It’s time for us to sit down and enjoy an absolutely epic dessert together, don’t you think? I made a version of this incredible grain free chocolate chunk skillet cookie way back in 2017 and knew it was time to remind you about it.
Not only is this epic skillet cookie grain free and gluten free, but it just so happens to be dairy free, paleo and vegan, too. Heaven, is that you?
I mean, take a scroll and just look at that fudge factor. Ge this amazing dessert baking ASAP, top with your fav ice cream and share it with friends & family all summer long!
Ingredients in this grain free chocolate chunk skillet cookie
This easy grain free skillet cookie is naturally sweetened, deliciously moist and truly the perfect dessert for sharing. You won’t believe it’s vegan and paleo! Here’s everything you’ll need to make it:
- Flax egg: you’ll need flaxseed meal and almond milk (we like to use unsweetened vanilla) to make a flax egg for this skillet cookie.
- Wet ingredients: we’re using coconut oil, creamy, natural almond butter, coconut sugar, and vanilla extract. Learn how to make your own vanilla here!
- Dry ingredients: keep this chocolate chunk skillet cookie grain free by using almond flour and coconut flour!
- Baking staples: you’ll also need baking soda and salt.
- Mix-ins: don’t forget those delicious chocolate chunks! Use dairy free chocolate chunks to keep the cookie skillet vegan.
Questions on ingredient swaps
I always suggest following a recipe as-is so that it comes out perfectly every time. This paleo chocolate chunk skillet cookie is fudgy and delicious just as it’s tested, but here are some substitutions I do and do not recommend:
- Can I use another flour? Unfortunately, no, I would not recommend swapping the flour in this skillet cookie as the texture will be much different. Feel free to try my chickpea flour chocolate chip cookies or my healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies using oat flour & oats.
- Can I choose a different sugar? This grain free skillet cookie should work well with brown sugar instead of coconut sugar.
- Can I swap the coconut oil? Feel free to use butter or vegan butter in place of the coconut oil.
- What about the almond butter? I think a natural, creamy cashew butter will work out well in this recipe, too. I would avoid using peanut butter as it might make the skillet cookie dry.
How to make the best grain free skillet cookie
- Prep your skillet. Preheat your oven and spray a 9 or 10 inch skillet with cooking spray.
- Make the flax egg. Combine flaxseed meal and almond milk in a small bowl and let it sit until it forms a gel-like consistency.
- Heat the almond butter. You’ll want to heat the almond butter with the coconut oil in a saucepan on low so that they mix together well and the coconut oil melts.
- Mix the wet ingredients. Add the almond butter & coconut oil to a large bowl and mix it with the coconut sugar, vanilla and your flax egg.
- Add the dry. Stir in the almond flour and coconut flour, baking soda and salt. Then fold in your chocolate chips.
- Form the skillet cookie. Add the cookie dough to your skillet and press it out to the edges so that it’s nice and even. Gently press in some more chocolate chips on top and bake it!
- Cool & enjoy. Let the grain free chocolate chunk skillet cookie cool, then top with your fav ice cream if you’d like and enjoy!
Two new ways to bake it
I think skillet cookies are so fun to make and share, but you can turn this gluten free skillet cookie into bars or cookies, too!
- Make blondies. Bake in a 9×9 or 8×8 inch pan lined with parchment paper for 25-35 minutes or until nice and golden brown along the edges. Once done baking, immediately sprinkle with Maldon salt and wait 20 minutes before cutting into blondies so that they hold together well.
- Make cookies. Fold all chocolate into dough (instead of reserving some for sprinkling on top) and bake on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown along the edges. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling. This will help them hold together. Don’t forget to sprinkle them with sea salt!
Storing tips
Store the grain free chocolate chunk cookie skillet covered at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you want a fudge like consistency, store it in the fridge.
How to freeze this paleo chocolate chunk skillet cookie
- Freeze the dough. I’d recommend dividing up the skillet cookie dough into 3-4 smaller dough balls for easy storing. Transfer the dough balls to one or more reusable freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, simply thaw out the dough, press it into your prepared skillet and bake as directed. You’ll likely just need to add a few extra minutes of baking time!
