Malty teff and hearty oats add toothsome texture and flavor to these chunky chocolate chip cookies. Layer the ingredients in a jar for a pretty gift.
Here’s a recipe that just barely made it into Alternative Baker – the variation listed under the Teff Oatmeal Cookies with Whiskey Currants. Jay’s favorite ever cookies are oatmeal chocolate chip with walnuts, and I couldn’t not include a recipe for them (especially given the 1 million dishes he did during the making of the book). But time was running out. (Er, technically, it had run out long ago, to the chagrin of my editor who kept getting emails from me begging to add more recipes into an already-too-long-manuscript.)
Luckily, the cookies won.
Drop cookies can be persnickety beasts, objecting to slight changes in temperature/moisture/Mercury in retrograde/bad vibes, either spreading into flat pancakes or staying in tight little lumps upon hitting the heat of the oven. This humble recipe was the one that took the most tries to get right. I tested batch after batch, making tiny adjustments, until I was finally satisfied. The originals are laced with a whiff of fresh nutmeg and studded with plump, boozy currants, all bound up in an earthy base of teff flour, oats, brown sugar, and lots and lots of butter. With each failed batch, I’d console myself with a warmly spiced (albeit overly flat/thick/sweet/salty) cookie and start over again.
When the manuscript was handed in (and I caught up on sleep enough for my synapses to start firing again), I suddenly realized my glaring omission. It was too late to develop and shoot an entirely new recipe, so, on a whim, I swapped out the nutmeg and currants for a mess of chopped bittersweet chocolate, in the hopes that I could sneak in just one more variation, but sure that the slight change of ingredients would wreck havoc on this most finicky of recipes.
To my surprise and delight, the recipe was far sturdier than expected. The cookies baked up beautifully, spreading into thick, chewy, chunky cookies laced with the earthy tastes of teff, oat, molasses, dark chocolate, and toasted nuts. Tessa made them with coconut sugar, and Traci shared the originals with step-by-step photos. This is probably the recipe from the book I make most often when I’m craving something quick and sweet late at night or on a rainy day. Clearly Jay isn’t the only cookie monster in the house.
When Sarah and I were brainstorming ideas for our DIY demo at our new (ginormous) Anthropologie later this week, I thought these cookies could make a good cookie mix gift in a jar. The recipe would need slight alterations – instead of adding the hot melted butter to the sugar, then stirring in the egg, then the flours, the egg and butter would have to be added directly to the dry ingredients. I expected disastrous results, but again met with cookie success. Sarah’s sharing her recipe today, too. It’s equally loaded with chocolate, alternative flours, and nuts and is TO DIE FOR. Get her recipe over here.
***If you’re in the area, come join us at Anthropologie’s new flagship store in Walnut Creek this Thursday 11/10 from 6-8 pm for cookie and brownie samples, jar how-to demos, book signing, prizes, and other festive offerings from Spotted SF, Elsie Green House & Home, and A Fabulous Challenge.***
If you’re new to teff, this recipe is a perfect introduction. The tiny grain is most commonly used in Ethiopian injera, but the flour has a nutty flavor that reminds me of malted chocolate milk, and it pairs beautifully with other similar flavors. Here, brown sugar, chocolate and oats all work together to show off its exceptional flavor.
I’ll be baking up a storm around the Bay Area this fall, including at the San Francisco Ferry Building this Sunday 11/13 with Les Dames d’Escoffier and an all-star lineup (including Dorie Greenspan!!!) Stop by to get your book signed and sample some goodies. Get the full details here.
Until then, happy baking!
Gluten-Free Oatmeal Teff Chocolate Chip Cookies & Cookie Mix Gift in a Jar
Print Recipe / Pin RecipeIngredients
For the cookie mix
- 3 ⁄4 cup (100 g) teff flour (preferably Bob’s Red Mill brand)
- 3 ⁄4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 ⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ⁄4 cup (27 g) tapioca flour/starch
- 1 ⁄4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (80 g) packed light brown sugar
- 1 ⁄4 cup (50 g) organic granulated cane sugar
- 1 cup (90 g) GF old-fashioned rolled oats
- 6 ounces (170 g) coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate (60-70%)
- 3 ⁄4 cup (90 g) walnuts, toasted, cooled, coarsely chopped or broken
- Need: 1 wide-mouth 1-quart or 1-liter canning jar
Add-ins
- 8 tbsp (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- flaky salt for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
For the cookie mix
- In a small bowl, sift together the teff flour, salt, and baking soda. Pour into the jar to form the bottom layer, rapping the jar on the counter a few times to flatten the flour into an even layer. Spoon the tapioca flour gently over the teff flour to create the second layer, rapping the jar on the counter again. Spoon in the brown sugar, packing it down gently to form a flat layer. Repeat with the granulated sugar, oats, chocolate, and nuts.
- Seal and attach the following directions to the jar.
Printed directions for tag:
- Pour contents of jar into large bowl, breaking up any clumps. Stir in 8 tablespoons melted, cooled unsalted butter, 1 large egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Scoop 2-3 tablespoon balls onto 2 lined baking sheets, sprinkle with flaky salt, and bake at 350ºF until edges are set and tops are soft and puffed, 10-15 minutes.
These little sweeties are so delicious looking!!! I could probably eat them all!
Eeee I just got some teff flour in a recent “hippie foods” care package from my mom and have been wondering what to do with it besides breakfast porridge! Can’t wait to give these a try. And such a lovely gift idea xx
Did you ever consider visiting Canada? How about Anthropology in Toronto?
