Double Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

I’m a lover of all things chocolate.

Dark chocolate that is. I don’t know what it is about chocolate….or women and chocolate actually. It’s quite amusing that in my 6 years of nutritional consulting, I’ve worked with hundreds of women and I can confidentily say at least 75% of them indicated “chocolate” on their intake forms under “what foods do you crave?”… or “what do you do to manage your stress?”.

While not all chocolate is created equal, I am happy to say that dark chocolate does have many health benefits … read about it here in a whole post I did dedicated to chocolate (yes, I did that).

So… for the (few) men who are reading this… for Valentine’s Day this year… bake your lady love some amazing Double Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies and you’ll be earning some major brownie points.. no pun intended. 

And for all my beautiful single ladies out there, put on some jazzy music, dance around your kitchen, and bake these amazing cookies for yourself! Self-love/self-care can never be under-rated especially when it involves dark chocolate!

These cookies are a simple and healthy combination of gluten free flour, cocoa powder, coconut oil, coconut palm sugar (a wonderful sweetener option that is unrefined and low on the glycemic index), and chia seeds!

To amp up the cookies with more deliciousness, texture, and health I added in dark chocolate chips (allergen free), omega rich pecans, and naturally sweet dates which add a caramel-like chew to every bite!

The combination of rich chocolate, crunchy pecans, soft dates, and melty chocolate chips is divine and really, for a cookie that lacks anything refined or artificial, it’s a contender to any bakery cookie out there!

So instead of stopping by the grocery store bakery for some of those sprinkle covered, heart shaped, hydrogenated oil filled, sugary Valentine’s cookies (you know the exact ones I’m talking about… I can picture them in their plastic clamshell container right now!) take 15 quick minutes to bake a batch of these for your loved ones or yourself!

Are you a fan of dark chocolate? What is your favourite way to enjoy it? Does Valentine’s Day mean “chocolate day” to you too?? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below! 

Double Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

 

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

12 mins

Total time

27 mins

 

Serves: 15

Ingredients

• ¾ cup all-purpose gluten free flour
• ¼ tsp xanthan gum (unless it is included in your gluten free flour)
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ⅓ cup coconut palm sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water (or use 1 egg for non-vegan)
• ⅓ cup room temperature coconut oil
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips
• ½ cup finely chopped pitted dates
• ¼ cup chopped raw pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Make the 'chia egg' by whisking the chia seeds and water in a small bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes to thicken.
3. In a large bowl whisk together the soft coconut oil and coconut sugar.
4. Add the chia egg (or regular egg, if using), vanilla extract, baking soda, salt, and mix until well combined.
5. Add the flour, xanthin gum, and cocoa powder to the wet mixture and mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, chopped dates, and chopped pecans. .
6. Place large dollops of batter on the cookie sheet and flatten to ½ inch thick. Make 15 cookies.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

3.5.3208

Recipe inspired by Radiant Rachels

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Christal

Nutritionist in the Kitch