Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Here is a healthier twist to a classic recipe–butter-free and delicious.

Ingredients:

1 can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 egg
1/2 cup sucanat (or brown sugar)
1/2 cup honey granules (or sugar)
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

Directions:

In a food processor, blend the beans, oil, egg, sucanat, honey granules, and vanilla until smooth. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and blend until combined. Pulse in the chocolate chips until distributed. Shape dough into 1″ balls and place a couple inches apart on a baking sheet. (If dough is too sticky, you can refrigerate it for a little bit before shaping into balls) Bake at 350 degrees for 10-11 minutes, or until cracked and set. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. (I actually like these cookies the best after they have cooled completely)

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Chewy Coconut Chocolate Cookies

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These cookies blend two of my favorite flavors–chocolate and coconut! :)

Cookie Dough:

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil (or 1 stick of butter)
  • 1/2 cup honey granules (or sugar)
  • 1/4 cup sucanat (or brown sugar)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup whole-wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup ground flax seed
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cup flaked unsweetened coconut

With a mixer, cream the coconut oil, honey granules, sucanat, egg, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, flax seed, baking soda, and salt. Gradually blend the flour mixture into the wet mixture until combined. Mix in the coconut. Drop cookie dough by heaping teaspoons onto baking sheets. Make sure to place the cookies about 2″ apart, since they will spread quite a bit while baking. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-11 minutes, or until just beginning to turn golden. Let the cookies stay on the tray for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Chocolate Drizzle: 

  • 1/4 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate)
  • 1 Tbs coconut oil

Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a saucepan on low heat, stirring until smooth. Arrange the cookies on a tray and drizzle the chocolate over the cookies. Place the tray in the freezer for a few minutes until the chocolate hardens. Once hardened, store the cookies in a container in the refrigerator so that the chocolate stays firm.

Chocolate Coating: (For a thicker topping)

  • 3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate)

Melt the chocolate over low heat, stirring until smooth. Place a small dollop of chocolate in the center of each cookie and spread into a circle in the middle of the cookie. Arrange cookies on a tray and place in the freezer for a few minutes until chocolate is hardened. Store in a container at room temperature.

Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies

Irresistible Double Chocolate Cookies

Double Chocolate Cookies
Black beans are the secret ingredient in these moist, cake-like cookies. Butter-free, sugar-free, and easy, these cookies are what my mom calls “irresistible!” I heartily agree.

1 (15 oz) can organic black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 cup honey
2 eggs
1 Tbs vanilla
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt (or 1/2 tsp if not using organic beans)
3/4 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

In a food processor, blend the black beans, coconut oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla until smooth (There will still be specks of beans). Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; process until combined. Add the chocolate chips and pulse until distributed. Spoon cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto baking trays. Bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes, or until cracked and beginning to set. Let cool on the tray for a couple minutes before transferring cookies to wire racks to cool.

makes about 4 dozen

Freezer Treats

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup cocoa
  • 4 Tablespoon butter
  • 1/3 cup sucanat w/molasses
  • 3 Tablespoons molasses
  • 1 1/2 – 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  1. In a saucepan stir the water and cocoa over medium  heat till combined. (adding extra water if needed)
  2. Cream butter, sucanat, and molasses.
  3. Stir together flour, salt, and baking soda.
  4. Add cocoa mixture to butter mixture and mix.
  5. Next add flour mixture. Add as much flour needed to make a smooth and pliable dough.
  6. Divide dough in half. Roll each piece 1/8″ thick onto a 2 baking stones.
  7. Lightly poke the dough about every 1/2″ with the handle of a knife to give it a textured appearance.
  8. Bake at 375 for 13 minutes.
  9. Cut  it  into  2″ x 2″ squares or desired size.
  10. Let cool.

Whipped Cream

  • 1 pint whipping cream (2 cups)
  • 4 Tablespoons honey granules
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  1. While whipping the cream, drizzle with honey and vanilla until foamy.
  2. Spread the whipped cream over half the pieces.
  3. Place the other half of the pieces on top of the whipped cream.
  4. Place the treats  in a container. Place wax paper in between each stack of treats.
  5. Freeze and serve.

