Wholesome Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are a great cookie.

I started working on this recipe last fall (it took a few tries!). I knew I wanted  it to be 'whole' and 'hearty'. I wanted them to be golden and crisp on the outside, and filled with nuttyness and plenty of chocolate.

These would be great served along ice cream, and I can't resist sugesting ice-cream sandwiches made with them!

Wholesome chocolagte chip cookie recipe

I use whole wheat pastry flour here, but you can substitute unbleached all-purpose flour if you like, or if that is all you have on hand. You might also add-in some finely chopped crystallized ginger, chopped raisins or currants, or wheat germ. You could try barley flakes or spelt flakes in place of the rolled oats too. There are lots of different ways to take this cookie.

1 cup  good-quality semi-sweet chocolate

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup apple sauce

1 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon  molasses

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat your oven to 350F degrees, racks in top and bottom third. Line a couple baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, oats, walnuts, and chocolate. Set aside.

Using a mixer beat the butter and applesauce until blended fluffy. Beat in the sugar and mix until it is also light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice. Beat in the molasses, then the egg, mixing until both are well incorporated, scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice. Beat in the vanilla. Add the flour mix and stir by hand until the ingredients barely come together into a uniform dough.

Scoop spoonfulls of the dough onto a baking sheet, place them two inches apart. Gently flatten each dough ball into a thin, round patty. Bake for 7 minutes or until cookies are golden and fragrant. Remove from oven, and cool on a wire rack.

Cute kitty pic that makes me happy..