There’s something about this time of year that reminds me I have chestnut flour in my cupboard. It’s not exactly something you use on a regular basis, if at all in fact, so it’s easily forgotten. But Christmas time brings back memories for me of roasted chestnuts both at home and from street stalls. They’re by far one of my favorite snacks, though I don’t have them often. Since Christmas also means cookies for many, it wasn’t a difficult jump to make these maple chestnut cookies. Naturally gluten-free, they’re delicious little bites that are secretly pretty healthy.
Using chestnut flour
I first got chestnut flour when I made mince pies a couple years ago, thinking it would be a great taste to add to the gluten-free pastry mix, which it was. I then made some chestnut pancakes, which were really tasty, and used some in chestnut and pear cupcakes, also yummy. Chestnut flour has a mild, gently nutty flavor that adds a smooth texture to what you use it in, but it’s not something that works in everything. It’s not quite as flexible as other gluten-free flours, I think partly the flavor and it can become heavy.
Using chestnut flour to make chestnut cookies, however, is something I wonder why I didn’t do it before. These maple chestnut cookies aren’t exactly big, and they are best not to be any bigger as they may crumble, but they are tasty little bites of deliciousness. My eldest son, in his increasing scepticism of lots of things, happily dug in and loved them. I suspect the maple flavor helps as he loves everything maple syrup (as we’re celebrating for Foodie Extravaganza today!). They’re soft, but not gooey, and have a delicious gentle nuttiness, as you might expect from the ingredients.
How they’re made
These maple chestnut cookies are really easy to make as you simply mix everything together, press the mixture into flattened balls then bake. Since they are made with chestnut flour, they’re naturally gluten-free. The only sweetener is maple syrup, flax meal is the binder along with just a little coconut oil. In other words these are pretty healthy, and vegan too. But given that delicious maple flavor and smoothness from the chestnut, you’d never know.
The flavors in these maple chestnut cookies are simple but delicious. The maple flavor really comes through and the chestnut flour gives them a lovely smooth nuttiness. While some may find the flax seed meal a little too ‘bitty’ with everything else, personally I think it gives a nice contrasting texture. And my son definitely didn’t complain as he kept asking for more. These tasty little bites will definitely be made again soon.
These tasty little bites are easy to make and healthy too.
- 1/2 cup chestnut flour 52g
- 2 tbsp flax seed meal
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp coconut oil melted and cooled
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Preheat oven to 375F/190C.
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Mix everything together in a bowl until well combined. Take tablespoonfuls of the mixture and press into slightly flattened balls.
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Place them on a lined baking sheet and bake for approx 10min until lightly brown.
Try these other gluten free cookies:
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- healthy apple oatmeal cookies
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- spiced Vermont maple cookies
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- Persian walnut cookies
Welcome to the 12 Days of Cookies, hosted by Family Around the Table and Cooking With Carlee. We will be filling the season with all kinds of delicious cookies. Be sure to check out some of the recipes below or by searching #ChristmasCookies. We also have a 12 Days of Cookies Pinterest board where you can see all of the goodness! May your holidays be sweet!
Day 7
Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies from Cooking With Carlee
Classic American Sugar Cookies from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Double Chocolate Snowball Cookies from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
Gingerbread Man Cookie from The Freshman Cook
Gluten-Free Maple Chestnut Cookies from Caroline’s Cooking
Maple Sugar Cookies from A Palatable Pastime
Nutty Triple Chocolate Cookies from Family Around the Table
Tangerine and Dark Chocolate Macaron from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies from Simple and Savory
Foodie Extravaganza is a monthly party hosted by bloggers who love food! Each month we incorporate one main ingredient or theme into recipes to share with you. We take turns hosting and this month it’s Lauren of Sew You Think You Can Cook who chose maple syrup as the theme.
If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page. We would love to have you! If you’re looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board! Looking for our previous parties? Check them out HERE.
