Gluten, Soy & Dairy Free

These simple almond cookies are the perfect fix for that sweet tooth that craves all things bad for you. When I went looking for a cookie recipe that contained neither butter nor oil, I didn’t realize it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Most cookie recipes out there, even the ones that claim to be better for your health include some sort of butter.. or oil.. or fat in general. These cookies however, should be awarded a thumbs up approval from a registered dietitian. 

Nothing can describe these cookies better than just…. simple. From the simple ingredients to the simple instructions, it doesn’t take a genius in the kitchen to bake these. All it takes is some almond flour, sound nutrition and a sweet tooth to devour these delicious morsels.

These days, it seems to me the number of people with food allergies are rising dramatically. The moment I mention my profession, my degree and my passion for nutrition there seems to be a spark in the other person’s eyes that say, “I need you!” They often comment on how they know somebody who has an allergy. Other times, it’s them that need the advice or the extra help because they just discovered a new food intolerance to adapt to.

The food we eat should be medicine to our bodies, not diminishing our health. If you’re living with a food allergy, don’t settle for less. Adapting recipes to meet your nutrition needs is the most important thing you can do for yourself. This specific recipe is naturally gluten free, soy free and dairy free. So dig in, take a healthier chew and treat yourself to better nutrition.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• zest from 1 large orange
• 2 large egg whites
• pinch of cream of tartar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp pure almond extract

RECIPE

1. Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, sugar, and orange zest. Stir until well combined and set aside
3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Using a whisk, whip the mixture until it forms soft peaks
4. Pour the egg white mixture into the almond flour mixture and fold until all the flour is combined
5. Scoop the dough out into individual cookie balls. Pat them down slightly, spacing them out equally on the prepared cookie sheet.
6. Bake at 325 degrees fahrenheit for 17-20 minutes or until slightly golden on the edges

Inspired by “Almond Cookies” created by Taste, Love and Nourish

All photos used in this article were taken by Stephanie Rackley for and by The Healthy Chew 

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email me at StephanieRackley@thehealthychew.org