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Believe it or not, this recipe was my sister’s idea! She actually suggested it over a year ago and at the time, I already had so many cookie recipes on the blog – almond flour chocolate chip cookies, healthy cookie dough bark, and gluten-free edible cookie dough – I sorta just put it on the back burner. Well, fast forward to a few weeks ago when her idea popped back into my head and I was like… ya, a healthy cookie skillet sounds SO good right about now. So I ran to my kitchen and got to work!

I knew my cookie skillet had to be three things – gluten-free, healthier than the rest, and DELICIOUS. And let me tell ya, this recipe checks every one of those boxes! Made with almond flour, coconut oil, and a dash of maple syrup, it’s surprisingly healthy but just as good as any other cookie recipe. It’s also super easy to make in just one bowl with 8 simple ingredients!

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Cookie Skillet

  • Simple & Delicious: This gooey, chocolatey cookie skillet is made in just one bowl with 8 simple ingredients.
  • Healthier Than Traditional Cookies: Made with almond flour, coconut oil, and maple syrup, this recipe is gluten-free, paleo, and naturally sweetened.
  • Diet-Friendly & Versatile: Easy to customize for nut-free, keto, or vegan diets with simple ingredient swaps.

Recipe Substitutions & Variations

Flour Alternatives:

  • All-Purpose Flour: Swap the almond flour for an equal amount of all-purpose flour if you’re not concerned about gluten-free or paleo.
  • Coconut Flour: Use 1/4 cup coconut flour in place of the almond flour for a lower-carb version.

Nut Butter Swaps:

  • Use peanut butter for a classic flavor or cashew butter for extra creaminess.
  • For nut-free, opt for sunflower seed butter.

Mix-In Ideas:

  • Chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds) for added crunch.
  • Unsweetened shredded coconut for extra texture and flavor.
  • Flaky sea salt sprinkled on top before baking for a sweet-salty contrast.
Overhead close up image of healthy cookie skillet with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

What Makes This Recipe Healthy?

  • Gluten-Free & Paleo: Made with almond flour and coconut oil, this skillet cookie is grain-free and dairy-free.
  • Naturally Sweetened: Maple syrup is used instead of refined sugar, making it a healthier dessert option.
  • Wholesome Fats & Protein: Almond butter and coconut oil provide healthy fats, while the egg adds protein.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make It Nut-Free: Swap almond butter with sunflower seed butter and use all-purpose flour instead of almond flour.

Make It Keto: Replace maple syrup with monk fruit syrup or another keto-friendly sweetener and use sugar-free chocolate chips.

Make It Vegan: Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water) instead of a regular egg and choose dairy-free chocolate chips.

Close up image of healthy cookie skillet with a spoon.

Storage Instructions

  • Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge or reheat in the microwave before serving.

More Healthy Desserts You’ll Love

overhead image of healthy gluten-free cookie skillet with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
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Healthy Gluten-Free Cookie Skillet

Treat yourself to this healthy cookie skillet made with almond flour, coconut oil, and maple syrup! It’s gluten-free, paleo, and naturally sweetened, making it a wholesome choice for any sweet tooth. Plus, it comes together in one bowl with just 8 simple ingredients!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 21 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

  • 1 large bowl
  • 1 8-inch skillet

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened creamy almond butter or any nut/seed butter
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 egg at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and lightly grease an 8-inch skillet.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the almond butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla extract.
  • Add in the almond flour and baking soda, then mix until the batter is completely combined.
  • Stir in the chocolate chips, then transfer the batter to your greased skillet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until just set in the center, then remove and let cool slightly before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 28g | Sugar: 11g

Soft and perfectly sweet carrot cake cookies with a cream cheese icing! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. These healthy carrot cake cookies are the perfect springtime (or anytime) treat!

Healthy gluten-free carrot cake cookies on a baking sheet.

What You’ll Need to Make Carrot Cake Cookies

Oat Flour – Either homemade or store-bought oat flour will work in this cookie recipe! Oat flour replaces all purpose flour, making these cookies gluten-free.

Almond Butter – Smooth and unsweetened almond butter helps hold these cookies together. If you don’t have almond butter, you can use any other nut or seed butter you’d like. Cashew butter would make a great substitute here!

Maple Syrup – These healthy carrot cake cookies are naturally sweetened with maple syrup. The maple adds a touch of flavor, and the perfect amount of sweetness.

Shredded Carrots – Wash and peel about three large carrots, then run them down a box grater to make shredded carrots. Or, to make things even easier, simply buy pre-shredded carrots from the store for this dessert recipe!

Overhead image of healthy gluten-free carrot cake cookies on a baking sheet.

Tips and Tricks

  • Gently flatten each carrot cake cookie before baking. If you skip this step, they’ll bake up like round little balls. Therefore, for a more classic flat-looking cookie, give them a gentle press right before putting in the oven.
  • Allow your cookies to cool completely before icing! If the cookies are still too warm when iced, the cream cheese icing will melt and slide right off. (I’ve learned from my mistakes here – ha!)
  • These cookies are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. However, if you live in a warm client/are baking these in the summer – it’s best to store them in the fridge instead. If the cookies with cream cheese icing are left in too warm of an environment, the icing may melt and spoil.
close up image of a healthy gluten-free carrot cake cookie with a bite taken out.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Dairy-Free: While the cookies themselves are already dairy-free, make a dairy-free cream cheese icing by subbing your favorite non-dairy cream cheese, butter, and milk.

Make it Vegan: For vegan carrot cake cookies, replace the egg with a flax egg, and take the dairy-free icing option above!

Close-up overhead image of carrot cake cookies on a baking sheet.
5 from 3 votes

Carrot Cake Cookies

Soft and perfectly sweet carrot cake cookies with a cream cheese icing! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. These healthy carrot cake cookies are the perfect springtime (or anytime) treat!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies

Equipment

  • 1 large bowl
  • 1 medium bowl
  • 1 large baking sheet

Ingredients

For the dry ingredients:

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup oat flour made by pulsing rolled oats in a blender until ground into a flour
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the wet ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup almond butter unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted (or butter)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg at room temperature
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans unsalted
  • 1/4 cup raisins

For the cream cheese icing:

  • 1/4 cup cream cheese softened (I used non-dairy cream cheese)
  • 3 tablespoons butter softened (I used non-dairy butter)
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk (I used non-dairy milk)
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Then, in a separate bowl, add all the wet ingredients except the carrots, walnuts, and raisins, and whisk to combine.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and use mix until fully combined. Then, fold in the carrots, walnuts, and raisins.
  • Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of cookie dough onto your prepared baking sheet and slightly flatten each ball with the palm of your hand.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Then, transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
  • While cookies cool, make the cream cheese icing by adding all ingredients to a bowl and whisking until smooth and well-combined. Then, spread or pipe cream cheese icing on top of each cooled cookie.

Notes

Nutrition info is for one cookie out of 24 cookies and does not include the cream cheese icing.
  • These cookies are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. However, if you live in a warm client/are baking these in the summer – it’s best to store them in the fridge instead.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Sugar: 5g