Chocolate Decadence Cookies (Paleo, Keto, & a dairy-free version)

Easy, grain-free, low-carb, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cookies. These Paleo Chocolate Decadence Cookies were the winner in the biweekly Paleo bakeoff last week! They can be made keto and dairy-free. We made these Paleo Chocolate Decadence Cookies with only 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and they were still very low carb but this can easily be replaced to suit your Ketogenic diet.

Today I want to tell you some of the amazing benefits of chocolate. I am a big chocolate fan so I am always looking for ways to include it in my diet without the added sugar or milk that takes away the health benefits. Interestingly the Latin name for chocolate “Theobrome Cacao” means, “Food of the Gods”, now if that doesn’t make it sound good for you to keep reading.

Here are 4 more reasons you can keep eating chocolate:

1. Dark Chocolate can improve your moods and enhance your cognitive function. There are natural substances in chocolate that increase the release of your ‘feel good” neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins without causing an addiction like sugar does.

2. Dark Chocolate has anti-aging properties and can aid in healthy blood flow. Chocolate increases nitric oxide which helps with heightened oxygen transfer around your body. Chocolate can also help with increasing energy by creating more mitochondria.

3. Dark chocolate can decrease systemic inflammation by helping improve insulin sensitivity of the cells and glucose uptake through its effect on vascular health. Being so high in polyphenol antioxidants, chocolate can lower oxidized LDL (bad cholesterol) and increase HDL (good guys).

4. Chocolate is a prebiotic meaning it is food for our healthy gut bacteria. Some of the polyphenols in chocolate need to be broken down by our gut microbiota before they can be absorbed and used by our bodies. This chocolate is not only good for us but it’s also good for our gut bacteria.

I’m talking about dark chocolate here, ideally 80% or more. Chocolate that comes with a lot of sugar or milk has all the health benefits stripped away. The milk protein casein bonds to the polyphenols so they never become available to your body. And we already know sugar depletes nutrients.

Let’s get on to the recipe. My 10-year-old daughter was the star in mixing these up which should convince you how easy these are to make.

Yield: 18

Author: Yvonne Tomlinson

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Chocolate Decadence Cookies

Melt in your mouth, low carb, Keto-friendly, vegan, and dairy-free options.

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 10 MinInactive time: 45 MinTotal time: 1 H & 5 M

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond flour
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate 80% or more
• 3 Tbsp butter coconut oil for a dairy-free version
• 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 5 Tbsp water for 5 minutes
• 2 Tbsp Xylitol
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda

Instructions

1. Mix the ground flaxseed with water and set aside for at least 5 minutes
2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler or in a stainless steel bowl sitting on top of a small saucepan with hot water in it. Do this over medium heat.
3. Mix the almond flour, xylitol, salt, and baking soda together in a medium mixing bowl.
4. Add the soaked flaxseed, melted chocolate, and vanilla to the dry ingredients and mix well.
5. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
6. Scoop the batter (it will be pretty soft) by the spoonful onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet. You don’t need to flatten them, as this will happen when cooking.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees
8. Let cool for at least 45 minutes. These cookies will be pretty soft until they are cooled.