These may seriously be the best gluten free chocolate chip cookies I've ever had! These Tigernut Flour Cookies have delicious crispy edges with perfect chewy centers. Everything you need from a chocolate chip cookie!
I've mentioned it on many occasions before that we don't actually follow any specific diet restrictions. We try to eat a diet that includes lots of vegetables and is clean about 80% of the time - otherwise we embrace gluten free, vegan, or omnivore recipes alike.
What we really love is variety! And you all know my love for experimenting with gluten free baking from my coconut flour recipes.
What is Tigernut Flour
The tiger nut, also called chufa, is not a nut at all. And they have nothing to do with actual tigers either.
Tiger nuts are actually a tuber (root vegetable) that is grown underground just like potatoes.
After being sun-dried tiger nuts can be enjoyed as a delicious snack all by themselves. They have a delicious naturally sweet flavor. And they also get milled into tiger nut flour for baking. Which is great for those eating grain-free but also can't have tree nuts, like almonds or almond flour.
They have been around for a really, really long time (over 4 thousand years). Tiger nuts are also the main ingredient of Spanish-style horchata (tigernuts blended with water, cinnamon and sugar)
Tiger nuts can be found all over Southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and also in India. And now they are also making their way into North American markets.
Tigernut Flour Benefits
There are many reasons you should give tigernut flour a try. To give you a better overview of all the benefits, let me just list them in simple point format:
- Tigernut flour is an all natural gluten-free, grain-free and tree nut-free flour alternative
- Allergy friendly: no nuts, no gluten, no lactose
- AIP friendly (autoimmune protocol)
- It is very high in prebiotic fiber (a resistant starch that feeds the friendly gut bacteria and aids digestion)
- Paleo-friendly
- Nutritional minerals: iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium
- Vitamins C, E, and B6
- Natural sweet, nutty flavor
- Can be replaced 1 for 1 for wheat flour in most sweet recipes like cakes, muffins, quick breads,
How to Make Tigernut Flour Cookies
Ingredients
Despite having just said that it can be replaced in equal parts with flour, I still made a few changes from my go-to Clean Eating Chocolate Chip Cookies and Coconut Oil Cookies.
Because of the tigernut flour's natural sweetness, I reduced the usual amount of sugar. And in the next test batch I had to reduce it even more. Otherwise the cookies were just too overwhelmingly sweet.
For the same reason I also used quite a bit less chocolate chips than I usually would. Even when using dark chocolate chips or chunks they add to the overall sweetness of the already sweet tigernut flour cookies.
This also makes the cookies perfect for dunking into a glass of really really cold (dairy-free) milk.
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Method
In terms of method, this is a really easy healthy cookie recipe. You can stir it all together in one bowl with just a wooden spoon.
First combine all of the wet ingredients (sugar, melted butter or coconut oil, egg*, and vanilla extract). And then add the dry ingredients (there are just the tigernut flour, sea salt, baking soda, and chocolate chips).
I am just realizing that this is a super simple 8 ingredient cookie recipe (4 dry, 4 wet). And aside from the tigernut flour you probably have all of them already in your pantry and fridge.
Where to Buy Tigernut Flour
To get your hands on tigernut flour, unless you live near a really well stocked health food store, your best bet is probably ordering it online. >> Tigernut Flour on Amazon
Another great option is Natureul. I've use their Tigernut Kasha (a blend of tigernut flour, ground chia, mesquite powder and more) for the flour in the recipe below and it made amazing cookies. The Crunchy Cacao variety makes yummy chocolate flavored cookies with crunchy texture bites. The Carob and Cinnamon results in cookies with warming spice flavor that is perfect for holiday baking.
Vegan Substitution:
Use a vegan egg alternative like flax egg or Chia Egg Replacer. The cookies come out a little softer, but still perfectly delicious.
Coconut oil or other vegan butter works well to replace regular butter.
More Tigernut Flour Recipes
Once you have tiger nuts or tigernut flour in the house you are probably looking for other ways to use them
Recipe
Tigernut Flour Cookies
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup cane sugar or coconut sugar, muscovado, etc.
- ¼ cup butter melted (or coconut oil)
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-¼ cups tigernut flour *
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips and/or chunks
Instructions
- In a medium bowl whisk together sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Either by hand or with an electric hand mixer.
- Add tigernut flour, sea salt, baking soda and stir in until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips/chunks and chill the dough in the fridge for about 1 hour.
- Preheat your oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Once chilled, scoop 12 cookie dough balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet (about 6 fit on a regular baking sheet). Top with a few more chocolate chips/chunks while slightly flattening the cookie dough balls.
- Bake the chocolate cookies for 12-15 minutes until the edges are just set. Don't overbake them. Leave the cookies one the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature 2-4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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Random Question
Yes, Tigernut flour works well for baking cookies, providing a naturally sweet and nutty flavor along with various nutritional benefits such as prebiotic fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
Tigernut flour offers a unique flavor profile and a different set of nutritional benefits compared to almond flour. It is a great alternative for those seeking variety and specific dietary considerations.
Tigernut flour can be used as a replacement for all-purpose flour in certain recipes, especially in sweet baked goods like cakes, muffins, and quick breads. However, adjustments may be needed due to its natural sweetness.
While Tigernut flour can be substituted for almond flour, it may alter the taste and texture of the final product due to its distinct flavor and nutritional composition. Adjustments may be necessary to achieve the desired outcome.
ALF
I used coconut sugar and butter - these are hands down THE BEST gf chocolate chip cookies I've ever had!
Yvette
Is the servings 1 cookie for 184 calories?
Just made them. They’re tasty. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Hi Yvette! Yes, it is 184 calories for one cookie. 🙂
Judi
Excellent tigernut flour chocolate chip cookie recipe! A simple recipe. Tastes great. A nice chewy cookie texture. Looking forward to also trying your tigernut flour ginger cookie recipe.
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Thank you for your wonderful review, Judi!
AKS
These were really great!
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Thank you for taking the time to comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed the cookies.
Laura
These are super yummy! My whole family loved them. Thank you for creating these and sharing the recipe too!
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Thank you for your review, Laura! We are so happy your family loved them. 🙂
Debbie
These are the first cookies I have ever baked with tigernut flour, I am new to using it. I froze these after I made them so my husband wouldn't devour them in one sitting because they were yummy. After they were frozen, we would take them out and just let them thaw ten or fifteen minutes so they were thawed but still very cold and omg, we loved them even more this way! Thank-you for sharing such an awesome recipe, I was fortunate to run into it first thing in my tigernut flour journey. 🙂
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Thanks a bunch for your positive review, Debbie! 🙂
Monica Arambula
Oh my, I just made my 4th batch in 4 days! O an addicted. I have been using 3/4 C Tigernut with 1/2 C Sorghum flour and maple sugar. THey are so yummy Thank You!
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Thank you for your wonderful review, Monica! I'm glad you love this recipe! 🙂
CINDY
CAN I SUBSTITUTE SOMETHING FOR THE EGGS PLEASE?
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Hi Cindy, you could probably try using a flax egg in place of the egg, although it may add an earthier flavour to the cookie. To make a flax egg, just mix 1 tbsp of flax meal with 2 1/2 tbsp of water, and wait until the mixture has thickened to the consistency of egg whites. Then, you can use it in this cookie recipe.
Monica Arambula
Hi Cindy,
I have been using 1/4 C homemade applesauce or mashed banana with 1/2 tsp baking soda instead of an egg.
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
That's a wonderful suggestion, Monica! Thank you for sharing.
Emine
The best gluten free cookies I've ever baked. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Thanks for letting us know how these worked out for you. They definitely are a wonderful cookie.
Velina
I've made these 4 times and since the first time I always double the ingredients and even then they rarely last more than a day. I love how simple it is to make them and that they are as healthy as a cookie can be. Thank you, Jennifer.
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
I'm so glad you have had success with this recipe! Thanks for the lovely review! 🙂
Karen
I don’t normally double a recipe the first time I make it, but I was glad I doubled this one. I loved the butterscotch-like taste and chewy texture. After four years of baking keto cookies, I’m trying paleo/gluten free flours other than almond and coconut, and find these others like tigernut give a texture more like a “real” wheat flour cookie. It was tricky figuring when it was baked, but I followed your instructions to bake until the edges are set, and that did the trick. Now I need to try other tigernut recipes!
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
I'm so glad you liked this recipe, Karen! 🙂
Tiffany
I love this recipe! I make it for a quick healthy cookie and my family loves them! I want to adapt it a little for my mother in law. Do you have any suggestions for replacing the egg?
