Cherry Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies {Gluten-Free}

Cherry Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies made with almond and coconut flour, oats, dried cherries, and sweetened with honey – an easy gluten-free cookie recipe!

Graduation always seems to be a true mark that summer is finally here.  Our school held graduation ceremonies this last week in the very same auditorium in downtown Kansas City that my commencement ceremonies were held (13!) years ago.  As I sat there this week watching the seniors cross the stage into adulthood, I couldn’t help but think about my own high school graduation and the horrible migraine I suffered that very day.  With my best friend and walking partner by my side, my primary goal that day was to cross the stage without getting sick.  When it was over, it felt like an eternity before we arrived back home.  I spent the rest of the day in a dark room (or running to the bathroom), missing graduation dinner with my family.

I have countless memories like this – sometimes, it is easier to pinpoint events throughout my life based on the degree of the migraine I had that day.  But what struck me the most this week amidst 2014’s newest graduates, was the absence of fear.  This weekend will mark a year and a half since I had my last migraine, and I can only attribute this to going gluten-free.  For about 15 years I carried around with me an element of fear that a migraine would hit and I would have no choice but to halt what I was doing, take some kind of med as soon as possible, and pray that I didn’t end up having to go to the emergency room 12 hours later to find relief.  I feared that things I was so looking forward to would be ruined – graduations, vacations, reunions with friends, my wedding. Fear had a much greater hold on me than I ever really realized.  And it wasn’t until this week that it truly hit me that fear has not had that hold for at least a solid year now.  Amazing.  And so freeing!

Today’s recipe was inspired by an end of the school year gift from my friend and colleague Daniel.  He gave me LEON Brownies, Bars & Muffins, a little cookbook focused on naturally fast recipes.  Does he know me or what?

These cherry almond chocolate chip cookies are packed with good stuff.  High in protein and fiber from the almond flour, coconut flour, oats and almonds, filled with vitamin A from the cherries, and finished with a bit of sweet from the honey and chocolate chips.  I made these the other day for friends with only trace amounts of the good stuff to throw in.  They were good but these are better.  And, you should have no fear about indulging in these more healthy morsels.

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Cherry Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies {Gluten-Free}

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 24 -26 cookies

Author Tessa Fisher

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup almond flour firmly packed
• 1/4 cup coconut flour firmly packed
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup gluten-free oats
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds
• 2/3 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or Silpat.
2. In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, and salt. Add melted butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined.
3. Stir in oats and slivered almonds, followed by cherries and chocolate chips. The cookie dough will become harder to stir, but do so until last four ingredients are combined into mixture.
4. Using a small spoon, drop cookie dough onto cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes or until turning golden brown. Let cool on wire rack.

Notes:

Adapted from Leon Brownies Bars & Muffins and my Super Simple Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies.