FODMAP Diet Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Not only is this recipe FODMAP diet friendly, it is also egg-free, soy-free and dairy-free so perfect to serve to anyone with dietary intolerances or allergies. I've adapted this from a recipe by the brilliant Dan Lepard to make it suitable for the FODMAP diet plan. The chia seeds help bind the mixture and replace the gluten in the recipe. Feel free to vary the nuts and flavourings -  use seeds instead or skip out the cocoa altogether and make blonde cookies.

Ingredients:

175g gluten free flour

2 tablespoons cocoa powder (not drinking chocolate)

75g hazelnuts

100g light brown soft sugar

1 tbsp chia seeds

50ml water

2 tablespoons golden syrup 

2 tablespoons sunflower oil (or you could use hazelnut, rapeseed etc)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

Makes about 18 small cookies

Put the hazelnuts in a food processor with the flour and sugar. Pulse until the nuts are in fine crumbs. Pour into a large bowl.

Add the chia seeds to the water and leave to soak for 5 minutes. Then combine with the syrup, oil, vanilla extract and salt. 

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until you have a stiff dough. Roll into large marble sized balls and place on a greased baking sheet. Flatten each ball with the back of a fork or a glass.

Bake for 12-15 minutes at 180C/375F. Remove from oven and leave to cool on sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. Enjoy.