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Hi Tiffany, you should be able to replace the egg with a flax egg, although it may add a slightly different flavour to the cookies. You can make a flax egg by mixing 1 tbsp of flax meal with 2.5 tbsp of water and allowing it to thicken. Once thickened, it will have the consistency of egg white. Let us know if you try the flax egg and how it goes.
Tiffany
Hi Jennifer,
I wasn't able to do the flax egg, because mine went rancid. But I did end up doing a chia egg and loved it! I mixed 1 Tbsp chia seeds with 2 Tbsp water, stirred and let sit for 15 minutes. I also used date sugar in place of the coconut sugar and it was delicious. My mother in law was very happy to have such a yummy treat for Thanksgiving. Thank you!
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Oh yes, a chia egg is a great option too! I'm so glad you were able to offer your mother-in-law a tasty dessert for your Thanksgiving! 🙂
Christine
I have been searching for a good cookie recipe since being put on an anti-inflammation diet without much success. I was skeptical when I came across your recipe but the cookies are so delicious, I nearly cried! Thank you for sharing this with everyone…I will be making many of these going forward!
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Thank you for your lovely comment, Christine! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
C Martin
Hello,
I made the tiger nut flour chocolate chip cookies and they were excellent! Nobody would ever know that they are not made with regular flour and as some else commented: perfectly sweet. This is my new go-to recipe. Thank you!
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for providing your review.
Esperanza
These cookies are so delicious!!! I tripled your recipe and they came out wonderful. Thank you so much! They are perfectly sweet and very delightful!!
Regina | Leelalicious
Wonderful! So great to hear you enjoyed the cookies
Sonia Lunas
Actually, I have all those ingredients - including the tigernut flour. I ran across it the other day and thought, I wonder what I can do with that and now I know!
Emma Padmore
I used 1/8 cup coconut sugar and coconut oil. They're good but too sweet. I'll make without sugar next time. The tiger nut flour and choc chips will make them sweet enough.
Regina | Leelalicious
That is so interesting. I wonder if the sweetness of tigernut flour varies from batch to batch? Or maybe my dark chocolate chips balance it out more. Anyway, glad to hear you are going to try again. Would like to hear if omitting sugar altogether works out better for you
Abby M
I don’t usually post reviews, but I just made these and they were excellent. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out at first because there wasn’t much liquid in the batter at all but it was perfect. I split the sugar into a little less than 1/4 cup maple syrup and less than 1/4 cup brown sugar. Used coconut oil. And followed the recipe and they were delicious.
Tracy Walkup
These were so good! My family gobbled them up so fast! Thank you for sharing!
(I did date sugar, coconut oil and applesauce for egg substitute)
Lydia
Loved the cookies! This is the closest that I've ever tasted to a traditional wheat cookie, which is amazing. No weird or bitter flavors to them.
I did make one slight modification and added 1/4 cup maple syrup to the batter, which gave the cookies a more sweetness and a moist, chewy consistency.
This recipe is a keeper! Thank you so much for sharing!
Jae
Finally! A wonderful cookie. it so hard to eat only 1 or 2. These are sweet, so next, time I think the coconut sugar could be reduced, also used coconut oil. Thank you again
Regina | Leelalicious
Glad you enjoyed the cookies. Yes I agree the flour makes them quite sweet with very little added sugar needed
susan ryan
I have to say that these cookies (I used the melted butter/coconut sugar option and added more chocolate chips...of course I did!) are incredibly tasty. I had a bag of tiger nut flour in my pantry for several months and finally decided to find a recipe and make something. I prefer crunchy cookies and these are caky but I love 'em! The flour has such a lovely, sweet taste and I love that the cookies don't have a lot of sugar added. I felt so healthy I think I ate about 5 of them yesterday (ay, yay, yay!) I'm so happy I found this recipe.
Kitty
Do you have the amount of tiger nut flour needed In weight? That would be a lot more foolproof! I’m going to try it anyway
R
Can I ask you, for the cookies in the picture, what did you use...butter or coconut oil? Which sugar? I've been baking for many years and the cookies I just made don't look anything like yours. I followed the directions.
Regina | Leelalicious
The version in th pictures was made with butter and organic cane sugar. Using coconut oil and a darker sugar (coconut or muscovado) will result in a different look. But in my experience they are just as tasty
Nanetta Roberson
Since Tigernut flour is slightly sweet, do you recommend reducing the amount of granulated sugar and/or brown sugar in other cookie recipes?
