This recipe for gluten-free Paleo Girl Scout cookies is based on one from the wonderful cookbook Paleo Indulgences by Tammy Credicott (the book also has a fantastic forward by Robb Wolf). This Paleo cookbook is packed with healthy substitutes for your favorite treats. Tammy has done an amazing job in compiling nutritious, yet mouthwatering recipes that range from all sorts of fun gluten-free baked goods and candies to healthy entrees and vegetable dishes.
My favorite part of this gluten-free Paleo Girl Scout cookie recipe? The vegan caramel sauce recipe that Tammy includes in it, which is a true piece of culinary genius. There are dozens of other treats that you’ll want to have at hand as well, so I recommend getting yourself a copy of this delightfully healthy cookbook.
For about a week I was calling these cookies Samoras instead of Samoas. I’m not really sure what got into me as I used to call them by the correct name. If you like cookies with toasted coconut, vegan caramel sauce and dark chocolate, then these are right up your alley, regardless of the name.
Paleo Samoas
Ingredients
Cookies
- 2 cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
Topping
- 1 cup chocolate chips, 6 ounces
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup coconut nectar
- ½ cup full fat coconut milk
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted
Instructions
Cookies
- In a food processor combine dry ingredients
- Pulse in wet ingredients until dough forms
- Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes
- Roll dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper to ¼-inch thick
- Use a 2 inch cookie cutter to cut out rounds
- Use a knife to cut holes in center of rounds if desired
- Bake at 350°F for 6-8 minutes
- Cool cookies completely on baking sheet
Topping
- Melt chocolate over very low heat
- Dip base of each cookie into chocolate
- Place on parchment paper to set
- To make caramel, place coconut sugar, coconut nectar and coconut milk in a saucepan
- Bring mixture to a boil, then decrease heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently
- Remove mixture from heat and stir in toasted coconut
- Use a small spoon to drizzle caramel-coconut mixture onto cookies
- Drizzle additional chocolate over cookies and sprinkle with extra coconut if desired
- Place cookies in refrigerator to set, then serve
While the ingredients for these homemade Paleo Girl Scout cookies are based on a recipe from Tammy Credicott’s Paleo Indulgences, much of the method is based on that from the Samoa recipe by David Leite at Leite’s Culinaria. Leite has one of the best cooking sites around. His photography is beautiful and the instructions for his recipes are full of detail, yet at the same time quite simple.
Finally, a bit of Girl Scout cookie trivia –did you know that in 2002 Bruce Willis purchased 12,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and had them sent to troops in Afghanistan?
What is your favorite Girl Scout Cookie recipe? If you could see another gluten-free Girl Scout cookie recipe over here which one would it be?
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Shari from NC says
Hi, Elana,
Yummy!!! Thanks for sharing.
Could you please “Elanify” the Lemonades and the Cranberry Citrus Crisps? abcsmartcookies dot com lists ingredients. Two different bakers make Girl Scout Cookies (the other one being Little Brownie Bakers), with the flavors (and names of cookies) determined by which bakery is providing cookies to local councils (That’s why Shortbreads are also know as Trefoils, Peanut Butter Patties are also known as Tagalongs, Caramel DeLites are also known as Samoas, and Peanut Butter Sandwiches are also known as Dosidos.)
My understanding is the Cranberry Citrus Crisp cookie is very firm, enjoyed more after being dunked in liquid (coffee, tea, etc).
Thanks,
Shari
Elana says
Shari, so great to see you here again! I will add your request to my list :-)
Momma J says
I tried this recipe today, baking for my sweet daughter-in-law. I think my kitchen is a sticky mess, but boy, are these delicious cookies! My DIL plans to freeze part for a treat later, but we all enjoyed the final product!!
Thank you!
Elana says
Hi Momma J, so glad you all enjoyed these cookies!!!
Momma J says
I may make more this weekend, using egg shaped cookie cutters! My DIL said that caramel topping was amazing. She’s so sweet, I love to bake for her!
Elana says
Awww, you guys are so cute! Glad you all liked the cookies :-)
Sharon says
the first time I made these samoas, I wasn’t sure what to expect, then my food processor bit the dust so I don’t think they got mixed as well as they should have. then I didn’t have any coconut nectar so I substituted honey. the caramel sauce didn’t set as well as I wanted it but these are one of the best things I’ve made that is considered paleo. my husband and daughter just wrinkle their noses at anything paleo but they liked them sooo much, they wanted me to make another batch, so after a new food processor, I made them and gave a few to friends who are following the paleo lifestyle and on a scale of 1-10 they gave them an 11! they keep asking me where I am getting these recipes. love this website! next challenge is the bagels.
Elana says
Hi Sharon, wow, thanks for giving this cookie recipe an 11 on a scale of 1-10. We love them too :-)
Nanette M says
Elena, how would you alter the recipe so the batter can be baked in donut pans? Thx!
Elana says
Hi Nanette, thanks for your comment. I would recommend using my donut recipe rather than experimenting. Testing batch after batch is the only way I know of when it comes to creating a recipe. I test some of my recipes several dozen times before they are perfected. I wish I had a crystal ball that would tell me what would happen as it would save me so much in the way of ingredients, time, and money!
https://elanaspantry.com/chocolate-donuts/
Enjoy!
Elana
rather than experimenting and
suz says
Can I substitute coconut flour for almond flour? I’m in Malaysia, a coconut hotspot. I get fresh coconut every week at the local market and flour is cheap at the grocery store.
I will try it. I’m growing my own stevia for a sweetener! So much fun!
Thank you!
MeganMarie says
Thin mints! Can you sub the almond flour in samoas since I have a nut allergy?
Trish says
Sunflower seed works wonderfully as a 1:1 substitute for almond flour. It’s also loaded with vitamins+minerals! To make the sunflower seed meal/flour, simply grind them up into a fine powder in a blender/food processor/coffee grinder/mortar and pestle.
Coconut flour is NOT an equal substitute for almond flour.
Really hope this helps and good luck!
Elana says
Trish, thanks for your comment. I haven’t had very good results with this substitution in my recipes :-)
Sarah says
Honestly, I can’t even remember what samoas taste like, but man are these amazing! I made them last night. Elena, your recipes are consistently WONDERFUL. Thank you so much.
Sugarboo says
The peanut butter sandwich cookies!!!
Rita Brooks says
I’ve finally gotten round to trying these today – it’s easily one of my favorite all-time favorite paleo indulgences now. Thanks for sharing this :)
ashley nicole says
I’m so excited to try these for the holiday! I have a weakness for Samoas. Ate a half box this season- bad choice. This looks like a much better one :)