I’m sharing my favorite Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) cookie recipe with you today!
I started on the AIP diet at the beginning of this year for health reasons so it’s almost been a full year! I go into more detail why in this post and this guest post.
I’ve had my challenges with going off my diet for special gatherings around the holidays and then dealing with the sugar cravings that come back and inflammation as a result. It can be so frustrating when that happens since it takes time and a lot of effort to feel better through eating a non-inflammatory diet.
You may have shared the same struggles I have dealt with in the past.
The good news is you can participate in holiday gatherings with a treat that is healthier than the other dessert options and still remain Autoimmune Paleo compliant this holiday season!
(If you are just starting out on an AIP diet, your doctor may not allow you to have maple syrup at this healing stage. It’s better to find out for sure if you are actively being treated for inflammation or an autoimmune disease. When I was being treated by my functional medicine doctor, I wasn’t allowed to have any natural sugar or stevia. I even had to limit my fruit intake during that time. Because these cookies are so good, it’s still important to remember moderation since maple syrup should be consumed in limited quantity.)
My favorite part of this recipe is that it is quick and easy to make the cookie dough. Another perk is creating wonderful memories with my kids while making the cookie cut-outs. My kids love to make cut-out cookies and it was my daughter that convinced me to make this recipe just so she could do the cut-outs!
Just a tip, these cookies freeze well. Feel free to make them when you have some family time before things get too hectic and make it a family activity. Then, freeze them until you need them for that special celebration or holiday gathering.
And one more tip! These AIP cut-out cookies are a great dessert of choice when you’re attending a party or cookie exchange and think there may be people there with food allergies or sensitivities. This recipe is free of the top eight most common food allergens.
This is my favorite AIP cookie recipe and it’s an adaptation of Our Grain-Free Life’s AIP Paleo “Oatmeal” Raisin Cookies. I changed the recipe up quite a bit, but I just wanted to give credit to Anne Turner for the foundation she gave me to make my favorite AIP cookie recipe!
If you’ve been on an AIP diet for some time, chances are you may have most or all of these ingredients in your pantry.
If some of the ingredients below are new to you, I’ve included a couple of ways for you to get them.
All but one of the ingredients I use for these cookies can be found here. The tigernut flour is cheaper there than on Amazon, but if you prefer to shop from Amazon I’ve included links below to the ingredients for your convenience.
There is a special ingredient I use called Coconut Cream Concentrate which is the same thing as coconut butter, but it’s smoother and tastes better. Coconut Cream Concentrate helps the cookies with their flavor and texture. Otherwise, I included an Amazon link below to a brand of coconut butter I used to use before I found Healthy Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate.
Here are Amazon links for the ingredients of Autoimmune Paleo Christmas Cut-Out Cookies for your shopping convenience.
TigerNut FlourArrowroot Starch/FlourGelatin, KosherBaking SodaCinnamonMaple SyrupCoconut OilSea SaltCoconut Butter
I hope you enjoy this recipe for AIP Christmas Cut-Out Cookies as much as my family has.
And don’t forget to make this a family activity. The kids in your life will be thrilled to make the cut-outs! This is an opportunity for a special holiday memory while still choosing to live a life of natural health and wellness!
- 1½ cup tigernut flour
- 1½ cup arrowroot starch
- 2 tablespoons gelatin
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ⅔ cup maple syrup
- ⅔ cup coconut oil
- ⅔ cup Healthy Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate or coconut butter
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients (coconut oil, coconut butter, maple syrup) into a small pan over medium heat.
- Stir until just melted and remove from heat, then immediately pour liquid mixture over the dry ingredients.
- Mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are combined into a ball of cookie dough. I use a mixer on low for a minute or two.
- Roll out cookie dough over a silicone mat for best results. Parchment paper is another option.
- Cut out cookies into the desired shape with cookie cutters.
- Place cut-out cookies on a cookie sheet with a silicone mat or on parchment paper.
- This recipe will need two cookie sheets and they can go in the oven at the same time.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
- After taking the cookies out of the oven, leave them on the cookie sheets for at least 30 minutes to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
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Hi, Stephanie! These cookies look great, and your photos are beautiful! <3 I love finding healthy recipes for special treats like this.
