Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies (Gluten-free)
These are proof that cookies can be tasty and good for you! Packed with flax meal and oats, these Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies are a gluten-free and butter-free spin on the infamous DoubleTree Hotel Cookies!
These Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies are a gluten-free, healthy-ish spin on the infamous DoubleTree Hotel Cookies!
While there are a bunch of copycat versions of these cookies around, these are one of a few recipes that are a healthy-ish spin on those DoubleTree ones.
These cookies are yet another attempt of mine to show that delicious cookies can be packed with wholesome ingredients too!
What are the ingredients needed to make these Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies?
You will need the following 12 ingredients to make these cookies:
- Peanut Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Flax Meal
- Rice Flour
- Rolled Oats
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- Baking Powder
- Eggs
- Coconut Oil, Melted
- Salt
- Pecan Pieces
- Chocolate Chips, A mix of milk and semisweet if you like
The story behind how these cookies happened…
I attend a pretty unconventional church where it’s the norm to find bicycle stuntmen, Michael Jackson Impersonators, and dudes clad in leather riding Harley Davidsons – all on stage!
However, from all the acts I have seen on that stage, the one that intrigued me the most was a canister of DoubleTree Cookies.
You see, one Sunday while trying to illustrate a point, the pastor brought out these DoubleTree cookies, and with much pomp and circumstance, offered some of these cookies to a select few people in our congregation, while touting them as The Best Cookies Ever!
As I watched spouses and parents (who were lucky enough to get one of these cookies) find a seat far away from their family members, so they wouldn’t have to share the cookies with them, I realized I had to get my hands on at least one of those cookies!
As wrestling the pastor to get that canister out of his hand was not an option, I figured I would order myself a canister from DoubleTree themselves because I clearly had to taste The Best Cookies Ever — right?
Well, 5 days after I placed my order, I received my canister of 6 DoubleTree cookies. My daughter ceremoniously divided the cookies up between us, making sure she got the 3 largest ones.
I poured each of us a tall glass of cold, non-dairy, milk, and we sat down to savor “The Best Cookies Ever”! Right there from where we were sitting, those cookies smelled divine – and I figured they tasted even more so…
Then I took my first bite…
And…
Gosh, darn it!
I wanted my money back!!
While those cookies were good, they were far from The Best Cookies Ever.
In fact, I think Chick Fil A’s Chocolate Chip Cookies are better than those from DoubleTree!
So, I did what any of us food bloggers would do, and set about making my own, tasty, yet gluten-free, butter-free, version.
After fumbling through several batches to get the taste and texture drool-worthy; I finally ended up with the batch you see here. Chock full of chocolate chips and pecans, sweet but not overly sweet, and with a sublime vanilla scent layered in, these cookies were good! So good!
Now, I won’t say these are The Best Cookies Ever, but my 17-year-old daughter (aka my biggest, most valued, harshest critique) said these were way, way better than those DoubleTree Cookies!
Don’t believe me? Well, I guess you’re going to have to make a batch and see for yourselves, eh?
These Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies first appeared on Food Fanatic. Please check out Food Fanatic for more recipe ideas and food-inspiration!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
- 2/3 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Flax Meal
- 1/4 cup Rice Flour
- 1 cup Rolled Oats
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 2 Eggs
- 4 tablespoons Coconut Oil Melted
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 cup Pecan Pieces
- 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips A mix of milk and semisweet if you like
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add peanut butter and brown sugar to a bowl and mix well.
- Add in the flax, rice flour, oats, vanilla, baking powder, eggs, coconut oil, and salt and mix well.
- Then add in the pecans and chocolate chips.
- Scoop spoonfuls of cookie mix onto a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Bake for 10 minutes — cookies will look undone but will be soft and perfect when cooled.
Well your church sounds very interesting!! That is the type of church I could get my husband to eagerly attend!! I wonder if they have one out here in N to the C? Anyways, I haven’t had a Double Tree cookie since college when my parents would come to visit and stay in that hotel! I remember them being good, but I don’t think I would ever call them the BEST EVER. I’m glad you made your own because HELLO cookies that are also GOOD for me?!? SIGN ME UP! These look awesome, Shashi!! I’m going to have to swap the chocolate for white chocolate, but you can bet I’ll be making these! Life needs more cookies, especially ones that are healthy(er). 🙂 Cheers, friend! xo
These definitely look like the best cookies ever! And I agree with your feelings on the double tree cookies!
