ABOUT THE RECIPE:
These tasty Chocolate Chip Cookies are a great choice for a healthier version of a classic sweet treat!
Makes 20 to 24 large cookies
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar or maple sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
1 cup pecan halves, roughly chopped
1 cup vegan chocolate chips (grain-sweetened variety works well)
1½ cups fresh apple purée (see notes, below)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅓ cup plus 2 tablespoons nondairy milk
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
Put the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and stir with a dry whisk to combine. Add the pecans and vegan chocolate chips, and stir with the whisk to combine. Stir in the apple puree, vanilla extract, and nondairy milk, and mix just until incorporated. If the dough seems overly wet, stir in a bit more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Alternately, if the dough seems overly dry, stir in a bit more nondairy milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.
For each cookie, drop about 2½ tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten slightly using the back of a flat spatula.
Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until slightly golden around the edges. Remove the sheet from the oven and let cool for 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack. Cool for about 10 minutes. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, the cookies will keep for about 2 days.
Chef's Note: To make the apple purée, peel and core 3 very large or 4 medium apples. Rough chop the apples. Put the apples in a blender or food processor and process until the consistency of a thick, smooth applesauce is achieved. Be careful not to liquify!
Chef's Note: If preferred, you may use a thick, jarred applesauce, well-drained.