Mindy
Could I use monkfruit or a different sweetener in place of the coconut or cane sugar?
Regina
Yes, granulated sugar-free sweetener should work just fine in this cookie recipe
Lauren
These cookies are by far my favorite. My kids are obsessed too! I replace the egg with a “chia egg”. Great recipe and so easy to make!! Thank you!
Regina
So great to hear your kids love the cookies. And that a chia egg replacement works for this recipe 😀
Liz
I added molasses for some extra cookie flavor and increased the chocolate chips but otherwise followed the recipe. I noticed that after a few minutes in the oven, the cookies didn't start spreading. I quickly took them out of the oven and flattened them with the back of a spatula, then finished cooking for about 12 minutes. They have a surprisingly light texture, crispy edges and a soft middle. Surprisingly good for my first attempt with tigernut flour!
Rennie
Made these last night because I was looking for a chocolate chip cookie recipe that didn't use almond flour. WOW! They are my new favorite recipe! I used coconut oil, was careful to lightly spoon out the flour to measure, and didn't even fridge them before baking. Oh, and I added extra chocolate chips. Delicious and simple to make!
Elisha
I’m not sure what I did wrong, but with baking the cookies stayed as balls, didn’t turn out like the picture you have
Regina
I am wondering if you maybe had too much flour? How do you measure the flour? Tigernut flour, and any flour, should be loosely spooned into a measuring cup. If you dip the measuring cup into the flour to measure, you are compacting it and end up with much more flour. Which would result in dry cookies that don't spread.
Elisha
Yes! Than I think I used to much flour and got 100% dark unsweetened chocolate chip and that didn’t tast good lol I will try again.
Julia
Delicious! I used maple sugar.
Regina
Yum! That sounds great
Dani
Only used 1/4 C swerve and used my own Paleo chocolate chips (admittedly a LOT!), but these truly are the best CC cookies! Was my first try using tiger nut flour and was blown away! Thank you!!
Regina
Awesome! So happy to hear you like cookies
Diane
We bought tigernut flour two years ago so I could bake with it, as I can not eat any grains or nuts (coconut is fine)
Well, my husband opened the bag and just spooned it into his mouth...DRY! He liced it so much that in two years of buying tigernut, I’ve never baked anything with it!
It doesn’t last long enough!
We sprinkle several rounded tablespoons over thawed frozen org. pineapple or cherries, blueberries, raspberries with its juices and give it a light mix and guess what?! If you use your imagination, it tastes like cobbler! It’s amazing!
And the super bonus? This stuff will keep you very regular, if you know what I’m saying!
Diane
Can’t wait to bake these CC cookies!!
Regina
I hope you enjoy them
Regina
Haha that's too funny but also totally makes sense. Whole tiger nuts are a popular snack so I can imagine the flour is quite tasty by itself too
Angela
Just finished baking these! Yummy! Now I can indulge gluten-free. Thanks.
Regina
Enjoy! These are definitely one of my favorite cookies ever
Kimberly
I just made these with vanilla ghee instead of coconut oil. I baked mine at 13 minutes without putting them in the fridge because the dough was hard enough beforehand [ I hurt my shoulder and was concerned about scooping them after hardening in the fridge. ] They came out soft, delicious! I had two and they're very filling. Thanks!
Rawan
wow...is it 184 cals per cookie? Seems like a little much.
Regina
It's the tigernut flour. It is very calorie dense
Bryan
I followed the recipe and took them out at 11min and they were super dry. What should I do differently?
Regina
Hi Bryan, I am sorry the cookies didn't turn out as expected. Here are a couple ideas for troubleshooting:
1. How did you measure your flour. It has to be loosely spooned into the measuring cup. If you dip the cup right into the flour it will be more compacted and you'll end up with too much flour.
2. Do you have an oven thermometer? Could it be your oven runs too high? In that case I'd recommend watching the cookies closely and removing from the oven as soon as the edges are set.
Bryan Ausinheiler
I scooped the flour right from the bag. The dough was hard to mix and the cookies stayed round and never flattened on the cookie sheet. Next time I will loosely spoon the flour into the cup. Thanks for the advice!
Richa Gupta
Wow! I can't believe these cookies are made with alternate flour because these look like the real deal! Amazing!
Regina
Right!? I couldn't believe it either when they first came out of the oven