Paleo Cookie Dough – Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, GAPS

Kayla Ruetten

These delicious paleo cookie dough balls can be eaten raw or baked. While I love them baked, our kids enjoy them best “raw” and straight from the freezer. This cookie dough freezes and thaws well, and we regularly have a stash of these cookies in the freezer. This recipe is so easy to make, that our 7 year old is generally exclusively in charge of making them. She loves to taste test along the way, of course ;). With only 4 ingredients, we can whip these up as a fast snack, treat, GAPS dessert, or traveling breakfast option. This paleo cookie dough is high in protein and healthy fats. See recipe notes for a dairy-free option as well.

GAPS Diet Cookie Dough

These can be introduced on stage 5 of the GAPS protocol and they make you feel like you’re missing nothing while you’re healing and sealing your gut lining. This recipe was initially inspired by Becky Plotner, in her book GAPS Diet Stage by Stage with Recipes. As Becky would say, these cookies are so good “it will make your tongue so happy it will jump out of your mouth and slap your eyebrows!”

If you haven’t heard of the GAPS protocol, it is a way of eating that promotes healing of the digestive and immune system by consuming healing foods and opening detox pathways in the body. Our family has healed from food allergies and autoimmune issues (and a ton of other more minor and pesky health concerns) following this protocol. While we no longer “have” to strictly follow the protocol, most of these delicious recipes have become family favorites and healthy staples we enjoy everyday.

Paleo Cookie Dough-Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free (Optional)

Making cookies with my mom and sister are one of those childhood memories I love. I remember my mom didn’t want us to eat the raw cookie dough, though, for fear e-coli bacteria in the raw eggs. My mom grew up on a farm and they ate raw eggs regularly, but they knew how the chickens were cared for. When animals are on pasture and fed their natural diet, the chances of bacterial contamination are much lower. This cookie dough recipe does not contain eggs, and the dough can be consumed raw. I am also thrilled we can enjoy this treat without negative effects of eating refined flour and sugar. If you want a dairy-free option, see the recipe notes for swaps.

How to Make Paleo Cookie Dough

This cookie dough recipe is very versatile. We most often make these cookies to freeze as cookie dough balls, but they can also be eaten fresh/raw or baked. I love them baked with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. They taste very similar to conventional snickerdoodle cookies this way. The dough is very pliable and can also be rolled out and made into fun shapes to bake or freeze. We have also added paleo mini chocolate chips or a sprinkle of cacao powder for a chocolate cookie version (avoid chocolate chips on strict gaps, and consider this homemade chocolate instead.)

If you are looking for additional easy to make, healthy desserts, most of our family favorites on this blog can be easily made, even if you are new to the kitchen. Almost all of our desserts are made in large batches, as they freeze well, and are part of our meal planning home system.

Why You Will Love This Paleo Cookie Dough Recipe

1. Taste. This dough tastes like a conventional cookie dough, sweet, and satisfying.
2. Quick & easy to prepare. You can make this recipe in less than 5 minutes with only 4 ingredients.
3. Healing diet friendly. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free (optional), and sugar-free.. Whether you are eating GAPS, Paleo, whole food, Whole30, or just becoming more ingredient aware, this recipe is compatible with many healing diets.
4. Naturally sweetened. Use honey or maple syrup as the sweetener to eliminate the need for refined and processed sugar.
5. Customizable. You can use different fats, such as butter, coconut oil, ghee, or mild tasting fats like lard. Add or omit chocolate chips or cinnamon for different flavor variations.