Who's hungry for gluten-free chocolate chip cranberry cookies with chopped walnuts? Get ready to bake up a storm with these cookies!
There's nothing quite as deliciously simple as a chocolate chip cookie. Don't you agree?
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About This Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Chocolate chip cookies are beloved by all, but there are many ways to make them. Some prefer crispy cookies, others chewy and soft. I think with the right cooking time and a little secret (heat them in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds the next day if you want softer cookies!), you can make them whichever way you prefer.
This recipe is a modified version of the traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe from Nestle's Tollhouse Chocolate Chips. You can find it right on the back of any bag of their chocolate chips. I modified the recipe to be gluten-free using Cup4Cup, my favorite flour for baking pastries and cookies, plus added in a few extra toppings like dried cranberries and walnuts. They aren't healthy by any means, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't bake and enjoy them as a special treat!
What You'll Need To Make Chocolate Chip Cookies
-Gluten-Free Flour: See below for my top recommendations when it comes to gluten-free flour blends.
-Unsalted butter: This will be our fat content for the cookies. Make sure it is very soft!
-Brown sugar & white sugar: For sweetness and texture.
-Baking soda: This is our leavening agent for the cookies, which will help them rise.
-Salt: For balance.
-Eggs: The eggs will act as a binder for our cookie dough to stay together.
-Vanilla Extract: For added sweetness.
-Chocolate Chips: The star of the show! I use Nestle, which are gluten-free, or Enjoy Life, which are allergen-free.
-Dried Cranberries & Chopped Walnuts: This is what gives the chocolate chip cookies an edge - with more sweetness and crunchy texture. You can of course just do more chocolate or sub whatever other toppings you like!
Gluten-Free Flour Blend For Chocolate Chip Cookies
Gluten-Free Flour: I use Cup4Cup multi-purpose gluten-free flour for this recipe. It is my #1 choice for cookies, pastries, and yeast-based baked goods. Cup4Cup has given me great success in the kitchen over the last eight years, helping me to create delicious croissants, empanadas, naan, chocolate chip cookies, pierogi, bagels, and more. Please note if you use a different gluten-free flour your results may vary.
Can I Make This Recipe With Almond or Coconut Flour?
I do not recommend substituting a single gluten-free flour, like almond flour or coconut flour, for my recipes. My recipes use a gluten-free flour blend, a mixture of different gluten-free grains, starches, and thickeners, to substitute for all purpose flour. Using just one of them, like almond or coconut, will not give you the same results, and will probably lead to a lot of frustration in the kitchen. For most of my recipes, you'll need a blend, like Cup4Cup, King Arthur Measure For Measure, Bob's Red Mill, or GF Jules, to name a few.
For more my top tips on gluten-free baking with success, check out this post!
Can I Make These Cookies Dairy-Free?
You can, but I haven't tried to. Since the base of most chocolate chip cookie recipes includes butter, I don't tend to modify them to be dairy-free. If you do decide to make them dairy-free, you'll need not only vegan butter sticks (I usually use Earth Balance or Country Crock when doing dairy-free baking), and you'll need to use a gluten and dairy-free flour blend, as Cup4Cup contains milk powder, and dairy-free chocolate chips, like Enjoy Life.
How To Make These Chocolate Chip Cookies
Like most cookie recipes, you're going to cream together the butter, sugars, and vanilla in a stand mixer until combined. Then you'll add the rest of the dry ingredients whisked together until a dough forms. Then you'll drop spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto a baking sheet and bake them for just about 10 minutes. If you like softer cookies, go for less time, and if you want crispier cookies, go for a minute longer.
Tips & Tools For Baking These Cookies
Baking Sheets: I recommend these from Nordic Ware.
Silicone Mats: Not required, but helpful and less wasteful than using parchment paper. I use SilPat because they last forever!
KitchenAid: Definitely an investment, but worth it in the long run if you are a big baker or someone who enjoys baking gluten-free. I've had mine for 6 years now and it's my favorite kitchen tool! Pro Tip - you can even get a "renewed" version on Amazon for cheaper.
