Chickpea Flour Shortbread Cookies {Grain-Free, Vegan}

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

These fantastic cookies are:

• Grain-Free
• Vegan (dairy-free & egg-free)
• Gluten-free
• Made with 4 humble ingredients (chickpea flour, sugar, virgin coconut oil, and vanilla)
• Super simple to make

How to Make Chickpea Flour Shortbread

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 until completely firm. This is very important. It should take 15 minutes, but possibly longer (depending on your freezer).

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!

Tip: Do not leave the dough pieces out while the oven is preheating! They need to stay completely cold until they hit the oven.

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!

Happy Baking!

More Chickpea Flour Cookies to Love:

• Double Chocolate Chickpea Flour Cookies {vegan, grain-free}
• Chickpea Flour Biscotti {vegan, grain-free}
• Chickpea Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies {vegan, grain-free}