- Freeze the baked skillet cookie. Wait for the grain free skillet cookie to cool completely, then I’d recommend cutting it into 12-16 individual bars. Transfer the bars to a reusable freezer-safe bag or container lined with wax or parchment paper. Once ready to eat, simply thaw out at room temperature and enjoy. If you have space in your freezer you can also wrap the entire skillet in tinfoil and place it in the freezer. Thaw the skillet at room temp and serve!
Recommended tools for baking skillet cookies
Check out all of our favorite kitchen essentials here.
More gluten free cookies to try
- Blow Ya Mind Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (gluten free, too!)
- Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
- Salted Tahini Butterscotch Cookie Skillet
- The Best Paleo Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Flourless Monster Cookies
Get all of our amazing gluten free cookie recipes here! Plenty of grain free and paleo options included.
I hope you love this amazing grain free chocolate chunk skillet cookie! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Fudgy Grain Free Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
- ¼ cup (60g) unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ½ cup (112g) unrefined virgin coconut oil
- ¼ cup (64g) creamy natural almond butter
- 1 cup (154g) coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (168g) fine blanched almond flour
- ⅓ cup (37g) coconut flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (180g) chocolate chunks or chocolate chips, divided (and dairy free if desired)
- Maldon Salt, for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 inch or 10 inch skillet with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, whisk flaxseed meal and almond milk together until well combined. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it thickens and forms a gel-like consistency; this is called a flax egg.
- Meanwhile add coconut oil and almond butter to a saucepan and place over low heat; stir coconut oil and almond butter together until completely melted.
- Transfer melted coconut oil and almond butter mixture to a large bowl and add in coconut sugar, vanilla and the flax egg. Mix until smooth. Next add in the dry ingredients: almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until well combined. Fold in ¾ cup of chocolate chunks/chocolate chips, reserving about ¼ cup for sprinkling on top.
- Add cookie dough to the prepared skillet and work towards the edges so that the dough is even. It helps if you use a rubber spatula to spread it out so it’s soft and even on top. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chunks on top and press them into the dough. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the skillet is slightly golden brown along the edges. Sprinkle it with Maldon salt. Allow to cool a bit in the skillet before digging in. Serves 12-16. Top with your favorite ice cream.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on May 21st, 2021, and republished on March 24th, 2025.
will be making this soon i love chocolate and cookies soooooooooooooo much perfect for my office snacks and home snacks while i work on the computer and phone will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
So excited for you to try it, Ramya! Let me know how it goes!
Another winner! I have a few of your recipes in regular rotation at my house and this is definitely going to be one of them. And it was quicker than making individual cookies. I made one batch and then once i tasted the dough I immediately made another before the other was even baked and i dont regret it because the first was eaten up immediately. So excited about this grain free recipe!
Omg that is AMAZING, so happy you loved it so much! Excited for you to make it again 🙂
Hey Monique, thanks for sharing this delightful recipe. I have recently turned vegan and having a hard time keeping my sweet tooth satiated. I am bookmarking this recipe!
Hi, Sophy! Can’t wait for you to try it. I think it’s just as decadent and delicious as classic chocolate chips cookies, hope you agree!!
Monique – this looks amazing. I must get my skillet out for this recipe.
YES, you must!! Can’t wait to hear what you think of it 🙂
Amazing and so easy!!
So glad you loved it, Karen!!
Made this for a dinner party and it was so good!
So happy to hear that, Christina! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Can I substitute a pasture raised egg instead of the flax egg?
Absolutely! Hope you enjoy this recipe!
This is SOOOO good! I’m currently on phase 4 of an elimination diet, and sadly discovered that gluten in fact does seem to not really agree with me. There are also other ingredients I can’t have now, like maple syrup and almond. I used my own paleo chocolate chunks that I made, and actually subbed homemade hazelnut flour, as I can’t have almonds yet. It actually gave it kind of a Nutella taste and they still turned out great! I also subbed sunflower butter for the almond butter.
