Gluten-free salted chocolate cookies

Made by Nicole September 20, 2016 Comments Off on Gluten-free salted chocolate cookies Share

It’s been a little dusty around here lately.

Back in January, I mentioned our big plans to renovate the kitchen this year. Since then, we’ve been in talks with a local design-build group to help us create a functional, open-space kitchen design by removing the wall between our kitchen and dining room. I envisioned bright white cabinets that extend to the ceiling, shiny new appliances and a long island. We had an engineer in to confirm the wall we want to remove isn’t structural, and I’ve been consumed with design decisions like cabinet styles, appliance brands and hardware.

Fast forward nine months and here we are, in the midst of renovation chaos. My hubby took on the demolition—he loves to smash things and it saved us a ton of money—and we’ve got electricians and plumbers coming in and out, while my three cats hang out in the basement wondering what the bleep is going on above them.

They haven’t been too lonely down there, since I’ve set up a makeshift kitchen in the basement so I wouldn’t be completely out of sorts for the next few months. While I’m down there, they perch on top of the cardboard boxes—as if they’re protecting my precious kitchen treasures—and watch me stir together my breakfast oats or chop veggies for salad (luckily we were able to fit the old fridge down there so I had somewhere to store my produce).

I don’t think I could survive this reno if it wasn’t for my small, counter-top appliances that can be used outside of the kitchen. It’s been pretty easy to blend together a smoothie in my Blendtec or whip up a batch of hummus in my food processor. And luckily, Breville generously sent me a Smart Oven Pro to experiment with, and so far I can honestly say it’s been a lifesaver.

The Smart Oven Pro is far more than a toaster oven. It’s basically a mini convection-oven superstar.  It’s certainly an affordable option for all the functions it has in the easy-to-read digital display. It’s also super sleek and I know it’s going to look just gorgeous alongside my new, high-end stove and fridge once the kitchen is complete—and even the handles match!

At first I was a little concerned about the size and how much counter space it will take up, but once I started using it I realized the size makes it capable of doing almost as much as my regular oven, like cooking pizzas, roasting potatoes, and baking cookies and brownies.

The first order of business once I took my new Smart Oven Pro out of its box: Bake these salted chocolate cookies. These soft, gluten-free chocolate gems are a spin-off of an old blog recipe, which was originally inspired by Susan’s recipe. I love the addition of balsamic vinegar here because it beautifully enhances the chocolate goodness. They are also topped with a generous sprinkle of sea salt flakes—if you haven’t tried Maldon before, go out and get some, stat.

I should note I recreated this recipe about a month ago when I still had my regular oven. That way I could compare the baking time difference with the Smart Oven Pro. Luckily, when I baked them on the non-convection setting in both ovens, the time was only different by one minute! Since ovens are not all created equal, I’ve given my usual baking time ratio, with this recipe being 8 to 10 minutes. You know your oven better than I do, so if you usually have to bake things a little less or a little longer, go with that. If you’re unsure, I highly recommend an oven thermometer.

Stay tuned for more reno updates and new recipes brought to you from my dingy basement!

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Gluten-free salted chocolate cookies

Yield: 12 cookies

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup oat flour
• 1/4 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch/flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup soft coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
• Flaked sea salt (like Maldon), for topping

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking pan with parchment paper or a silpat mat. For a Breville Smart Oven Pro, set to the cookies function (350F) and use a small non-stick pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the oat flour, almond flour, cocoa powder, arrowroot, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, stir together the coconut sugar, maple syrup, and coconut oil until as smooth as possible, using the back of a fork to break down and incorporate the coconut oil. Add the vinegar and vanilla and stir to combine. Scoop into the bowl with the flour and stir until a soft dough forms. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Shape the dough into large balls, about 1 1/2 tablespoons each, and place on the prepared baking pan and sprinkle with flaked sea salt. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely.

This post was created in partnership with Breville Canada. All opinions are my own, and I think the Smart Oven Pro is a game-changer in the kitchen.