Baking With Bailey: Chocolate Chip Cookies

It took us a little longer this week to get it together, but I hope you find it was worth the wait. I recently found out I have diabetes, so our quest for healthier eating has taken on new meaning. Now we're trying to find ways to incorporate whole grains and fiber into everything we bake, as well as utilizing alternative sweetening to cut out sugar. Thankfully, I have an amazing sister-in-law who loves to research almost as much as she loves to encourage. I am going to note the alternatives for those who are trying to cut out fat, up fiber, or cut out sugar. You pick if you want to do any or none of those options. I found that using half wheat pastry flour actually improved the texture of the cookie.
Above all, have fun trying it all out. I did. I am finding my new excitement in cooking is finding new ways to get great flavor out of meals/baking while making them healthy. Can't tell you how good it feels to give the kids cookies that are delicious (they eat them 4 at a time) and really good for them. A note on the Blue Agave: the darker the better. You can get it at most health food stores, but Karen found it much cheaper online at Amazon ($.17 per ounce).


Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar (or 1 cup blue agave nectar, or 1 1/2 tsp pure
powdered stevia + 1/2 cup of apple sauce, plain yogurt or water)
3/4 cup butter (or trans-fat free soft tub margarine, or apple sauce)
2 large eggs (or just egg whites)
2 tsp pure vanilla
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cups semi-sweet (or dark) chocolate chips
3/4 cups chopped walnuts
2 cups all- purpose flour (substitute 1 cup of whole wheat pastry flour)
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl whip butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs and continue to mix until incorporated. Next add chickpeas, chocolate chips, and nuts mixing for approx 1 minute until chickpeas are broken down.
In small bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, salt and oats. With mixer off, add dry ingredients and mix until it forms thick batter. Spoon onto greased cooking pan and cook for 9-11 min. Makes 3 dozen cookies.


On a side note: Wasn't Bailey great? I couldn't get a word in edgewise :) She is going to be a star!