The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you’ve been searching for the BEST gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe – look no further! I’ve been eating 100% gluten-free for almost 10 years now and THIS is the chocolate chip cookie recipe of my dreams.

I’ve tweaked this recipe and tested it many times over the years and this recipe is the ultimate best. No more tweaking or re-testing needed.

These cookies are soft, chewy and golden like a good chocolate chip cookie should be. If you’ve tried making gluten-free chocolate chip cookies before you probably know they can turn out dry, grainy and pale.

This recipe has a few tricks so you get golden, non-grainy cookies with a delicious depth of flavor and crisp edges every time.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Rated 5-stars by hundreds of reviewers
• Easy-to-make – no mixer required!
• Soft and chewy
• AMAZING flavor
• Undetectably gluten-free

Here are a few notes on the key ingredients to make gluten-free chocolate chip cookies.

• Gluten-Free Measure-for-Measure Baking Flour: For best results, use a high quality gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum. King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Measure-For-Measure Flour is my favorite gluten-free flour. I’ve also had good results with Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1:1 baking flour.
• Almond Flour: I like using a little almond flour because it gives the cookies richness and helps them to bake up golden brown. It’s my secret ingredient in many gluten-free baked goods! If you’re allergic to nuts you can leave out the almond flour and substitute more gluten-free baking flour.
• Butter: Browning the butter is the secret step to AMAZING gluten-free cookies! Sometimes gluten-free cookies can lack a depth of flavor. Brown butter gives these cookies a delectable nutty, toasty almost caramelized flavor that you can’t get from anything else.
• Chocolate Chips: Chocolate chips are usually naturally gluten-free! I’ve used the bag from Costco, Nestle and Enjoy Life all with great results.

How to Make Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, almond flour, baking soda and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter is melted start to whisk constantly. First the butter will begin to foam, then after a couple of minutes it will begin to brown on the bottom of the saucepan. Turn off the heat as soon as the solids turn brown and the butter gives off a nutty aroma. Pour into a glass mixing bowl to prevent burning.

• Add the milk, brown sugar and white sugar. Whisk to combine. Add the egg and vanilla and whisk until smooth and creamy.

• Using a rubber spatula, mix in the dry ingredients until well combined.

• Stir in the chocolate chips. Cover the bowl and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

• Preheat the oven to 350F. Scoop the cookie dough (about 2 Tablespoons of dough per cookie) and place a few inches apart on the baking sheets.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden and the center is set.
• Let cool 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling. Enjoy!

The Science Behind the Recipe – Why it Works!

1. Brown the Butter

The first secret ingredient is brown butter. Sometimes gluten-free cookies can lack a depth of flavor. Brown butter gives these cookies a delectable nutty, toasty almost caramelized flavor that you can’t get from anything else.

If you’ve never browned butter before this is a great tutorial. It’s easier than it sounds!

2. Add a Tablespoon of Milk

The next trick for this gluten-free cookie recipe is to add a tablespoon of milk. This helps to compensate for the liquid that evaporates from the butter during the browning process. It also helps the cookies get a golden color and prevents grittiness.

Gluten-free flour needs a little extra liquid for best results so you don’t have chalky cookies.

3. Use a High-Quality Gluten-Free Flour

I wanted to keep this recipe simple with easy-to-find ingredients. I like to use a high quality gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend like King Arthur Flour in this recipe. This blend has a mixture of brown rice flour, white rice flour, potato starch and tapioca starch. Other high-quality brands of gluten-free flour will work, just be sure to use a blend that contains xanthan gum.

4. Add Almond Flour

I like using a little almond flour because it is non-gritty and helps the cookies get that golden color and chewy texture. It’s my secret ingredient in many baked goods!

If you’re allergic to nuts you can leave out the almond flour and substitute more gluten-free all purpose flour.

5. Use Brown Sugar

Using mostly brown sugar instead of mostly white sugar also gives these cookies delicious flavor and chew. A splash of vanilla extract is also key!

This recipe works with any kind of chocolate chip you like. I usually use semi-sweet chocolate chips but milk chocolate chips are also amazing!

6. Give the Dough a Rest

After you mix the dough altogether it’s important to give it a 30-minute rest at room temperature. This gives the gluten-free flour time to hydrate and really makes a difference. It’s key for non-gritty gluten-free cookies!

Luckily just a room temperature 30-minute rest will do and no overnight-in-the-fridge chill is needed. So you can still have chocolate chip cookies shortly after a craving strikes!

Storage/Freezer Instructions

• TO STORE: Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• TO FREEZE: I love to make a double batch of this gluten free cookie dough to freeze for later! Just scoop the dough into balls then place the them in a ziplock bag or freezer container to freeze. You can bake the cookie dough balls straight from the freezer – simply add 2-3 minutes onto the bake time. Just pop onto a baking sheet and bake – no thawing needed!

Ingredients

• ▢1/2 cup (113g) butter
• ▢1 tablespoon milk or almond milk
• ▢3/4 cup (160g) brown sugar
• ▢1/4 cup (50 g) white sugar
• ▢1 large egg
• ▢2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ▢1 1/3 cups (200g) gluten-free 1:1 baking flour
• ▢1/4 cup (25g) almond flour finely ground
• ▢1 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢1 cup (170g) chocolate chips
• ▢Sea salt for sprinkling optional

Instructions 

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, almond flour, baking soda and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter is melted start to whisk constantly. First the butter will begin to foam, then after a couple of minutes it will begin to brown on the bottom of the saucepan. Turn off the heat as soon as the solids turn brown and the butter gives off a nutty aroma. Pour into a glass mixing bowl to prevent burning.
• Add the milk, brown sugar and white sugar. Whisk to combine. Add the egg and vanilla and whisk until smooth and creamy.
• Using a rubber spatula, mix in the dry ingredients until well combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
• Cover the bowl and let sit for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350F. Scoop the cookie dough (about 2 Tablespoons of dough per cookie) and place a few inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden and the center is set.
• Let cool 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling. Enjoy!

Notes

GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR: Be sure to use a gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum. I use King Arthur Flour Measure-for-Measure Flour. Other 1:1 gluten-free flours that contain xanthan gum such as Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour will also work. 

DAIRY-FREE: To make these dairy-free use earth balance buttery sticks and reduce the amount of almond milk to 1 teaspoon.

NUT-FREE: Use 1/4 cup more gluten-free flour in place of the almond flour.