What makes a great Chocolate Chip cookie? Well, it’s having a bit of chocolate and nuts in every bite. The nutty, chocolatey combination makes my taste-buds sing! With Christmas around the corner, a baked treat is a must — and when it comes to baking, I aim to keep the great flavor and texture using half the butter and a lot less of the sugar. And always try to sneak in a secret, healthy ingredient.
These cookies are dense, chewy with plenty of chocolate and nuttiness to keep your taste-buds singing. Half the butter, half the sugar and yet, still truly delish!!
A while ago a friend of mine gave me this no-brainer, no-fail chocolate chip cookie recipe – the base is basically 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup butter, an egg, 1/2 tsp baking soda and a cup of flour.
Her key to a successful chocolate chip cookie was adding in a bunch of chocolate chips and walnuts (as much as you could possibly cram in the mixture) and baking it for just 10 minutes (no more because it continues to cook even out of the oven). Always delish and always a hit at every potluck. : )
A Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookie
Today I like to keep my treats lower in fat and/or sugar and add in ingredients that will have health value. My secret ingredient for this chocolate chip cookie recipe is wheat germ. It replaces 1/2 cup white sugar well as it helps with the texture and has a natural mild sweetness – and only 4 g sugar per 1/2 cup. It is also is a great source of Vitamin E and Folic acid.
Here’s the recipe:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup wheat germ
- 1/4 cup butter, unsalted
- 1/4 cup peanut butter, nutty, all natural (no additives – just peanuts & salt) – YES, crunchy (not smooth) because it adds some textural nuttiness in addition to the flavor (check out the nutritional benefits of natural peanut butter by clicking on the link)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3 Tbsp water
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Cream the brown sugar, wheat sugar, butter and peanut butter. Mix in the egg until well blended. Add flour and baking soda. Then mix in water. Lastly mix in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonful 2″ apart on a lined or lightly greased (use cooking spray) cookie sheet. Slightly flatten each (and pinch a little to create chunkier surface for visual appeal, if you like). Bake for 10 minutes until golden brown and deliciously chewy. Enjoy!!
For another healthier holiday treat:
Check out my Sugar Plum Pears recipe in The Times Union
Filed under: diet, healthy lifestyles, Nutri-Savvy, nutrition, Recipes
