Pumpkin, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Cookies
A perfect fall sweet treat to enjoy no matter what time of day it is. These cookies are vegan & gluten free so they are friendly to most. Make sure to whip up a batch for your next gathering!
In a large mixing bowl, stir together almond flour, oats, coconut, vegan chocolate chips, baking powder, salt (optional), pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar.
In a separate bowl, beat aquafaba (using a handheld mixer or by whisking vigorously, though it takes longer) until light and fluffy and loose peaks have formed. (Add a little cream of tartar to help it along if it’s not whipping.)
To the aquafaba, add the pumpkin puree/butter, oil, and vanilla (optional) and beat or whisk to combine. (The mixture will deflate a little — that's okay). Then add to dry ingredients and mix until combined. You should have a firm, semi-tacky dough (see photo). If too wet, add a bit more almond flour or meal. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Scoop chilled dough into roughly 2-Tablespoon amounts (I like this scoop) and place onto prepared baking sheet. Press down slightly to form a disc (see photo). Leave about a 1-inch gap in between each cookie to allow for spreading. There should be about 14 cookies (as the original recipe is written). Option to add a few more chocolate chips on top.
Bake for 14-16 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden brown and they’ve expanded. Be careful not to burn (especially on the bottoms) — they bake quickly toward the end.
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes on the baking pan before serving. They will firm up the longer they cool (they can be a bit tender right out of the oven).
Store completely cooled leftovers in a loosely sealed container at room temperature up to 3 days, in the refrigerator for 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 month. On day one they are a bit crisp, but on days 2 and on they are more tender and pillowy (it’s kind of the nature of pumpkin cookies). I recommend storing them in the freezer once cooled to help retain their crispy exterior!