HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (Soft & Chewy, Naturally Sweetened)
KEY INFO:
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes (including cooling)
Servings: 14 cookies
Difficulty: Easy
Dietary: Easily adaptable for vegan/gluten-free
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
• Large mixing bowl
• Electric mixer or whisk
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Cooling rack
Alternative: Hand mixing works fine if no electric mixer available
INGREDIENTS:
Wet Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, softened (120g) [or unsalted butter]
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar (100g) [or maple syrup]
• 1 large egg [or 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water]
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
• 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour (210g) [or almond flour for GF]
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (90g)
METHOD:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Line baking sheet with parchment.
2. Beat softened coconut oil and sugar until creamy (about 2 minutes).
3. Add egg and vanilla, mix until combined.
4. In separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet until just combined. Don’t overmix.
6. Fold in chocolate chips.
7. Chill dough 15 minutes if too soft.
8. Scoop 2 tbsp portions onto baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.
9. Bake 12-14 minutes until edges are lightly golden but center looks slightly underdone.
10. Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to rack.
CRUCIAL TIPS:
• Don’t overbake – cookies will firm up while cooling
• Use room temperature ingredients
• Chill dough if spreading too much during baking
• For extra chocolatey cookies, press additional chips on top while warm
STORAGE & VARIATIONS:
Storage:
• Room temperature: 5 days in airtight container
• Freezer: Up to 3 months
Common Variations:
• Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts
• Use oat flour for nutty flavor
• Sprinkle with sea salt before baking
• Mix in 1/2 cup shredded coconut
Scaling Tips:
• Recipe doubles easily
• Reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes for smaller cookies
• Increase by 2-3 minutes for larger ones
These cookies strike the perfect balance between healthy and delicious, using natural sweeteners and whole grain flour while maintaining that classic chocolate chip cookie taste we all love.
