Cookie Dough Bites (gluten free + dairy free)

Jump to:

• When I Least Expected
• Ingredients in Cookie Dough Bites
• Instructions for Cookie Dough Bites
• Why Blanched Almond Flour In Cookie Dough Bites?
• Ideas For Using Cookie Dough Bites
• Substitutions in Cookie Dough Bites
• Wisdom from Cookie Dough Bites
• Storage
• FAQ’s
• Related
• Cookie Dough Bites
• Food safety

I thought it was the end of cookie dough bites when my husband told me that eating cookie dough was forbidden in his childhood home. But something just wasn’t right about not getting to eat cookie dough. Not with my southern background. In my mama’s kitchen eating the cookie dough was part of the love I felt when baking with her. It was the journey and the process that was most special. Come to think about it, I’m having a hard time remembering one finished cookie I ate in my mom’s kitchen. But I remember many cookie dough bites I consumed in the process. See more thoughts on this journey at the end.

When I Least Expected

I happened upon these cookie dough bites when I realized that the base of my almond chocolate bars tastes just like cookie dough! It not only tastes like cookie dough but it also has the same texture and consistency. If it walks like a duck and quarks like a duck, it’s got to be a duck. The wheels started spinning and I couldn’t help but see if I could turn the recipe into cookie dough bites. Sure enough this batter made delightful safe-to-eat cookie dough bites (meaning, free of raw egg).

My friend Daisy was over at the time. I let her try them as well as my husband and we all agreed the world must know about these delicious little bites.

Ingredients in Cookie Dough Bites

These cookie dough bites are so easy, so healthy, and so delicious! They happen to be gluten free, dairy free, and vegan! The recipe only has five healthy ingredients and no eggs. The 5 ingredients include blanched almond flour, coconut flour, maple syrup, vanilla, and miniature chocolate chips! 

Blanched Almond Flour

This is the main substance of the cookie dough bites. Make sure it is blanched, otherwise you will have brown specks in your cookie dough bites. It obviously fine to have brown specks if you’re fine with that. But I prefer the without-speck cookie dough look!

You can use the almond butter linked right below in place of the almond flour. Although, this will create a softer and less textured cookie dough bite.

Did you know you can use blanched almond flour to make blanched almond butter? Try it out with this recipe!

Coconut Flour

Coconut flour will help create extra texture in the cookie dough bite batter, getting you closer to that cookie dough texture you love. 

Substitutes for coconut flour include: arrowroot powder. The coconut flour may add a slight coconut taste to the batter. If you aren’t used to or do not like the taste of coconut then try arrowroot!

Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is the next ingredient. It is considered a lower glycemic sweetener. I can attest to the truth of this as I am married to a Type 1 diabetic. Everytime he eats my desserts made with maple syrup or coconut sugar (which is also considered a lower glycemic sweetener) his blood sugar does much better than if he eats refined cane sugar.

Vanilla

I use homemade vanilla extract, as store bought vanilla can contain additives. If you are interested in making homemade vanilla extract, check out Vanilla Bean Kings. But, don’t stress too much about that now. Proceed with any vanilla you have at home or your favorite organic vanilla bean extract from a reputable source. Simply Organic is a great option.

Did you know? Pure vanilla extract will have an amber color rather than a dark brown color which you usually find in store bought vanilla.

Chocolate Chips

I used miniature Enjoy Life chocolate chips. The miniature chocolate chips are necessary as regular sized chocolate chips will be too large and will not mix in well when you roll the cookie dough bite. 

See recipe card for quantities.

Did you know? Enjoy Life is a dedicated allergen friendly company. I enjoy their products when making gluten and dairy free recipes.

Instructions for Cookie Dough Bites

You’ll find the full recipe for cookie dough bites below. The process is really simple. Here is the step by step process for making cookie dough bites.

• Step 1: Set out all ingredients: blanched almond flour (or blanched almond butter), coconut flour (or other flour if substituting- see Q&A below or see the notes above under coconut flour), maple syrup, vanilla, chocolate chips, dash of salt.
• Step 2: Add blanched almond flour, coconut flour, maple syrup, and a dash of salt to a medium sized mixing bowl and stir until well blended.
• Step 3: Fold in the chocolate chips and blend evenly.
• Step 4: Roll into small/medium sized balls. They will be about 1.5 inches in diameter. A cookie scoop can help make the size consistent. A small or medium scoop will work well. You don’t want them too big since they are technically a “bite”. But feel freedom in exploring the size that seems most appetizing to you.

Why Blanched Almond Flour In Cookie Dough Bites?

Why blanched almond flour in cookie dough bites? First off, the blanched almond flour is the way to make these little cookie dough bites look like cookie dough. That is the main priority when it comes to the consistency of the cookie dough bites. But another benefit is the removal of lectins! 

Lectins & Cookie Dough

Lectins are found on the outside of many plants in order to deter predators. However, they are not meant for human consumption. When they are consumed by humans they can get into the gut lining and prevent absorption of nutrients. They can also bind to cells lining the digestive tract. This may disrupt the breakdown and absorption of nutrients, and affect the growth and action of intestinal flora. Because lectin proteins bind to cells for long periods of time, they can potentially cause an autoimmune response and are theorized to play a role in inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes (Harvard, Lectins, 2022). 

Therefore, lectins are really important to avoid when possible.

Ideas For Using Cookie Dough Bites

I originally crafted the cookie dough bites for a Fourth of July Charcuterie board. They were the “white” in my third row of stripes on the board. Click here for Fourth of July Charcuterie Board inspiration.

Use these cookie dough bites for kids parties, hangouts, or even during snack time. Little ones have lots of love for cookie dough. For this reason, they will feel so much excitement if you make these bites as a special surprise snack or lunch treat.

This is a great recipe for cooking with kids. Since these cookie dough bites are free of egg, they are safer to make with kids! Get them in the kitchen and have some fun!

Substitutions in Cookie Dough Bites

I have mentioned many substitutions above but will summarize them here!

• Sugar – if you want to use sugar instead of maple syrup, make sure to add ⅓ cup of coconut oil or another oil.
• Arrowroot – in place of coconut flour

Wisdom from Cookie Dough Bites

Is cookie dough possibly the first thing that makes a child fall in love with the kitchen? That first lick off the spoon when mom is stirring up the treat they have been waiting for all day is truly better than the finished product. Doesn’t that speak to life in many ways? Most of us have found that there is something so special about the journey, the taste of what is yet to come, that fills our heart with so much gladness! Because this cookie dough is designed to be finished at the dough part, think of these cookie dough bites as a symbol of the here and now and the beauty that lies in the now. We are allowed entrance into God’s kitchen, to join him in life’s journey and to taste His goodness all along the way.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalms 34:8

Start making cookie dough bites! Enjoy!

Storage

These will store well for a week in the refrigerator. Keep them in the freezer or refrigerator before you are ready to eat. Eat them cool or at room temperature!

FAQ’s

Please leave a comment if you make these cookie dough bites! We would love to read your comments and hear about your exciting twists and fun times!

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Food safety

• Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods