These vegan, gluten-free maple chestnut cookies are delicious sweet little bites that are secretly healthy. Great for relatively guilt-free snacking!
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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 winter 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. They're soft, but not gooey, and have a delicious gentle nuttiness, as you might expect from the ingredients.
How to make maple chestnut cookies
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.
Try these other gluten free cookies:
- Healthy apple oatmeal cookies
- Oatmeal pistachio cookies
- Spiced maple cookies
- Healthy cranberry apricot cookies
Plus get more snack recipes, sweet and savory, in the archives.
Tools to make these cookies (affiliate links)
I'd recommend using a Silicone Baking Mat on top of a Half Baking Sheet to make these.
See more of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Gluten-free maple chestnut cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup chestnut flour 52g
- 2 tbsp flax seed meal
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp coconut oil melted and cooled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F/190C.
- Mix everything together in a bowl until well combined. Take tablespoonfuls of the mixture and press into slightly flattened balls.
- Place them on a lined baking sheet and bake for approx 10min until lightly brown.
Nutrition
Try these other recipes using maple syrup:
- 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
- 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!
Eileen @ Just Measuring Up
Excited to try these - thanks!!
Courtney
I've been wanting to give chestnut flour a try-- this looks like a great way to use it!
Caroline's Cooking
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!
cookingwithauntjuju.com
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
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!
Cindys Recipes and Writings
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
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!
Wendy Klik
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
Thanks Wendy, it can be a little tricky to spot but I hope you manage to find some! You can certainly get it online.
Stacy
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
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.
Carlee
These sound lovely! I am not sure I've ever had a chestnut, but now I'm dying to try one!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Carlee, if you haven't then definitely try to hunt some down! They're so good, and the flavor here works perfectly.
Elaine
What a great little cookie! I don't think I've ever had chestnuts! Might try this as a first!!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Elaine, chestnuts are delicious and these cookies would definitely be a good intro (then make sure you try the whole nuts too!)
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook
I've never had a chestnut! Thanks for baking these cookies with me for #FoodieExtravaganza.
Caroline's Cooking
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!
frugal hausfrau
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
Thanks Mollie, absolutely chestnut does have that slight sweetness as well.
Camilla @ Culinary Adventures
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
That sounds great, Camilla, I hope he enjoys! (And not so good about the broken oven!)
Rebekah @ Making Miracles
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
Thanks Rebekah, I have a good collection of GF flours myself these days, I love experimenting and these were such a tasty experiment!