Chickpea cookie dough is a healthier spin on the classic treat! Try this tasty recipe whenever a craving hits.

So…you’re craving cookie dough, but you want to be healthy? We get it. Here’s the thing: there’s no going both ways. Most chickpea cookie dough recipes claim it tastes exactly like real dough and that it’s super healthy. Wrong and wrong! Cookie dough is not a health food, and chickpeas don’t taste like cookie dough. In this post, we’ll help you decide what you want: regular dough or the chickpea variety. Then, we’ve got a chickpea cookie dough recipe that actually tastes good.

Fact: The only thing that tastes like real cookie dough is, in fact, edible cookie dough. Chickpea cookie dough is a viral hack that went around internet circles circa about 2012. It combines chickpeas with maple syrup and sugar to make something that looks a lot like cookie dough. But does it taste like it? Here’s what to know about this intriguing concept:

Does chickpea cookie dough taste like cookie dough? Most recipes do not taste like real cookie dough, though they have a similar flavor. The texture is generally much looser and softer than dough, more like a dip. This recipe is an exception (see below).
Is chickpea cookie dough healthy? It should not be considered a health food. But using chickpeas lets this recipe have half the amount of butter, sugar and flour as the same amount of standard dough. It has approximately 2/3 less calories than the standard dough, and you’re eating a small amount of chickpeas to boot.
Does your recipe taste like cookie dough? Yes! Our recipe below is a closer than anything we’ve tasted, using the butter and sugar options. But if you want something that really tastes like cookie dough…make the real thing.

Moral of the story: If you treat cookie dough like a treat, it can be part of a healthy diet! That goes for either variety. Now, let’s decide if you want chickpea or regular.

Quiz: do you want chickpea cookie dough or real dough?

OK, ready to take the quiz? Let’s see if you want regular cookie dough or chickpea cookie dough:

Are you craving something that tastes like actual cookie dough? If yes, go to Edible Cookie Dough and just eat one serving!
Do you want gluten free or vegan cookie dough? Go to Edible Cookie Dough and choose the gluten free or vegan options.
Do you want cookie dough that freezes well? Go to Edible Cookie Dough.
Looking for a sweet, healthy dip made with chickpeas? Try our fan favorite Chocolate Hummus instead.
Do you want a healthier version of cookie dough that tastes pretty close to the real thing? Head to the recipe below.

Most versions of chickpea cookie dough that we’ve tried don’t taste very good. Why make something that tastes almost like the real thing, but leaves you feeling sad? Our version of chickpea cookie dough is the in between: it uses butter and sugar, but less than a standard dough. This way you can feel like you’re actually enjoying a treat. Here’s what to know about this version:

Rub off some of the chickpea skins first. This helps to remove the gritty texture in many of the recipes.
Use salted butter for best flavor, or vegan butter or refined coconut oil for vegan. People complain that the original chickpea cookie dough recipe uses peanut butter, which makes the dough taste like…peanut butter. Salted butter has the best flavor. You can sub vegan butter or refined coconut oil for vegan chickpea cookie dough.
Use maple syrup and brown sugar. Maple syrup has the same amount of sugar as sugar. Here we’ve used a combination of both to bring in more of an actual dough vibe.
Use all purpose flour or almond flour. You can use either heat treated all purpose flour (see below), or almond flour for gluten free. The all purpose flour has the best texture overall.

All purpose flour vs almond flour

You can use either all-purpose flour or almond flour in this chickpea cookie dough recipe. Each have pros and cons. Here’s what to know:

All purpose flour has the best texture and flavor, and this recipe has less of it than the standard edible cookie dough. It does need to be heat treated before using to kill any bacteria. Spread it on a baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit about 5 minutes or until the temperature reaches 165 degrees. Wait until the flour is cooled completely before using it.
Almond flour is a great gluten free option! It doesn’t require heat treating. It has a little less of the real cookie dough vibe, but still tastes good and has a nice texture.

Questions? Comments?

We’d love to know your thoughts on this subject. Which recipe did you end up trying? Did you try this healthy (ish) cookie dough recipe, and what did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Were you looking for a sweet and healthy dip instead? Try our Chocolate Hummus! It’s got the same idea, but blends chickpeas, peanut butter and cocoa powder into something that actually tastes…really good. Use it as a fruit dip for pretzels and strawberries.

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.