Hi, Beth! I’m so glad you stopped by and thank you for the awesome compliment! I hope you can make this recipe sometime!
These sound great! I have heard of tigernut flour before, but I have never used it!
Hi, Alexa and thanks for visiting! It’s definitely worth trying for a treat especially for your blog niche.
These look great. Ive been looking for some yummy desserts for my husband! He has so many food allergies and i feel hes always missing out on the seasonal yummies. He’ll love these.
Thanks, Stormy! I’m so happy you found this recipe for your husband!
Hi Stephanie, what a wonderful way to share great eats and great times with your family. Also love how everyone can be involved in the actual making. I’ve also not heard of tigernut flour. I follow a low carb sugar-free keto lifestyle. Is the tigernut flour made from nuts?
Hi, Julie! Thanks for visiting! Tigernut is a small root vegetable. It’s a great flour to use for a healthy diet and for those who are sensitive or allergic to nuts.
Thanks for the info on tigernut flour. Amazing how many specialty flours are available these days. 🙂
You’re welcome! Yes, I’m so thankful for the alternative flour options!
Wow, those cookies looks soo good! And that was a really cool fun idea doing it with the kids. I havent heard of tigernut flour though. Sounds interesting. Yes, Food can heal us but it can make us sick as well. So its really important to know whats good for you and whats not….
That’s so true, Theresa! Tigernut flour is gaining popularity since it’s gluten-free, Paleo and AIP friendly. It’s great for people that don’t want to eat wheat flour or nut flour. It tastes good too!
Would it be possible to reduce the amount of sweetener? Would I need to replace it with something (to make up for the liquid)?
Hi, Tara! I reduce the amount of sweetener in recipes all the time. I can usually get by with following the rest of the recipe. I’d recommend you try it out and let us know how it goes.
Just made these cookies and they taste great!! Before going on AIP I used to love baking holiday cookies. With this recipe I can still do that and eat my creations. Even my kids who usually don’t like my other AIP baked goods gobbled them up. Thank you for creating a great recipe!
Thank you, Laura, for your positive testimonial! I love to bake too which is why I love this recipe! I’m making these cookies with my kids today and another great AIP recipe that I’ll share on the blog in the future! These are recipes that my kids love too which is a huge bonus!
This recipe is aces! A new family favorite. ❤
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing, Nicole! I love to hear that!
I don’t have time to order tigernut flour as I want to make these for my daughter right away. Couldn’t find it in town so I bought coconut flour. How will this change the taste? Also, you list coconut oil. I assume the liquid and not the solid that some people use on their faces. This is all new to me. Thanks for your help.
Hi, Cynthia! I’ve never used coconut flour for this recipe and it will taste a lot different. Tigernut flour has a nutty taste and coconut flour tastes like coconut. Coconut flour is the most difficult flour I’ve worked with since it absorbs a lot of liquid. In the past, I’ve used one egg per ounce of coconut flour. I buy my tigernut flour online from Thrive Market and receive my order within a few days. I’ve also ordered it from Amazon with Prime shipping and received in two days which either are good options. For the coconut oil, I used unrefined coconut oil which is solid in cold temperatures so I melt it first in a little pot. I hope that helps!
Good morning. Thanks for responding so quickly to my email. I plan to make these today for a Valentine for my daugbter. but will not have the Tigernut flour. What are your thoughts on using either Tapioca or Cassava flour? Again, I have very little knowledge about the AIP diet but I want to support my daughter and surprise her with a treat. I also bought the coconut oil liquid instead of the shortening. Would this work? Thank you so very much for your help.
I would recommend using cassava flour as a substitute since it’s an easy flour to work with. You can try the coconut oil you bought and let me know how it goes.
I’ve been baking aip treats for a few months and this recipe makes the BEST cookies. My 4 four year old loved them. It is easy to make too! Thank you so much 😀
Thank you, Ruth, for sharing your wonderful experience! So happy to hear it!