Bonus Tips: After sharing about gluten-free baking online in a post last Christmas, I heard someone mentioned that adding cream cheese to your chocolate chip cookies can take them from amazing to unfreakingbelieveable. I haven't tried it yet, but if that's something you want to learn more about, here's the article for it! You can also try sprinkling some sea salt on top for a salty and sweet combination.
Variations For Chocolate Chip Cookies
You don't have to stick to chocolate chips, cranberries, and walnuts. Change it up if you want!
Feel free to mix it up with white chocolate chips, or add in a variety of chocolate like chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or some shaved/chopped chocolate. When I made this recipe in February of 2023, I opted for just lots of chocolate instead of the cranberries and walnuts. I did ¼ cup of chocolate chips, 1 ½ cups of chocolate chunks from Aldi, and 2 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate, chopped. And then I kept adding more as I mixed!
My rule of thumb for making chocolate chip cookies is that you can NEVER have too much chocolate. Adding chocolate chips to your cookie dough is a lot like the pirate code "Parley" in Pirates of the Caribbean. It's more like a guideline anyway!
Can I Freeze This Cookie Dough?
Yes! You can freeze this cookie dough. Prepare dough as written, and then divide it in half, wrapping in wax paper and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Then shape each of the halves into a 15 inch log and wrap in wax paper. Freeze for up to 8 weeks in the freezer. Remove and slice into ½ inch thick slices and bake as written when ready.
How to Store Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Store cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen for later use. If you find they harden overnight and want a softer cookie, pop them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Soft cookies, voila!
More Gluten-Free Baking Recipes
Feel like an easy quickbread? This banana bread with walnuts hits the spot.
Looking for a scones recipe? Bake a savory version with bacon, cheddar, and chives.
Want to practice your pie making skills? Check out this gluten-free peach pie with lattice design.
Ready to take your baking skills to the next level? Try these delightful, buttery, and flaky gluten-free croissants.
Discover all the gluten-free baking recipes on the blog right here.
Here's how to make these delightful gluten-free chocolate chip cranberry walnut cookies! And if you love this recipe, please leave a comment! Thank you!
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies With Walnuts and Cranberries
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cranberry Walnut Cookies
Recipe Adapted from Nestle TollHouse. It makes a lot of cookies!
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups gluten-free flour, like Cup4Cup
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature (use dairy-free if needed)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels (white chocolate works too!)
- 2 cups chopped walnuts
- 2 cups dried cranberries
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with silicone mats or just keep them ungreased if you don't have any. Remove butter from the refrigerator so it has time to come to room temperature - you want it to be very soft.
In a small bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a stand mixer, cream together (mix) the granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla until creamy, over medium-low speed. Add each egg, one at a time, and be sure to beat well after each addition.
Lastly, add in the flour, on low speed, until everything is incorporated. Using a large spoon, stir in the chocolate chips, cranberries, and chopped walnuts.
Using a tablespoon for size or an ice cream scoop, drop rounds of cookie dough onto the baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between each one.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. To ensure more crispiness and golden brown color, leave in for 11 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
Dairy-Free
To make these cookies dairy-free, you will need to use gluten-free and dairy-free flour. Cup4Cup contains milk powder. I suggest Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour (blue bag). You will also need to use vegan butter, such as Earth Balance or Country Crock, and allergen-free chocolate chips, like Enjoy Life.
Storage
Store cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen for later use. If you find they harden overnight and want a softer cookie, pop them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Soft cookies, voila!
Freezing
You can freeze this cookie dough. Prepare dough as written, and then divide it in half, wrapping in wax paper and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Then shape each of the halves into a 15 inch log and wrap in wax paper. Freeze for up to 8 weeks in the freezer. Remove and slice into ½ inch thick slices and bake as written when ready.
Nutrition Information
Yield 15 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 336Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 25mgSodium 239mgCarbohydrates 55gFiber 3gSugar 36gProtein 5g
The nutrition information on each recipe card is provided as a courtesy and for your convenience. The data is calculated by Nutritionix. You are encouraged to make your own calculations based on your ingredients and preferred nutritional facts calculator. While I try to make sure they are accurate, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of these calculations.
What's your favorite type of chocolate chip cookie?
Would you add any other mix-ins?
Tell me in the comments below!
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