Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Gluten-free, Grain-free, Dairy-free, Soy-free, Egg-free, Sugar-free, 

Vegan, GAPS-Friendly, SCD-Friendly, Paleo

One thing that I've really missed in going off all grains and sugar to help my gut and pancreas heal is my Mom's chocolate chip pumpkin oatmeal cookies.  Her cookies were always low-sugar and healthy as far as we knew it, but they are off-limits to me now for a while.  So here is my adaptation to one of my most favorite treats.  (Because I have been used to no sugar lately, these may not be as sweet as you prefer.  You can add more sweetener to  your personal preference.)  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Ingredients:

2 C Protein Powder (or Almond or Nut Flour)

1/2 C Coconut Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 C Ground Chia (Dry-Unsoaked)

3 TBS Ground Flax seeds (Dry-Unsoaked)

2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend (or use 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp cardamom, 1/8 tsp star anise, 1/8 tsp fennel)

1 tsp+ to taste ground Stevia leaves (You can substitute honey or raw sugar if you can handle the sugars) 

1 tsp Vanilla Powder (or liquid)
1/4 C Raw Cacao Nibs (or Choc. chips of choice)

2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1/3 C Coconut Oil

1 C Coconut Milk (or Almond Milk)

Directions:

Blend all the dry ingredients together (mixing in the cacao nibs last).  In a separate pan, melt the coconut oil.  Once melted, remove from heat and add all wet ingredients together.  Blend well.  Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing well.  The dough should be moist, and hold together fairly well when pinched.  If it's not moist enough, add more coconut milk 1 TBS at a time until you get a good consistency.  Scoop out with a spoon (I used an ice-cream scooper) and roll into balls.  Flatten them with your hand or fork and place on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 min (or until a toothpick comes out clean and the tops don't cave in when pressed).

Enjoy with fresh coconut cream on top of the cookie and some coconut or nut milk.