Delicious and Nutritious Chocolate Chip Cookies

Last week I went to a Relief Society Enrichment Night Activity (an activity night with a group of women from my church) and we learned all about beans... the health benefits, how to cook them, recipes to use, etc. 

Here's a little "taste" of what you can make with beans...

I'm not kidding! I was so excited about this new insight that I jumped right in to the "bean cooking world". For my first new bean recipe adventure I chose to make the chocolate chip cookies from the recipe handout we got, because of all the dessert options they appeared to be the most healthy (I'm on a health kick right now). These cookies are made with 100% whole wheat flour, they have NO butter, they only use brown sugar (no white), and they have beans to boot!

And the result? ...

... They turned out great! I keep eating them, and guess what? I feel no guilt! :) The taste is a little different from "regular" cookies, but not different in a bad way... just a different way. :) Now, granted, I'm already used to having cookies made with partial wheat flour, so if that's something you're not used to, that could be the biggest difference for you and take some getting used to. My husband says they taste like a protein bar to him. ...but that's a good thing, right??!

Well, if you'd like to try them, here is the recipe:

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Beans!

-1/2 cup cooked white beans (I used canned* Great Northern Beans)

-1 cup brown sugar

-4 eggs (if you're using your food storage eggs, this is 1/4 cup Egg Powder + 1/2 cup Water)

-1 tsp vanilla

-2 1/4 cups wheat flour (you can use half white and half wheat if that's more to your liking)

-1 tsp baking powder

-1/2 tsp baking soda

-1/2 tsp salt

-2 cups chocolate chips (I used half milk chocolate chips and half white chocolate chips)

-1 cup pecans (or walnuts), chopped

*If using canned beans, drain and rinse them prior to beginning.

1. Beat the beans and sugar together until creamed. (I had to take a spoon and mash the beans occasionally to help them along.) Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix.

2. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. (If using a mixer, do this a little at a time to avoid flour flying everywhere). Stir well until blended.

4. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Cover and refrigerate dough for about 1 hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

6. Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the cookies. Helpful Hint: Do NOT over bake these! They do not turn golden brown when done, so try testing them with a light touch on top of the cookie to see if they are done or not. (They should be barely firm and will set up more as they cool.) You do not want them to get crisp or crunchy. Also, if you are baking two cookie sheets at a time, be sure to switch them from top to bottom and vice versa half way through for even baking.

Makes 4 dozen. (Unless you make them my size, in which case it will make 2 1/2 dozen) :)

So go ahead... give them a whirl! You'll never have to feel guilty about eating cookies again! :)