Well I just love how they’re loaded with peanut butter and pecans!! NUTTTy!!!
Never tried cookies from doubletree, thanks for the review.
I like grocery store cookies (sigh), I have decided to forgo the whole store bought thing and whip up a batch of cookies
I love how thick and chewy your cookies look. Seriously, it is a texture thing with me and cookies. I have never tried cookies from doubletree but I am sure your gluten-free chocolate pecan cookies surpass the store bought ones by leaps and bounds.
You know…if you need another food critic, I am happy to offer my services! These cookies look nom-nom worthy, and I definitely think they deserve to be in the running for best cookie in the world. Funny how those store-bought cookies love to make all of these claims…yet they rarely live up to ’em. (Except for the Oreo. Oh, I do love me an Oreo every now and then!) In fact, I’d even dress as a Michael Jackson impersonator and ride a Harley just to get my hands on one of these cookies. Love the pecans in there! 🙂
Yum, these cookies look (and sound) so tasty. I love the healthier ingredients 🙂
Have never heard of or had a Doubletree cookie….but I would to try one of yours :-)) They look wholesome!
These look AMAZING! I have never bought rice four, I’ll have to get some and try these.
Hey Shashi – Happy Thursday! Your church sounds very interesting. I would’ve been diving for the cookies myself. But now that I have a better recipe – why bother. In the comfort of my very own kitchen I’ll try yours. Maybe your daughter got the biggest ones, but I’m impressed she divided them out evenly. My Charlie (10) would be like: “one for you, two for me. One for you, three for me.” You get it. I received a box of gourmet dark chocolates from Chocolat Favoris in Old Quebec City from southern friends who recently dropped by on their way back down south. Charlie has been all about trying to figure out he can get more chocolates from that box than anyone else. I keep reminding him it’s better to give than receive. (Besides, I want my fair share!!! He he.) Happy almost weekend my friend. Woo hoo!!! Enjoy. XO
haha I don’t even remember the last time I had a double tree cookie! Instead I need to whip myself up a batch of these bad boys. They look faaantastic! I wish I had one for an afternoon snack right now…
I haven’t made cookies in about 2 weeks. There’s definitely something wrong with that. These look so tasty!
Hope all is well with you my friend!
“find a seat far away from their family members so they wouldn’t have to share the cookies with them” Yep, that sounds about right! Um… would these people happen to be from my family, Shashi? Haha. I totally chuckled when I read that your kiddo got the 3 largest. So, so smart. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, she knows what’s up! 😉 What a twist when the cookie turned out to be a-okay. What a letdown! However, I tip my whisk (??) off to you for making your own, better version. I love that there’s so much oatmeal in these! Can’t wait to see more GF goodies from ya–especially for the holidays. Have a great weekend Shashi! Muah! xoxo
These cookies look and sound delish! I love that they’re also gluten free!
They look great, nice and thick and chewy!
Wow! Double tree cookies are so new to me, haven’t heard about them. These thick and chewy cookies look and sound wonderfully delish, Shashi. Love the fact they are gluten-free too. I think this weekend I will have to bake some cookies!;) Your church sounds awesome. Have a lovely time! 🙂
These cookies are packed with everything I love! I’ll definitely have to try these!
It’s good to see I’m not the only one who’s unfamiliar with double tree cookies. I’ll take your word and not try them! These however look pretty dang delicious.
I always get suspicious when people talk about the supposedly best anything ever. Pretty much consistently I make desserts that are my idea of the best ever, and every now and then I find a gem of a dessert somewhere. But it’s not usually one EVERYONE loves. Anyway, I would love these. They look perfect!
oh wow i’ve never heard about doubletree but i’ll try this out. how chewy is your cookies. yummy i love it.
this would be amazing for a dessert or even a lunch at school for my kids. thanks for sharing this.
hope you enjoy your day.
oh wow I’ve made this before,too. doubletree is great. about 20 cookies that I’ve already made were gone in a blink. my kids really love it. such a healthy recipe. have a nice day, friend.
Look amazing! Have never had a double tree cookie, and now will try. Great idea for gluten free chocolate pecan cookies. Thanks for sharing, Shashi.
My kids love cookies! I have to buy some these packs. Doubletree s not tasty? Should i pass it?