Prep: 10 min I’ve been making these easy Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies for YEARS, and they’re still one of my favorite recipes! Soft, chewy, and full of gooey chocolate chips, they taste just like classic chocolate chip cookies but are made with a handful of simple, better-for-you ingredients. They’re perfect to keep on hand for an afternoon snack, lunchbox treat, or healthier dessert. Trust me, you’ll want to make a double batch!
The BEST Easy Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
I’m all for an indulgent treat once in a while. However, day to day, I do my best to satisfy my sugar cravings with slightly better-for-you options, like these easy healthy chocolate chip cookies!
They’re made without butter, are gluten-free, and can easily be made dairy-free, but taste just like regular cookies. My littles don’t notice a difference! And they love getting to help mix the dough and roll the cookies. Foolproof and quick to make, this recipe is perfect for baking with kids, prepping ahead for the week, or whipping up whenever a sweet craving hits!
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Five-Star Reader Review
“I love these healthy cookies. They are seriously SO good and don’t taste healthy at all! Also love that they’re made without butter. Thanks for the great recipe!” – Jennifer
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients – Nine easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to make these healthy chocolate chip cookies, and I bet you already have most of them on hand!
- Easy to Prepare – There’s no fancy equipment required or even a need to chill the dough. Just mix, portion, and bake. You can have warm, homemade cookies ready to eat in less than 30 minutes!
- Versatile – As written, this recipe is gluten-free, butter-free, and lower in refined sugar than many recipes. It can easily be made dairy-free, too. It’s one of my favorite recipes to make when hosting or gifting cookies to loved ones with food intolerances or allergies. No one realizes the cookies are healthier!
- Sweet, Chocolatey Goodness – The batter is subtly sweet on its own, and every bite is full of melty chocolate chips. Then, the sprinkle of sea salt on top provides the perfect finishing touch, creating the best balance of sweet and salty tastes.
RELATED: Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil (opens in a new tab) – I use this in place of butter to keep the cookies soft and chewy.
- Large Egg
- Sweeteners – I use a combination of honey and light brown sugar to reduce the amount of refined sugar while adding the perfect amount of sweetness to the dough. The light brown sugar also helps keep the cookies soft and chewy and adds a subtle molasses taste that I love.
- Vanilla – I always make sure to use pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla. Because there are so few ingredients, you’ll really notice a difference!
- Oat Flour (opens in a new tab) – I use store-bought oat flour to keep the prep super quick, but you can always make your own by blending up rolled oats! Make sure to use certified gluten-free oat flour or oats to avoid cross-contamination with other gluten-containing ingredients. I’ve also had readers ask if they can use all-purpose flour, and that works, too, if you don’t need to keep the cookies gluten-free.
- Baking Soda
- Chocolate Chips – I prefer semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips, but dark chocolate also works. Use dairy-free chocolate chips, if needed. Enjoy Life chocolate chips (opens in a new tab) are my favorite!
- Sea Salt – This is optional, but I highly recommend including it! A pinch of salt helps enhance the rest of the ingredients and balances the sweet flavors perfectly.
How to Make Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
This might be the easiest cookie recipe EVER! All you need is a large bowl and a baking sheet (opens in a new tab). Here’s how to make this Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe:
- Mix the wet ingredients – Mix the coconut oil until smooth. Then, whisk in the egg, honey, vanilla, and light brown sugar until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients – Add the oat flour and baking soda, mixing just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Portion the cookie dough – Portion the dough into equal-sized balls. I like to use a spoon or medium cookie scoop!
- Arrange cookies – Transfer the cookie dough balls to a prepared baking sheet, and gently press down to flatten them. They won’t spread much in the oven! Sprinkle sea salt on top. This is optional, but it enhances the sweet, chocolatey flavor, making the cookies even more delicious!
- Bake – Transfer the baking sheet to a preheated oven, and bake just until the edges are set and the cookies are lightly golden brown. Cool slightly on the baking sheet, and enjoy!
Tips
- Measure the oat flour carefully. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off rather than scooping directly from the bag. Too much flour can make the cookies dry or crumbly.
- Don’t overmix the dough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined to keep the cookies soft and tender. Overmixing can cause them to turn out tough and dense.
- Flatten the cookies before baking. Unlike traditional chocolate chip cookies, these don’t spread much on their own. So, I always flatten them into a round cookie shape before baking. This also helps them cook evenly so the centers aren’t raw!
- Keep an eye on the baking time. Every oven is different! I recommend checking the cookies for doneness around the 10-minute mark. You’ll know they’re done baking when the edges are set. It’s okay if the centers still look a little soft. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool.
RELATED: Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Variations
Add nuts. Mix chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds into the dough for a little extra crunch and nutty flavor.
Add coconut. Stir in a little unsweetened shredded coconut for extra texture and a hint of coconut flavor.
Make them extra chocolatey. Add a few extra chocolate chips on top of each cookie before baking for gooey, melty chocolate in every bite!
Make Ahead Options
I love making a batch of these healthy chocolate chip cookies ahead of time to have something sweet ready whenever a craving hits! You can prepare the cookie dough up to 2 days in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, let the dough sit at room temperature for a few minutes if it’s too firm to scoop, then shape, flatten, and bake as directed.
You can also freeze the cookie dough! Scoop it into individual portions, flatten them slightly, and freeze on a parchment-lined baking sheet until solid. Then, transfer the dough to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time as needed.
How to Store
Room Temperature: Once cooled completely, store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Refrigerator: For longer storage, I like to keep leftover cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezer: These cookies freeze well, too! Let them cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving. Or, warm them in the microwave for a few seconds to restore their soft, gooey texture!
More Better-For-You Dessert Recipes To Try
- Greek Yogurt Cheesecake
- High-Protein Chocolate Mousse Parfaits
- Cottage Cheese Brownie Cookies
- Strawberry Chocolate Yogurt Bites
- Black Bean Brownies
- Healthier Lemon Posset
Easy Cookie Recipes You’ll Love
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Giant Air Fryer Cookies
- Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Looking for more? Explore 20+ healthy cookie recipes!
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The BEST Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons coconut oil (opens in a new tab) (softened)
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup oat flour (opens in a new tab)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips (opens in a new tab)
- Pinch of sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened coconut oil until smooth. Add the egg, honey, vanilla extract, and brown sugar. Mix until well combined.
- Stir in the oat flour and baking soda until a soft cookie dough forms.
- Gently fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie. Gently flatten each portion with the back of a spoon or your fingers. Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden. The centers may still look slightly soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Enjoy warm!
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this? I’d love to see!
Tag me on socials at @JarOfLemons (opens in a new tab) or #JarOfLemons (opens in a new tab)
So yummy !
I love the taste of these and the fact that they have less sugar than I normally use. The only thing is mine turned out very flat like CDs more so than cookies. Every time I use oat flour I have weird baking flattening issues like this, any tips?
Can I use all purpose flour?
Yes, absolutely!
I made your almond cookies but without the chocolate drizzle,because I’m rather sensitive to chocolate (even though I LOVE dark chocolate). They were very good and not too sweet. I added 1/4 t. almond extract, which seemed just right.
I really appreciate your recipe, because I also have to stay away from dairy and gluten. Talk about a triple whammy! And I love all three,unfortunately.
Many thanks!
I look forward to trying your chocolate chip cookies, but maybe I’ll add nuts instead of the chocolate chips.
Mary Ann
These sound amazing!! I have been doing a lot of baking with the kids, so this recipe is perfect to try!!!