My husband has been a trooper in all this, but is not a “healthy” eater and really never likes anything that isn’t made the old-fashioned way. He actually called this “addictive,” and I wholeheartedly agree!
Oh, I’m SO happy to hear that you and your husband enjoyed it, Marni! Wishing you well as you finish out the elimination diet 🙂
This looks amazing! Making it for Father’s Day. I only have a 13 inch cast iron skillet, can I use that or can I use a smaller nonstick skillet?
Sorry I couldn’t get to this before Father’s Day! It might be a bit too big, so the cookie will be thin. If you have a smaller skillet that is oven-safe, you can use that, or just a regular 9×9 or 8×8 baking pan!
No worries, I ended up going with the smaller skillet and it was amazing. Thank you!
Glad to hear! 🙂
Delicious! My family could not believe they are grain free and paleo. Will be a regular desert in my house! Thank you for the wonderful recipes. ❤️
Oh yay!! So happy you guys loved it ❤️
I plan to make this but do not have coconut flour (every time I buy it, it gets wasted so would rather not buy). What can I sub with? We are not grain free so I can do whole wheat or all purpose flour. If one of those, how much should I sub with? Thank you and look forward to making the recipe this weekend!
Easy to make and super delicious! I make them in a 9×9 and cut into squares. My picky husband also loves these treats!
Delicious and so easy!! My husband felt there was too much coconut taste, but he practically ate the whole skillet! Def a keeper.
Haha so glad to hear that!! If you’d prefer to use a refined coconut oil in here (no strong coconut flavor) I think that would be fine 🙂
Hi excited to bake make this this! Just wanted ti see if I could use honey or date paste instead of coconut sugar. Thanks for your wonderful recipes 😉
Hi, there! I haven’t tried either of those and I think they may add too much moisture to the recipe. I’d recommend sticking with coconut sugar or using brown sugar.
What can I replace the coconut flour with? More almond flour or something else? Thanks
Sorry to say I haven’t tested this recipe without the coconut flour so I can’t be sure if anything else would work. You could try adding an extra 1/2 – 2/3 cup of almond flour (because almond flour is less absorbent of moisture than coconut flour, you’ll need more) but I’m not completely sure the texture will come out the same.
This is amazing! I made it twice in one week. The first time exactly as written, the second time I swapped half a cup of almond flour for oat flour. Both were equally as good! Your healthy treats get me through
This is one of our FAVORITES! I’ve been thinking though, with the Christmas season, could you turn this into a gingerbread skillet cookie with maybe, Lilly’s white chocolate chips?
Yum that would be delicious. If you give that a try, let me know how it works out for you 🙂
I loved this giant cookie. Made the recipe as written except I used tahini for the almond butter. Sliced it up and stored in the fridge– the texture was better that way than room temp, in my opinion. Will make again for sure.
YUM! Followed recipe exactly and everyone LOVED it. But unless you’re feeding 16 toddlers, I don’t know how I’d get 16 servings out of this! Four adults and four kids finished it all no problem… and probably could have finished a second! haha Thanks for yet ANOTHER perfect recipe.
I have made this several times and it’s a huge hit. Such a fun presentation pizookie style! I made a couple modifications to address allergies: cashew and/or sunflower butter instead of almond butter and tiger nut flour in place of almond flour.
Delish! So glad this recipe is a hit and came out great with your subs, thanks for sharing 🙂
So excited to try this and I know it’ll be a winner since I make your “blow ya mind” cookies on the regular!!! But I don’t have a cast iron skillet….can I use a pie dish of the same proportions?
So good! I think a pie dish should work, too!
I suspect this can be baked in a regular pan, but wondering if the temp or time would change… I’ll experiment and see what happens! 🙂
Yes! Check out the full post where I have instructions to make cookies or blondies 🙂
Soo yummy and fudgey! Def recommend using chocolate chunks for that fudge factor, i used melted better instead of coconut oil and it worked out perfectly 🙂 Will def make again when i dont wanna spend $10 on eggs lol 😂
So good!! Chocolate chunks are a MUST 🙂