Grain Free Double Chocolate Pecan Cookies (Dairy Free, Gluten Free)

Days by myself don't happen often, and I try to take full advantage of them. "Me" time today included kitchen time interspersed with laundry and housecleaning...not sure where the "me" part came in there, but the clutter and dust bunnies were getting to me...it had to be done!! In between loads of laundry, these cookies were born, and I am very happy with the results. I used a combo of coconut and hempseed flours, which is a bit different than my regular grain free flour mix. Generally I use coconut, arrowroot and chickpea flours as my go-to mix. But, being as many folks don't tolerate arrowroot or bean flours, I wanted to find a substitute that offered some nutritional value, and still tasted good. Hemp brings many things to the table, the biggest two being protein and fibre, which are great additions to a cookie! These would be great to pack in your lunch bag or to throw in your backpack for a mid-hike snack. I would recommend freezing any leftovers after the first day, as with most grain free cookies, their shelf life is shorter than most cookies. The recipe made about 28 cookies, if you want bigger cookies, adjust the cooking time accordingly, as they will take longer to bake. 

Grain Free Double Chocolate Pecan Cookies (Dairy Free, Gluten Free)

1 ripe banana

2 eggs

1/3 cup coconut oil, softened but not melted

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 cup cocoa powder

1/3 cup coconut flour

¼ cup hempseed flour

½ cup coconut sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup chocolate chips

½ cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350F. Line 2 cookie pans with parchment paper and set aside.

With an immersion blender mix together the banana, eggs, apple cider vinegar and coconut oil until well blended. Add the dry ingredients and with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, mix well until all is well incorporated. Let stand 5 minutes to let the coconut flour absorb the liquid.

Using a tbsp measure, scoop onto prepared pans, leaving a bit of room between cookies for expansion.

Using the flat bottom of a glass or jar, flatten cookies a wee bit. You will probably need to grease the bottom of whatever you use to flatten, as the batter is sticky.

Bake in preheated oven for 13-15 minutes. Carefully remove cookies to a wire rack and cool. Enjoy!