Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Confession: I have been so back and forth about Paleo desserts since starting this new lifestyle. Ultimately, I thought that I had decided that it wasn’t for me because I grew up with such an unhealthy relationship with sugar, and subbing ingredients doesn’t help me get over that emotional aspect of “treats” and the shame I always felt. I had decided I would never even bother experimenting with baking Paleo goodies, and just stick to fresh fruit, which I genuinely love anyway.

I never intended to make that decision for my kids though, because I don’t think they eat sweets to feed their feelings like I did. If it’s their birthday, then I’m going to make them a real birthday cake, with real ingredients, because real food is always best. No guilt or shame allowed! (If you want a treat, make it at home with real ingredients and ENJOY it. Just eat it for the right reasons, not as a self-soothe, and take only what you need. That’s my take.)

OK, so how did the Paleo chocolate chip cookies come about then? Glad you asked.

My younger son had been begging me to make chocolate chip cookies with him. No special occasion, he just wanted the one-on-one time with his mommy. I was pulling out all of the ingredients to make the cookies, and I placed them onto the counter top. Flour, sugar, brown sugar… and it was at that moment when I saw him, with his beautiful little face, sitting there on the step ladder next to the counter with all of those ingredients next to him, and I said, “Nope.” 

To give a little more context, I have this very specific memory of my own childhood with my dad, who was an engineer, but also a great baker. He taught me all of the basics in baking and cake decorating, and my favorite moments with him were the ones making his amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe. We did it using this VERY same Kitchenaid mixer I still use to this very day, 30 years later! (Seriously, incredible mixer.) And now my own son relishes in those exact same experiences with me. So when I saw him next to all of those ingredients, and saw flashbacks of myself at that age, and how I learned to use (abuse) baking as an escape from the pain of losing my dad, I suddenly didn’t want that for my son. I want him to grow up thinking, “This regular cookie recipe is good, but is it the best choice for my body? Is it REALLY what I want and need?” I want him to always be conscientious of his food.

I guess one might think baking cookies with your mommy is a special occasion, but not enough to warrant having cookies beckoning you from the kitchen at all hours of the day. So I’ve decided that we would save the real desserts for the big special occasions, and then choose our best substitutes for daily life, so we can focus on it being more about our bonding time than about the actual cookie. 

It ended up being a really cool experience for me, because I loved that he patiently sat there as I overthought every ingredient going in, and then wrote them down as we went, crossing my fingers this would work! Thankfully, it worked out GREAT! These Paleo chocolate chip cookies are so sweet, creamy, soft, and chewy! They totally taste like the real deal. I actually like them better! My kids gobbled them up, they were so good!

I hope you like them, too!

Be good to your body, my friends. Listen to your body and choose what you really want and need.