These gluten free samoas are a simplified remake of a Girl Scout Cookie favorite! Using clean ingredients, you can make a totally vegan, and paleo version as well! Coconut and chocolate shine is this delectable cookie.
The flavor of a samoa cookie, but gluten free and vegan!
I have been wanting to recreate this recipe for awhile…but just haven’t gotten around to it.
Wouldn’t you figure I somehow managed it when I don’t even have an oven to work with? I have very good friends and neighbors (who of course taste tested for me and gave RAVE reviews!) who willingly let me use their ovens while I wait (and wait!) for Jenn Air to find a part for me before February.
Good thing I am not shy and that I have NO issue barging in on their space with my kids in tow!! That MUST make them good friends, right?!
When my sister and I first tried these last year, we thought we had died and gone to heaven.
We would send two word texts to each other that looked like this: SAMOA…NOW!
We did that for at least two months, and I am pretty sure we made each other giggle every time! It’s wonderful to have a sister you can giggle with….my sister happens to think I am a stand up comedian (I hate to break it to her that she is the ONLY one who thinks so!).
So here it is…the recreated Girl Scout Cookie favorite of my youth!
There is no caramel in this Girl Scout cookie makeover…but you won’t miss it, these are just too darn good!
Can I use different flours in these gluten free samoas?
Yes! If you have an gluten free all purpose flour mix you like to use, it should work in this recipe! If yours includes gum, omit the additional.
When I replace flour in a recipe, I just make sure to keep similar ratio to starchy vs wholegrain flours. I go into great detail in my gluten free flours page!
As always, leave a comment below if you want help making the flours you have on hand work!
How about a paleo samoa cookies version?
- This easily made paleo by using palm sugar instead of brown sugar, and use 1 cup cassava flour! Omit the guar gum.
- You could even use a paleo all purpose flour that mixes coconut, almond, and tapioca starch. If I was to use this mix in this recipe, I would do 2T coconut flour, 1/2 cup tapioca starch, 1/3 cup almond flour. No gum needed.
Some more gluten free cookie recipes:
- My gluten free thumbprint cookies were my recreation of my favorite holiday cookie!
- With a few simple ingredients, these paleo pumpkin snickerdoodles are treat to be had! Vegan too!
- These intensely rich and fudgy gluten free chocolate cookies are like a truffle in a cookie form!!
- These almond peanut butter cookies are right up my alley!
Gluten Free Samoa Cookies Recipe:
If you try these amazing coconut and chocolate cookies, be sure to come back and leave a comment!
Vegan Samoas
A buttery coconut cookie with a rich chocolate drizzle makes an easy version of a classic Girl Scout cookie: the Samoa!
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened grated coconut toasted and cooled
- 1/3 cup coconut butter coconut butter has a bit more coconut meat in it so it has more coconut flavor, OR coconut oil in a pinch
- 3/4 cup brown sugar OR palm sugar
- 1/3 cup almond milk or any preferred milk
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds or chia meal
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup tapioca flour see post above for alternate flour options
- 1/3 cup brown rice flour
- 1/3 cup sorghum flour
- 1/2 teaspoon guar gum
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Melted Chocolate Topping:
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil or spectrum shortening
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Scatter the coconut in a thin layer on a cookie sheet.
- Toast in the oven for about 5-10 minutes. Watch it carefully, it should be golden and smell toasted but will burn quickly. Set aside to cool.
- In a mixer, beat the coconut butter/oil with the brown sugar until creamy.
- Beat in the milk, vanilla, and flax meal.
- In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Mix in to the waiting mixer bowl along with the cooled toasted coconut.
- The batter should be quite thick. Using about a tablespoon of dough, roll small balls and flatten slightly on a parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet.
- Use your finger to make an indentation in the middle (for filling w/ chocolate at the end!).
- Bake in the 350 oven for about 8-10 minutes until the edges are just golden. Do not over bake.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- When fully cool (You can speed this process with the help of the freezer!) you can begin the chocolate dipping.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and oil together. Start with about a minute. Stir, if the chips are melting at this point, continue stirring until the chips turn smooth and fully melt. If needed, microwave for additional 20 second increments and repeat stirring.
- Dip the bottoms of the cooled cookies in the melted chocolate. Place on a piece of parchment, wax paper, or my favorite, a Silpat. to cool.
- When all the bottoms have been coated, use a spoon to fill the indentation and drizzle over the top.
- Cool to harden!
Nutrition
Calories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 77mgPotassium: 180mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
These sound great. I’m a little confused by the grated coconut. How is that different from the regular store-bought bag of coconut & where do I find it?
Hi Patricia…this is an older recipe post…I am much better at writing recipes now! You want unsweetened, grated coconut. I use Let’s Do Organic and linked to it in the post now. A lot of the coconut in stores comes sweetened….
Hi There Tessa,
Can’t wait to make these…definitely in January. I shared this recipe on my monthly round-up. 🙂
http://www.thetastyalternative.com/2011/12/monthly-round-up-december-2011.html
Hugs,
–Amber
misty..they function the same, I just use guar gum because it is much cheaper, and it is not derived from corn! good luck, let me know how they turn out!
these sound amazing and i can't wait to make them for my daughter. i'm wondering though – can i use xanthan gum instead of guar gum? i've never baked with guar gum, but do use xanthan gum often.
thanks!
I totally love these! A completely new recipe/cookie for me (I've never heard of Samoas before). A lovely coconutty cookie that is GF. We pressed 1/2 a maraschino cherry in the centre before baking (because my brother LOVES them and we had leftovers from a different cookie we made) and drizzled them with chocolate once they cooled. Such a cute, festive-looking cookie.
@Carolynn…I am glad to have introduced you to a fabulous cookie, and even more glad they turned out well for you!! I Definitely one of my top holiday cookies, so easy to make them look cute…a requirement for me (the easy part!)
I had not heard of Samoa cookies until recently, but I have to say that I'm in love now! These sound great and they are so pretty, too. Thanks so much for submitting to Wellness Weekend–welcome! 😀
Bookmarked!
Samoas are basically the best girl scout cookies that were ever been invented. Great vegan recipe for them!!
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Hi Tessa~
I totally remember these. Yummmm – these look amazing. Great job! What a healthy alternative spin on these traditional cookies.
And…
Okay, the similarities are getting weird here. I too have a best friend sister (younger sister) and she also thinks I'm the funniest person ever (but I tell her she laughs at anything). I love her so much! She moved to New York 2 months ago (temporarily) with her boyfriend (sniff). But I'm making a trip out there this summer with my daughter for a visit. Can't wait!! Sisters are the best! 🙂
Again, great job on these cookies!…and good luck with your oven.
–Amber