I love your book. I am making one recipe after another and everything is delicious. Thank you
We are major oatmeal chocolate chip cookie fans in my house, so I’m dying to make this asap! I may even need to stay up a little late tonight and bake cookies… Best of luck to you and Sarah at the Anthro event, that sounds like it will be so adorable and so fun!!
Okay… buying teff flour asap. The link to Sarah’s cookies isn’t workin’. And I need to buy your book.
Okay…I need to by teff flour asap. The link to Sarah’s cookies isn’t workin’? And I need to buy your book.
Can cornstarch be substituted for the tapioca starch? I’m sure tapioca is better, but in a pinch will cornstarch compromise the end result? Thanks.
What a sweet idea – love it! Going to do this at xmas – thanks for the post Alanna xx
There is no such thing as too many chocolate chip cookie recipes :) I love this hearty, tasty-flour version! And all those chocolate chunks ~swoon~.
I can’t wait to try these, and to give jars of mix to my gf friends for Christmas! Good luck with the Anthro demo!
I love the book, got my copy and have been sharing it with everyone. I made the Banana Pecan Scones and the Pumpkin Cranberry Bread for an event this past weekend. Both were a hit and GONE in short order. Many people asked about the book. Congratulations on a job well (and beautifully) done. Thank you again and again.. Lawre
Aw, thank you for the sweet words Lawre! I so appreciate your recipe testing help with the book. Thank *you* again and again! <3
Alanna, it was such a pleasure to meet you tonight. You are such a kind and gentle person. I love your cookbook! Every recipe I have made has been great (not just great for gluten-free, but great). This is a cookbook for all not just those who are gluten free. Great work. Thank you!
Hi Conni! Meeting you completely made my week. Thanks so much for coming out and for the sweet words. Hope to see you again soon! <3
These look great Alanna – I have been looking for a recipe with teff. I heard all about it on a food programme on radio 4 and it sounded really interesting.
Now I just have to find some online to buy!
Hi Alanna, I love these kinds of cookies (not too sweet and rich). I made your buckwheat gingersnap cats from your book (I have a cat cutter from a Halloween set) to give to my professor (who is not coeliac). They were good and chewy thanks to the mochi flour, actually I wish I had kept some for myself :D . I also made them vegan because I didn’t have butter or eggs: I used 150 gr delicate olive oil and a ‘flax egg’. They came out fine, I think the olive oil added something (of course butter is fine too…).
I wish mochi flour was certified gluten free in Italy, it’s sad that of all people my coeliac friend can’t enjoy them safely. Do you know if you can grind sweet rice in a coffee blender? It would help a lot.
These look so tasty… your photos are just mouthwatering!
Aw, thank you!
Hello there! Just bought your book (yesterday, in fact) and subscribed to your blog (a few minutes ago)…
I was browsing through your beautiful cookbook and saw these absolutely gorgeous cheesecakes made in Weck jars, however, I searched everywhere for them, and cannot find the ones with the dimensions you recommended. Yours are 6 ounces with a diameter larger than 3 inches, I can only find slightly smaller ones, 5.6 inches in capacity. Do you have a source for those jars, by any chance?
thank you so much!
(by the way, I decided to order your book not only for the recipes, but for the very classy reply you offered a person who complained about your use of dairy… oh, my)
Aw, that means so much to me – thank you! I had to take a few days and deep breaths before writing that response, haha. I believe those are the same jars! I must have just rounded up in my measurements to standardize for those who don’t have access to Weck. Sorry for the confusion! Please let me know how it goes. :)
I can imagine how you felt. Don’t let that review bother you, in fact I found your book spectacular – I have no issues with any type of food, but love to expand my horizons. I am now set on the mesquite flour – wow!
thanks for clarifying the size of those jars – I guess I can help the economy and place an order… ;-)
This are excellent cookies. Thank you for the wonderful recipe.
what can be substituted for tapioca flour? really want to make them, but don’t have access to tapioca.
I made these after seeing this article. They are absolutely fabulous. They taste better than store bought and are way healthier than conventional homemade. I’ve made them a few times now, also with slight modifications to the recipe. You really can modify this pretty easily and still have them taste great. For example, instead of tapioca starch I used ground flax seed. So glad this recipe is out there!
I’m so glad you like these cookies and that you’ve had good success modifying the recipe! Thanks so much for the note!
I’m late to the party here. I just made these, and they’re fantastic!
I did have to use a substitution for the tapioca flour though, as I couldn’t find any anywhere around here. I used the Pillsbury Best Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend. In doing this though, I had to add an extra egg to the mixture. I’ll have to either order the tapioca flour or keep an eye out when I’m out and about to see if I can find any so I can make the recipe more true.
I made these last week and wasn’t sure I liked them initially. It might have been the flavor of the teff flour that bothered me. However, they got better and better as the days progressed! It’s a full week later, and they are delicious! I have trouble eating in the morning, and these are now my go-to breakfast with a little yougurt on the side, so I don’t feel so guilty about having cookies for breakfast! I followed the instructions from your gorgeous and tempting cookbook, from which I want to bake everything! Thank you!!
Thanks for the note Alene! That’s so interesting. Is there any chance your teff flour was old and tasted off? It’s usually a pretty mild flour so I’m surprised to hear your feedback! On the other hand, it’s definitely a more flavorful flour than what we’re used to (compared with all-purpose) so I could see how it might take some getting used to. I’ll be interested to hear if you try it in other recipes! Please let me know what else you try from the book. In any case, I’m so glad you’re enjoying them! I’m a fan of cookies for breakfast too. And I also like how chocolate chip cookies mature after a few days when their flavors meld. You might like my Chewy GF Chocolate Chip Cookies if you’re looking for something a bit more classic. :)