Today I want to talk shop with you about all things corn free cookies. By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid understanding of how cookies work, and how to convert conventional cookies into corn free cookies.
Note: If you were looking for cookies to purchase, the odds of finding truly corn free cookies is slim to none. If you can tolerate trace amounts of corn and/or corn derivatives, there are options for you. However, this article is all about making corn free cookies, not purchasing them.
If ingredient sourcing is an issue for you, be sure to check out my Ultimate GF + Corn Free Cookbook. This book has more than 150 recipes, but also corn free raw materials as well as how to call companies and source safe products.
Typical Ingredients in Cookies
For the sake of this article, we’re going to be looking at gluten free, allergy friendly cookies. The main reason: most people with a corn allergy are more than just corn free. So, let’s take a look at each ingredient, and how to properly substitute it so you can make corn free cookies.
Flour
If you don’t need to avoid major allergens, you could use a truly corn free wheat flour in place of a gluten free flour. It’s important that you not overwork the dough, as gluten free cookies don’t develop gluten.
If you’re following a gluten free recipe and need corn free cookies, use truly corn free flours in its place. Do not use a store bought gluten free flour blend, as most will contain xanthan gum, which is a corn derivative.
You can experiment with grain free flour options as well. If you need grain free + corn free cookies, I strongly suggest starting with that type of recipe, rather making swap after swap after swap.
Individual Flour Swaps
Here are some general rules you can follow as needed when making corn free cookies. However, I have to state this loudly: making any of these swaps has the potential to ruin a recipe. Always see what the recipe developer advises before blindly swapping.
Brown Rice Flour: Sorghum Flour
Oat Flour: Tiger nut flour (tuber, not a tree nut), doesn’t work in every instance.
Potato Starch: Tapioca Starch
Sorghum Flour: Brown Rice Flour
Tapioca Starch: Potato Starch
Coconut Flour: Do Not Swap
Cassava Flour: Do Not Swap
Rolled Oats: Do Not Swap
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Corn Starch
In case you ever run into a cookie recipe that calls for corn starch, you can replace it with arrowroot. You can also use arrowroot to make a slurry, not that I think you’re going to see that in a cookie recipe. But you know… the more you know and all that jazz.
Eggs OR Flax Gel
Truly corn free eggs do exist out in the wild. EatWild.org is a fantastic starting point (they also have meat listings). I’ve been able to find out of the way farms that sell truly corn free eggs and truly corn free meat on their website. Just know you’re going to make a lot of phone calls and send a lot of emails to get the information, but also get to talk with awesome farmers.
If you’re egg free, you’ll want to use this truly corn free flax seed meal where a recipe calls for flax. That brand also carries chia seed meal if you need to use chia when making your corn free cookies.
Sugar
When you pull out your tools to make corn free cookies, you’ll absolutely need sugar. Now, this is so important. SO important: sugar is hygroscopic. This means it can alter the moisture content of your cookies. Fun fact: sugar is considered a wet ingredient.
Not only does sugar play a role in the moisture, it also determines how sweet your cookies are. Know that you should not mess about with how much sugar is in a cookie recipe unless the developer gives you notes. Reducing or increasing the amount of sugar will alter the final outcome. Since we’re talking about free-from corn free cookies, this is serious business.
If sweetness is an issue for you, the best advice I can give you is to make smaller cookies, then eat less cookies with each serving so you don’t feel like you’ve had too much sugar.
Liquid Sweeteners vs Granulated Sweeteners
This is another important note that you can’t overlook. Liquid sweeteners can only be swapped for other liquid sweeteners, and the same is true of granulated sweeteners. This means, if a recipe calls for brown sugar, you can’t swap it for maple syrup. You will ruin the recipe.
You also can’t swap maple sugar for maple syrup. Whilst they’re both a form of maple, they aren’t in the same sweetener class, so don’t do it.
Alternative and Special Sugars
99.99999% of alternative sweeteners and sugar substitutes contain corn or are corn derived. Additionally, they have to play by special rules. Do not try to convert one of those into corn free cookies. Your expensive ingredients will get lost in translation.
Butter
Whether a recipe calls for dairy based butter or dairy free butter, you have a few choices. When making truly corn free cookies, you can use corn free shortening as a 1:1 swap for butter. Know that this will change the flavour and texture of the cookies, but they’ll still function.
You can also use tallow like in this corn free cookie recipe. However, this should only be done if you have a very severe corn allergy and not a single other fat option. Tallow and other rendered animal fats can be used in corn free cookies, but you’ll TASTE it. he first time you eat it, it will throw you off (been there, done that, but also, zero regrets).
Baking Powder
Baking power is critical for your corn free cookies. It’s leavening agent and provides rise. It’s not the same thing as baking soda.
If you need information on corn free baking powder, and corn free baking powder brands, refer to this article.
Corn free baking powder is a 1:1 swap for standard baking powder in cookie recipes (and other baked desserts)
Vanilla Extract
As I shared in the Hidden Sources of Corn article, most of the world’s supply of vanilla beans is contaminated with corn at the time of harvesting. In addition to that, some brands use a corn based alcohol as the carrier in their product. You need to use truly corn free vanilla extract.
Corn free vanilla is a 1:1 swap for standard vanilla. Vanilla flavor is not the same thing as vanilla extract. If you’re converting a recipe that uses flavor, you’ll need to see what the recipe developer recommends. Do Not purchase vanilla flavor, as there’s a 99.9999999% chance it will contain corn or corn derivatives.
