Utterly delectable, super-easy, 4-ingredient chickpea flour shortbread cookies that are grain-free, vegan, and can be varied in countless ways! The primary ingredients are chickpea flour and coconut oil.
Easy Grain-Free Vegan Shortbread
I love shortbread. LOVE. The simplicity, the delicate yet substantial texture, and the subtle sweetness.
I also have a mindset that the world cannot have too many shortbread recipes.
So welcome this new cookie to the shortbread universe: My Chickpea Flour Shortbread Cookies, made with ease and only 4 ingredients.
They are stellar.
Tea + one of these cookies = cozy happiness
The Multiple Benefits of Chickpea Flour Shortbread Cookies
Here’s the extent of the dough-making: (1) combine the chickpea flour & sugar in a large bowl (along with salt, if using); (2) stir in the melted coconut oil and vanilla until blended. Done. No mixers, no creaming, no worries about over-beating. The dough will be thick, smooth, and pliable.
Press and Quick-Chill the Dough
The next steps ensure even, precise pieces. Line a 9-inch (22.5 cm) square baking pan with wax paper, parchment paper, or plastic wrap. I use two pieces to line the pan in both directions, leaving long stretches of overhang on all sides. Press the dough into the pan, folding in the overhang to help distribute the dough and smooth the top.
Further, I place a smaller pan on top to smooth and tamp down the dough.
Once the dough is smooth, place the pan in the freezer for about 10 minutes. that’s all it takes for the coconut oil in the dough to harden. If you plan on making the dough several hours, or a day ahead, of baking, place the pan in the refrigerator rather than the freezer.
Cut the Dough Into Pieces
Use the pan liner to lift the dough from the pan onto a cutting board. You can cut the dough in just about any shape you like. I chose to cut the dough into 32 rectangles. Place half of the pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet (place the remaining pieces in the refrigerator) and bake!
Chilling the dough keeps the pieces from spreading, and the low temperature (300F) allows for slow, even browning.
Begin checking the shortbread at the earliest time I suggest. The pieces will be light golden brown, but not too dark at the edges.
You are going to love this shortbread, friends!
Get ready to fall in love with the flavor of chickpea flour in these cookies. It is akin to toasted nuts; vanilla (and perhaps a pinch of salt) is all that is needed to further enhance the flavor.
Keep in mind, too, that you can use refined (no coconut flavor) or unrefined virgin coconut oil (natural coconut flavor) to affect the flavor–it is great either way.
Vary the Shortbread with Different Flavors
The options for variation are vast, so go to town adding spices, citrus zests, extracts, dried fruit, chocolate chips or chunks, nuts, and more to create your own unique twists. I’ll be posting my own favorite variation in a subsequent post!
In a large bowl, stir the melted coconut oil, sugar and vanilla until completely blended. Add the chickpea flour and (optional) salt, stirring until completely blended.
Press dough evenly into prepared pan; use a second pan to firmly tamp down and smooth the dough. Place in freezer for 15 minutes until very firm.
Remove dough from pan using the liner. Place on a cutting board and cut into 32 rectangles (8×4) or desired shapes. Place half of the pieces on prepared baking sheet, spacing 2-inches apart (Place remaining dough into refrigerator).
Bake in the preheated oven for 21 to 25 minutes until light golden brown and firm to the touch
Remove from the oven and cool completely on the baking sheet.
Notes
Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days (in a cool room; if it is hot, store in the refrigerator), the refrigerator for 1 week or the freezer for up to 6 months.
Sugar Options: An equal amount of coconut sugar or packed brown sugar can be used in place of the cane sugar.
Thank you for this recipe! I made it as written, using coconut sugar for the sugar. After 25 minutes, the cookies were lightly browned. Unfortunately, they still tasted of raw chickpea flour at that point and everyone in my family got a stomachache after eating them. I put them back into the oven the next day and baked them until they were close to darkly browned. No more stomachaches! So if you’re sensitive to beans, you might bake these longer to make sure the flour is cooked.
they are delicious!
Nena
Tuesday 9th of February 2021
Terrible soupy mess. This did not turn to dough it was only liquid. I put in freezer and it froze but melted immediately in the oven. What a waste of time and money.
Chocolate Chickpea Flour Muffins {vegan, grain-free} | power hungry
Tuesday 6th of October 2020
[…] Chickpea Flour Shortbread Cookies {4 ingredients, grain-free, vegan} […]
Cara
Sunday 23rd of December 2018
Camilla! You are my Xmas recipe angel. Made this today for the holiday morning and wow....really wonderful. Thank You sooooo much! My mom would make shortbread every year and I never knew how much i was missing it, but now won't have too. My pan was a bit bigger and i used coconut sugar so they are a little thinner and darker colored than the picture...And i added a tsp of lemon extract which was nice. also, I tried a slice of batter out of the freezer , and left some frozen to eat later because....hello tasty nutty flavored freezer fudge ! Well done on this recipe, a lifetime keeper for me, I'm so appreciative . Merry Christmas !
Camilla
Monday 24th of December 2018
Thank you for one of the best Christmas presents, Cara!!! So happy that these were a success and thanks so much for taking the time to write :)
I’m Camilla, food writer, author, runner, and spin instructor. PowerHungry® is where I share my easy, minimalist, plant-based recipes, designed for living a healthy, delicious, empowered life.
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Chance
Saturday 6th of March 2021
Thank you for this recipe! I made it as written, using coconut sugar for the sugar. After 25 minutes, the cookies were lightly browned. Unfortunately, they still tasted of raw chickpea flour at that point and everyone in my family got a stomachache after eating them. I put them back into the oven the next day and baked them until they were close to darkly browned. No more stomachaches! So if you’re sensitive to beans, you might bake these longer to make sure the flour is cooked. they are delicious!
Nena
Tuesday 9th of February 2021
Terrible soupy mess. This did not turn to dough it was only liquid. I put in freezer and it froze but melted immediately in the oven. What a waste of time and money.
Chocolate Chickpea Flour Muffins {vegan, grain-free} | power hungry
Tuesday 6th of October 2020
[…] Chickpea Flour Shortbread Cookies {4 ingredients, grain-free, vegan} […]
Cara
Sunday 23rd of December 2018
Camilla! You are my Xmas recipe angel. Made this today for the holiday morning and wow....really wonderful. Thank You sooooo much! My mom would make shortbread every year and I never knew how much i was missing it, but now won't have too. My pan was a bit bigger and i used coconut sugar so they are a little thinner and darker colored than the picture...And i added a tsp of lemon extract which was nice. also, I tried a slice of batter out of the freezer , and left some frozen to eat later because....hello tasty nutty flavored freezer fudge ! Well done on this recipe, a lifetime keeper for me, I'm so appreciative . Merry Christmas !
Camilla
Monday 24th of December 2018
Thank you for one of the best Christmas presents, Cara!!! So happy that these were a success and thanks so much for taking the time to write :)