Cranberry Walnut Dark Chocolate Cookies (Gluten Free, Vegan, Low GI)

Ok so I had a cookie similar to this at the [awesome] bakery in our natural food store in town.  It was midnight last night and I was craving it.  Crazy, I know.  I made these cookies - at about 12:30 this morning - and they are fantastic!  Not exactly like the ones I was wanting but still great.

Now I need to make mention of the fact that these are not low calorie in any sense of the imagination, they also aren't low fat - at all!  In fact, if you are really really watching what you eat - you should not make these (you won't be able to resist!!).  However, as an occasional treat they are fantastic.  How, you ask, are these appropriate for a Healthy Food blog?  These made the cut because they are made from 100% wholesome, unprocessed, natural, unrefined ingredients. 

Here's the recipe - don't have have a heart attack at the nutrition info afterwards - just eat them and enjoy their wholesome goodness!  

PS: I'm going to work on getting the fat lower, I don't think they need as much oil as I put in.

Cranberry Walnut Dark Chocolate Cookies (Vegan, GF)

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup finely ground almonds (almond meal, almond flour)

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup grapeseed or canola oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips/chunks/pieces (make sure they are vegan, if that's important to you)

1/4 cup dried cranberries

-Combine the almonds, salt & soda, in a medium bowl.

-In a second bowl combine the oil, syrup and vanilla.

-Add the wet ingredients to the dry. Combine well.

-Add the nuts, fruit, and chocolate. Combine.

(This dough will be fairly wet/gooey. That's ok.)

-Shape into 1/2 inch ball and press on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

-Bake 7-10 mins 350'F

(Makes about 14 cookies)

Nutrition info: (per cookie...don't look if you don't want to know):

170 Calories | 14g fat | 10g carbs (6g sugar, 2g fiber) | 4g protein

** Remember, that there is no wheat flour in this recipe.  The fat content seems high due to the use of almond meal instead of wheat flour.  Almonds are nutritious and their fats are healthy!