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Orange Dark Chocolate Cookies with Macadamia Nuts

One of my favorite flavor combinations for cookies is orange and dark chocolate. It is bright and fresh with a decadent touch. These Orange Dark Chocolate Cookies have the addition of macadamia nuts for extra crunch and are just delicious! And best of all, the cookies are totally gluten free!Orange dark chocolate cookies

Treating yourself to baked goods when you follow a Paleo plan can be a bit of a challenge.  Refined sugar and wheat products are not part of the diet. But this doesn’t mean that baked good are a thing of the past. Making them just requires a bit of creativity.  See some of my Paleo baking tips to get you started.

Let’s make some Orange Dark Chocolate Cookies!Orange chocolate cookies

These amazing cookies are use both coconut flour and almond flour to substitute for normal wheat flour. In place of granulated sugar, I chose pure maple syrup. Macadamia nuts give a nice crunch and dark chocolate gives a rich flavor to the cookies.

I love that these cookies only use 1/4 cup of added sweetener. Compare that with a normal chocolate chip cookie which has 1 1/3 cup of two sugars! I have cut my sugar cravings by following the Whole30 plan and enjoy just mildly sweet treats now.

Cooking with coconut flour and almond flour gives a very different batter than a normal cookie recipe does, since coconut flour sucks up moisture.  It is much thicker. Also, you will need to blend a few starches together and not just scoop out one flour. Be sure to use almond flour, not almond meal which is much coarser in order to keep the cookies light.Almond flour, coconut flour and cornstarch are the base of these Paleo cookies

To start, whisk the flours with arrowroot, sea salt and baking soda in a bowl.Combine your dry ingredients and whisk well.

This combination of orange zest, dark chocolate and chopped macadamia nuts is what gives the cookies their amazing flavor.  Use a very dark chocolate and check the labels to make sure it is dairy free. I go for one that is above 75% cacao and often 85% or even higher.  I’m used to the dark chocolate taste now and quite enjoy it.  Plus, you can eat far less of it than you can of milk chocolate. My recipe only uses 1/2 cup of chocolate for 20 cookies.Orange zest, nuts and chocolate

Use your stand mixer to combine the wet ingredients and then beat in the flour mixture to get a stiff batter. Fold in your orange zest, nuts and chocolate. The batter will be quite thick.Making the orange chocolate cookie batter

I use a small scoop to place heaped tablespoons of the dough on a cookie sheet.Scooping the cookie dough batter

The dough of these orange dark chocolate cookies will not spread the way normal cookies do, so a bit of a press on top of the dough balls will give you the cookie shape you want. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up with baked balls of dough, without a cookie shape. I left mine still fairly thick, since that is what I wanted when I was done, but you can press them flatter if you wish.  (Just adjust the cooking time down a little.)Press down the cookies

Bake for 11-13 minutes 15 350 º F until the cookies are lightly browned on the edges, then remove to wire racks to cool.Orange chocolate cookies on a wire rack

Time for a taste!

If you are looking for a grain free, dairy free Paleo cookie that has no added refined sugar, give these orange dark chocolate cookies  a try.!  (If you want to make them vegan, substitute 2 tbsp of applesauce for the egg.)
Plate of Paleo cookies

These yummy cookies have a hint of fresh orange flavor with each bite.  They also have lots of crunch and the dark chocolate gives just the decadent touch that I am going for. They remind me a bit of an English scone.  Not too sweet, perfect for a snack and really tasty. Enjoy!!~
Take a bite of these delicate cookies

These tasty cookies work out to about 155 calories each. Here is the full nutritional information:

Nutritional information for Orange dark chocolate cookies

Pin these orange dark chocolate cookies for later

Would you like a reminder of these dark chocolate cookies with macadamia nuts? Just pin this image to one of your cooking boards on Pinterest.Orange dark chocolate cookies with macadamia nuts

Yield: 20

Orange Dark Chocolate Cookies with Macadamia Nuts

Orange chocolate cookies

These orange dark chocolate cookies are Paleo and gluten free. Snack on one today!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of blanched almond flour
  • 2 1/2 tbsp of coconut flour, sifted
  • 1/3 cup of arrowroot starch
  • 1 tsp of baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp of pink sea salt
  • 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup
  • 2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
  • 1 extra large egg (can substitute 2 tbsp applesauce for vegan)
  • 2 tbsp of melted coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp orange juice
  • zest of one orange
  • 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips (check your labels)
  • 1/2 cup of coarsely chopped macadamia nuts

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 º F.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, arrowroot, baking soda and pink sea salt. Whisk well to combine.
  • Place the maple syrup, pure vanilla extract, orange juice and egg into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until will combined. Mix in the melted coconut oil and mix well.
  • Gently mix in the flour mixture and orange zest and beat until you have a thick batter.
  • Fold in the dark chocolate chips and chopped macadamia nuts.
  • Scoop out rounded tablespoons of the dough on to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Flatten the dough slightly.
  • Bake for 13-15 minutes until the edges of the cookies are golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
  • Store the cookies in an air tight container. They also freeze well.
  • Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    20

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 155.6Total Fat: 12.3gSaturated Fat: 3.5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2.3gCholesterol: 12.1mgSodium: 126.3mgCarbohydrates: 11.3gFiber: 2.7gSugar: 5gProtein: 3.6g

    Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

     

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