People who have celiac disease, a sensitivity to gluten and/or casein, GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) or food allergies are often challenged to find good tasting recipes that do not contain ingredients that cause unpleasant and sometimes dangerous symptoms, such as abdominal pain and other IBS symptoms, allergic reactions, skin rashes, and other food-related problems.
This chocolate chip cookie recipe is free of many common food allergens and also includes examples of brand names that have been tested and have worked well with this recipe, but other brands may work well also.
Ingredients for Easy and Tasty Gluten-free Casein-free Chocolate Chip Cookies
The following ingredients are free of most common food allergens and tend to be lower fat than many chocolate chip cookie recipes:
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce (Great Value All Natural, No Sugar Added)
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar (any pure gluten-free brand)
- Egg replacer to equal 2 eggs (Ener-G)
- 2 c. brown rice flour or white rice flour (Arrowhead Mills)
- ¾ c. tapioca flour (Ener-G)
- ½ c. potato starch flour (Ener-G)
- 2 tsp. baking powder (Rumford)
- 1 tsp. xanthan gum (Red Mill)
- 1 tsp. salt (any pure gluten-free brand)
- 1-2 c. allergy friendly semisweet dairy, nut & soy free chocolate chips (Enjoy Life)
Directions for Making Easy and Tasty Allergy Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies
These easy directions can ensure that the chocolate chip cookies turn out delicious:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Place sugar, rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt in mixing bowl and stir until thoroughly mixed.
- Mix egg replacer and add to dry mixture along with applesauce.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 9-12 minutes or until edges begin to brown slightly.
- Carefully remove cookies from pan while still hot and place on wire rack to cool.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Yield: approximately 32 4-inch cookies
Tips for Cooking for People with Food Allergies or Sensitivities
Many people have a difficult time finding specialty products that are gluten-free; however, some mainstream grocers are beginning to carry more allergy friendly products. Many grocery stores that carry organic products may have these ingredients. Readers may also wish to research some of these brands and purchase online or check to find the nearest location of merchants who sell these ingredients.
It is helpful to ensure that all ingredients are available before starting to prepare the cookies. Place all ingredients on the counter and replace each back in the cabinet to speed clean-up and to ensure that items are not accidentally doubled, especially if children are helping.
Children who have celiac disease, food allergies, or food sensitivities may particularly enjoy helping to prepare this simple recipe. This can provide a great opportunity for some quality time together and some education about math skills such as fractions and conversions for measurements and can encourage kids by practicing motor skills such as pouring and stirring. It helps to have extra ingredients and a broom handy in case spills occur. Children can also learn more about how to determine if ingredients are safe for them to eat.
This chocolate chip cookie recipe offers a great taste without many of the more common food allergens, but it can also be adapted to accommodate additional food allergies and sensitivities by using other substitutions as needed.
Substituting Ingredients in Allergy Friendly Cookie Recipe
People who do not need ingredient replacements will find that these cookies still taste good with basic ingredients rather than their substitutes. Here are a few examples:
- Use ½ cup butter or margarine and ½ cup shortening instead of applesauce if fat content is not an issue.
- Use ¾ cup packed brown sugar and ¾ cup granulated sugar instead of 1 1/2 c. sugar if corn is not an issue.
- Use 2 eggs if egg replacement is not needed.
- Add 1 cup of nuts, such as pecans, walnuts, or almonds if tree nuts are safe to use.
- Use carob beans in place of chocolate chips if preferred.
- People who cannot safely eat chocolate chips may wish to convert this to a tasty sugar cookie recipe by leaving off the chocolate chips.
Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe is Free of Many Allergens
Although this simple chocolate chip cookie recipe is free of many common food allergens, it is not devoid of taste. These work well as a quick snack at school if a classroom is having a party with cupcakes or cookies. Some people like to make two batches at a time and roll the cookie dough into log shapes, wrap it in plastic and freeze it for last-minute snacks. People who do not have food allergies or sensitivities may find that they enjoy this great cookie recipe as much as Grandma’s original chocolate chip cookies.
Try serving these chocolate chip cookies with a glass of tasty orange lemon lime juice.
This recipe was adapted from a chocolate chip cookie recipe in Sheri L. Sanderson’s Gluten-Free Food for Kids: 150 Family-Tested Recipes [2002, Woodbine House, ISBN: 1-890627-28-3]
Check with a healthcare provider regarding which ingredients are safe for someone with multiple food allergies.
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
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