These Soft Pumpkin Paleo Cookies have all the warm spices of fall, flavorful, soft, and tender. Plus, they are grain free, Paleo, & Vegan!
Soft Pumpkin Paleo Cookies That Are Vegan
Some of you might recognize this recipe because Tessa from Tessa Domestic Diva posted a very similar recipe a few weeks ago. It looked so delicious I just knew I had to make a grain free version!
It’s really hard to make a grain free recipe that doesn’t contain eggs. On my first attempt I simply left the egg/flax egg out all together. While they were really yummy and we ate the whole batch, they were crumbly so I knew they needed a good binder such as an egg, but I really wanted to keep them vegan so I used a flax egg. They turned out soft, chewy, moist, and delicious.
We loved the addition of the mini chocolate chips, but you can change it up and use whatever you prefer. If you plan on eating these wholesome babies as breakfast cookies, cranberries, raisins, or nuts may be a good add-in.
Just a note- I used canned pumpkin. Tessa gives compelling reason to use fresh pumpkin, but I only had canned and did not want to go to the store so that’s what I used. If you use fresh you need to drain it very, very well or your cookies may not hold together well.
Easy Pumpkin Paleo & Vegan Cookie Steps
I forgot to get a picture of it, but you start by mixing together the warm water and ground flax, then put it in the fridge to firm up. This will be our egg substitute.
Then, you whisk together the almond flour, arrowroot, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
And in a large mixing bowl, beat together the shortening and sugar. Then add the pumpkin, vanilla, and congealed flax mixture. I know the picture is terrible, but you can kind of see the flax egg in there! Then beat in the dry ingredients.
Use a tablespoon to scoop out the dough and drop onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Slightly press the cookies down with damp fingers and bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Then let them cool about 10 minutes to properly set up 🙂
Looking for more pumpkin recipes? Check out my Paleo Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Paleo Donuts With Maple Pecan Glaze!
Soft Pumpkin Paleo Cookies With Chocolate Chips {Vegan}
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Ingredients
- 1/2 C Non-Hydrogenated Shortening coconut oil or vegan butter would probably work
- 3/4 C Coconut Palm Sugar
- 1/2 C Pure Pumpkin I used canned
- 2 Tsp. Pure Vanilla
- 1 Tsp. Cinnamon
- 1/2 Tsp. EACH Baking Soda Baking Powder*, and Sea Salt
- 3/4 C Arrowroot or Tapioca
- 1 1/2 C Blanched Almond Flour Honeyville Brand
- 1 Tbsp. Ground Flax Seeds + 3 Tbsp. Warm Water or a large egg
- 1/2 C Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix together the warm water and ground flax (it's best to use whole flax and grind in a coffee grinder) then place in fridge to firm up.
- In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the non-hydrogenated shortening and coconut palm sugar. Then, beat in the pumpkin, vanilla, and flax egg.
- Slowly beat in the dry ingredients then stir in the chocolate chips.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use a scant tablespoon to drop the thick dough onto the parchment paper placing them close together but not touching.
- With damp hands, slightly flatten the cookies.
- Bake 8 - 10 minutes or browned. Cool completely to properly set up.
- Store in airtight container in the fridge.
Nutritional information is approximate and may vary.
Pin Cookies For Later
Charlotte Moore
September 14, 2016 at 11:13 pmThis sounds like a good cookie recipe.I would like to try it with cumshaw instead of pumpkin. We love the taste of cumshaw in other recipes. My husband grew lots of them so need to do something with a few of them.
Stephanie
December 8, 2013 at 7:12 pmHmm.. I wonder if these would work as “whenever bars”. I may have to do some experimenting – Y’know, for SCIENCE. (I found your site because of your copycat recipe for Pamela’s bars. Now I want to try all your recipes!)
Cassidy
December 9, 2013 at 3:42 amHi Stephanie!
What a great idea to make these as whenever bars! If you have success please let me know how you did it 🙂
-Cassidy
Kelli Wilson
November 13, 2013 at 5:06 pmIf using coconut oil in place of the shortening, should I measure in liquid or solid form?
Thanks,
Kelli
Cassidy
November 15, 2013 at 7:41 pmHi Kelli, I would recommend measuring it in sold form. Let me know how they turn out with coconut oil!
Happy Baking,
Cassidy
Melanie
October 27, 2013 at 2:40 amI made these today and they were delicious! I was worried when they first came out of the oven because they were falling apart but then I followed your directions to cool on the pan and they held together beautifully when I removed them. Great fall cookies. Thanks for all the yummy recipes!
Cassidy
October 29, 2013 at 1:26 pmI’m so happy they turned out well and you liked them 🙂
xo,
Cassidy
Jen
October 22, 2013 at 7:06 pmThese look delish!!!!! I want one right now! Can’t do tapioca flour – do you have any suggestions for subs? I just made some scones on Saturday with almond flour (Honeyville) and was able to tolerate it!!! This will open up new worlds of opportunity for me!
Thanks for another fab recipe girl… How is everyone feeling over there?
XO
Jen
Cassidy
October 22, 2013 at 8:54 pmHey Jen!
You can’t do arrowroot or tapioca? You could probably use cornstarch, but many people have corn allergies and it’s not grain free. If you can’t have any of those 3 I’m not sure???
Thanks for asking how we are, actually my son has either developed a really bad tic or he’s having more seizure activity (which is what we’re thinking) and just hasn’t been acting normal. We go to the neurologist on Friday and we’re hoping to figure some things out.
Hope you and your family are well! I’m so happy you can eat almond flour again!!!
Hugs,
Cassidy