Vanilla Almond Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients

1 ⅓ cups whole meal flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

4 tbsp melted coconut oil, until running and smooth

2 whole eggs, whisked together with a fork

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup coconut sugar

3/4 cup dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs

1/4 cup chopped almonds

1/4 cup cornflakes (optional)

Healthy Chocolate Frosting

1 cup chopped dark chocolate (I used 85% dark but you could use paleo / dairy-free / vegan chocolate if necessary)

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

1/3 cup icing sugar

1/4 cup almond milk

 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, and prepare two baking sheets with baking paper.
2. Using a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil and eggs, ensuring fully combined together well. Add in vanilla and then stir through the coconut sugar.
4. Combine the dry mixture with the wet, stirring just incorporated. Add in the cacao nibs (or chocolate chips), chopped almonds, and cornflakes (I like these for crunch), and stir again until evenly dispersed.
5. Using a spoon, place small spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, making sure that all are of similar size. Gently press down on the cookie dough if you are after a flat and wide cookie, or leave in dollop shapes for a more rounded, light cookie (this is what I usually do).
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are soft to touch and crisp on the top. Be careful not to overcook – as you want to avoid the smell of burnt chocolate!.
7. Remove from the over, and allow to cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. To prepare the icing, combine and mix together the chopped chocolate, almond milk and coconut oil. Stir ingredients until melted and completely smooth. Add in the icing sugar, and stir until smooth once again. Adjust milk and icing sugar to reach a consistency that you are after, adding more milk if too thick – and more sugar if too runny.
9. Ice cookies once completely cooled, and sprinkle with crushed almonds or crushed cornflakes.