Soft Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)

Just because you have multiple food allergies, doesn’t mean you have to go without this classic cookie. Soft in the middle with crisp edges, this all-American favorite can be yours even without: gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts and there’s also a soy free substitute! This gluten-free vegan will once again be an after-school hit.

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If you’ve ever wondered why this blog went years without a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe, it’s because I take the perfect chocolate chip cookie seriously.

I didn’t want to publish just any version—I wanted a soft chocolate chip cookie that delivers on both flavor and texture. After testing countless allergy-friendly chocolate chip cookie recipes, I kept running into the same issue: cookies that spread too much, turned flat, and ended up as a sticky mess on the pan.

This recipe was created to fix that—giving you a reliable, soft, chewy, and allergy-friendly chocolate chip cookie that actually holds its shape and tastes amazing.

I tried different temperatures, different substitutes, chilling the dough, greasing the pan vs. not greasing the pan–you name it–all of the tried-and-true ways to get a darn cookie to turn out.

Then I had an epiphany. The one cookies that always have a great texture and shape are my double choco chip cookies. So, why not use that as a base and go from there? 

And voilà–finally a chocolate chip cookie I can be proud of that is allergen-friendly.

Here’s some tips on how to make it or use different substitutions:

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES ALLERGY-FRIENDLY:

• To make these chocolate chip cookies gluten-free: I used my favorite gluten-free blend (the one I actually use on this ENTIRE site–so that way, you can keep re-using it, without having to use a million different flours and ratios.).
  • If you are OK eating gluten/wheat, then you can sub out regular flour 1:1 and simply omit the xanthan.
• To make these chocolate chip cookies dairy-free: I used shortening. You can use palm shortening (has less flavor), if you need a soy-free option (we can do soy), or even your favorite vegan butter. I chose shortening, because it has less water than butter, thus helping it spread less, and because you can find shortening with a butter flavor–thus not missing out on that classic buttery taste.
  • If you are OK eating dairy, I’d still recommend the buttery shortening sticks.
• To make these chocolate chip cookies egg-free: I used unsweetened applesauce. There are many egg replacers, and while I often enjoy the powdered kind, I felt it dried out the dough too much and I needed something thicker and wetter like applesauce. 
• To make these chocolate chip cookies nut-free: this was the easiest allergen to avoid. Just don’t use any nut butters (unless your diet/allergies) are OK with that. Some chocolate chips are also cross contaminated with nuts, so be sure to read labels and/or call the manufacturing companies as your allergies and sensitivities see fit. 
  • Enjoy Life & Pascha are allergen-friendly chocolate chip brands.

WHY DID I USE INSTANT PUDDING IN THE RECIPE?

I have noticed that gluten-free flour doesn’t have the same taste as regular wheat flour. Perhaps it’s because I grew up eating wheat flour, but I find gluten-free flour to be lacking in taste. The vanilla instant pudding adds needed starch (since it’s mostly cornstarch, sugar and flavoring) AND flavoring. Thus helping the texture and flavor. I’ve used both Jell-O and generic brands with no problems. This will STILL keep the recipe vegan. I’ve had many people think because Jell-O gelatin cups have gelatin (not vegan) that the pudding does as well. It does not. 

TOOLS I USED TO MAKE THE ALLERGY-FRIENDLY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES:

• I always use a stand mixer, with the exception of when I made the video, so you could see what I was doing more clearly. You can use your hands, an electric mixer or stand mixer. Whatever you have on hand. I do highly recommend getting a stand mixer if you bake a lot. It’s so worth the investment–I’ve had mine for 7 years and love it dearly.
• I cannot stress how wonderful this cookie scoop is. I’ve had another brand that didn’t have the comfort grips and it was uncomfortable. I’ve also had another kind that constantly broke. I’ve had these for almost five years and they’re just right whether for my meatballs, or my cookies. This helps them all be uniform, which I love. 
• I’ve tried greasing the pan, or using parchment paper. I have found that when the cookies have something to grip it, they spread less (versus starting with an oily sheet pan). While I do like parchment paper, I feel wasteful using it, and hate having to cut it to the pan shape every time. I finally broke down and got a silpat type liner (the cheaper, Amazon brand) and have really enjoyed it.
• In order to get soft chocolate chip cookies, you have to remove them from the oven when the middle is still not set. You’ll need them to be able to finish cooling on a wire cooling rack for them to finish setting up (see directions.) 

Do you have any other allergy friendly cookies?

Why yes I do! Since my son has: wheat, dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut and beef allergies, ALL of my 200+ recipes on this site are free of those things. While we do not eat strictly vegan, all of my baking ends up being vegan because we cannot do milk or eggs. Here are some of my favorite cookies:

• DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies Made Gluten Free & Vegan
• Gluten & Dairy Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (that use no flour blends–JUST oats)
• Soft, Roll Out Sugar Cookies
• Allergy Friendly S’mores Cookies
• Allergy Friendly Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Allergy Friendly Black & White Cookies
• Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Orange Cookies
• Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
• Maple Cookies with Maple Glaze
• Allergy Friendly Homemade Oreos
• Gluten Free Vegan Skillet Cookie

I grew up having chocolate chip cookies ALL THE TIME. They were in constant rotation at my house. I now hope that I’ve figured out this recipe, that my allergic children can also know the pleasures of sneaking chocolate chip cookie dough out of the bowl and enjoying a warm cookie out of the oven. 

If you make these, be sure to tag me so I can see you enjoying them as well. I hope that no matter your diet restriction or allergies, you can enjoy making these allergy-friendly chocolate chip cookies.

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies (Top-8-Free)

Yield: 18 cookies

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

If you have multiple food allergies you don't have to go without the classic, soft, chocolate chip cookie. Gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut &, tree nut FREE.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 and 1/4 cup gluten-free flour
• 1/2 cup vanilla dry instant pudding mix
• 1/2 tsp xanthan
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup butter flavored shortening*
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or large mixing bowl, cream the shortening.
3. Add both sugars and cream them all together.
4. Add the vanilla and applesauce and stir to combine.
5. Add the xanthan, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Stir to combine.
6. Add the gluten-free flour and measured pudding mix (just the powder, do not follow the box instructions).
7. Stir until everything is well combined. Add in the chocolate chips and stir by hand, so they do not get crushed.
8. Scoop evenly and place on your silicon lined baking sheet.
9. Bake for 9-10 minutes, until edges are setting, but middle still looks slightly soft.
10. Remove the baking sheet from pan, but leave the cookies on there for 5-7 minutes, to finish cooking the middle.
11. Gently remove them from the pan to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling. They will be tender until they finish cooling.
12. Enjoy with your safe milk of choice.
13. If you would rather a cookie without the pudding, check out these DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies

Notes

Please read all of the substitution notes in the post above.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 203Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 227mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 1gSugar: 21gProtein: 1g

DON’T FORGET TO PIN IT, SO YOU DON’T LOSE IT! BE SURE TO ALSO CHECK OUT ALL OF MY OTHER ALLERGY-FRIENDLY PINTEREST BOARDS.

Looking for more allergy-friendly cookies? Try these other favorites:

Gluten, dairy, egg & nut free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Allergy-friendly, Soft, Roll Out Sugar Cookies

Allergy-friendly Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

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