Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

I can't believe I am posting two desserts in a row! I really don't eat that much dessert. I reserve it for Sunday Night Feasting at small group but my house is full of middle school boys so I made them some cookies today. It is fall break around here and we happily had Evan's 4 best friends over for the night. They have been awesome! Loud but awesome! They even loved the cookies. Miles heard one of them say, "Mmmmm!" as he bit into his cookie. Miles said too early that they were healthy cookies and I gave him the evil eye. You must always let someone take a bite first and then you can tell them they are healthy, especially when it comes to 6th grade boys. While girls no longer have cooties, healthy cookies might!

Begin by grinding up 3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats. I used my mini food processor again. Then grab a bowl for the rest of the dry ingredients.

Add to the ground oats, 1 cup whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, and 1/2 tsp. salt and mix well.

To the bowl of the mixer add 1/4 cup butter or butter alternative and beat until fluffy. Then add 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1/3 cup Stevia, 1/4 cup Splenda brown sugar or sucanat, one large egg, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Mix well. With the mixer on low add in the dry ingredients until just combined.

This is the magic! We all know dark chocolate is better for us but it has taken some time for dark chocolate to grow on me. This is an excellent recipe to try to get used to the taste of dark chocolate if you are not a fan. Gently stir in about 1/2 the bag.

Drop by heaping tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes. They do not flatten out the way regular chocolate chip cookies do. This recipe only makes about 18 cookies so if you need more double it.

Then enjoy these delicious fluffy, soft, moist and healthy little gems! You can eat three of these for about the same amount of calories in one regular chocolate chip cookie. When it comes to cookies three is always better than one!

Even those 6th grade boys all ate the cookies and liked them and even had seconds. If they pass the 6th grade boy test I would say we have a winner!

Here is a condensed version of the recipe in case you wish to print it.



Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

*3/4 cup rolled oats
*1 cup whole-wheat flour
*1/2 teaspoon baking soda
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1/4 cup butter, softened or butter substitute
*1/4 cup applesauce

*1/3 cup Stevia
*1/4 cup Splenda brown sugar or sucanat
*1 large egg
*1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*1 cup dark chocolate chips

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Grind oats in a blender or food processor. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add applesauce, Stevia, Splenda brown sugar, egg, and vanilla; beat until smooth and creamy. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients, beating on low speed until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop the dough by heaping teaspoonfuls, at least 1 inch apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake cookies,  until firm around the edges and golden on top, about 13-15 minutes.