Paleo Cherry Almond Chocolate Chunk Cookies
These Paleo Cherry Almond Chocolate Chunk Cookies are chewy, gooey, and absolutely delicious! These gluten-free and refined sugar-free cookies are loaded with toasted almonds, dried Bing cherries and dark chocolate chunks, sprinkled with flaky sea salt.
I’m here to make Monday a whole heck of lot better by talking about one of everyone’s favorite things: cookies! More importantly, cookies with BIG old chunks of dark, melty chocolate. Isn’t that the best kind there is?
When I first made these Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies last year, I knew the recipe was a total winner. They were devoured super quickly, and it barely registered that they were “Paleo” – no one cared, they were just delicious. A whole bunch of you agree with me – just check out the comments on that post! The edges of the cookies get just crispy enough, while the cookies stay super thick, so the inside is niiice and gooey, just the way I (and apparently most of you) like it.
The recipe for these Paleo Cherry Almond Chocolate Chunk Cookies is similar to the classic that I love so much, but the addition of dried cherries and toasted almonds are a fantastic twist that you’ve got to try.
The cookies use coconut oil, and I tested this recipe using Nutiva’s buttery coconut oil. So good! For the flour, this recipe uses blanched almond flour. The blanched part is important, because the quality of your almond flour can really affect the outcome of the cookie. You want a very fine, blanched almond flour – Honeyville and Anthony’s are two of my favorites that both work well here.
Now, let’s talk about those delicious mix-ins! I’m pretty adamant about big chocolate chunks. If you want super gooey cookies where the chips stay super melty even after they’re cooled, chunks are key! Most chocolate chips have additives and waxes that help them hold their shape, which means they don’t stay nearly as gooey when they’re inside a chocolate chip cookie. I opt to chop up dark chocolate bars instead, OR to keep them 100% refined sugar free, make your own chocolate chunks!
The dried cherries add a burst of chewy sweetness that is so nice with the dark chocolate. I used Bing cherries, because they stay super soft even when they’re dried. Make sure they’re unsweetened! I toasted the sliced almonds until they were very dark and loved the resulting super toasty + nutty flavor. The sweet cherries, crunchy and nutty almonds, along with the creamy dark chocolate was a match made in heaven!
You won’t be able to keep your hands off these super gooey and decadent cherry almond chocolate chunk cookies – I know I couldn’t 😁😋 enjoy!
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PrintPaleo Cherry Almond Chocolate Chunk Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 15 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut oil (room temperature)
- ¾ cup coconut sugar
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2¼ cups (9 oz.) blanched almond flour
- ⅔ cup (4 oz.) chopped dark chocolate
- ⅓ cup dried unsweetened Bing cherries
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds (toasted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Beat together the coconut oil and coconut sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until smooth.
- Add the almond flour, salt, and baking soda to the wet ingredients. Mix until well incorporated. Fold in the chopped chocolate, cherries, and pecans. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (can prepare up to 48 hours ahead of time).
- After refrigerating, use a cookie scoop to form cookies and press down slightly. Bake for 10 minutes or just beginning to turn golden brown around the edges.
You make the prettiest cookies, Rachel! They always turn out so fluffy and thick…my kinda cookie! This cherry almond version sounds SO good! Definitely what I need on a Monday!
Cherries, almonds, AND chocolate?? Where have these gorgeous cookies been my entire life?? All that gooey chocolate is absolutely ON POINT. These cookies are totally the way I want to tackle finals week!
Yes to these cookies!! Cherries plus chocolate plus coconut oil? Woo hoo! Now that’s a cookie :) Makes Monday a little brighter, that’s for sure!
Hahaha…it’s Dawn, not Dwn…it’s Monday, lol.
These cookies look amazing! Love the coconut oil and those sliced almonds- gorgeous :)
Definitely keeping these on my list of gluten free goodies! I have never baked with almond flour but I’ll have to check out that brand — because these look amazing!
Whoa! These cookies look so incredible. Love the cherry, almond, chocolate combination.
The chunkiness of these cookies are out of this world!! So delicious and LOVE the loaded ingredients!
Rachel these cookies look amazing! I love how fluffy and that oozing chocolate…yum! Can you please pass me a dozen. I need some of these on this slow Monday. Love that you added cherries too. ;)
can honey or maple syrup be subbed for the sugar?
Hi Eva. Because honey and maple are liquid and coconut sugar is a granulated sweetener, it would mess with the consistency of the cookies and make the dough thinner and stickier. I’d recommend sticking with a granulated sweetener for the best results.
Wow, these look absolutely delicious! Especially with the almond flour–yum! Love a good chocolate and cherry combo!
Cookies definitely make monday better!! I LOVE chocolate + cherry together so I know I would happily eat many of these!! haha Sounds delicious!
I love chocolate and cherry together, and all of that gooey chocolate looks so good!
These look so thick and amazing, Rachel, and with sea salt, chocolate chunks AND cherries I could never resist these! I’m pretty much dying for a few right now so I guess I’ll have to get in the kitchen quick and make some!
Oh – my – gah!!!!! These cookies look incredible, and I love the addition of cherries to your famous cookies. Totally need to make these asap!
Girl these look so good! LOVE cherries + chocolate!
These look amazing lady!!
These cookies look incredible, Rachel! So thick and gooey, the perfect combo! Love the cherry, almond and chocolate too!
Chocolate cherry is the best combination ever! And I love that you’ve made them paleo. Soooo many yummy paleo goodies on your blog that I want to try out!!
Wow Rachel, these look absolutely delicious! I have to say I first came to your blog because I was searching for gluten-free and healthier baked good recipes for a friend of mine whose daughter needs to eat gluten-free. In the process, I have come to love your blog and have ended up making several of your recipes for myself and my family, much to our delight! Your recipes are always incredibly delicious, inventive and absolutely beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing!As usual, I can’t wait to try this recipe! Love the addition of the cherries and almond flour.
Mary, this comment gave me a big smile on my face! I’m so happy that you and your family have been enjoying my recipes. I’m so flattered you’ve made my recipes – yours are so beautiful! Thanks so much for your kind words.
Tasty! I’ve been a fan of the chocolate and cherry combo ever since I was a kid and we always had the chocolate covered cherries around Christmas. And the melty chocolate looks perfect. There is something about chocolate chunks that is so much more satisfying that chocolate chips.
Wow! These cookies look like utter perfection.
I’m always so impressed with paleo cookies that look this amazing!! And, those big chunks of chocolate look so delicious! I haven’t had a chocolate chip cookie in so long and now you have me thinking about how delicious they are!
Oh wow! I love the addition of the dried cherries – but the effect those chocolate-chunks have on this cookie…and my appetite…is major!! Well done!!
Thanks so much, Annie!
These cookies look SO yummy! and I love the pictures with melted chocolate chunks!
These are so pretty, I can’t wait to make them. Thanks for sharing!
Can I freeze these cookies?
Yes you can! For fresh cookies, I like to freeze the dough balls and then bake when you’re ready, but they can also be frozen after their baked.
That’s great! I have made these cookies and they are delicious! My grandaughters also love them. Now I can have some on hand for last minute treats.
So thrilled to hear you and your family are loving them! :)
WAIT! WHAT EGG!?!?? There isn’t one listed in the ingredients!!!
Hi Tary, the egg is listed third in the ingredients list.