Blueberry Granola Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 stick butter
  • 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
  • 1/2 cup sucanat w/honey
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 egg
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups blueberry granola
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 container blueberry jelly
  1. Blend butter, yogurt, sucanat, honey, and egg.
  2. Stir flour, granola, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix.
  4. Roll into balls. Press down the centers of each cookie with your finger.
  5. Fill the hole with blueberry jelly.
  6. Bake at 350 for 19-20 minutes.

– makes about 3 dozen

Out of This World Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2 large bananas
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup sucanat w/honey
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1/2 cup crushed, and drained pineapple
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  1. Blend bananas, eggs, vanilla, sucanat, honey, butter, and pineapple.
  2. Stir flour, coconut, salt, and baking soda.
  3. Add flour mixture to wet mixture and mix.
  4. Drop by heaping tablespoons on to a baking stone.
  5. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

– Makes over 6 dozen

Basic Snack Bars

Ingredients:

  • 1 stick room temperature butter
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup sucanat w/honey
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 4 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 Tablespoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  1. Blend butter, honey, sucanat and milk.
  2. In a separate bowl stir flour, soda and salt.
  3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix.
  4. Roll half the dough out 1/4″ thick on a baking sheet.
  5. Spread half of one of the fillings below over the dough.
  6. Fold the dough in half over the filling, then cut it in half width wise. With your fingers seam the dough around the filling.
  7. Do the same to the other half of the dough.
  8. Bake at 350 for 13 minutes.
  9. Cut into 2×3 inch bars.

– Makes about 26 2×3 inch bars

Apple Cinnamon Filling:

  • 2 medium size red apples, peeled and diced
  • 2 Tablespoons sucanat w/honey
  • 1 Tablespoon flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  1. In a bowl stir sucanat, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  2. Add the diced apples and stir till they are evenly coated.

Date Filling:

  • 3 cups sliced dates

Banana Split Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup sucanat w/honey
  • 3 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 container black cherry jelly
  • chocolate chips
  1. Cream bananas, butter, honey and sucanat.
  2. In a separate bowl stir flour, salt and baking soda.
  3. Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture and mix.
  4. Shape dough into balls. Press down the center of the balls with your finger. Fill the hole with cherry jelly. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips over each cookie.
  5. Bake at 350 for 18 minutes.

– Makes over 3 dozens cookies

Cocoa Bites

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup cocoa
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup sucanat w/molasses
  • 3 Tablespoons molasses
  • 1 – 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  1. In a saucepan heat water and cocoa on medium heat until blended.
  2. Stir together olive oil, sucanat and molasses.
  3. Stir together flour, salt and baking soda.
  4. Add cocoa mixture to wet mixture and mix.
  5. Next add flour mixture. Add as much flour as needed to make a smooth and pliable dough.
  6. Roll dough on a greased work surface till it is about 1/8 inch thick.
  7. Cut with miniature cutters.
  8. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until crisp.

Makes 10 ounces

Apple Toaster Treats

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup sucanat w/honey
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 sticks room temperature butter
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk ( Milk can be used )
  1. In a food processor or blender chop pecans, oats, sucanat, baking powder and salt till fine.
  2. In a separate bowl, stir together the oat mixture and the flour . Mix in butter.
  3. Add milk and roll out dough to about a 1/4 inch thickness.
  • 3-4 apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced
  • 2-3 Tablespoons sucanat w/honey
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  1. Stir together sucanat, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  2. Add apples and stir till coated.
  3. Spread apple mixture over half the dough.
  4. Place the other half of dough on top of the apple mixture.
  5. Cut into squares. Seam together sides.
  6. Place on greased cookie trays or pizza stones.
  7. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Makes about 3 1/2 dozen 2×2 inch squares

-Toast before serving

-You may store them in a freezer or refrigerator to keep freshness