And don’t forget to check out all these other maply recipes:
- Basbousa – Egyptian Semolina Cake from Sneha of Sneha’s Recipe
- Bangin’ Breakfast Potatoes from Rebekah of Making Miracles
- Gluten-Free Maple Chestnut Cookies from Caroline of Caroline’s Cooking
- Maple Pecan Bars from Nichole of Cookaholic Wife
- Maple Sugar Cookies from Sue of Palatable Pastime
- Maple Walnut Vinaigrette from Tara of Tara’s Multicultural Table
- Momiji Tempura from Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Overnight French Toast Casserole from Elaine of Cookin and Craftin
- Roasted Maple Glazed Carrots from Wendy of A Day in the Life of the Farm
- Rosemary Maple Glazed Turkey Breast from Lauren of Sew You Think You Can Cook
- The Back Forty Cocktail from Stacy of Food Lust People Love
Remember to pin for later!
Rebekah @ Making Miracles says
Such a perfect way to use the chestnut flour!! I was recently gifted a BASKET full of various GF flours and I need to get to experimenting!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Rebekah, I have a good collection of GF flours myself these days, I love experimenting and these were such a tasty experiment!
Camilla @ Culinary Adventures says
My gluten-free husband will be SO excited to try these. I just need to get my oven fixed! Thanks for sharing, Caroline.
Caroline's Cooking says
That sounds great, Camilla, I hope he enjoys! (And not so good about the broken oven!)
frugal hausfrau says
What a great idea, and Chestnut is kind of naturally sweet, isn’t it! Thanks for bringing this by Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Mollie, absolutely chestnut does have that slight sweetness as well.
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook says
I’ve never had a chestnut! Thanks for baking these cookies with me for #FoodieExtravaganza.
Caroline's Cooking says
Chestnuts are SO good, Lauren – these cookies give you a nice taste of them but I have to say whole roasted chestnuts can’t be beaten. Thanks for hosting this month’s tasty theme!
Elaine says
What a great little cookie! I don’t think I’ve ever had chestnuts! Might try this as a first!!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Elaine, chestnuts are delicious and these cookies would definitely be a good intro (then make sure you try the whole nuts too!)
Carlee says
These sound lovely! I am not sure I’ve ever had a chestnut, but now I’m dying to try one!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Carlee, if you haven’t then definitely try to hunt some down! They’re so good, and the flavor here works perfectly.
Stacy says
Chestnut flour! What a lovely ingredient for cookies, Caroline. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in the stores here but now I will be on the lookout.
I love roasted chestnuts and can just imagine how good your nutty cookies must taste.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Stacy, it’s not that obvious I found here at least as it’s not made by a big producer (think it’s imported from Italy potentially) but I did find it in my local store. It’s a lovely ingredient and I really should use it a little more. It’s lovely in these cookies.
Wendy Klik says
I hadn’t heard of chestnut flour prior to this post. I will have to keep my eyes open on my next trip to the grocers.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Wendy, it can be a little tricky to spot but I hope you manage to find some! You can certainly get it online.
Cindys Recipes and Writings says
I have a chestnut flour cookbook I got about 25 years ago I love nut flours and need to try this recipe!
Caroline's Cooking says
Oh wow, I’d love to know what all is in that! It’s such a lovely, smooth flour and adds such a nice taste. Hope you enjoy these!
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
I have never used chestnut flour but I see you have provided some other ways to use it. I have a variety of flours to make different kinds of bread and they just sit in the pantry. Healthy cookies with the flax seed, maple syrup and coconut oil. Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Judy, it’s one of the less common nut flours but has a lovely flavor and smooth texture. And yes these are healthy cookies, but tasty too!
Courtney says
I’ve been wanting to give chestnut flour a try– this looks like a great way to use it!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Courtney, this is definitely a great, easy introduction to a lovely flour – then do go ahead and try some of the other things I have made with it too, they’re also good!
Eileen @ Just Measuring Up says
Excited to try these – thanks!!