small bowl, add the tiger nut flour, salt, baking soda and combine.
4. Stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and mix until well combined.
5. Using a small ice cream scoop, place a ball of cookie dough on the baking sheet, making sure to leave room in between cookies because they will spread.
6. Give each ball a little pat down to make it into a disc.
7. Cook for 12-15 minutes, depending on how you like your cookies.
8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool (slightly) on a cooling rack before eating the whole batch ;).

 I think you’ll really enjoy these.  If you share my love of chocolate chip cookies, check out my other recipe that uses coconut butter as the base.

Now grab a cup of coffee or tea and take 5 minutes to sit down and enjoy one!