White Chocolate Chip Cookies with Macadamia Nuts
These Paleo-ish and gluten-free White Chocolate Chip Cookies with Macadamia Nuts are chunky, chewy and crunchy. They are packed with protein, healthy fats and superfoods! A healthy holiday dessert recipe that is perfect for you and your family to enjoy.
I’m back with another healthy, holiday dessert recipe that the whole family can (and will) enjoy! Since I made my Gingerbread Cookies, I have been on a cookie kick. I mean, it is the best time of the year, with all the cookies.
I always have loved chocolate chip cookies. But these chunky White chocolate Cookies with macadamia nuts are even better. They are paleo-ish *, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and low carb.
- I couldn’t find paleo white chocolate chips. But this chocolate cookie recipe itself is paleo.
Healthy Version of White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Traditional white chocolate macadamia nut cookies are made with white flour, butter and vanilla (among other ingredients), but these healthified cookies are made with almond flour, almond butter, and cacao powder. So really, these are more like a double chocolate macadamia nut cookie.
Sweetened using only Maple syrup and Coconut sugar
Coconut sugar is my go-to in place of regular white sugar for several reasons. It is not processed and maintains antioxidants that are present in the coconut it is derived from, along with remaining free of artificial ingredients.
It also presents lower on the glycemic index (see why this is important in the next section) and contains trace amounts of minerals. As with anything, make sure you read the ingredient list to make sure it’s not mixed with any other type of sugar or unnecessary ingredients. When reading the food label look for 1 ingredient, either listed as coconut palm sugar, coconut crystals, or coconut sugar.
What Makes White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Cookies Healthy
1. Almond Flour
Almond flour is a great alternative to white flour in recipes. It’s simply almonds ground up into flour. It has a low glycemic index (which means it doesn’t raise the blood sugar as quickly as other grain or refined flours) and helps prevent the unhealthy blood sugar spikes associated with sweets commonly made with white sugars and flours.
2. Almond Butter
Using almond butter allows dairy butter to be eliminated from this recipe and makes it appropriate for those who are following a dairy-free diet.
Additionally, it is a healthy source of fats and fiber. When you choose almond butter to purchase in the grocery store, make sure there’s no added sugar or any other unnecessary ingredients added. You’d be surprised how many nut butters have ingredients other than nuts. You could make your own nut butter by using a food processor or go to a store in your area that has a nut-grinding station.
3. Cacao Powder
My favorite addition to this recipe is the cacao powder (duh, it’s chocolate). Cacao is becoming increasingly popular as a versatile superfood.
It has more than 40 times the amount of antioxidants of blueberries, is a great source of plant-based iron, and has also been linked to reducing inflammation, improving blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and most importantly improving mood.
You can add cacao to pretty much anything! Baking Recipes like:
Or no Bake Vegan Recipes like:
Why I Love These Paleo White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
There are many reasons to love these cookies, but I am especially excited about them because they are the perfect sweet treat without all of the guilt. I already told you about all of the wonderful health benefits that the ingredients are capable of, but none of that means anything if they don’t taste good. And these are GOOOOOD.
*Please note that the white chocolate chips are NOT paleo-friendly. However, a simple substitution for paleo-friendly cacao butter or keto-friendly white chocolate will make this chocolate chip cookie recipe suit your dietary restriction. (See notes below)
These cookies are super easy to make. Now you have healthy, delicious holiday cookies for the whole family to enjoy!
Maybe you could try leaving these out for Santa this year next to a nice glass of cold almond milk to wash them down 😉 Happy holidays everyone!
What are your favorite holiday cookie recipes that you would like to see made healthy? Leave a comment below!
Last but not least, I can’t wait for you to try it! You can use “tried it” on Pinterest or share it on Instagram by tagging #shuangyseats.
You may also like these other dessert recipes:
1. Superfood Chocolate Bark
2. Paleo Gingerbread Granola (Vegan)
3. Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Get the recipe:White Chocolate Chip Cookies with Macadamia Nuts
Ingredients
- 1 room temperatured egg
- 1/2 cup smooth almond butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup almond flour, packed
- 3 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup cacao powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 raw unsalted macadamia nut, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips, dietary options see notes*
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 350 F
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients- egg, almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and coconut sugar using an electric hand mixer. Add in the dry ingredients - almond flour, cacao powder, sea salt, baking soda and fully combine.
- Fold in the white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts. Chill in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Use a cookie dough scooper to scoop the dough on to a greased parchment paper with a little room in between. Press down the cookies a bit as they won't spread out too much).
- Bake 12 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 2 minutes and then transfer to a wire cooling rack. Enjoy!
Notes
The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.
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