Additionally, the only other vanilla products you should purchase are whole organic vanilla beans (unsprayed of course), or organic ground vanilla made from corn free vanilla beans.
If you struggle with the price of corn free vanilla products, you can make vanilla extract and ground vanilla at home. You’ll need truly corn free vanilla beans, and some kind of truly corn free alcohol. I can’t help you on the alcohol front, but I can give you this lead: look for potato based vodka, or a sugar based alcohol.
Salt
It’s critical that you use truly corn free salt when making corn free cookies. Where a standard or free-from cookie recipe says “salt” or “sea salt”, use your corn free version. This brand makes corn free salt, as well as Kosher options. This brand is another fantastic corn free salt option. I’ve been using both for well over a decade without any issues.
DO NOT purchase smoked salt. I have yet to find a truly corn free option. Instead, make smoked salt at home with raw organic untreated wood and a smoker (this is the one that I have).
Cacao, White Chocolate & Chocolate Chips
Cacao is not the same as cocoa, just as an FYI. For corn free cookies, you should be using organic cacao powder from a trusted source. I’ve found that artisanal producers are the most likely to be truly corn free.
Additionally, depending on where you live, if you can source “raw organic cacao powder” even better. The chances of corn or corn derivatives being in that style of product is less than 10%.
These are the only truly corn free chocolate chips that I know of. Not the brand either, just the one product, and that’s because of the vanilla. This brand is an A++++ option for anyone that manages a food allergy, as their owners understand the wide range of issues we face, including hidden corn.
Now, using these chocolate chips take a delicate hand since there’s zero sweetener. You can either melt down the chocolate, sweeten it, then re-temper it, or crush/chop it and use it in small amounts. Something else you can do is shave chocolate chips over your unbaked corn free cookies so they’re just lightly kissed with dark chocolate. VERY dark chocolate. Like, pucker face dark chocolate.
There’s a good chance you won’t be able to purchase truly corn free white chocolate products for your corn free cookies (or other dessert projects). This is the best white chocolate lead I can give you. Reach out to them and ask all of your questions.
Misc. Flavoring Agents
Traditional cookies will call for a wide range of extra ingredients including peanut butter, almond butter, crushed nuts, lemon zest, orange zest, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, honey, and a whole lot more.
The good news is that you can replicate a lot of these flavors when making corn free cookies. You’ll have to source safe raw materials, but it can be done.
Nut and seed butters can either be purchased from reputable corn free brands, or you can make it at home with safe raw materials.
Zest should be made at home. I like to purchase about 50 pounds (about 23KG) of truly corn free lemons from a safe farm each year. Then, I spend a whole weekend making lemon juice and lemon zest. It all gets frozen, and I have stock to pull from for the whole year. You can also do this with safe, unwaxed oranges.
Dried fruit will be more of a challenge. Depending on where you live, start with your local farmer’s market. Ideally, you’re looking for oil free, sulfate free dried fruit.
Spices should come from a trusted truly corn free brand, and should not contain an anti-caking agent.
Cream & Heavy Cream
If you happen to run into a recipe that calls for dairy based cream or heavy cream, you can make a dairy free version at home if needed. Now, if you’re not allergic to milk, I’d search high and low for a truly corn free farmer that can sell you cream and heavy cream. Start with the Amish if you’re in the US. A lot of them have websites now and even ship nationwide.
If you’re dairy free, read this section of my Milk Substitutes Guide on all things heavy cream.
The Best Advice I can Give You
When it comes to making corn free cookies at home, especially if you’re adapting a recipe, the best advice I have for you is to manage your expectations.
Corn free recipes come with a different taste and texture that you may not be used to. They aren’t bad recipes, they’re just different, and over time, you’ll love them.
I can tell you this, the corn free cookies that I share have been tested by people without food allergies and dietary restrictions. They have all RAVED about my corn free cookie recipes.
If you’re nervous about getting started, start with proven recipes, not an adaptation, so you learn how free-from ingredients perform.
Recipes for Corn Free Cookies
Here are corn free cookies to get you started. A lot of these recipes are on my RAISE Membership site, however, you can also get all of the recipes (and more) in my Ultimate GF + Corn Free Cookbook.
- Vegan Danish Butter Cookies (this recipe has a corn free option listed)
- AIP Paleo Pumpkin Cookies (this is a great snack or fall dessert)
- Corn Free Crunchy Cookies (grain free, top 14 free, vegan)
- Bison Tallow Almond Cookies (gluten free, grain free, egg free, vegetarian)
- Soft & Fluffy Corn Free Lemon Cookies (a great treat if you love all things lemon)
- Truly Corn Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Dark Chocolate Peppermint Corn Free Cookies
- Gluten Free, Corn Free Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (a huge hit with my kids)
- Seed Free, Palm Free, Corn Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Gluten Free, Corn Free Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
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More Delicious Corn Free Dessert Recipes
Each of these truly corn free desserts is vegan, gluten free, and very allergy friendly. Yet! They’re so good that your friends and family members will be lining up to join you for a shared meal.
- Corn Free Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (egg free, dairy free, top 14 free)
- Corn Free Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe (dairy free, egg free, vegan, allergy friendly)
- Grain Free Apple Crumble Recipe (vegan, top 14 free)
- Corn Free + Gluten Free Tiger Nut Cake Recipe (tiger nuts are tubers, not tree nuts)
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