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I have a sketchy history with Halloween and costumes.
I remember one year in college my friend and I went to a Halloween party dressed as identical doctors…not even sexy nurses, just plain old scrubs-clad doctors with sneakers on our feet and our hair up in ponytails. It was basically our way of dressing up without really having to dress up, lol. (We were such party poopers, I know! But we did still enjoy the party.)
I’m still embarrassed by the last time I went trick-or-treating. I was in ninth grade (oh the shame! Yes, ninth grade, which is about three years too old for what I consider the last acceptable age to go trick-or-treating), and my best friend and her mother (who let’s face it, was a few fries short of a Happy Meal for encouraging her high school-aged daughter to go trick-or-treating!) convinced me that superhero costumes would be great and we should take pillowcases to collect candy in because we’d get so much. I was so embarrassed I remember wanting to put that stupid pillowcase over my head.
And I’ve seen a picture of me when I was about three or four, dressed in a pink princess dress with a very tall pointy pink hat that had a trail of fabric coming out of its pointed top. My mom insists that it was a princess hat, but to me it bears a very strong resemblance to a dunce cap. (Geez, right? I know it was the ‘80s, but come on, mom. It’s a good thing I was too young to really understand how ridiculous I looked, lol.)
So although I’m not exactly sure when the last time I dressed up for Halloween was, I am sure it was a really long time ago.
I still enjoy a Halloween party (just the kind where dressing up isn’t mandatory), passing out sweets to (appropriately aged) trick-or-treaters, and watching scary flicks. All the while eating something chocolately, of course, because what is Halloween if not a time for chocolate?
If I’m going to drown my sorrows from reminiscing about the ghosts of my Halloweens past, I might as well do it with chocolate. And bonus, these Salted Dark Chocolate Cookies are actually a pretty healthy way to get a chocolate fix.
Whip these cookies up and enjoy them no matter what your Halloween traditions are!
Happy Halloween, all!
- 4 oz (115 g) Chocoley Fair Trade Organic 65% Dark Chocolate
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 4 tablespoons coconut sugar (or lightly packed light brown sugar)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon powdered espresso dissolved in ½ teaspoon hot water
- ¾ cup (85 g) hazelnut meal
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon fine salt
- Sea salt, for topping (I used fleur de sel)
- Preheat oven to 350F; line 1 large baking tray with a silpat liner or parchment paper.
- Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in a large bowl in the microwave or a double boiler.
- Stir in the coconut sugar and let the mixture cool slightly, then stir in the egg, vanilla extract, and dissolved espresso powder.
- Add the hazelnut meal, chia seeds, cocoa powder, baking powder, and ⅛ teaspoon salt and stir until smooth. Let the batter rest for 5 to 10 minutes (it will thicken).
- Use a 1 tablespoon-sized scoop to measure out the dough, leaving about ½ inch to 1 inch of space between each cookie. Top each cookie with a sprinkle of sea salt.
- Bake until the cookies are set along the outside but still a bit chewy in the center, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Let the cookies cool completely on the cookie sheet before removing.
Disclosure: I received the chocolate that I used in this recipe for free from Chocoley. I did not receive compensation for this post and I was under no obligation to review the product; as always, opinions stated are my own.
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
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Hello…
Since they no longer sell this great fair trade chocolate, what do you use?
Thanks for sharing a great GF cookie recipe.
Holly, A few of my favorite brands are Equal Exchange, Green & Black’s and Endangered Species. Also, because I don’t like my sweets overly sweet, I now prefer to use 70% dark chocolate for these cookies. Hope you enjoy them if you decide to make them!
These cookies look lovely. Any chance I can substitute cashew meal or almond meal for the hazelnut meal without any problems? Thanks!
Susan, Yes! I’ve made these cookies successfully with almond meal as well. I haven’t tried cashew meal, but let me know how it goes if you give it a try. Hope you enjoy the cookies if you decide to make them! :)
I think I probably stopped trick or treating in middle school…but since I have a way younger sister (she’s 9 years younger), I feel like I probably still went trick or treating as her chaperone until I was pretty old!
I am always in the mood for chocolate and I love that these are also fairly healthy! Perfect excuse to have two (or five).
I love your book…..quick question about the cokkies. Can I omit the chia seeds? Substitute?
Robin, Thank you so much, that is so kind of you! Yes, you can use ground flaxseeds in place of the chia seeds here. Or skip the chia seeds and ground flaxseeds and add an extra couple of tablespoons of hazelnut meal (I’d start with 2 tablespoons more of hazelnut meal and work up from there as necessary). Let me know how these cookies turn out if you make them!
OMG Faith you are a hoot…I txt my 29 yr old daughter this yr & asked what? No princess costumes this year??? It wasn’t me, she & her friends were just that way & as I was a pro costume designer, I mean come on…I literally have every size of every “D” character! But I’ve had a lot of fun too when my baby was 6 mos I made an incredible Kanga & Roo costume for my then 13 yr old w/a huge tale that was removable as it didn’t fit in even our giant SUV & a pouch for Roo we walked the mall & visited the “D” store, they went nutz & took photos…so many fun memories!I think the old school looks were more clever, my teen doesn’t even want me to make her’s because she’s into those crazy “sexy” ones,yuck!
I love this recipe & am totally into dark chocolate & coconut sugar OMG so funny, I found a Lb bag of organic at Marshals for $1, I know you’re impressed ’cause we’re both penny pinching freaks, I got 2 bags! Chah-Ching…thanks honey, you rock…Happy Ween
Hey lady! It’s funny, you just popped into my mind the other day! :) That is too much – I can imagine how much fun it must have been to have a mom who was a costume designer! Trust me, I’m jealous! ;) That kango and roo costume sounds like a riot. And $1 for a 1 lb bag of organic? That is a deal! Since you saved money it means you get to buy more, right? ;) Or better yet, save up for vacation! Hope you had a great Halloween, friend! xo
I’m craving chocolate and your cookies are just what I need – love the salted topping! :)
I am with you Faith – I did that same nurse (not sexy nurse lol) costume one year just to have a costume. These look like the perfect treat!
Happy Halloween! These cookies look wonderful – looove chocolate + salt. I’m afraid that I’m guilty of too-old-trick-or-treating too, whoops. ;)
I appreciate this little trip down memory lane. I’m sure things weren’t as bad as you remember! And the cookies look fantastic.
haha no no! Those pointy hats with the fabric were totally THE princess hat (pre the crowns popularity). I think my sister had one, one year. Regardless- all the stories made me giggle and the cookies sound awesome :)
Happy Halloween Faith! So you can’t trick or treat if you’re grown up? Oh no! There goes my dream! :(
Lovely cookies! Great ingredients and flavors.
Cheers,
Rosa